The title kind of sounds like a fable, doesn't it? A lone samurai warrior goes on a great quest, seeking the Phoenix rising from the ashes, and the mysterious and elusive White Egret (What is an egret? Apparently it's a type of bird...learn something new all the time!). However, this title basically sums up my weekend visit to the city of Kobe and nearby Himeji Castle. Although, I am far from being a samurai, and for most of my journey, I was among friends! Dob and I took the shinkansen from Hiroshima on Friday evening, and arrived in Osaka in a quick hour and a half (you don't realize the speed of the bullet train until you're standing on a platform and witness one flying by...scary-and impressive-stuff!) Osaka served as our "home base" as we visited
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