I lived in Japan as a pre-teen in the late 1980’s. Japanese toilets are a memory that have stuck with me over the past 30 years. I remember “squatty potties”. I remember I needed to carry toilet paper. I remember being grossed out at the mess on the bathroom floor. Let me tell you, they…
Some believe the HMS Victory, the USS constitution and the Mikasa are the three most important and well known memorial ships. The Mikasa is docked in Yokosuka Japan and easy drive or train ride from the Center of Tokyo. For a Westerner, the Mikasa carries the history of a time not often studied. Built in…
Spring time in Japan is beautiful. It begins in March with a preamble of the blooming of the Plum trees. The main event is early April with the Sakura (Cherry Blossoms). This Spring I had the pleasure to attend 3 Hamuri (Spring festivals to celebrate and view the Cherry Blossoms). While the Cherry Blossoms are…
This past weekend I visited my first Onsen (natural hot water bath) . I loved it and would highly recommend it if visiting Japan. Here are some tips to get you started: Take your shoes off as soon as you enter the Onsen. You should see lockers or a place for your shoes. There will…
Let me start off with some honesty. I hate sports. In fact, regardless of who you are and where you are from – you will be hard pressed to find someone who cares less than I do. I have been to two football games in my life (I brought a book both times). I have…
As I have said before, my friend Walter is an amazing photographer. Check out some of his recent photos of Okinawa. Check out his page Spokenlight for more photos!
Tokyo is a massive city and figuring out where to start can be overwhelming. To get you going, I recommend a half day in Asakusa. Located in the “low city”, Asakusa is home to Sensoji, a 7th century Buddhist temple. The temple is an easy 5 minute walk from Asakusa station and is accessed by a…
I successfully made the move from Washington DC to Tokyo Japan just in time for Plum Blossoms in March and the Cherry Blossoms in April. But first things first, the easiest way to get around Japan regardless of the time of year, or how long you are here, is the subway. If you are only…
After spending a couple of days in Santo Domingo, we spent the rest of our Dominican vacation driving along the North Coast. While I am sorry I didn’t get to the East or South (yet), I wouldn’t have traded the time in the North for anything. We started in the North West (70 miles North…
The more I travel the more convinced I am there are no rules. I know there are a lot of books and blogs out there that will tell you differently. And I spend a lot of time reading them. I spend a lot of time thinking about the perfect packing list. But let’s face it,…
In several of my DC blogs, I recommend grabbing a bite to eat in a DC neighborhood… Here are a few of my favorites in Georgetown. Lady Camellia Tea – I am a tea snob and this is one of the best spots I’ve found in the US since leaving England more than a decade ago.…
I have been to the Newseum a few times over the last two decades and to be honest it was never my favorite. But I recently gave it another try. I was nostalgic to be leaving DC, trying to see and do as much as possible, and a friend gave me a free ticket. I…
