Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
I honestly had no idea how much I’d fall in love with Northern Thailand. It was my first time in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. I was completely blown away. So close in proximity yet different in atmosphere and experience – I’m stinging to see more of the magical area. Whether seeking relaxation, pampering […]
Japanese Homestyle Cooking Class
Learn to cook Japanese home style dishes with Japanophile food and travel writer Jane Lawson at the Cooks Cooking School in Bowral – March 21 & 22 2018
Rarotonga Longer
A couple of months ago I wrote a story about the little paradise of Rarotonga for Escape.com.au. We had a stupendously relaxing time on the tropical south Pacific island, so much so that I could have kept writing about it for days… But you know, the sensible editorial folk at Escape will only allow a writer […]
Ten Reasons to Winter in Japan
People who know me well also know that I yearn for the winter months in the way many people pine for hot summer days. And it turns out I’m not as much of an enigma as fellow Aussies would have me believe. Most people who join our winter cuisine and culture tours (check out the wonderful […]
Heavenly Hayashi
Once again I’ve stolen an old post from my other blog eatspeakjl.blogspot.com to share with you a ryotei (traditional restaurant serving Kaiseki cuisine) I ate at around 7 or 8 years ago in Kyoto… I really can’t believe it was that long ago because I still remember the meal so fondly. I’m not sure if […]
OHARA and Sanzen-in
I like to visit Ohara as regularly as I can. It’s just north of Kyoto city – about an hour in the bus from Kyoto station but feels so much further away. I love the local farming atmosphere and the greenery but the main reason I venture to Ohara is to visit Sanzen in (temple) […]
Bizen Pottery
Disclaimer – this post was stolen from our other blog (eatspeakjl.blogspot.com) and was written in 2015 – but we just stumbled across it and thought we’d share! Recently (please see above!) we took a short visit to Kurashiki and Okayama city from Kyoto. From Okayama city we rode the very short yellow train below to the sleepy […]
Reine Des Pres
Reine Des Pres, a pocket sized French Restaurant in Kyoto, is particularly popular with ladies who lunch and couples who give each other perfect red roses on Valentine’s Day. It’s situated a little north of the main city hub in a street that runs south from Marutamachi dori. Just east of Kawaramachi dori. The venue […]
Korakuen Garden Okayama
Okayama is famous for its castle (peeking over the shoulder of the tree on the right in the image below), sweet, sweet summer peaches, the story of Momotaro – the Peach Boy), Bizen ceramic ware, various citrus fruit and this spectacular garden –Korakuen – ranked as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. To be […]
