Sun 21^st.  Went shopping in Ginza, visited the Imperial Palace, had dinner in Roppongi.

View of the Imperial Palace from the Grand Palace hotel.	The approach to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Mon 22^nd. Business meeting with Fujitsu. Went to Shakey's for lunch in Shinjaku and moved to Asia Centre, had dinner there. 

Kyoto and Nara, Japan

Wed 24^th. Visited the Higashi-Honganji temple, Nishi-Hoganji and Nijo Castle.  Moved to the Rich hotel.

The gardens in Nijo castle, Kyoto.	The Kiyomizu (clear water) temple in Kyoto.  No problem drinking the water!

Thur 25^th. Visited the Kiyomizu temple, went through the back streets via the tea shop with a pond of huge coy carp to Kodaiji temple, visited Yasaka Shrine. Went to the Gion Corner traditional theatre.

	Above left:  The great bell at Kiyomizu temple, Kyoto. Above:  The coy carp pond at the tea shop near Kodaiji temple, Kyoto. Left:  Yasaka shrine, Kyoto.

Fri 26^th. Visited Nara: went to the deer park, Kofukuji, Todaiji temple (the biggest wooden building in the world) and Kasuga shrine.

Above and right:  The picturesque Kasuga shrine at Nara, near Kyoto.

Sat 27^th. Visited Kiyomizu (in the early morning), Ryozon Kama, Nijo castle and Kinka-Kuji (golden pavilion) temple.

Kinka-Kuji, the golden pavilion temple, Kyoto.

Sun 28^th. Returned to Tokyo and flew to Sydney. 

Sydney, Australia

Tues 30^th. Looked round Sydney - the Rocks district and Circular Quay. Had Chinese takeaway for dinner. 

Thur 1^st Aug. Had lunch up the tower and a tour round the opera house. Another Indian meal for dinner.

The classic picture of Sydney - the Opera House.

Cairns and Kurunda, Australia

Fri 2^nd. Packed and flew to Cairns. 

Feeding the kangaroos at Wild World in Cairns.	A friendly looking fellow at Wild World.

Sun 4^th. Got the train up to Kuranda, had a meal at an Italian restaurant.

On the Kurunda railway.	The Grand Hotel, opposite Cairns railway station.

Mon 5^th. Sheila and Jamie did a bungee jump. Had a meal at Jardine's restaurant at the Cairns Colonial Club. 

Mon 12^th. Got the launch back to Gladstone, had a look round and then flew to Brisbane. Had a steak at Brekkie Creek Hotel. 

Sydney again

Wed 14^th. Went to Taronga Zoo. Had brunch at an Italian, evening meal at the Satay Skewer.

View of Sydney across the harbour from Taronga Zoo.

Thur 15^th. Went to Manly and Chinatown. Had a drink at the Lord Nelson, meal at the Indian Empire. 

Bangkok, Thailand

Sat 17^th to Mon 19^th.  Arranged our visit to Laos with Deithelm Travel, then visited the Raja hotel (where we stayed many years before).  Got a boat down the canal to as near to the centre as possible, then a tuk tuk to the Royal Palace and a boat from the pier there to the Oriental Hotel. Had tea in the Authors' Lounge. Dinner at the Ambassador food market. 

Inside Wat Pra Keo, the temple by the royal palace in Bangkok.

Vientianne, Laos

Tue 20^th. Flew to Vientianne and had a city tour - Wat Si Sacket, Wat Pra Keo, Pha That Luang temple, the market and That Dam Stupa. Had a drink in the Fountain restaurant. Stayed at Lane-Xang hotel overlooking the Mekong river.

Pha That Luang temple in Vientianne, Laos.

Wed 21^st. Had a day tour to Vang Sang sanctuary, lunch at Ban Thalat, boat trip on Nam Ngum lake, the salt works at Ban Koen and the deer park. Got soaked on the ferry. Had a drink overlooking the Mekong river and dinner at the hotel. 

The 'Mon' ethnic people's market on Route 13 between Vientiane and Mam Ngum, Laos.
Loading fish at Nam Ngum lake, Laos.	Traffic congestion at Ban Koen, Laos.

Bangkok and Ayuthaya, Thailand

Thur 22^nd. Flew to Bangkok and had an Indian meal. 

	Above and left:  Temples at Ayuthaya (names as per the file names!)

Sat 24^th. Sheila went shopping at Thai Damaru and the Central department store, then we flew to London.

If you would like to read about our other travels, please click here .....