This week, I need to download a bit of stuff on Kyoto, including train timetables and guidebook kinda stuff that I need refreshed in my mind after more than 20 years away from this beautiful historic city! I remember a lot of things generally, but just want to have a lot of the bus-train-taxi interchange protocols a little clearer. As it is our intention to go as "native" as possible and use some language skills to avoid the big tourist traps and find some hidden gold, it's necessary to do a bit of ground work. We've booked a week's stay at this little house in the amazing Gion district in inner Kyoto and will travel through the city and beyond from this little haven. It will be interesting to see how Cass likes the traditional futon, kotatsu and ofuro amongst other things! Lots of adventures await.
Cass spent the entire week, and the best part of last week after work writing reports: she has to write 100! I spent the entire weekend in a "support" role watching lots of cricket and UFC while researching our trips. We got pizzas for tea on Saturday night and were unable to drag ourselves out at any other time. Cass did have her book club on Friday night as a small reprieve and reported a delightful dinner, good wine and company and a very Christmasy atmosphere at Sherri's place. She's due to host the next event early in the New Year.
We're planning to visit Nara, Hiroshima and Miyajima from Kyoto, so have both got ourselves a Japan Rail Pass for the week. I was tempted to go a little farther afield and get back up to Nagano for a visit, but we'll leave that till next time...we're so close, that we should get back there a few more times yet. Our plan for the second week is altogether different: after a week testing our down jackets in the Japanese winter, we'll be back to Taiwan for our second great round-the-island driving adventure. My other plan this week is to investigate a possible itinerary, or a vague plan at least, as we're just back in Taipei for Christmas Day before we plan on leaving again. We might even hit the expressways on the 25th if we cant find a decent Christmas dinner at one of the restaurants in town: 7/11s or roadside petrol stations for Christmas dinner would certainly be different!
I have to get some emission tests done on my scooter, pay for a new license and also investigate some e-tags for the car before we leave as well, so our week will be busy, busy. Throw in an ESL meeting for me today, a faculty meeting tomorrow and a steering committee dinner out for Cass tomorrow night and we'll be flat out. Lily will come mid-week to get her instructions for cat minding and Daniel the driver will be booked for the trip to the airport. I'll also meet our travel agent Mark on Thursday to pay for our next trip: Thailand for late March/early April!
Photos: Mel and Fe at the rugby last month, Morgan and Cat at Alleycats music night, four people immersed in their digital worlds on the subway (we're in the reflection if you look closely), Gurecki admiring his contract, and a cute backpack heading out of school one day. Not much blog action for a few weeks, but then we'll have both a Japan and a Taiwan report. Happy Christmas! (and by popular request-Valerie!- a short Christmas tree video)