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Collection of Japanese signs Were just back from a couple of very enjoyable weeks in Japan and Ill post several stories from our trip on here in the coming weeks. For now I thought Id quickly share some of the funny Japanese signs and strange English translations we encountered on our way around the country. I should stress that the fact that signs are in English at all is a great help, especially in a country with so few English speakers and still a largely domestic tourist market. And the translations, funny as they are, do ensure that the signs get more attention than they would otherwise receive. Perhaps its all part of a very clever plan Vigorously a good sign Cow cross a street this street in particular Nobody likes a crowed room I decided I probably shouldnt have been there No entry for big-footed people again, I decided I shouldnt have been there Logic you cant argue with The whole of northern Japan was a Play with Snow...

Zenkoji Temple in Nagano: The High Priestess and the Bumbling Idiot Im never at my best first thing in the morning. Wed woken early at our temple lodgings in the Zenkoji temple complex in Nagano. The accommodation in the two-storey wooden house had been basic but the hospitality typically warm. Fearful that the winter nights in such an old place would be uncomfortably cold Id packed the warmest nightwear I could gather, only to find that as in the modern hotels in which wed stayed elsewhere in Japan, cold weather outside means extreme heat inside. On this night however, the night-time toilet run involved a journey along the wooden corridor, down the steep rickety staircase and through a communal washing area, all of which were closer to the temperatures in the snow-covered street outside. We shuffled in the morning gloom to the nearby temple for the 7am morning prayers, passing two monks carrying umbrellas along the way. Snow had been falling steadily for the last two d...

A visit to the Japanese snow monkeys Everyone loves monkeys. Actually no, thats not strictly true. While many people coo at the sight of seeing our distant cousins pulling funny faces, most of us consider them a pest when they get up to their usual mischief and try to separate us from our snacks and loose camera gear. The macaques that come to bathe in the hot springs at Jigokudani (known to one and all as the Japanese snow monkeys) are uncharacteristically well-behaved. Its almost as if their Japanese environment has rubbed off on them. We spent an hour by the hot pool observing these curious creatures interact and there wasnt a single incidence of theft. In fact on several occasions the younger monkeys leapt within inches of their human visitors, generally acting as if we werent there as they brushed our legs before scuttling up the hillside. Leaving Sam to snap the pictures that Ive shared here, I was free to observe as youngsters squabbled noisily to the visible disapprov...

Sea eagles, Owls and Cranes Japanese winter birds Stellers sea eagle looking mean Japan has several claims to fame as a travel destination, but relatively few people think of the country as a wildlife destination. Fewer still choose to brave the bone-chilling temperatures on the northern island of Hokkaido to see the birdlife which is drawn to this harsh winter climate. Yet there we were, certainly not self-confessed birdwatchers, standing in temperatures below -10C and gazing at a succession of flying giants. Perhaps Id be stretching the truth to say we were so impressed by the sight of these birds that we forgot about the chill. That said, when I think back to watching the sea eagles on the drift ice of the Sea of Okhotsk, my over-riding memory is of the majestic birds in flight and not of the many layers Id piled on to see them. So, heres a gallery of Japanese winter birds from our trip to Hokkaido in February. The Stellers Sea Eagles (the black and white birds with y...

Japanese Winter Festivals in photos Its been a few months since we visited Japan to experience the winter festivals, but I thought Id share a few of our photos from our time on Hokkaido, Japans northern island. We spent a week in the main city of Sapporo, where the annual festival attracts around 2 million people. We then headed north to the drift ice on the Sea of Okhotsk, visiting more festivals along the way. What struck us, apart from the bitter cold, was the way in which the festivals involved a lot more than merely staring at ice and snow sculptures, however impressive they were. At each site there was something to do that inevitably had you covered in snow, whether it was throwing yourself down a giant slide or getting towed by a snowmobile in an inflatable raft. A winter trip to see the Japanese winter festivals had long been on my wish list and the experience didnt disappoint. A word of advice to anyone heading out: pack plenty of layers and bring the best gloves y...

Daylight robbery at Laos Cambodian border: not worth the fighting I have crossed several borders overland in recent years, and even now there is a strange sense of excitement and apprehension as I approach the border guards. They have it in their power to make life very difficult for someone, and it is always my hope that that someone will not be me that day. We approached the Cambodian border with southern Laos at around 2pm on a hot December afternoon. There was no-one in sight, and as the Lao driver who had brought us on the final stretch of road to the border waved us off, we walked to the Lao departure point, an old wooden hut holding the final Lao flag that we would see on our trip. One dollar the surly official said, and then added two people, two dollar. I had read about these processing fees and was not too surprised, but wanted to query him further. I got an irritated stare when I asked him what the dollar was for, and following a subtle kick from my wife Sam under the...

Northern Cambodia: River dolphins, pyjama people and the karaoke bus I wish wed had more time to spend in Cambodia. The little we saw of it was captivating, and the warmth of the people along with the delicious Khmer cuisine meant that we were sorry to leave when we did. I am grateful at least that we did get to see a little of the north of the country, through our decision to take the road trip from the Lao border to Phnom Penh. The road itself is decent, and our speed varied between 80 km/h in a car to a very scary 130km/hr in a big passenger bus. The road passes through many neglected overgrown fields, and at closer inspection its easy to see why they are derelict. Signs by the roadside warn passers by not to enter the fields due to the mortal danger of landmines. Yet another stark reminder of the tragic legacy this part of the world still suffers. Stung Treng Our first overnight stop was Stung Treng, a small sleepy town on the banks of the Mekong. We arrived in late af...