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buddhist temple

Kinakuji golden temple Kyoto Japan

Japan: Kyoto – Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu Dera temple

Date: 23rd March, 2015

After returning from Fushimi Inari-tasiha, I took the train to Kiatoji station and from there I inquired how to get to Kinaku-ji temple. Fortunately there is a tourism help desk with an English-speaking staff to assist, and I was instructed to take bus 204.

Kitaoji bus station Kyoto Japan
The bus bays are like this. Each door is reserved for specific buses, and it only opens when the bus has arrived at the door.
Bus 204 to Kinakuji Kyoto Japan
I had to wait around 10 minutes for the 204
Inside Kyoto bus 204 Japan
The bus fare was ¥230 (₹120/$1.8/€1.7)
Kinakuji entrance Kyoto Japan
From the bus stop, you have to walk for at least 10 minutes to get to the ticket counter
Kinakuji ticket booklet Kyoto Japan
The entry fee to Kinaku-ji costs ¥400 (₹215/$3.26/€3)
Kinakuji panorama Kyoto Japan
As you enter the main grounds, you can see the Kinaku-ji temple in the distance
Kinakuji reflection pond Kyoto Japan
I swapped lenses and took a close up shot of the Golden pavilion
Kinakuji golden temple Kyoto Japan
The Kinaku-ji is one of the most famous Zen Buddhism shrines in all of Japan. Iconic due to its golden exterior and its location in a pond.

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Clouds rivers out to sea Phuket

Thailand: Flying to Chiang Mai; views from Doi Suthep

Date: 22nd November 2012

We had our hotel book us a van taxi to take us to Phuket airport. Our Air Asia flight was at 10:35am, and even though the van taxi had to pick up other passengers, we all got to the airport on time. We didn’t have breakfast, so the Dunkin Donuts at the departures area was where we stopped first after checking-in and collecting our boarding passes.

Air Asia Phuket flight interiors
It’s been a while since I flew Air Asia
Flying over Chiang Mai Thailand
There weren’t any delays and the flight left on time
Phuket tributary Thailand from sky
Goodbye sun and sand
Archipelago Phuket islands from sky
Quite an archipelago

Clouds rivers out to sea PhuketRivers out to sea Phuket aerial view

Clouds over hills Thailand
One and half hours later, we were flying over Chiang Mai province

We landed on time, and ready and waiting for our arrival was the driver assigned to pick us up from Chiang Mai international airport. The driver was courtesy of Rux Thai, the hotel we were staying at. Rux Thai is where I first stayed at when I came to Chiang Mai in 2009, and again when I returned in 2010. Needless to say, I booked at Rux Thai a third time after I e-mailed them and got a good deal (฿500 per night) for a twin room on the ground floor for three nights. Continue reading “Thailand: Flying to Chiang Mai; views from Doi Suthep” »

Sanctuary of Truth temple Pattaya

Thailand: The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya

Date: 16th November 2012

Today’s plan was to rent a bike and drive to the Sanctuary of Truth, and later, to the far end of Jomtien beach.

Chaba Hut resort restaurant
I had my breakfast at the hotel itself
ChabaHut resort Pattaya pool
The pool faces the posher rooms

After breakfast, I inquired about bike rentals at the hotel reception.

Rental bikes Pattaya Thailand
Chaba Hut Resort themselves had several bikes for rent. But NONE of them would start, or had some problem or the other.
Honda Click rental bike Pattaya
Tired of waiting, I ended up renting a Honda Click from a restaurant just outside the hotel
Mooks Pattaya road
I carried a map with me and highlighted the route
Tourist vans pattaya
I had to get on a small road just off Pattaya Naklua Road
Pattaya apartment building
I did get lost at times, but I always stopped and asked around for directions
Road to Sanctuary of Truth
Most locals don’t know about the ‘Sanctuary of Truth,’ so you need to ask for Wat Prasat Mai or Wang Boran instead.
Sanctuary of Truth entrance Pattaya
This is the entrance to the Sanctuary of Truth

Continue reading “Thailand: The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya” »

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