Gassho Zukuri Villages of Ainokura and Shirakawa-go

On a breezy Friday morning, I head out to Bhoga Nandishwara, a 1200 year old temple in the outer reaches of Bangalore. Commenced by Queen Ratnavali of the Banas in around 810 CE, it is still an active temple with a number of ceremonies including marriages held at its premises every year.

The Nebuta summer festival is a spectacular event held in Aomori Prefecture of Japan, where massive paper lantern floats based on kabuki or mythical stories, flanked by large taiko drums, musicians and dancers parade through the city. For those like me who missed the festival, the floats are kept back at the Museum to enjoy throughout the year.

We dropped by Hirosaki Castle today, the only remaining castle from the Edo period in the Tohoku area of Japan. Built in 1611, the castle is renowned for the weeping Sakura blossoms in its surrounding park.