Edit page blog/2009/April

[wiki.git] / blog / 2009 / April

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 == 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 ====
 
@@ -28,10 +58,15 @@ Firefox 3.1/3.5 still doesn't grok it with the ##video## tag, but I didn't have
 The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/UtanoHostel|Utano hostel]] in Kyoto would rival many
 five star hotels I've seen.  Sorry I couldn't take any photos in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen | Onsen]].
 
-Also have a look at the impressive [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/ShinKyoto|Kyoto station]].
-
 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/UtanoHostel/00005.jpg|the hostel provides a traditional goan too|maxwidth=800}}
 
+==== Impressive station ====
+
+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|Anime characters by Osamu Tezuka|maxwidth=640}}
+
 ==== Shinkansen tour ====
 
 In a jounery report, the details of transportation are usually left out as uninteresting.
@@ -50,6 +85,7 @@ See [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Shinkansen|the the photos]] and don't miss th
 
 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Shinkansen/00006.jpg|Shinkansen|maxwidth=800}}
 
+
 === April 19th - Hakone day 2 ===
 
 {{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hakone/FujiSanBernieSan.jpg|The Fuji-san (left) with Bernie-san (right)|maxwidth=1024}}
@@ -72,6 +108,7 @@ We arrived in a small town near [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakone,_Kanagawa|
 
 **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}}