X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=blog%2F2009%2FApril;h=c9dd8b75465fb9039d00215f1b220de765d83b66;hp=713b7bf98bc399a1769c091a9530a6972c1d5e52;hb=bfaa7f0cebcd09ebd4d5de712f91bd53e4e06795;hpb=9fe1de0004c3855d440f2f93292a2b950e0bca26 diff --git a/blog/2009/April b/blog/2009/April index 713b7bf..c9dd8b7 100644 --- a/blog/2009/April +++ b/blog/2009/April @@ -1,35 +1,76 @@ == Bernie's brain backup of April 2009 == +=== April 19th - Hakone day 2 === + +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}}. + +=== April 18th - Hakone === + +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 === -Photos for today (will upload later -- gomen nasai): +{{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: - * Tsukiji Fish Market ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3021.html|Japan Guide]]) - * Hama Rikyu Gardens ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3025.html||Japan Guide]]) - * Zojo-ji Temple ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zojoji|Wikipedia]]) - * Tokyo Tower ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Tower|Wikipedia]]) - * Imperial Palace Gardens + * [[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/Hama_Rikyu_Gardens | Hama Rikyu Gardens]] ([[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3025.html||Japan Guide]]) + * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Zojoji | Zojo-ji Temple]] ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zojoji|Wikipedia]]) + * [[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. + We'll try again when we come back to Tokyo ([[http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english | official web site]]) -Seeing incredibly beautiful things at high frequency might make one's head spin. +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 before would seem dirty, old, boring and disorganized. +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. -Photos for today (upload in progress, please be patient): +{{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]]) * [[Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Pachinko|Pachinko]] -- Popular Japanese slot machines +**Update**: now finished uploading the photos + === April 14th - Arrival in Tokyo === -{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/SensojiTemple/00081.jpg|The way to the Sensoji temple in Asakusa|maxwidth=800}} +{{Pictures/vacation/japan_2009/Tokyo/Sensoji_Temple/00081.jpg|The way to the Sensoji temple in Asakusa|maxwidth=800}} I couldn't resist grabbing a super-cheap round trip to japan, a place I've always wanted to visit. By "always", I mean: since when I was in kindergarten, watching great series