== Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 ==
+=== April 19th - Hakone day 2 ===
+
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone2/FujiSanBernieSan.jpg|The Fuji-san (left) with Bernie-san (right)|maxwidth=1024}}
+
+We took the suggested touristic itinerary around the Hakone mountains which employs all sorts
+of transportation means: bus, cable train, rope way, cruise boat and bus again.
+
+Along the way, we could see the volcanic sulfuric vents and pools, the Ashi lake with its breathtaking
+view of the Fuji-san, the ancient cedar avenue, the old post, the detached palace gardens and the
+beautiful [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_shrine|shinto jinja shrine]] of with its
+[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii|torii]] diving in the lake.
+
+Of course, I took plenty of [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone2|photos of the Hakone trip]].
+
+=== April 18th - Hakone ===
+
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone/00008.jpg|Our japanese style room at the Senkyoro YH|maxwidth=1024}}
+
+We arrived in a small town near [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakone,_Kanagawa|Hakone]]. I'll publish photos later.
+
+**Update**: [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone|photos of the hostel]] are now available.
+
+=== April 17th - Ghibli museum in Mitaka, Ginza ===
+
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/GhibliMuseum/00005.jpg|Robot from the ancient city of Laputa|maxwidth=800}}
+
+The museum was actually a bit of a disappointment, but maybe just because I had my expectations so high.
+Cameras weren't allowed inside, so I only took [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/GhibliMuseum|few photos]].
+
+In the afternoon, we walked around the shiny neighborhood of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginza|Ginza]].
+See the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Ginza|photos]].
+
=== April 16th - Fish Market, Gardens, Tower of Tokyo, Temple ===
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Tsukiji_Fish_Market/00013.jpg | Tsukiji Fish Market |maxwidth=800}}
+
We had a very intense day where we visited a lot of places all around central Tokyo:
* [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Tsukiji_Fish_Market | Tsukiji Fish Market]] ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3021.html|Japan Guide]])
* [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Tokyo_Tower | Tokyo Tower]] ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Tower|Wikipedia]])
* [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Reiyukai_Temple | Reiyukai Temple]] ([[http://www.reiyukai.org/|official web site]])
* [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Imperial_Palace_Gardens | Imperial Palace Gardens]] ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3017.html|Japan Guide]])
- * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Edo_Museum | Edo-Tokyo Museum ]], which was already closed.
+ * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Edo_Museum | Edo-Tokyo Museum]], which was already closed.
We'll try again when we come back to Tokyo ([[http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english | official web site]])
+NOTE: photos still being uploaded, gomen nasai!
+
Seeing so many beautiful things at such a high frequency might make one's head spin.
In fact, this evening I've been dangerously close to faint in an [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen | Onsen]],
which was really scary because I had never lost consciousness before. I had walked all day with very little
food and drink, which might have been part of the problem, but diving in thermal water for a long time has
-certainly triggered it. I'm such a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaijin gaijin]] who can't even take some
+certainly triggered it. What a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaijin | gaijin]] who can't even take some
hot water!
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Zojoji/1.00011.jpg | Zojo-ji temple (left), Tokyo Tower (center), Bernie (right) |maxwidth=800}}
+
=== April 15th - Skyscrapers everywhere ===
Compared to Tokyo, every other city I had visited would seem dirty, old, boring and disorganized.
I can't find the words to describe my amazement walking around this amazing city full of wonders.
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Roppongi/TokyoMidtown/00023.jpg|Tokyo Midtown Gardenside seen from the Galleria building|maxwidth=800}}
+
Photos for today:
* [[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]].
* [[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]])
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