![\"2010-japan-OLYP3801-books\"](\"https:\/\/www.chekyang.com\/musings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/2010japanOLYP3801books.jpg\" "\\"2010-japan-OLYP3801-books\\"")
<\/p>\nAbout six months ago when filling in my application to take annual leave for our Japan trip, I half-jokingly entered into the \u2018Remarks\u2019 field that this overseas holiday was to be \u201ca wife-pacifying trip\u201d.:)<\/p>\n
Truth to tell; we\u2019re just about 2 days away from departure for our longest overseas vacation break so far, and I\u2019m still feeling semi blas\u00e9 about it. I did the overall planning in terms of when to go, where to go, and how long to go \u2013 but in the last 2 months have left the specific itinerary planning to Ling. That\u2019s come about on the one hand because I\u2019ve been madly busy with work, but on the other it\u2019s because this upcoming trip is really for Ling.<\/p>\n
I was thinking aloud with Matt on MSN earlier this morning over why I was semi-unexcited about the trip. Putting aside the fact that I\u2019ve been to Japan already; the fact is that unlike many of my students or even some of my peers, I\u2019m not obsessed with all things Japanese. In fact, if I had a choice, I\u2019d much rather visit the mid-west United States, or central Europe.<\/p>\n
Still, a lot of planning has gone into this trip. Of the three cities; Kyoto \u2013 where we\u2019ll be spending six nights – is easy since there\u2019s plenty to do and see in the vicinity. Osaka we\u2019ll be spending just one night. Kobe however has been real tricky given its lack of sights, and with the benefit of hindsight, mostly to do with that Himeji Castle is undergoing renovation this moment, I think we should have chosen a different city.<\/p>\n
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