LATEST STORIES
Japan’s gorgeous GEIBIKEI GORGE! 2026 update
Geibikei Gorge is centred on the beautiful Satetsu River, flanked by towering cliffs on either side. It is gorgeous – and I say that having seen some spectacular gorges in my time. Whilst it may not be well known amongst western tourists, it is famous in Japan – boats have been transporting visitors along the…
Winter magic – South Coast Western Australia
Sometimes a travelling treasure is right in your backyard! One of my favourite local holidays is in Albany, on West Australia’s south coast – about a four and a half hour drive from our home.
CYCLING IN JAPAN update – FURUKAWA, GIFU
You know how some people do something super adventurous for their significant birthdays? Like doing a parachute jump or a sky dive.Like minded, I wanted to do something a bit different and challenging to celebrate my birthday in Japan – so I decided on a 2.5 hour bicycle ride in a small rural town and…
Kamioka – railway cycling and super space town in the Japanese Alps – update 2026
This old Japanese Alps mountain town offers a great opportunity to cycle along its historical old railway tracks – and a chance to check out some of the world’s best science at the super-Kamiokando museum, is part of this magic experience. I understand there are some great hiking trails in this area too.
KYOTO’S SHIRAKAWA COMMUNITY Shirakawa community – July 2026 update
One place I will revisit will be Kyoto’s Shirakawa community. I wrote the original article about this delightful area in 2020, and I’m continually updating it after follow up visits. If any of my readers also plan to head to Japan, I suggest this is a place not to miss on your itinerary.
KYOTO WITHOUT CROWDS
Kyoto Temples and Shrines: The other way to avoid crowds is to find lesser known, but equally interesting and historical temples and shrines. And they are there – you just have to know about them. Yoshimine-dera, established in a spectacular location in the western Kyoto hills, is one of them.
A SILVER PAVILION AND KYOTO STROLL
On my first visit, more than 20 years ago, I stayed in a cheap ryokan where the family dog often tended the front reception! Not just lounging about, but sitting upright at the front desk, seemingly ready to greet and serve customers. I knew Kyoto was going to be something special!
SUMO, MONET AND A KYOTO SHRINE
What does Sumo, the french painter Monet, deer and Japanese royalty have in common? Don’t think too hard. I have the answer. The exquisite Oharano Shinto Shrine in the Nishikyō-ku area of Japan’s Kyoto hills!
CURRYING FLAVOUR – JAPAN
July 2026 UPDATE I’m occasionally updating stories I have previously published. This is one of them. Curry is, without a doubt, my favourite main course meal in Japan. What? Has dementia set in? Am I mixing up memories of Japan with my 1970’s travel adventures in India and Pakistan? Japan, in fact, makes great curries…
1970’s ABC NEWSROOM – update 2026
My English teacher was horrified at the thought of me becoming a News Journalist, warning me I’d be entering a den of rough drunken men! She probably read a lot of Hemingway, but didn’t approve of his lifestyle. She warned I would end up an unmarried alcoholic, probably with a bad reputation! I don’t think…
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