I started the morning by catching the public bus to Bulguksa. I walked around there for a while and saw a huge bronze bell being rung. There was some kind of event there I think, so it was really crowded. I tried some street vendor food which doesn’t seem has healthy as other kinds of …
Author Archives: Lon
Day 119 – Haeinsa
I got up at 7AM to catch a bus to the 3rd largest city in Korea, Daegu. From there I took another bus to Haeinsa which my guidebook lists as “must-see.” After 3 hours traveling total, I made it there. Unfortunately, lots of renovations to the structures and throngs of school children on field trips …
Day 118 – Gyeongju, Korea
The first day or so in a new country is always strange. Everyplace is different and of course it takes a little while to feel things out and get comfortable. So far I think Korea is similar to what I expected. Since it is physically in-between China and Japan, I expect behavior of people and …
Day 117 – Japan to Korea
My last hours in Japan today. I was able to go to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant for my last meal in the country with the help of a Japanese friend I made at the very last place I stayed at. So I had some things like raw fish and fish eggs on rice. Tried …
Day 116 – Akiyoshi Cave / Fukuoka, Japan
Today is my last full day in Japan and the last day my Rail Pass is valid. From Hiroshima, I headed east on the bullet train and took a detour to Akiyoshi Cave after another train and bus. I think it was pretty neat. They say you can walk 1.5km inside the cave and there …
Day 115 – Miyajima / Hiroshima
I awoke with the sound of rain and kids doing drills for National Sports Day in Okayama. Later in the morning I said "Bye" to my roommates (after some talk about which MMORPGs this guy helps manage) and then I got on the train for Hiroshima. Right away I got on another train followed by …
Day 114 – Koyasan / Himeji / Okayama
I talked to the Japanese people sharing my room and learned I should complain about my long trip here yesterday. They walked up the mountain for 7 hours hiking 23km (Choishimichi – Stone-marked path). It was pretty neat to stay in that traditional Japanese style accommodation. The only chair I saw in the place was …
Day 113 – Mount Koya
I tried to wake up and get an early start for my next destination, Mt. Koya. I don’t have any confirmed reservation there, but I’ll see what I can do. I checked out of my hotel at 8AM, got on a train heading that direction. The train to the first transfer (Wakayama) was supposed to …
Day 112 – Osaka
Today I visited Panasonic Center OSAKA which was probably one of the most interesting places I’ve visited in Japan. It was a product showroom and a museum. They had cutaways of many products and explained how they worked and how they gained efficiency. Probably too many things to list, but I saw a 103" Plasma …
Day 111 – Osaka
My hotel is in maybe the worst area of Osaka, but maybe in Japan that’s like the best area of Detroit. It is pretty close to the train tracks which means I can hear trains going by quite often. Today I saw the Namba area of the city, including another Apple store (only two floors, …