Travel Photo of the Week: Geisha District, Kyoto, Japan
Japan is a perfect example of a country where cultural traditions and modern technology co-exist. There is, however, nothing in the West that compares to the Geisha. Witnessing this Kyoto Geisha heading out early evening was a highlight of my trip to amazing Japan. These women are working and probably on their way to an engagement where Geisha elders or customers are waiting. I was unprepared for the richness of the Kimono, the teetering walk in their platform sandals, the elaborate hair, the whiteness of the makeup and the smile. It was thanks to the local Geisha School connections of our Canadian born tour guide which enabled such close proximity. It was breathtaking and moving.
Situated in northern Italy and not far from the Swiss border, Lake Maggiore or more commonly known by the locals at Lago Maggiore, has much to offer as a spectacular travel destination. The lake and surrounding area make it a popular summer destination, attracting visitors from all over.
A number of islands are dotted throughout the lake, with Isola Bella being one of the more significant. The island forms part of the Borromean Islands and has been occupied since well before 1632 by inhabitants of a tiny fishing village. However, during 1632 the construction of the monumental Baroque ‘Palazzo Borromeo’ commenced by Count Carlo III. The Palace contains priceless furniture, tapestries and art collections. The terraced gardens are an excellent example of a seventeenth century “Italian garden”. Isola Bella is easily accessed from the lakeside town of Stresa.
A guest post provided by New Zealand travel writer, Angela Pearse.
Kyoto is situated in central Japan and is around two and half hours by shinkasen (bullet train) from Tokyo. It was formerly the imperial capital but is still a major Japanese city, home to 1.5 million people, and where many traditional aspects of Japanese culture are still intact. It is said it is “impossible to know the real Japan without knowing Kyoto”.
It is true that no visit to Kyoto is complete without visiting one of the 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. During my too short stay in Kyoto last year I visited three of the most popular: Tenryu-ji Temple, with its cool, peaceful avenues of bamboo; Kiyomizu-dera Temple, with its amazing hill-top views of Kyoto and Fushimi Inari Shrine, with its stunning trail of red and black torii gates. But the sheer choice was overwhelming. Next time I would take a guided temple tour, by bus or on foot, to fully appreciate Kyoto’s historical roots, or hire a bike, which was an option when visiting Tenryu-ji temple.
On the day I arrived in Kyoto I strolled round the Imperial Palace gardens. It was a lazy, hazy Sunday afternoon and many families were chatting, snoozing on the grass or playing with their children. A couple of my strongest memories are of a man stretched full-length on a bench snoring away peacefully, and a hyperactive corgi splashing crazily in one of the rock pools.
Kyoto Gardens
Although I had just missed the cherry blossom season, this would be another reason I would return to Kyoto. Maruyama Park is the most popular park for cherry blossom viewing but Kyoto contains many advantageous spots, such as the Philosopher’s Trail, Kamogama River and Hirano Shrine, to view the gorgeous pink blossoms. At Maruyama Park and Hirano Shrine in the evenings, the trees are lit up.
Major festivals in Kyoto to time a visit with, include the Aoi Matsuri or “Hollyhock Festival” on the 15 May, the Gion Matsuri, a traditional festival celebrating life, on 17 July and the Gozan Okuribi, lighting of fires on mountains to guide the spirits home, on 16 August.
Be thrilled with your digital photos when travelling to amazing travel destinations that offer so much to be photographed. This light-weight paper back Digital Photography book is a must for all keen photographers not wanting to waste great photo opportunities.
This guest post is by Angela Pearse. Angela is an Auckland-based travel writer who loves Italian travel destinations.
Ravello is a medieval hill-top town situated 1,500 feet above the Amalfi Coast in the region of Campania, Italy. It has a history of celebrity and artistic visitors: Wagner, Greta Garbo, Virginia Woolf, E.M Forster, Winston Churchill, to name a few.
Apart from the breath-taking views across the Gulf of Salerno, one of the main attractions is 13th century Villa Rufolo, whose terraced gardens inspired Wagner to write his final opera. Each July a classical music festival is held there in his honour. Villa Cimbrone is the other draw card, renowned for its six hectare gardens and the stunning Terrace of Infinity, a balcony with alabaster statues suspended over the ocean.
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