X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=blog%2F2009%2FApril;h=8bc516e611f8e6410b1a0b6737d852cc401e9d2d;hp=d2c5fd16ea838faa2a122ba79223dd5b8def63d8;hb=2013d7e852cafcd934cc5cdb05d30a1bcb7b445c;hpb=04519191fce94285170d60e99d24fbb8927a3f92 diff --git a/blog/2009/April b/blog/2009/April index d2c5fd1..8bc516e 100644 --- a/blog/2009/April +++ b/blog/2009/April @@ -1,6 +1,98 @@ -== Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 == +== Bernie's brain dump as of April 2009 == -=== April 22nd === +**UPDATE**: the report for [[blog/2009/April#kyoto-higashiyama|April 21st]] is now available! + +=== Aplil 24th -- over 1 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megametre|megameter]] 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. + +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hiroshima/00085.jpg|The A-Bomb peace memorial near the epicenter|maxwidth=480}} + +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 the surrounding +[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima_Peace_Memorial_Park|park]] might seem crazy, +but it was definitely worth it. One of the most dramatic moments of human history +happened right here not long ago, and survivors of about my father's age can give +their first-hand testimony with the help of black and white photographs and melted +items from the museum. After causing so much horror and observing its consequences, +what did we do about it? We quickly built **thousands** of bombs much more +destructive than [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy|Little Boy]]. Smart move. + +As usual, I couldn't refrain from taking [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hiroshima|a load of photos]] here too. +These probably can't deliver the pain in the chest one gets by visiting the museum, +but might still be a little disturbing. + +In the afternoon, we returned to the Hiroshima station just in time to catch the 16:01 +Shinkansen for another 690Km ride to another location which will be revealed +in due time. Don't miss the next amazing episode of Bernie's Adventures! + +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Hiroshima/00079.jpg|"Peace" written with origami cranes|maxwidth=480}} + +Also check the story behind the [[http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/shimin/heiwa/crane.html|millions of paper cranes]] +sent from all over the world in memory of the little Sadako. + +=== Aplil 23rd -- Last day in Kyoto === + +==== Morning: Arashiyama by bike ==== + +In the morning of this sunny day, we biked to a few locations on the +east side of Kyoto: + + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Dakakuji|Dakakuji]], an active Shingon Buddhist temple + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Tenryuji|Tenryuji]], another beautiful Buddhist temple with a beautiful Zen garden, next to a bamboo forest + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Monkey_Park|Monkey Park]], a place where you can closely observe and interact with [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaque|Japanese macaques]]. + +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Monkey_Park/00028.jpg|see no evil, hear no evil, speak no English|maxwidth=800}} + +==== Evening: a city I did not like ==== + +At last, I've found a place I actually didn't like much in Japan! +The first impression of Osaka's central station was that it was old and +dirty. Of course one could still eat on the floor, and coming from +[[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Shin_Kyoto|Kyoto's station]] might +have compromised my judgement. There was big crowd of busy people +everywhere, and if //you// bump into someone, //they// don't apologize +for it. + +Our copy of the Lonely Planet highly recommended [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Dtonbori|Dotonbori]] +at night for its "Blade Runner views", so we headed there. They must have watched +a version of the movie with bad special fx, because all I could observe in +Dotonbori was a narrow street sided by neon signs of restaurants and pachinkos. +Just above average, imho, and certainly not worth the time and the price of the +train ticket. Unless you're a moth, perhaps. + +{{http://www.codewiz.org/wiki/Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Osaka/00003.jpg|The Osaka central station|maxwidth=800}} + +We granted our guide a second chance and choosing their highest rated +restaurant in Dotombori, one specialized in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udon|udon]]. +There was no English menu and the only food I could order was a chest of cold +spaghetti on a bamboo crate with no sauce but a cup of soy sauce, also cold of course, +in which one could dip them separately. Or so I understood: the waiters were extremely +kind but wouldn't speak English, which created even more confusion. //Dulcis in fundo//, +the bill was much higher than usual and they wouldn't take credit cards. + +We rushed back to the metro to Shin-Osaka, JR train to Kyoto, local train to +Arashiyama, where our bikes were still waiting for us for the ride back home. + + +=== Aplil 22nd === + +==== Kyoto Higashiyama ==== + +Today we walked along the east side of Kyoto, north to south: + + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Ginkakuji|Ginkakuji]] -- rock garden with a view point; + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Eikando|Eikando]] ([[http://www.eikando.or.jp/English/index_eng.htm|home page]]) -- an active Buddhist temple + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Chion-in|Chion-in]] -- huge temple with the largest bell in Japan + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Sennen-zaka|Sennen-zaka]] -- a trendy touristic way with maikos (aka geishas); + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Jishu-jinja|Jishu-jinja]] -- a temple hanging on a cliff with an impressive scaffolding; + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Fushimiinari-taisha|Fushimiinari-taisha]] -- The multi-torii tunnel. My #1 favorite shrine!!! + +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Chion-in/00056.jpg|The huge bell of Chion-in|maxwidth=800}} ==== Food ==== @@ -15,21 +107,22 @@ I quite like soups, including [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miso_soup|miso shir [[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 -[[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. +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]]. -{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Ryoanji/00016.jpg|Omurice = omelet + rice|maxwidth=800}} - === April 21st ==== ==== Great temples everywhere ==== @@ -39,8 +132,8 @@ Yesterday was rainy, but it didn't stop us from biking around and visiting quite * 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 [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Nijojo_Castle|Nijojo castle]], which is actually two castles for the price of one; + * a quick tour of the [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Kyoto_downtown|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}} @@ -55,17 +148,17 @@ Firefox 3.1/3.5 still doesn't grok it with the ##video## tag, but I didn't have ==== Best hostel ever ==== -The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/UtanoHostel|Utano hostel]] in Kyoto would rival many +The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Utano_Hostel|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]]. -{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/UtanoHostel/00005.jpg|the hostel provides a traditional goan too|maxwidth=800}} +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Utano_Hostel/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, +The [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Shin_Kyoto|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}} +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Shin_Kyoto/00015.jpg|Anime characters by Osamu Tezuka|maxwidth=640}} ==== Shinkansen tour ====