X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=blog%2F2009%2FApril;h=3282bba5e55e66dbebdb964735f3834d084fdf74;hp=245a3a40b737827d2bdd796929a0e6800a4d32ef;hb=04d69677527b0d5b44adea0f8559109bdca4f11d;hpb=dc9f9ff2c8929e91fd637ae8020716cbf89d0039

diff --git a/blog/2009/April b/blog/2009/April
index 245a3a4..3282bba 100644
--- a/blog/2009/April
+++ b/blog/2009/April
@@ -1,10 +1,71 @@
 == Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 ==
 
-=== April 21th ====
+=== Arpril 24th -- 1M meters by train ====
+
+We left our comfortable hostel in Kyoto early in the morning for a second Shinkansen
+ride of 360Km, this time on the faster [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nozomi_%28train%29|Nozomi]].
+The one-way ticket was "just" 10,250円, equivalent to $105 or €80.
+
+Unlike Kyoto, there aren't many sites of historic interest in Hiroshima because, quite
+unsurprisingly, every building in the city center is at most 64 years old.
+With [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima_Peace_Memorial|one notable exception]].
+Coming such a long way only to see a broken dome and a nearby memorial 
+
+In the afternoon, we returned to the Hiroshima station to take the 16:01 Shinkansen,
+and traveled in no time for another 690Km to another location which will be revealed
+in due time.  Don't miss the next amazing episode of Bernie's Adventures!
+
+=== April 23rd -- Kyoto last day ===
+
+We visited a few more places:
+
+ * Hmmm...
+
+=== 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.
+
+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.
+
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Ryoanji/00016.jpg|Omurice = omelet + rice|maxwidth=640}}
+
+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
+cherry flavored [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriek|Kriek]].  Too bad we had to stop at
+just two to make sure we could find the way back to the hostel :-)
+
+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]].
+
+=== April 21st ====
 
 ==== Great temples everywhere ====
 
-While I upload the photos.
+Yesterday was rainy, but it didn't stop us from biking around and visiting quite a lot of stuff:
+
+ * the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Ninnaji|Ninnaji temple]];
+ * the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Ryoanji|Ryoanji temple]], with its puzzling rock zen garden;
+ * the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Kinkakuji|Kinkakuji temple]] (aka golden temple);
+ * the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/NijojoCastle|Nijojo castle]], which is actually two castles for the price of one;
+ * a quick tour of the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/KyotoDowntown|Kyoto downtown]];
+ * the [[http://www.kyotomm.com/international/english/|International Manga Museum]] was closed already.  Grrr....
+
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Kinkakuji/00012.jpg|the golden temple of Kinkakuji|maxwidth=800}}
 
 ==== x264 goodness ====
 
@@ -19,7 +80,14 @@ 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 ====
 
@@ -39,6 +107,7 @@ 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}}
@@ -61,6 +130,7 @@ 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}}