FUTURE TRAVEL-WHERE AND WHY?-TUNISIA-COUNTRY 60

Hi Everyone!

Hope you enjoyed yesterday's Japan post. There will be a weekly post about past travel and a weekly post for future travel-starting with today:

So much to look forward to! Let's start with this year:

Tunisia
Tunisia is not too far away if you live in England-about 3 hours 15 minutes. We are flying from our local airport which is about 20 minutes away from where we live. We have only been able to use this airport once before for a flight to Italy so we are very happy to do so again.



Despite its close proximity to England, Tunisia, a bit like Morocco, feels like a long haul destination. It has always been on my radar because it's close, exotic and a relatively cheap place to visit.

When we had to change our trip to Brazil, we had a option to make next year's trip a greater adventure by visiting the wildlife (especially the birds) at the Amazon Rainforest and the Pantanal. So we wanted to save as much money as possible for that. Hence Tunisia came to mind!

We decided the cheapest way to go was an All inclusive Hotel. We have never stayed at one before, however on a practical level we know that all meals and drinks are covered for the time we are there. Exceptions will arise when we go on excursions but we will take money to cover that.


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Talking of excursions:

Atlas Mountains-Stopping at Traditional Berber villages, where homes are carved into rock, and livings are made by farming and rug weaving.


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El Djem, the world’s third biggest Roman amphitheatre-30,000-seater colosseum and you’re instantly transported to the days of the gladiators. Expect goosebumps as you enter its underground tunnel, where slaves and animals were kept before entering the arena.



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Honey-stoned Ribat fortress, which played a starring role as the wall in the movie ‘Life of Brian’.


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Grand Mosque-Kairouan


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Ancient Roman Sites
Roman City of Utica-one of the oldest in Northern Africa.
Carthage-home to warrior Hannibal. Amphitheatre, Villas and Baths.
Dougga-UNESCO World Heritage Site-Temples, Theatres, Shops.




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Have you been to Tunisia?

Sft x

JAPAN-COUNTRY 54-EXPLORING KYOTO-including the GOLDEN TEMPLE!

We stayed in a beautiful hotel in Kyoto, in a great, central location. I loved the origami birds left on our dressing gowns.



We had a great day visiting the following places. Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and is full of temples and other interesting sites.
1. NIJO CASTLE
I was very excited about going here as it was a SHOGUN Castle, built in the 17th Century. I loved the rooftops of the castle.


The carvings on the gate way were just stunning.








I wasn't able to take photos inside the castle but have been able to find these pictures of the beautiful wall panels which surrounded the meeting rooms and bedrooms (in Google images). Others were decorated with paintings of tigers, trees, rivers, peacocks and other birds.



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The castle had gorgeous gardens. I loved seeing the Japanese photographing the beautiful blossom trees.



2. TENRYRUJI TEMPLE
We caught the bus then underground train to the next temple. I spotted this poster for 1 DIRECTION (for Suze).

I loved the scrolls on the temple's rooftops.

Beautiful gardens. I loved this bridge.

Bamboo Forest at the temple.



3. DASHIMESHI SET Lunch at OBU Cafe. Lovely spot on the terrace.



4. RYOANJI 'ZEN' TEMPLE-Lovely walk to the temple over this bridge.





5. Next we took the overland train to Ryoanji 'Zen' Temple to see the 'ZEN GARDEN'.


6. Last stop of the day: KINKAKUJI TEMPLE-THE GOLDEN PAVILLION





Then back in Kyoto

6. GEISHA DISTRICT in Kyoto

The Golden Temple was my favourite that day!

What about you?

Sft x

WHAT IS COMING UP IN 2015-BACK TO THE CHALLENGE-SORRY FOR BEING ABSENT

Apologies

So sorry to have been AWOL from this blog for a while. I am now very much focused back on this challenge. I will be answering any comments left by lovely people who have visited and hope you will want to leave more!

The 2015 Plan for the Blog:

Will be looking back and a lot of looking forward:

• 2014 was one of the best years I have ever had for travel. A combination of being mortgage free (e.g. finances) and the shock of genuinely realizing my life is NOT a dress rehearsal made me travel to lots of wonderful countries. I will be blogging more about Japan, as well as the other wonderful countries I visited last year: Malta, Russia, Morocco, Vietnam, Laos and Vietnam.

THE MEKONG RIVER-DECEMBER 2014

• 2015 will another exciting year-Tunisia, Malaysia, Singapore, Israel, Palestine. So lots of saving and planning for these trips.

JULY/AUGUST 2015-CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE AMAZING PETRONAS TOWERS-Google Images

• Planning forwards-I will be sharing the countries I want to visit to make 100- by 50 (it will include my 50th year). A lot of thought has gone into these. Although I am sure that plans will change.

For Christmas we were given place mats with this quote on them. Things sort of made sense for me then:

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I hope you will be able to join me for travels.

Sft x

MOROCCO HERE I COME! OFF TO COUNTRY 57 OF 100!

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Tomorrow evening I am travelling to Morocco! This trip fits nicely into my half term holiday from School.  Here is my route:



It will be a pretty basic tour, travelling by public transport and staying in budget accommodation. 
I'm sure there will be plenty of stories to tell upon my return.

Recent update: You may have noticed that I have added some more countries to the list. These should all go ahead and will bring my total up to 67!

Sft x

JAPAN -COUNTRY 53-A TRIP ON THE BULLET TRAIN and the BLOSSOM AT KIYOMIZUDERA TEMPLE

So exciting waiting for the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to arrive!

Mr Sft on the train. Yes people wear those masks everywhere!

Treated to another beautiful view of Mount Fuji from the train.

Arriving at Kyoto Station. Beautiful architecture and the longest escalator I've ever seen!

 Beautiful Fans for sale.

KIYOMIZUDERA TEMPLE

Children visit the temple to celebrate the Cherry Blossom festival.

Mr Sft and beautiful Japanese ladies.

Would you like to take a ride on the bullet train?

Sft x

JAPAN COUNTRY 53-SEEING MOUNT FUJI AND STAYING IN A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE GUEST HOUSE

There was no guarantee that you will see Mount Fuji when you visit Japan. So we were keeping everything crossed!

And we were rewarded with a beautiful day! Here is our 'photo' of the trip with Mount Fuji in the background.

Then we took the cable car for more views.

Afterwards we went for a sail across Lake Ashi. It was strange that the boat was a Pirate Ship but it brought out the child in us!

Beautiful view with Shinto Gate. 

  

Later on Mr Sft went for a walk.

I caught the public bus and went to a Sculpture Park.

Above and below: 2 of my favourite Sculptures.

Here is the Traditional Japanese Inn we stayed in. 

       

After our hot bath we dressed in our traditional robes. Our futons were very comfortable.