The Great Buddha of Kamakura

My brother at the Great  Buddha

My brother and I visited Japan a couple years ago. We stayed with our cousin, George, in Chiba. A city located an hour outside of Tokyo.

Our trip was amazing and I really wish we could go back soon. We went to a variety of cities and experienced multiple new adventures.

We took a 4 hour round trip train ride to the great city of Kamakura. We saw the Kamakura Daibutsu, the second largest Buddha in all of Japan.The Buddha has been there since 1252 and was once surrounded by temple buildings. The buildings have now been swept away by tidal waves, but the great Buddha still stands.

The Daibutsu was one of the most amazing and touching sites I have ever seen. The story behind the Buddha is once of great endurance and faith.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3100.html

The Beautiful City of Jiufen

Jiufen

Whenever I go to Taiwan, my family and I visit Jiufen. Its the most beautiful coastal town I have ever had the pleasure of seeing.

Jiufen is a small town in the Northeast hills of Taiwan. It  has beautiful views of the pacific ocean and lush green scenery.

Jiufen was once a prosperous gold mining town, but was soon forgotten after the decline of gold mining. Jiufen remained as an anonymous small town until several movies used the location.

Jiufen is now a prosperous tourist attraction. Attracting foreigners and natives a like. There are quaint streets and small shops that line the streets and venders around each bend.

Jiufen is a rare and unique town, that embodies and embraces the old culture and the modern conveniences.

http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/pda/m1.aspx?sNo=0002091&id=290

The Slot Canyon Exploration

This last summer my boyfriend and I took a trip to Capitol Reef National Park and I can honestly say the scenery took my breath away. While we were there we hiked, swam, and climbed.

One of the main reasons we went to Capitol reef was so I could experience my first slot canyon. A slot canyon is a narrow canyon formed by the wear of water rushing through rock. Slot canyons are literally all over Utah, mainly in Southern Utah so it came as a shock to my boyfriend when I told him I had never been to one.

My friend Taylor in a slot canyon

We entered the wash (the entrance to the slot canyon) and hiked for a couple miles. We then came upon a narrow crack in the middle of the mountains, thus was our entrance.

There were so many beautiful rock formations that had been created over time from either erosion, water, or just wind. I never knew rock could be so smooth and delicate.

We twisted and turned for a few miles until we could go no further. The path had been sealed off by a small body of water, too deep and dangerous for us to cross. We turned back but with smiles on are faces for we had completed our journey.
http://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm