2003 Travel to Japan, Thailand
Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone, Bangkok, Chang Mai

Our original plan for spring 2003 was to spend few weeks in China. Because of the  "SARS" outbreak, the plan for visiting China and Hong Kong was droped. Because of the tour operator refused for a cash refund and we really needed a break after the long winter we decided to plan for something else. The destination then became Japan, Thailand and few days in Bali, Indonesia.

The itinerary start with the 16 hours flight cross the Pacific Ocean spend three days in Tokyo, Japan then evening bullet train to Kyoto, then back to Tokyo after a few days. From there we flew to Thailand. There was definitely a culture shock between Japan and Bangkok's airport services. One cannot compare to the other but as a tourist, we suppose accept the local custom and respect local people's daily life, after all, we are the visitor.

The URL on the right hand side will bring you to each city we have visited. I apologize for the quality of the picture. It was my first digital camera, a P&P Sony DSC-S85 and it was the first  time I use this machine on a long trip with minimum origination with the camera setting. I have the camera set on aperture priority at F2.8 for the entire trip until the last day of the trip then I realize "A" means Aperture not idiot prove "Automatic" . The result, over exposure for almost every images. Fortunately with digital images you can give it a "face lift" with those photo  imaging software, industry called it digital darkroom.

1. April, 2003 - Tokyo Japan

2. April, 2003 - Kyoto Japan

3. April, 2003 - Hakone, Japan

4. May, 2003 - Chang Mai, Bangkok - Thailand