Cat's Postcard from Kanazawa, Japan

Photograph above from internet (during springtime).

 

Photograph above from this trip (taken during autumn).

KANAZAWA, JAPAN, 8th November 2010 - Hiking the way up to Kenrokuen Garden, I stopped briefly at this street.

I remember this place because I saw a photograph somewhere of this stretch of shops and street during spring (first photograph above).

It's a thrill to recognize the place and see the trees - even if they are shorn of their spring glory.

Wind was bracing, light was fading even if it was mid-afternoon...few people about.

*rubs hands*

Mood: anticipation
(in seeing one of the top three most beautiful gardens in Japan)

A Side of Sensō-ji

ASAKUSA Taitō, Japan, 5th November 2010 - I took very few panoramic pictures in this trip. Mostly because there were just too many people milling about.

These two pictures I've posted below are 2/3 of what I took of Sensoji - on one side of it in daytime, and one of its gate at night, when thankfully very few people were left.

This is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in the 7th century.
Dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, this is also popularly called Asakusa Kannon Temple.


* Camera used: GE G3WP (waterproof)
* Unedited, no tripod, but I hope you can see a side of Sensoji not usually seen during the heavy tourist season.

Cat's Postcard from Picasso Pavilion

HAKONE, JAPAN, 4th November 2010 - In Hakone's Open Air Museum, more than 300 works by Picasso are gathered.

Here I am outside said building housing not only Pablo Picasso's works but also those of his daughter Maya.

Aside from that come-on, there are also portraits of Picasso taken by David Douglas Duncan for the last decade or so of Picasso's life.

Black or White, its an egg!

OWAKUDANI, HAKONE, JAPAN, 3rd November 2010 - Somewhere on this post is  a picture or two of the kind of egg I almost bought.



A cold wind blew around me and probably slapped some logic into my head.

I came back to my senses and thought of keeping my yen - after all,  whether its black or white shells, its still that - an egg!

I skipped buying black eggs... going a very different way from what almost all the other people around me were doing.

Ha!... who needs 7 extra years of longevity?

Hmm...and that is on a per egg basis too....





Owakudani Nature Trail is the found in the first stop of the ropeway during its trip to Togendai in Hakone, Japan. Its the ropeway's highest point and means "Great Boiling Valley"...later pics will show proof why its called that (either that or the smell will clue you in).

[picture of the eggs being hoisted to//fro boiling area and selling area]

Sulphurically-fragrant postcard from Owakudani!

HAKONE, KANAGAWA PREF., JAPAN, 3rd November 2010 - Although a bit far away from Osaka and more accessible from Tokyo, my goal was really to reach Hakone - if only to try and see some of the stations which were said to have spectacular views.

Truly, Hakone has much to offer the visitor who has the Hakone Free Pass! (though why its called free when I paid for it, is beyond my ken at the moment).


Owakudani is a station along the Hakone Ropeway between Sounzan and Togendai. It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views, volcanic activity, and especially, Kuro-tamago (黒玉子) — a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs.

GUEST HOUSE Yougendo

http://yougendo.com/
Recommended by Hana-chan from her previous trip to Osaka

Japan Youth Hostels, Inc.

http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html
Youth Hostels are reasonable, costing about JPY 3,500 per day including 2 meals and can be reserved in advance.

However there are usually restrictions such as a 10 pm curfew, early breakfast time etc. Rooms also have bunk beds or futons, affording little privacy.

But this is one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest, type of accommodation in Japan.

No age limit (hehe..you might think only youths are accepted), but while most of them require a youth hostel membership card from the Japan Youth Hostel Association, they do let foreigners stay without one at no extra charge...or probably JPY 600 extra per night.

Fuji-Hakone Guesthouse Site

http://www.fujihakone.com
For the budget traveler to Hakone though its a bit isolated.

A Japanese Inn Group member offers inexpensive and clean lodging in tatami rooms, all non-smoking.

Listed in both Frommer's and Lonely Planet.
Listed in JNTO Hakone brochure.
A Welcome Inn Member.

Listed are:
Fuji-Hakone Guest House and..
Moto-Hakone Guest House

HAKONE ICHINOYU GROUP

http://english.ichinoyu.co.jp/index.html
One of their hotels/ryokans was a recommended place to stay in Hakone (aside from the famous Fujiya Hotel) which will not make your wallet weep but is still a ryokan (think "old").

There I was ready to reserve and look for a room when I read from a review that single accommodations are not accepted. *sigh*

The ryokan has only tatami rooms. The oldest date from the Meiji period. Located near Tonosawa Station, this is next to a roaring river and stands on a tree-shaded winding road that follows the track of the old Tokaido Highway. It claims to be the oldest ryokan in the area and was once honored by the visit of an Edo period shogun.

Autumn Foliage Season (Koyo) 2010

Start:	Sep 14, '10
End:	Nov 30, '10
Location:	Japan

The Autumn Color report for 2010 from japan guide!!



Colorful leaves (koyo) are to the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring.

Starting in mid September, the "koyo front" slowly moves southwards from the northern island of Hokkaido until it reaches the lower elevations of central and southern Japan towards the end of November.

Some trees around Tokyo and Kyoto remain colorful into early December.

Note to self:
Look especially for maple tree! This goes through a minor spectrum of oranges and yellows before culminating in a fiery red....

Valugan Beach Intruders 1

June 27, 2010

Batanes, Philippines

Our group woke up very early.
We then sped to Valugan Beach (without breakfast!) in the hopes of catching the sun rise.











Of course, when you are in a big group, you cluster or disperse to the "best spots" ....but...you really have to strive to get a shot without any person in your viewfinder...









in fact, some "old-timers" who were there before us grumbled a bit saying we would be spoiling the scene.



I don't mind if people crowd way up front of me...I will just take them as part of the scenery and the experience.




I enjoyed just watching the sun slowly rise and turn the skies pink then a light gold...



Scattered around here are some pictures of our group members using their equipment to shoot the sunrise or the beach.

Below is a picture I grabbed from another group member to show how at one point some of us were positioned.