X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?a=blobdiff_plain;ds=sidebyside;f=blog%2F2009%2FApril;h=d2c5fd16ea838faa2a122ba79223dd5b8def63d8;hb=04519191fce94285170d60e99d24fbb8927a3f92;hp=04cd02af45ccb1260ec61869911e2e53caa1e95a;hpb=6f7726ad0367b9aa70d0b66795c1f968e73f803b;p=wiki.git diff --git a/blog/2009/April b/blog/2009/April index 04cd02a..d2c5fd1 100644 --- a/blog/2009/April +++ b/blog/2009/April @@ -1,6 +1,36 @@ == Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 == -=== April 21th ==== +=== April 22nd === + +==== Food ==== + +Eating in japan can a challenge for a vegetarian who also happens to dislike fish and crustaceans. +The average menu has about 5% of veggie dishes, but many restaurants in tourist areas specialize +in traditional food such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi|sushi]] and +[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempura|tempura]]. Imitations of Italian kitchen are close to +perfection, of course: in Tokyo, we had perfectly reasonable spaghetti with eggplants. + +Even with my options severely limited, I could still find several exquisite dishes. +I quite like soups, including [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miso_soup|miso shiru]], +[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramen|ramen]] and others I ordered by pointing at the +fake dish in the restaurant window without ever knowing their name. + +As for beer, I still couldn't find one I like. The most popular ones, Asahi and Kirin, +are just tasteless dry lagers. All the drafts I could find taste like Asahi too. The +only good beers I had were at the [[http://www.deliriumcafe.jp/|Delirium Cafe]] in Tokyo, +where I had a delicious [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauwel_Kwak|Kwak]] followed by a +[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriek|Kriek]]. + +My favorite food so far is [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omurice|Omurice]]. Yeah, perhaps +it's not as sophisticated as the average Japanese recipe. Hmm... I guess learning to +appreciate complex and delicate flavors takes some more time. + +Now I'm looking for a place where I could taste vegetarian [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki|sukiyaki]], +the favorite food of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataru_Moroboshi#Ataru_Moroboshi|Ataru Moroboshi]]. + +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Ryoanji/00016.jpg|Omurice = omelet + rice|maxwidth=800}} + +=== April 21st ==== ==== Great temples everywhere ==== @@ -35,7 +65,7 @@ five star hotels I've seen. Sorry I couldn't take any photos in the [[http://en The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/ShinKyoto|Kyoto station]] is an impressive modern building, worth a visit by itself. -{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/ShinKyoto/00015.jpg|Welcome to Kyoto!|maxwidth=800}} +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/ShinKyoto/00015.jpg|Anime characters by Osamu Tezuka|maxwidth=640}} ==== Shinkansen tour ====