Tokyo Returns

Tokyo, Japan -- I'm pretty excited guys. I got back from Kyoto/Nara/Himeji a few hours ago and loaded my pics onto my comp, and the quality is amazing. I was a bit worried.. sometimes I haven't been happy with the quality, but the pics are great. There are several that are postcard worthy... and that's not to remark on me or anything-- I'm just content that you guys get to see what I saw.

I'm content to be back... I'm pretty tired and my feet are a bit blistered and sore, but it's nothing really to complain about. It was an enlightening trip... I learned a lot... it was good to spend time alone and with God as well, to see... it was worth the expense that it was.

Today I took the last minute side trip to Himeji, since I didn't want to spend the day in Nara-- and it was beautiful. The city was pretty cool, and the castle and the grounds there were picturesque. Beside that, then I felt like I got my money's worth out of that pass! The castle took about 2 hours to explore... I was one of the only tourists who read everything there was to read-- and then I sat for about an hour by the moat with hillsong on my mp3 and talking to God.

All in all, it was a good experience.Himeji was beautiful; Nara was ok; but Kyoto... Kyoto is to me what Paris is to some. Perhaps not all may find it that way but I was enamored, in my own way.I was kinda proud of myself for navigating the train stations (with the handy dandy map Christine lent me) and for successfully not getting lost. I took the wrong road once biking to Fushimi Inari, but I realized it almost immediately and turned around as soon as possible. As amazing as this journey has been, I'm glad to be "home" in Tokyo and with Tim and Christine again and talk about what I saw and experienced and just be back at the house. And converse! Sure, I was able to talk somewhat, but freely is a different thing.

Well, will write more maybe tomorrow with some small on-dits, etc., about small moments... but for now, I'm getting some rest!

Thank you for all your prayers and for your support and encouragement!