I've been traveling around Japan for the past few weeks whilst on holidays. The highlight was definitely Kyoto where it snowed. It only snows there 4-5 times a year so we were very lucky to be there. I went on the Shinkansen (bullet train) to get there - the fastest one (Nozomi) goes 300km per hour. It feels like flying and is a wonderful way to travel. I saw maiko (girls training to be gaiko / geishas) outside the ryokan (Japanese inn) where we were staying. I've taken many onsen (Japanese baths), both inside and outdoors - pure heaven. The public ones (women only) were very sensual - I'm sure that originally they probably weren't 'bath houses'... just like some steam rooms aren't really just steam rooms! I've heard Hideki Togi play (he comes from a long line of Imperial Court Musicians)... I've seen World Champion Ice-Skater Shizuka Arakawa (I've always had a thing 4 ice-skating...oh to write some music for that arena:-)... and I met a hero of mine, children's book writer and illustrator extraordinaire, Mr Satoshi Kitamura, a real honour. You can click on the photos and it will take you to my flickr site where there's a few more. Happy 2007 (Year of the Wild Boar) to all...
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