Posts tagged travel

Beautiful and exciting Himeji Castle, a World Culteral Heritage Site

Apr11
2008

Written by Randy Corman

Today we went to Himeji, and climbed to the top of their beautiful and historic castle. We had a guided tour, in English, so we could take in all the details of this Historic National treasure of Japan.

The Castle was built in the 16th century by the rulers of the district. It changed ownership several times, and was once home to Princess Sen, the eldest daughter of the second Shogun in the Takugawa Government. Princess Sen had a dramatic, sometimes romantic, but mostly tragic life.

There were lots of defense systems built into the castle, such as slots for aiming arrows and muskets, openings for throwing stones on climbers, and provisions for dumping boiling water on attacking armies. Also moats, heavy rock walls, and iron reinforced doors all over.

As is the case everywhere in Japan right now, the Cherry Blossoms made the sight stunning.

Everyone climbed all the way to the top, which was no easy feat given the steep and sometimes uneven steps, and the fact that much of the climb had to be accomplished in slippers (indoors).

Our guide told us that the castle has been a popular movie site, and was used by Hollywood in the James Bond picture “You only Live Twice”, and in the mini-series/movie “Shogun”.

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See all the pictures by clicking here

Posted in Uncategorized - Tagged family and friends, sister city

Cathy and I are going to Nishiwaki!

Feb03
2008

Written by Randy Corman

Our city will be sending a delegation of about fifteen to our Sister City of Nishiwaki Japan in April (the delegates will pay their own expenses). Cathy and I had to juggle our schedules a bit, but we are super-excited to be attending. We’ve been to Japan before, but never to Nishiwaki, so this will be new to us.

We’ve enjoyed visiting with citizens of Nishiwaki on their visits here. Above, the 2001 delegation from Nishiwaki poses below the “Nishiwaki Lane” street sign, after we renamed the street near the river in the City’s honor.

Nishiwaki Science Center, photo by Sleepytako

My wife Cathy affirms the trip is a go!

Posted in Uncategorized

Much travel in the last three years

Nov04
2006

Written by Randy Corman

A month ago I wrapped up my work on my latest management assignment, and transitioned from a position that was the most travel intensive I’ve ever held. Ironically, all this business travel came at a time when I was also making numerous vacation trips with the family (visiting Katie in Orlando, taking Andy on a senior trip to Europe, going with Cathy to see our exchange students in Tokyo, etc.), so the airports all fade together at this point.

All told, I made four trips to Japan, three to Taiwan, one to South Korea, one to Singapore, four to Germany, one to Austria, one to Sweden, and one to France. I also visited New York City, New Orleans, Mobile, Atlanta, Orlando, and Las Vegas. This does not include the transfer stops and layovers at Denmark, England, Neatherlands, and Tokyo so many times that Narita feels like a second home to me.

Some highlights were showing Tokyo to Cathy, and Paris to my son Andy. Cathy and I also had fun taking in shows on Broadway and in Las Vegas, and experiencing the last pre-Katrina New Orleans Mardi Gras (including The Preservation Hall Jazz Band). Also, catching up with our exchange students in Japan numerous times really makes them seem like family, and they were always such gracious hosts and tour guides. At one point our student Kishiyo joined me on my return trip to Seattle, to visit with our family again.

Other cool memories were staying in the Imperial Hotel where Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimagio honeymooned, and in Taipei adjacent to Taipei 101, the tallest builidng in the world. I missed Brad Pitt by a day at the Repongi Hyatt in Tokyo , but my collegues who arrived a day earlier caught up with him in the business lounge, as he was promoting the opening of Helen of Troy. I also got upgraded to a super fancy $4000 per night suite (or should I say ‘sweet’) in Taipei -one Nicholas Cage had just stayed in- after they ran out of stadard Business-class rooms.

I managed to vist all the world’s Disney Theme parks in one year, in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris, and Tokyo. (before they opened the new one in Hong Kong.)

Here are some of my favorite photos from these journeys..