A Japanese proverb states, “He who climbs Mount Fuji once is a wise man, he who climbs it twice is a fool.” I now rest comfortably in the sweet spot of that proverb. I’ve done just enough climbing to be wise, but not enough to be a fool. Success!

A cloud forms at the summit of Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan. At it’s peak, the mountain reaches a height of 3,776 meters. That’s 12,389 feet for anyone who likes unit conversion.

Retaining walls protect against erosion on the mountain caused by the mass number of annual climbers. Hundreds of thousands of people climb Fuji each year.

A group of colorful climbers takes a lunch break near the summit.

A climber surveys the cloudy view from near the top of Mount Fuji.

A woman places a coin in a torii gate just before reaching the peak of the mountain.

Emily Powell works her way through a cloud while descending Mount Fuji.

The massive Sky Tree rises over everything in Tokyo’s Sumida ward. Actually, it rises over most things. At 634.0 metres (2,080 ft), the Sky Tree is the world’s tallest tower and the second tallest structure in the world behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

A Tōbu Isesaki Line train passes in front of the tower. Though the Sky Tree has reached its final height, it won’t be fully completed until at least the end of 2011. When finished, the tower will be used for digital television broadcasting, but will also feature an observation deck and restaurant.

A man inspects the remaining stone base of a castle that once stood in what is now the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo. The castle was completed in 1638, but burned down only 19 years later. This stone base is all that remains.

Despite the rain, people enjoyed the blooming flowers in the gardens.

This building is a teahouse that can be used for traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.

A couple works to untangle a necklace in the gardens.

Though much smaller than Bangkok, the streets of Chiang Mai were still full of cars, tuk-tuks, and tons of motorbikes speeding through other traffic.

People offer incense at Wat Phra Singh, a temple within the oldest part of Chiang Mai. The original city center was contained by walls and a moat that remain to this day.

Joe Ryan walks through Wat Phan Tao, another temple within the city walls of Chiang Mai.

I took a cooking class at a farm on the outskirts of Chang Mai. Here our instructor watches a student use a mortar and pestle to grind garlic, beans and chilies to use in a papaya salad.

An Indian elephant native to Northern Thailand stares at me at an elephant camp in Chiang Mai. I got to feed the elephant bananas and sugar cane.

A driver leads his elephant into water to let the animal have a drink. If it’s not clear, I’m riding on the back of the elephant. It was pretty great. Also I call the guy a driver because he used to drive tuk-tuks. I guess driving an elephant is an improvement.

A monk walks along a pathway in the Wat Arun temple in Bangkok.

Matt Cartas writes a message on a roof tile at Wat Pho, a temple in Bangkok. Visitors could donate money to help refurbish the roof of a major building in the temple complex. Those who donated could write a note on the back of a tile.

A series of towers, or prang, dot a courtyard at Wat Pho. The temple complex also contains more than 1,000 statues and images of Buddha.

A monk reads a book in the courtyard of Wat Pho.

A girl investigates fruit in the Taling Chan floating market in Bangkok. Vendors ride boats filled with fresh food, and shoppers can buy the wares from a dock. I bought some delicious pork that was cooked on a boat.

A tourist and a beer promotor stage a fake boxing match on Khaosan Road in Bangkok. Khaosan Road is a tourist area filled with massage shops, restaurants, hostels, street vendors and fun. Yes, it’s very, very touristy. Oh well.

Another beer promotor on Khaosan Road wears some rather provocative boots while plugging her wares.

The bustle of Khaosan Road at night as seen from the balcony of a bar. Every good bar seemed to have an equally good cover band that played Western music from the 90s. The authentic Thai experience it was not.

A group of tourists lounges in front of the central tower of the Temple of the Dawn. The tower, started in 1809, is covered in sea shells and porcelain.

Josh Buck climbs the side of the main tower to reach a pair of terraces near the top. The tallest point on the tower is about 250 feet tall.

From the top terrace you can see another tower in the temple as well as the Chao Phraya River that runs through Bangkok.

Matt Cartas carefully descends the steep stairs that lead down from the top terrace. It was a little frightening, but as long as you didn’t look down, it wasn’t too bad.