Higashi Hongan-ji (Eastern Temple of the Original Vow) Kyoto, Japan

This temple is under construction but is really a great one to stop by especially if you are near the Kyoto Station or the tower.
Higashi Hongan-ji Temple also known as the Eastern Temple of the Original Vow and there is another temple that is dominant like this one called Nishi Hongan-ji which is the Western Tempe of Original Vow. This temple though is the head temple of Kyoto and the current collection of buildings have been there since 1895.
Also Higashi hongan-ji was presented Shoseien Gardens back in 1641, you can find that post here

This was on of the larger halls but it is under construction and could not be seen :/

Standing near Kyoto Tower, the built up part for construction on the hall is actually one of the larger and taller buildings in the area if you look at it from Kyoto tower

info from Wikipedia

Yodabashi Camera - Kyoto, Japan

I love Yodabashi Camera store, there are a few through out Japan and they are mainly electronics but some larger stores have more then just that inside. The one that I went into quite a bit was Kyoto Yodabashi which is right across the street  from Kyoto train Station and behind Kyoto Tower & Hotel. Great location to get on the train or metro or even bus so you don't have to carry your purchase to far. I had that problem and I carried some things with me on the subway. From where I was staying off Kitayama and the location of Kitayama station it was quite a walk with full bags. 

On the floor with all of the toys which I believe it was the 3rd or 4th in Kyoto they have an area for capsule machines...and yeah I got a few things


I was surprised that old monsters that are like 50 years old are still really popular, there is a whole wall of old school monsters!



Tons of models, I am surprised that I walked out of there with out buying a Gundam



This guy was playing really hard with his cards, it was intense



Thanks for dropping by!

Flowers of the Rhododendron (rhododendron maximum)

The flower of the Rhododendron are so lovely to look at. In this case these are mine that are at my house, this species is the rhododendron maximum. This one is native to North America and also been called Great Laurel.

Enjoy the natural beauty of this evergreen plant and their flowers...

Post 500! I have come a long way!

Wow, this is my 500th post on here, well technically there were other posts that were super insignificant that have been deleted but I claim this is 500th!
Since I have opened this blog I have come a far ways indeed. January 30th 2010 was my first post and it feels so long ago but it has only been two years and a few months. Then I was finishing up my last semester at the community college and thinking about getting a internship with my field. Now I have finished all my college and also my internship and started to travel more.
Man not really what to say!
I have plans for the future, more travel on the way and perhaps work afar. I hope to bring more good stuff for my readers and I hope to write more then I do.
I changed the side a little bit around again on the site. Please accept me on Google + and I am getting my instagram going soon and I will post photos on there more often. I hope to get a smartphone so I can take those on the go shots and show you guys.
Oh my Instagram account is "SamShio" go figure haha
Well I don't have much to say for now but I will keep everyone in the loop. I currently am working full time as a contractor for a large company that will get my some good savings for my next adventure and to see someone special to me. ;)

Harajuku Station - Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Harajuku Station everyone!
That odd looking station in Toyko with the clock on the front.
It is called Harajuku Station because it's in Harajuku, and it is ran by JR East because the Yamanote Line which is a line that circles the Tokyo Metropolitan area. You will probably use that line at some point in your travels in Toyko! It has been there since 1906! I had no idea it was that old?!
Also this is where you would get off if you want to go to Yoyogi Park or the Meiji Jingu Shrine or if you want to go to the famous Takeshita street of Harajuku

 

Right across the street from the GAP

 

Yoyogi Park on Sunday. I hear that there are a lot of people that dress up and hang around the station and the park there but honestly there were two groups in like Poodle Skirt and Greaser fashion  dancing and that was it!

Kyoto Tower - Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto Tower, by far the tallest structure in Kyoto. I recommend going up to get a great view of all of Kyoto! You can get a great idea of also had large Kyoto Station is and the city in general. It makes Kyoto look small but it is probably bigger in Richmond, Virginia my state capital. It is across the street from Kyoto Station so it is really helpful to know which side of Kyoto Station you are on when you see the tower. Also it helps get your bearings when you are in central Kyoto as to which was is north or south and so forth.
It is an observation deck tower built on a 9 floor building that has shops, restaurants, and a three star hotel. The spire stands 131 meters tall. It was modeled to look like a Japanese candle and was designed to withstand earth quakes and strong typhoon winds. The construction ended in 1964. You will find that many people like it but not a lot of people do. Being that Kyoto is a traditional hub in the country of Japan, this tower and the new glass Kyoto Station is a sore modern thumb sticking out in the city.
I enjoyed it and the station and between the two it is the most modernism you will find in the city and it is central south so there is still a lot of Kyoto out there for people to see.

Kyoto Station across the street.

Tokyo Tower - Minato, Tokyo, Japan

The great looking Tokyo tower!
The tower was built to be a communications and observations tower in Minato, Toyko, Japan. It is 332.5 meters tall being the second tallest artificial structure in Japan behind Tokyo Sky Tree. It is so iconic with it's Eiffel Tower look in the white and orange to comply with aircraft safety. Finished in 1958.
A need for a broadcast tower in the area and now is used to broadcast many different networks. It supports analog and digital television, radio and digital radio stations now. Problem is that recently in the last year or so Japan is transiting over to all digital from analog much like the United States did recently. The Tokyo Tower is not tall enough to transmit the higher frequency needed for that and that is why Tokyo Sky Tree comes into plan to broad cast that signal now. It also happens to be just a little taller then the Eiffel Tower

So long beach, hello sun burn - Outer Banks Day 3

Hey, it was time for us to head back home! We just enjoy a nice day on the beach and I walked along the shore quiet a bit that day. I am not to sure the next time I will be able to come back to the Outer Banks. I intend to do more traveling in the coming years and I don't think I will be home much longer or at leat a long time. I have plans for what I expect in the future and I want to set them in motion. I can see my life more then what it is now and I want to start. More on that in a future post! Enjoy the picture of the day as I had enjoyed the day and soaking in more sun! Yes I got some sun burn but not a lot. It's mostly on my shoulders haha

 

Some parts of the beach has sand and a bunch of crushed up shells like this from the strong currents.