When you're wandering around some of the bigger tourist attractions in Kobe there are plenty of shops selling tat for tourists. Some of it might be "nice", but most of it is fairly hideous, much as what you'd find if you were to head to the Blarney Stone or out to Bunratty Castle. However there are some gems out there, so it's worth keeping your eyes open. But for the … [Read more...] about Chopsticks, Soy Sauce and Crockery
Blending Modern and Ancient in Kyoto
Unlike many Japanese cities Kyoto was able to escape most of the bombing during the Second World War, so there are quite a few areas of the city that are full of quite old buildings. The streets in some of these areas are narrow and the architectural style has a certain grace to it. But this is Japan, where modern and old combine. While in the central shopping districts of … [Read more...] about Blending Modern and Ancient in Kyoto
The Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji
I'm currently enjoying a few days in Japan prior to attending a business meeting. I'll be talking further about the trip in detail, but I wanted to highlight a couple of things that I've seen on my trip so far. Yesterday I was at "The Golden Pavilion" or "Kinkakuji". It's a Buddhist temple which sits beside a small lake on the outskirts of Kyoto. It's beautiful and the way … [Read more...] about The Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji
Heading to Japan for a Holiday
I'll be in Japan for the upcoming ICANN meeting, so I decided that I'd take advantage of that trip to have a holiday. I've never been to Japan and I've no idea when I'll get back there, so it seemed like a good idea. As with my trip to Peru last year I chose to use the guys at Jacada Travel to organise it for me. I contacted them about the trip months ago and finalised it … [Read more...] about Heading to Japan for a Holiday
Politics and Money
In most European countries there are fairly tight limits around political donations. I couldn't donate more than a couple of hundred Euro to a party or politician even if I wanted to. In the US, however, things are very different and political donations are on a totally different scale, as are the rules that govern them. … [Read more...] about Politics and Money