(Dec. 21-31, 2023) This is the 2nd time I visited Vietnam. I have visited Southern Vietnam (only Ho Chi Ming & Nha Trang) once over 10 years ago. This time I wanted to visit Central and Northern Vietnam instead. It was a Christmas trip to celebrate myself and my best friend’s 45th birthday. DA NANG… Continue reading (Vietnam) Christmas Trip @ Da Nang, Hanoi, Da Nang and Sapa
Author: Astra
(Japan) Night visit to Ouchi-juku
Nov. 3, 2024 Ouchi-juku is a traditional Japanese town since Edo period. It is near the national highway 121, about 100km from Nikko. It is a popular tourist spot because the street is full of Japanese old style houses with roof made of thick layers of straw. It is as if you have returned to… Continue reading (Japan) Night visit to Ouchi-juku
(Japan) Walk around Tsurugajo Palace and Aizu-Wakamatsu area
Nov. 3, 2023 Tsurugajo Castle is another popular place to visit in Fukushima Prefecture. Although this area has a history as old as the Sengoku Period (1467 – 1568) up to the end of the Edo Period (1868), the palace was reformed and not so old. Only the tall stone walls are ancient, and actually… Continue reading (Japan) Walk around Tsurugajo Palace and Aizu-Wakamatsu area
(Japan) Walk around Goshikinuma Pond
Nov. 3, 2023 Goshikinuma Pond means five colorerd ponds. It is located near the Jododaira area in Fukushima Prefecture. The whole area is full of nature and varieties of trees. At this time of the year, we could see Autumn leaves everywhere. Also, the local stores were selling many local products such as wild mushrooms… Continue reading (Japan) Walk around Goshikinuma Pond
(Japan) Hike around the crater of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji
Nov. 3, 2023 When people heard about Fukushima Prefecture, they often only think about the Great Earthquake, Tsunami and failure of Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. However, Fukushima consists of not only the coastline area, but also the mountainous area, which consists of volcanos, wetlands, peaks, ponds and hotsprings. This time we drove to Mt.… Continue reading (Japan) Hike around the crater of Mt. Azuma-Kofuji
(Japan) Gravel Cycling @Atsugi
Oct. 28, 2023 Atsugi is just a regular city in the Kanagawa Prefecture, but there is a big Sagami river running through it, also a city park called Sagamisansen Park there, so on a sunny weekend we decided to take our gravel bikes for a little off-road ride. We rode along the riverbank. Some part… Continue reading (Japan) Gravel Cycling @Atsugi
(Japan) Cycling around Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchiko
May 29, 2021 Lake Kawaguchiko is one of the popular tourist spot around Mt. Fuji, because it has many beautiful spots. It was actually a long time ago when we brought our MTB to cycle around there, but there were some favorite places that I still remember now, so I dig into my old photos… Continue reading (Japan) Cycling around Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchiko
Differences between Japan and Korea (in the eyes of a traveller)
I have always thought that Japan and Korea is so similar, in terms of culture, languages, foods, environment… That was why I picked Korea as the destination of my 1st overseas bikepacking trip. However, in just a few days, I found several interesting differences that I would like share. Korea is one of the few… Continue reading Differences between Japan and Korea (in the eyes of a traveller)
(Korea) Bikepacking around Jeju (Part 3)
Oct. 12-16, 2023 I stayed at this guesthouse because I read from reviews on google map that it includes very rich homemade breakfast. Although I had to wait till 8AM for breakfast, it well worths it! The breakfast was buffet style of many different Korean pickled vegetables, handmade (some even handpicked) by the hostess. Also,… Continue reading (Korea) Bikepacking around Jeju (Part 3)
(Korea) Bikepacking around Jeju (Part 2)
Oct. 12-16, 2023 Next day, my breakfast was self-cooked eggs and bread again. This time I made 3 eggs. The eggs in Jeju seems fresh, so almost like fake! And then, I left the little town, passing fishing port and the view of Hallasan, and headed east. At the top of a slope, I wanted… Continue reading (Korea) Bikepacking around Jeju (Part 2)