Three days ... just three little days.

Just three days to go until this is my first real view of Japan at Narita Intl Airport. With almost 6 hours of layover, I will definitely be leaving the airport to take the subway to the town of Narita, 10 minutes away, to have supper and take in some sights of the Naritasan-ji Temple before returning to check in for my last flight leg to Kuala Lumpur. I am soooooo pumped, it's literally beyond words. I imagine a table full of goodies and gorging like a complete glutton. And really, why would it not be that way - I travel for food more than for most other reasons. :) Now to make it through the next few days... HURRY UP FRIDAY!

I have to be insane, really...

Well, the universe has smiled upon me today - I came across a VERY cheap flight from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap, Cambodia and just couldn't say no to it. $150 return to KUL/REP. And with Angkor Wat just 10 minutes from everything in Siem Reap, it's going to be amazing! :) Hostels are cheap, private rooms at less than $20 for two nights. Yeah, there is the entry and exit fees to pay, but its only like $40 - I can live with that for a chance to walk Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. And that's all I plan to do - soak up the atmosphere of these pristine places of engineering marvels.

So that makes four countries during a two week trip to Asia now: Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Japan. Really wish I had a third week to space this stuff out, but I've done the amazing race before and will again without hesitation. My heart is pumping and my camera is getting itchy. Cannot wait for next week to get here so I can get on that big ole jet airliner. :)

Soon, but not soon enough!

Two weeks to go!

Been some time since last update - life getting hectic these last few weeks, it happens. But yes, coming into the home stretch before departure! Have everything in place for my travels overseas; hotels, flights, all of the good stuff. Still have a few small items to take care of before leaving for Asia - power adapters being on the top of that list.

Finally upgraded from my aging bridge camera (Fuji Finepix s5200) to a full DSLR (Canon T3). Granted, I have only the kit lens and a zoom lens for now, but the quality is miles ahead of the Fuji. The 55-250mm lens takes some seriously great shots and with it being image stabilized, there isn't much need for a tripod, save for long exposure shots (Shibuya comes to mind). While not new for most travelers, having to sport a DSLR is a new thing for me - more to carry in my mind, means more to manage while navigating new places. Still, I really like what it can do and the clarity of the images. I took it out into the countryside this weekend and managed to get a feel for it - ISO, shutter speed and aperture all in varied use situations.

Great Heron

The heron photo was taken with a 55mm - 250mm IS lens. Likely the best photo I took all weekend, and if that photo came out looking like that in a completely overcast sky, I have no doubts that I will have some awesome photos to share once I get back home.

Just a little of two weeks to go. Stressed? Not really... excited as all hell is more like it. Okay, Japan is stressing me out, but only due to my limited window of available time to see so many amazing things. My one wish, coupled with having this new camera, is that the sky is clear all day when I am in Tokyo - there is nothing I'd like more than to see Mt.Fuji from up on high and get an amazing photo of it, looming in the distance over the buildings of Tokyo. I guess we shall see that which we shall see.

These excitements and uncertainties - this is why I love to travel.