1 == Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 ==
5 ==== Great temples everywhere ====
7 While I upload the photos.
9 ==== x264 goodness ====
11 I re-encoded all videos from MJPEG, the crappy native format of my Canon camera, to x264 (aka MPEG4).
12 Firefox 3.1/3.5 still doesn't grok it with the ##video## tag, but I didn't have a
13 [[http://theora.org/|Theora]] encoder installed.
17 ==== Best hostel ever ====
19 The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/UtanoHostel|Utano hostel]] in Kyoto would rival many
20 five star hotels I've seen. Sorry I couldn't take any photos in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen | Onsen]].
22 Also have a look at the impressive [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/ShinKyoto|Kyoto station]].
24 ==== Shinkansen tour ====
26 In a jounery report, the details of transportation are usually left out as uninteresting.
27 Except if one takes the fastest train in the world! We took the
28 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Dkaid%C5%8D_Shinkansen|Tokaido Shinkansen]] line from Odawara to Kyoto,
29 riding on a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/700_Series_Shinkansen|700-series]] train for the
30 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikari_%28Shinkansen%29|Hikari]] service (not the faster
31 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nozomi_%28train%29|Nozomi]], but still very impressive).
33 The ticket cost a whopping 11240 yen per person, and I'm not even getting a
34 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Express_999|machine body]] with it! ;-)
36 See [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Shinkansen|the the photos]] and don't miss the
37 [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Shinkansen/00009-x264.avi|pass-through]] and the
38 [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Shinkansen/00011-x264.avi|on-board]] videos.
40 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Shinkansen/00006.jpg|Shinkansen|maxwidth=800}}
42 === April 19th - Hakone day 2 ===
44 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone/FujiSanBernieSan.jpg|The Fuji-san (left) with Bernie-san (right)|maxwidth=1024}}
46 We took the suggested touristic itinerary around the Hakone mountains which employs all sorts
47 of transportation means: bus, cable train, rope way, cruise boat and bus again.
49 Along the way, we could see the volcanic sulfuric vents and pools, the Ashi lake with its breathtaking
50 view of the Fuji-san, the ancient cedar avenue, the old post, the detached palace gardens and the
51 beautiful [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_shrine|shinto jinja shrine]] of with its
52 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii|torii]] diving in the lake.
54 Of course, I took plenty of [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone/Trip|photos of the Hakone trip]].
56 === April 18th - Hakone ===
58 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone/Hostel/00008.jpg|Our japanese style room at the Senkyoro YH|maxwidth=1024}}
60 We arrived in a small town near [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakone,_Kanagawa|Hakone]]. I'll publish photos later.
62 **Update**: [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone|photos of the hostel]] are now available.
64 === April 17th - Ghibli museum in Mitaka, Ginza ===
66 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/GhibliMuseum/00005.jpg|Robot from the ancient city of Laputa|maxwidth=800}}
68 The museum was actually a bit of a disappointment, but maybe just because I had my expectations so high.
69 Cameras weren't allowed inside, so I only took [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/GhibliMuseum|few photos]].
71 In the afternoon, we walked around the shiny neighborhood of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginza|Ginza]].
72 See the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Ginza|photos]].
74 === April 16th - Fish Market, Gardens, Tower of Tokyo, Temple ===
76 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Tsukiji_Fish_Market/00013.jpg | Tsukiji Fish Market |maxwidth=800}}
78 We had a very intense day where we visited a lot of places all around central Tokyo:
80 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Tsukiji_Fish_Market | Tsukiji Fish Market]] ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3021.html|Japan Guide]])
81 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Hama_Rikyu_Gardens | Hama Rikyu Gardens]] ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3025.html||Japan Guide]])
82 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Zojoji | Zojo-ji Temple]] ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zojoji|Wikipedia]])
83 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Tokyo_Tower | Tokyo Tower]] ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Tower|Wikipedia]])
84 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Reiyukai_Temple | Reiyukai Temple]] ([[http://www.reiyukai.org/|official web site]])
85 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Imperial_Palace_Gardens | Imperial Palace Gardens]] ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3017.html|Japan Guide]])
86 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Edo_Museum | Edo-Tokyo Museum]], which was already closed.
87 We'll try again when we come back to Tokyo ([[http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english | official web site]])
89 NOTE: photos still being uploaded, gomen nasai!
91 Seeing so many beautiful things at such a high frequency might make one's head spin.
92 In fact, this evening I've been dangerously close to faint in an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen | Onsen]],
93 which was really scary because I had never lost consciousness before. I had walked all day with very little
94 food and drink, which might have been part of the problem, but diving in thermal water for a long time has
95 certainly triggered it. What a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaijin | gaijin]] who can't even take some
98 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Zojoji/1.00011.jpg | Zojo-ji temple (left), Tokyo Tower (center), Bernie (right) |maxwidth=800}}
100 === April 15th - Skyscrapers everywhere ===
102 Compared to Tokyo, every other city I had visited would seem dirty, old, boring and disorganized.
103 I can't find the words to describe my amazement walking around this amazing city full of wonders.
105 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Roppongi/TokyoMidtown/00023.jpg|Tokyo Midtown Gardenside seen from the Galleria building|maxwidth=800}}
108 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Shinjuku|Shinju-ku]] -- The district of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Metropolitan_Government_Building|Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building]].
109 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Roppongi|Roppongi]] -- A rich district hosting modern art museums (Art Triangle) and night life ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roppongi|Wikipedia]])
110 * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Pachinko|Pachinko]] -- Popular Japanese slot machines
112 **Update**: now finished uploading the photos
114 === April 14th - Arrival in Tokyo ===
116 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Sensoji_Temple/00081.jpg|The way to the Sensoji temple in Asakusa|maxwidth=800}}
118 I couldn't resist grabbing a super-cheap round trip to japan, a place I've always wanted
119 to visit. By "always", I mean: since when I was in kindergarten, watching great series
120 like [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Jeeg|SteelJeeg]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazinger_Z|MazingerZ]] on TV.
121 My dad accepted to accompany me in this trip even though he wasn't particularly fond of Japan. Until now, that is!
123 The first day was simply amazing, but I'm way to tired to tell a lot about it.
124 The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo|many photos and videos]] that I'm still uploading will hopefully serve
125 documenting this long day appropriately.
127 NOTE: if you can't watch the videos embedded in the wiki, get yourself a recent browser featuring HTML5 or
128 send me a patch adding support for old-style HTML video embedding.
132 Yes, I've neglected to update this blog for a few months. This isn't because I had nothing
133 to talk about. In fact, these months were quite intense, with a lot of notable events, including:
135 * 2009 Jan: Visited the [[Pictures/vacation/EastCoast2008|East Coast]] with Silvia
136 * 2009 Jan: Attended the [[Pictures/conf/XOCamp2009|XO Camp 2]]
137 * 2009 Feb: Attended the [[Pictures/conf/Fosdem2009|Fosdem 2009]] with a few friends from Italy and SugarLabs colleagues
139 [[Pictures/vacation/brussels_riga_stokholm_2009/Brussels | Brussels]],
140 [[Pictures/vacation/brussels_riga_stokholm_2009/Riga | Riga]] and
141 [[Pictures/vacation/brussels_riga_stokholm_2009 | Stockholm]] with Tommaso
142 * 2009 Mar: Organized a small revival of [[SystemShockBBS]] with a few original users
143 * 2009 Apr: Attended a meeting/miniconf in [[Pictures/conf/Bolzano2009|Bolzano]] with WalterBender
145 I am currently back in Florence, trying to find a way back in the US.