Koyasan booked

Received a nice note today from one of the monks
associated with the Ekoin Temple in Koyasan,
confirming my stay there in September.

I've put a link to Ekoin on my Japan page, but most of
the pictures seem to refer to a temple in Tokyo.
There is some helpful history and background about the
order that is in english. If anyone can translate
some of the Japanese and let me know if any of it
refers to their temple on Mt Koya, let me know...

Progress!

My rail ticket for Sydney-Melbourne arrived in the
mail today--pretty good service!

I've e-mailed the Ekoin Buddhist Temple in Koyasan,
Japan regarding lodging for three nights, but haven't
heard back. It seemed like the right mix of good
reviews and a central location. For more information
on Koyasan, take a look at the link on the Japan page.
If & when I get confirmed for lodging there, I'll
post a link, if available.

I hoped to attach a picture & post it here, but it didn't go. Looks like I'll be posting them on the regular website.

JP

Firming Up Australia

So, I got my in-country travel in Australia booked
this evening. Virgin Blue ( www.virginblue.com
)offered great deals on one-way or round trip flights,
so I booked a one-way back from Melbourne to Sydney,
arriving at the airport in plenty of time (famous last
words) to get on my next flight out to Tokyo Narita.

I'm in the process of booking a train ride to get to
Melbourne from Sydney ( www.railaustralia.com.au ).
I've sent a request for the trip I want, and they'll
e-mail me back in a day or so. The train is a 10+
hour ride compared to just over one hour on the plane,
but there's nothing like seeing part of a country from
the ground level. You also get to visit with some of
the locals--as well as other international
travelers--when you're on a train ride together. Now
I've got to notify my friends in Melbourne and see if
they can get me from the rail station to the hotel!

That price was also very good, a bit less than the
airfare, and was much less by booking more than 2
weeks in advance. Total for the rail & airfare is
about $123 U.S.

Next to finish booking--Japan!