Author Archives: Jim Buell

Nepal

My first stop after leaving my life in Japan was Nepal. I spent my time in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Kathmandu was bustling, charming and at times overwhelming. Life seemed to spill out everywhere. Pokhara was more laid-back, offering chances to relax or … Continue reading

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Under the Gates

In my last week in Japan, I spent a couple days in Fukuoka on Japan’s Kyushu island. The city is famous for tonkotsu ramen of which I ate three bowls over the course of about 24 hours. No regrets. While … Continue reading

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Japan in Summer

Summer vacation this year took me down to the cities of Osaka and Nara in the middle of Japan, and then up to the northern island of Hokkaido. We camped, slept in capsules, dug out hot springs, barbecued, rowed across … Continue reading

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Bouldering on the Beach

The highlight of my trip to Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, was bouldering next to the ocean. I’ve been bouldering in a gym in Tokyo for more than a year now, but this was the first time I’ve done it outside … Continue reading

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Summer in the Southern Hemisphere

I can cross one more continent off my list: Australia. Though I was confused by Christmas trees set up under balmy weather, and spent a considerable amount of time trying to avoid deadly snakes and insects, I found Australia to … Continue reading

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Kamikochi

The mountainous valley of Kamikochi sits high in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture in what some call the Japan Alps. Surrounded by mountain peaks, the highland area features beautiful ponds, a peaceful shrine, and leisurely hiking trails.  A number of dead trees … Continue reading

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Awa Odori Festival

Dancers and musicians perform at the Awa Odori festival in Koenji in Tokyo on Sunday, August 26. The dance festival is part of the summer Obon celebrations in Japan in which Japanese honor the spirits of their ancestors. There are … Continue reading

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Angkor

A thousand years ago, visiting the region of Angkor in Cambodia might have been equivalent to visiting New York today – it might have felt like it was the center of the world. Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city in … Continue reading

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All the World for a Drink

A delicious “reverse manhattan” made with chili-infused vermouth at Fuglen, a new cocktail bar near Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. That is all. Back to the drink.

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Islands in the Sun

Sunscreen and sunglasses. Sand and sandals. Coconuts and crabs. Ahh the beach. The beautiful Philippine island Palawan played host to my recent relaxing vacation. Coconut trees dominate the coastline of Palawan. A local man helps guide a boat towards land … Continue reading

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