X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=blog%2F2009%2FApril;h=8bc516e611f8e6410b1a0b6737d852cc401e9d2d;hp=e5b0beb19ef16d0a6e6d7a3c9dcf3f4eb285fc3c;hb=2013d7e852cafcd934cc5cdb05d30a1bcb7b445c;hpb=fd02dd85833b058fbc41396df845b1869ba31f78

diff --git a/blog/2009/April b/blog/2009/April
index e5b0beb..8bc516e 100644
--- a/blog/2009/April
+++ b/blog/2009/April
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-== Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 ==
+== Bernie's brain dump as of April 2009 ==
 
-=== Arpril 24th -- 1 megameter by train ====
+**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]].
@@ -33,13 +35,20 @@ in due time.  Don't miss the next amazing episode of Bernie's Adventures!
 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.
 
-=== April 23rd -- Kyoto last day ===
+=== Aplil 23rd -- Last day in Kyoto ===
+
+==== Morning: Arashiyama by bike ====
 
-==== Last day in Kyoto: Arashiyama ====
+In the morning of this sunny day, we biked to a few locations on the
+east side of Kyoto:
 
- * Hmmm...
+ * [[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]].
 
-==== A city I did not like ====
+{{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
@@ -56,18 +65,34 @@ 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,
+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.
 
-No, it didn't rain.
+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!!!
 
-=== April 22nd ===
+{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Kyoto/Chion-in/00056.jpg|The huge bell of Chion-in|maxwidth=800}}
 
 ==== Food ====
 
@@ -107,8 +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}}
@@ -123,17 +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 ====