August '07, holiday to Japan

In August we went off for 5 nights to Kyoto Japan, a first trip to Japan for all of us!

We loved it there, it was so refreshing compared to China. People were quite reserved and didn't come up and prod Saffron and stick their phone cameras in her face. We did a couple of days just pottering down quaint backstreets and popping in and out of old and new temples and trying out lots of different foods. And it was so clean, and unpolluted and really quite easy to get around. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip!

Tommy and Saffron at GZ airport

Kyoto station - very impressive building

amazing sunsets over the moutains surrounding Kyoto

We took a gorgeous walk along a little river, popping in to ancient temples along the way and spotted 2 fishing teddies!

we tried lots of Japanese food

Japanese sweets

and other delicacies

Saffy eats sushi!

and shaved ice deserts - yummeeeee - no food colourings, honest!

lanterns at shrines and temples

old street

along the riverside

Saffron trying out Japanese Guinness at an Irish Pub on Daddy's birthday

We went on a steam train

And played with model trains

our little backpacker!

First temple

temple door carving - a breastfeeding dragon!

We saw several Geisha and apprentice Geisha, Maiko - some happy to smile for the tourists, some not so!

At the Golden temple

Arrival back in Guangzhou again.

Saffron trying out the chair on the floor in our hotel room! We stayed in a basic Japanese place, with tatami mats and futons.

eating Japanese curry!

a break from temple hopping

rows of Buddha's wearing bibs!

Tommy and Saffy at an ancient brothel!

Saffron ringing the temple bell