Prisoner of Hopes

Category: Nature

  • Tourist Mecca or Sacred Mountain?: Travel Goals Japan

    Today’s destination is Fushimi Inari Taisha, a temple that has over 3 miles of trail up Mount Inari. The mountain temple path is lined with over 10,000 Tori Gates. My son has picked the location because of internet reviews and photos of the Tori gates. It does look impressive and a little intimidating. However, if…

  • Caving: Rural Road Trips Arizona

    We find ourselves in Arizona near Karchner Caverns. We booked a Koa near highway 10 and within a short drive to Tombstone, where we will adventure tomorrow. But today, we need to secure two tickets to see the cave. I call and ask for same day tickets. I am put on hold. I tell them…

  • Stroll Through The Park: Travel Goals Japan

    A remembrance of the day that every museum and cultural attract in Tokyo is closed. We make our own fun.

  • Phoenix Zoo: Rural Road Trips

    The Phoenix Zoo is not quite what we hope but still an enjoyable day. We embrace the experience and meet a new friend who tries to share his lunch.

  • Saguaro Shut Down: Rural Road Trips

    Saguaro National Park is wild and wonderful in its desolation. On this trip we are almost the only ones there, which fuels my imagination.

  • Casa Grande: Rural Road Trips

    It was supposed to be a road trip to visit lesser known national parks. But a government shut down causes to think even more outside the box. Local color saves the day.

  • Animal Cafe Takes My Stress Away: Travel Goals Japan

    In this post, I fall in love with Tokyo’s pet cafes.

  • Meiji Morning: Travel Goals

    This morning I wake up with the sun. It is a mystery to me how my internal clock always knows sunrise. Even on the other side of the globe, I’m up at the first hint of dawn. Last night we arrived in Tokyo after nineteen hours of travel. Unsurprisingly, the boys are still fast asleep.…

  • Safari In The USA: Rural Road Trip

    I am going out on Safari! Our bus just arrived to take us to the bush country of Afri…… make that Arizona. Somewhere between Camp Verde and Cottonwood Arizona is the Out Of Africa Wildlife park. It is a crazy place. A few minutes ago I stepped out of my car. Now I am boarding…

  • Hopi Ruins: Rural Road Trips

    After standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona for about as long as we care to, we head out of town on Route 66. Within a few minutes, we find a trading post that sells native made products. I leave with a lighter wallet and some beautiful jewelry. The shop keeper recommends that we visit…