I made it to Hong Kong and awaited the arrival of my first traveling partner from home....Joe Cov. We were only in Hong Kong for a quick night and left the next afternoon for Beijing. I will be back in Hong Kong later this month and will explore it then. It was a bit cloudy and thus my photos are a bit grey. We did manage to venture up to The Peak which overlooks the Harbor. You cant help but be amazed at the tremendous buildings in Hong Kong (even though I hail from NYC). To get to the peak, we [View Full Entry]

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Well, my time in Japan has ended with three glorious days in Kyoto (with a quick stop in Himeji to visit the country's most famous castle). I was sad to see the month go so fast and leave the incredibly nice people of Japan. The weekend in Kyoto was spent visiting the many temples and shrines, eating good food with friends and walking....lots of walking....and running up stairs! Also got to visit a Monkey park and feed them. I would go into more details but I just got to Hong Kong and I am tired... but I wanted to post the [View Full Entry]

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My time in Hiroshima is truly a tale of two cities. The frieghting realization of Peace Park and all of the reminders of the A bomb on August 6th, 1945 makes one stop and think about life. The Peace Memorial Museum and its many stories & photos of that fateful day will cause anyone pause. But, on the other hand, the Hiroshima of today is a vibrant city offering great fun and cheer. From the bustling entertainment districts featuring great food, music and crowds, to a nighttime Carps game at the stadium directly across from Peace Park. And I can not [View Full Entry]

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Took a quick detour and headed to the coastal town of Tottori which is famous for its Sand Dunes. Once again, the weather worked for me. I traveled 6 hours by train for Kanazawa and it rained the whole way. When I awoke the next day in Tottori, the sun was out for me to enjoy the Sand Dunes. But, while walking on the beach with my feet in the Sea of Japan, I saw poor weather coming in. So, as planned, I headed back to get my stuff to travel to Hiroshima. Once again, as I boarded the train, the [View Full Entry]

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I was not prepared for the intensity of Kanazawa. I had read about the beauty of Kenrokuen Garden but I did not know the nightlife was hardcore. I spend my days wandering the many gardens the city has to offer, visiting the Geisha district and checking out the bustling Omicho market, but during the night time I gazed at the tremendous energy created by the hordes moving through the tight streets and alleyways. I had to be home by 11pm as I stayed in the home of a Japanesse lady whose house was that of an old Samurai. [View Full Entry]

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After riding another bullet train from Mishima to Nagoya, I caught a regular train to the mountain city of Takayama. On the train, I met a Korean girl who was studying tourism at Texas A&M. She was traveling in Japan for a week before heading to Korea to visit family. Just my luck that she also spoke and read Japanesse as a tour guide (especially for ordering food) was a welcome addition for a bit. I will save you all the details and let the photos and captions do the description. One note though...it seems the weather has been cooperating with [View Full Entry]

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I arrive in Shuzen-ji in Yogis surf van. Yogi has some time before he meets his girlfriend in Ohito (10 minutes from Shuzen-ji) so he asks if I will join him in sightseeing (he has never done it in Shuzen-ji). He and I walk the city in a little over an hour. We are both bummed to find the main temple is under repair and thus closed but the Chikurin no Komichi is open (a path along tall bamboo trees). Yogi is nice enough to drive me to the Youth Hostel which is 1.6km from town. Im sad to find out [View Full Entry]

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A simple 1.5 hour bus ride from Shimoda lands me in Sawada, the town next to Dogashima (the head of the Minshuku in Shimoda told Sawada has better Minshukus than Dogashima). I get of the bus and look for a place to stay but they are all closed. A young couple at a fish store (maybe the owners??) take pitty on me and help me locate a place. No luck, they tell me to try Matzusaki, the town before Sawada. As I put my heavy pack back on, the guy motions to his little pick up truck and gives me a [View Full Entry]

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I typed 7 paragraphs about the 3 days in Shimoda and somehow it got erased. Thus, you have been spared the details. Here is a quick synopsis of my few days in Shimoda. Before leaving Tokyo, I went to the Tuskiji fish market at 5am. Then I head via Bullet Train to Shimoda. A crippled man on a bicycle helped me find a Minshuki (japanesse inn). The coastal resort town was quiet this weekend due to cold weather. Shimoda is famous as it is the landing place of Comm. Perry and his fleet on their mission to open trade with Japan [View Full Entry]

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After relaxing in the morning, I decided to head out to a Sumo Wrestling match at the Ryogoku Stadium and see the preliminary mathes of the Grand Summer Tournament. Upon my arriaval, I caught some of the Makuuchi division wrestlers (these are the big boys!) as they made their entrance into the arena. Inside the octagon shaped arena where the floor seats are gouped in four's and are cushions, I sat in the cheap seats up top. But thanks to my quick thinking, I made my way down to the second level by smiling, pointing and bowing to ushers. From these [View Full Entry]

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