-After an unsuccessful attempt to access my online web design course, I got my 1st taste of a Japanese Bullet train, calle the Shinkansen. We headed to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Nikko. While waiting for our train, I noticed that the bagel shop was closed at breakfast time, but open for lunch. I have also noticed that every person pictured in an advertisement here can only be described as "super, excellent happy!"
-Upon arrival in Nikko, we took the bus up the mountain road to Kegon Falls. We then took a very cold walk to Chuzenji Lake, after talking to a few people about Taiwan. Along the lake is a beautiful gate and a nice view of Mt. Nantai. We took the bus back into the center of Nikko. During the bus rides there was another bizarre observation. There was a man on both buses who was carrying around a life-sized doll of a child. I asked him if I could take a picture. He seemed to act as if the doll was a real child.
-Upon arrival in Nikko, we took the bus up the mountain road to Kegon Falls. We then took a very cold walk to Chuzenji Lake, after talking to a few people about Taiwan. Along the lake is a beautiful gate and a nice view of Mt. Nantai. We took the bus back into the center of Nikko. During the bus rides there was another bizarre observation. There was a man on both buses who was carrying around a life-sized doll of a child. I asked him if I could take a picture. He seemed to act as if the doll was a real child.
-We went to the Nikko Sannai district to see the shrines and temples. We took a walk through the Japanese garden and then through the museum containing artifacts related to the 3rd Shogun. We then entered the Rinnaji Temple, which contains 3 huge, golden Buddha statues. We then went to a 5-story Pagoda, where there is an ancient carving of the "see-no-evil, speak-no-evil, hear-no-evil" monkeys. After a brief stop at the TOshogu and Futarasan Shrines, we stopped at the Shinkyo Sacred Bridge.
-Along the way back to the train station, we stumbled upon a restaurant with a sign saying, "Welcome Vegetarians." It was a restaurant called Hippari Dako, which was full of business cards, drawings, photos, and paper money that people from all over the world had left behind. I promptly added my Trek America business card to one of the walls. I had some excellent pan-fried udon noodles, and we went to the train station to head back to Tokyo.
-After trying to get cash from an ATM machine, and cashing a traveler's check at a convenience store and a hotel, we were able to get cash at the Post Office ATM.
-For dinner, we headed back to Maguro Bito for some revolving, conveyer sushi and some sake. It felt much less awkward the 2nd time around.
-After dinner, we walked the streets of the Asakusa district to see the night life on Friday night. We ended up at a tiny bar which probably has a maximum occupancy of 10 people. I had some beer from Thailand and enjoyed hanging out in a Japanese bar.
No comments:
Post a Comment