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.

JAPANESE FOOD AND DRINK-COUNTRY 53

There is so much choice in Japan....

For BREAKFAST?

Mr Sft looks shocked to be eating soup, noodles and sausages for breakfast.

For LUNCH?

Lunch with a view! Here...

Or here....

Maybe you fancy a MacDonalds?

Family Lunch

Lunch can be a thing of beauty.

The local dish from Hiroshima...very tasty!

WITH A DRINK?

National Japanese Beer-Kirin Beer brewed for Good Times!

All the best people drink it!

Or maybe a glass of Sake rice wine? Cheers Mr Sft !

Starbucks is very popular in Japan. I bought myself a special Japanese coffee holder in Kyoto

The vending machines go on and on and on...

Hot and cold drinks including..

My favourite Green Lemonade

Maybe AN AFTERNOON SNACK?

A GREEN TEA Kit-Kat

Sweets of all colours of the rainbow

DINNER

  

Sushi Conveyor Belt. Lean over and grab the dish you fancy.

  

Don't do Mr Sft!!

A Japanese Feast!

We also had the most delicious Indian Curry in Japan too!

Sft x

WHAT'S COMING UP? IN DECEMBER WE ARE OFF TO VIETNAM, LAOS AND THAILAND!

2014 has become a dream travel year for me.... 

As many of you know I did continue to travel when we were saving to pay off our mortgage but often it was a  worldwide trip every 2 years.

Don't get me wrong, that was still amazing and we were blessed we could afford to do so. 

I returned a few times to Southern Africa. Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia are amazing countries.

In those days I would never have thought of a day when I could have a travel challenge as clearing the mortgage was the most important thing. Looking beyond that seemed pointless.

We have been mortgage free for almost 2 years now. It is a great feeling and it was so worth the frugal times we had.

The frugal lifestyle has been modified now. We are still striving to save on the things that don't matter to afford our travel dreams.

And of course I can now dream about my travel future, and my blogging name SFT really does make sense. I am well aware that life is not my dress rehearsal and in the words of my favourite film it is important to get 'busy living'. That explains the goal being before I'm 50 so I get on with it! Even if I don't achieve it.

I feel incredibly lucky to be able to afford my travel goal. It's what I always wanted to be able to do in life. Already I feel rich with travel memories but I want to have as many more whilst I still can....

So as well as Morocco in October we are also going away in December this year to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand:

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HERE'S THE PLAN:

First we will fly to Vietnam-Explore Hanoi's old quarters then travel to Halong Bay.

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Halong Bay is now considered one of the seven wonders of the world. We will be staying overnight on one of the junks (traditional boats) that sail there.

We then return to Hanoi to catch a plane to Laos.

Our next adventure is to Luang Prabang, home to some of the most beautiful Buddhist temples.

   

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We then travel by boat along the Mekong River through Laos to Northern Thailand.

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Here we visit Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Hopefully visiting the Elephant Orphanage in Lampang..

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Then we head by train to the Thai capital of Bangkok. 

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This is a special ending for our trip as Mr Sft and I spent time in Bangkok when we first met each other. We have fond memories of shopping for a specially made to measure silk dragon shirt for him and dreaming of drinking beer on a hot day whilst sailing down the canals and then a nice lady turned up magically with thai beer for us to buy.

Vietnam is country 57 and since we are not seeing as much as we would wish we plan to return one day. 

Laos is country 58 and the main reason for this trip as it's been a mystery destination for a while.

Thailand won't count towards this challenge but who cares...it's such a beautiful country we are so looking forward to going back.

Which of these countries would you wish to go to?

Or if you have done so what was it like?

Sft x