かわいい Kiwi

Moving to Kiwi Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:06:00 +0000

To find more food and travel stories, visit my new blog at Kiwi Mix.

Netherlands 5: Animals of Keukenhof

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:16:00 +0000

Location: Lisse, Zuid-Holland
Date: April 13, 2009

Raccoon

Geese

Dwarf Goats and Turkey

Sheep

White Milk Goat

Calf

Rabbits

Rabbit

Göttingnen Minipigs

Göttingnen Minipigs and Llama

Llama

Owl

Netherland 4: More Flowers of Keunkenhof

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Location: Lisse, Zuid-Holland
Date: April 13, 2009

Keukenhof

Food of the Day

Netherlands 3: Keukenhof Hat Show

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:31:00 +0000

Location: Lisse, Zuid-Holland
Date: April 13, 2009

Keukenhof

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Netherlands 2: Tulips of Keukenhof

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:24:00 +0000

Location: Lisse, Zuid-Holland
Date: April 13, 2009

Keukenhof's Windmill and Tulips

Even though this statement may appear culturally insensitive, windmills and tulips are two of Netherlands’ biggest tourism draws. At Keukenhof, tulips are definitely the center of attention. There are other flowers at Keukenhof. But none of them take up as much space and display as many different colors and shapes.

Tulips came from Turkey to the Netherlands in the sixteenth century. Since then, cultivating the flower not only became a hobby and an art form, but also an industry. At Keukenhof, you can examine the different varieties created up close and personal at its greenhouses and gardens. And you can take a boat ride around its fields to see how they grow and live together.

The Boats and Tulip Fields

My Fellow Passengers

Keukenhof

Food of the Day

Netherlands 1: Flowers of Keukenof

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:35:00 +0000

Location: Lisse, Zuid-Holland
Date: April 13, 2009

Keukenhof

Food of the Day

Japan 88: 山中温泉 Yamanaka Onsen

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:35:00 +0000

Location: 石川県加賀市 Kaga, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

菊乃湯 Kiku-no-Yu

山中温泉 Yamanaka Onsen is a very long strip shaped hot spring town. At least one entire afternoon is needed to walk through the entire town and explore all the sights. However, this is not recommended, because some places of interest are quite far apart.

Statues of 松尾芭蕉 Matsuo Basho and 河井曾良 Kawai Sora

Retro Train

蟋蟀橋 Koorogi-Bashi (Cricket Bridge)

An alternative from browsing the hot spring town is strolling along a nearby stream called 鶴仙渓 Kakusen-Kei. Kakusen-Kei flows through a gorge with a rural residential area on each side, so there are bridges both overhead and right above the water.

鶴仙渓 Kakusen-Kei

The Path along the Gorge

あやとりはし Ayatori-Hashi

Bridge across Kakusen-Kei

Cat

山中温泉 Yamanaka Onsen

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Japan 87: 観音加賀寺 Kannon Kaga Temple

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:48:00 +0000

Location: 石川県加賀市 Kaga, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

Kannon

Even when you are just passing through 加賀温泉駅 Kaga Onsen Station by train, it is very difficult to miss 観音加賀寺 Kannon Kaga-Tera’s or Kannon Kaga Temple’s 73 meter tall statue of the deity. Its ridiculous height and position upon a hill make it the tallest thing within its proximity.

Being pressed on time, I did not explore the inside of the strange temple. But it seems to be a joint function with its neighbor, 観音温泉ホテル Kannon Onsen Hotel.

Kannon Kaga Temple’s Entrance

観音加賀寺 Kannon Kaga Temple

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Japan 86: Geisha Houses of Kanazawa

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Location: 石川県金沢市 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

Nishi Chaya-Gai

Wooden Façades

Besides samurai residences, Kanazawa also has geisha tea houses. There are two major districts of them: にし茶屋街 Nishi Chaya-Gai and 東山ひがし Higashi-Yama Higashi. They literally means “West Tea House Street” and “East of Higashi Mountain” respectively, but sometimes they are just called “Western Pleasure Quater” and “Eastern Pleasure Quarter” in English.

Nishi Chaya-Gai is the smaller district. Higashi-Yama Higashi has more museums and souvenir shops.

Higashi-Yama Higashi

One place of interest in Higashi-Yama Higashi is a tea house or お茶屋 ochaya known as 志摩 Shima. Shima was built in 1820, and geisha entertained their patrons there. Besides electric lights, everything has been kept the same way as when it was first built. Inside Shima, there are all types of geisha’s tools of the trade. Of course, they include musical instruments and hair combs. But teapots and serving utensils are just as important.

Shima

Lanterns

三味線 Shamisen

琴 Koto and 琵琶 Biwa

Drums

Hair Combs

Teapots

Kitchen and Utensil Shelves

志摩 Shima

Food of the Day

Japan 85: 金沢城 Kanazawa-Jo

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:02:00 +0000

Location: 石川県金沢市 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

金沢城 Kanazawa-Jo is a castle first founded in 1580. By the time it was burned down in 1881, it already has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. What we see now is a reconstruction that started in 2001. Therefore, both its exterior and interior are very new and clean.

金沢城公園 Kanazawa Castle Park

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Japan 84: Samurai Houses of Kanazawa

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:20:00 +0000

Location: 石川県金沢市 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

Residence of 津田玄 Tsuda Gen

With a garden like 兼六園 Kenroku-En and castle like 金沢城 Kanazawa-Jo, it is not hard to imagine that many samurai once resided in 金沢 Kanazawa. I was half expecting their houses to have thatched roofs like the ones in the movie Last Samurai. But none of these urban residences have them. In fact, they have small Buddhist altars and gardens that exemplify the samurai’s Zen sides.

Naga-Cho

長町 Naga-Cho is a neighborhood where you can find several samurai residences within the vicinity of one another. 野村家 Nomura-Ke is the house of the 野村 Nomura family. It has everything from armor to screen doors that one would expect to see.

Nomura-Ke

Screen Doors

Buddhist Altar

Garden

Carp

Armor

A stone throw away from Nomura-Ke is 高田家 Takada-Ke, residence of the 高田 Takada family. But all that remains of it now is actually where the servants and horses stay.

Takada-Ke

野村家 Nomura-Ke

Food of the Day

Japan 83: 兼六園 Kenroku-En

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Location: 石川県金沢市 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

Kenroku-En

Like 岡山 Okayama’s 後楽園 Koraku-En, 兼六園 Kenroku-En is a strolling-style landscape garden featuring a collection of sceneries. It was first built during the 江戸時代 Edo Period by the 加賀藩 Kaga Clan. Then future generations of 大名 Daimyo (feudal lords) added their own aesthetics to the original garden.

根上松 Neagari no Matsu (Raised Root Pine)

Another Wide Spanned Pine

金城霊沢 Kinjo Reitaku is a mysterious spring well that always maintains its water level. The name of 金沢 Kanazawa is taken from the first and last 漢字 kanji characters of the well’s name.

Kinjo Reitaku

The Spring

The five meter statue of 日本武尊 Yamamoto Takeru no Mikoto is erected in 1880 and serves as a monument to soldiers died at war.

Yamamoto Takeru no Mikoto

While Kenroku-En offers many interesting photo opportunities, it does not have a wholesome image like Koraku-En. As a garden, I favor Koraku-En more.

翠滝 Midori Falls

Duck

兼六園 Kenroku-En

Food of the Day

Japan 82: Modern Art in Kanazawa

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Location: 石川県金沢市 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

Food of the Day

Japan 81: 尾山神社 Oyama Jinja

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:29:00 +0000

Location: 石川県金沢市 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

Food of the Day

Japan 80: 金沢駅 Kanazawa Station

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:40:00 +0000

Location: 石川県金沢市 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Date: June 24, 2009

金沢駅 Kanazawa Station

もてなしドーム Motenashi Dome

鼓門 Tsuzumi-Mon

Food of the Day

Japan 79: 河井寛次郎記念館 Kawai Kanjirou Kinenkan

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:36:00 +0000

Location: 京都府京都市 Kyoto, Kyoto
Date: June 23, 2009

Kawai Kanjirou Kinenkan

河井寛次郎記念館 Kawai Kanjirou Kinenkan is a museum dedicated to 河井寛次郎 Kawai Kanjirou. This house used to be the late pottery master’s residence and kiln. Now it is opened to public and displays Kawai Kanjirou’s works and workshop.

An Outdoor Path

Yard

Tea Pot and Stove

Tools and Workshop

Kiln

Potteries

河井寛次郎記念館 Kawai Kanjirou Kinenkan

Food of the Day

Japan 78: 並河靖之七宝記念館 Namikawa Cloisonné Museum of Kyoto

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Location: 京都府京都市 Kyoto, Kyoto
Date: June 23, 2009

並河靖之七宝記念館 Namikawa Cloisonné Museum of Kyoto is located at the house of late 七宝 shippou master 並河靖之 Namikawa Yasuyuki built in 1895. It contains his residence and workshop. Now, it is maintained as a museum preserving his work and a garden built by his neighbor and friend, 小川治兵衛 Ogawa Jihee, who also created 平安神宮 Heian Jingu’s 平安神宮神苑 Heian Jingu Shinen.

Namikawa Cloisonné Museum

The Kitchen

Shippou is a type of decorating technique that uses metal wires for outlining and enamel for coloring. This method is known as cloisonné in English. It is often seen on bowls and vases. The works at this museum, however, could not be photographed.

Being a great admirer of Japanese gardens, Professor K recommended Namikawa Cloisonné Museum of Kyoto to me because of its small yet intricate garden complete with bridges, carps, islands, lanterns, and pine trees.

並河靖之七宝記念館 Namikawa Cloisonné Museum of Kyoto

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Japan 77: 南禅寺 Nanzen-Ji

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Location: 京都府京都市 Kyoto, Kyoto
Date: June 23, 2009

Overview of Nanzen-Ji

南禅寺 Nanzen-Ji is a Buddhist temple consisting a complex of halls and gardens. Professor K, who is very fond of Japanese gardens, highly recommended Nanzen-Ji’s 南禅院 Nanzen-In. So I could not miss that.

Pillars of San-Mon

Nanzen-Ji is, indeed, huge. For an aerial view of the area, you can climb the staircase leading to the balcony of its 三門 San-Mon.

San-Mon

One Side of San-Mon

Staircase Leading to the Balcony

The Balcony

A View from the Balcony

On the way to Nanzen-In, there is a red brick waterway called Bi built in the 1880s. It was used to bring water from 琵琶湖 Lake Biwa in 大津 Otsu of 滋賀県 Shiga Prefecture.

Under the Waterway

The Waterway

Simplicity is the key at Nanzen-In. It does not have complicated landscaping nor a wide variety of plants. It just has the simple atmosphere that is expected from a Japanese garden surrounding a tea house.

Lotus in Nanzen-In

The Pond

View through the Teahouse’s Windows

南禅寺 Nanzen-Ji

Food of the Day

Japan 76: 平安神宮 Heian Jingu

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Location: 京都府京都市 Kyoto, Kyoto
Date: June 23, 2009

Heian Jingu’s Torii

平安神宮 Heian Jingu is one of its kind. The 神道 Shinto shrine’s entrance is marked by a bright red 24.2 meter tall 鳥居 torii. Its main structures surround a palatial size rectangular open space. And it has 33,000 square meter garden called 平安神宮神苑 Heian Jingu Shinen created by 小川治兵衛 Ogawa Jihee.

応天門 Outen-Mon

手水 Chouzu

Unlike the rest of Heian Jingu, Heian Jingu Shinen’s design is intricate and detailed. While not everyone may distinguish all the different elements planned by Ogawa, everybody finds pleasure in strolling through the garden’s many plants and sceneries.

Heian Jingu Shinen

Japan’s First Electric Train (First Operated in 1896)

Lotus Pond

One End of 臥龍橋 Garyuu-Kyou

Garyuu-Kyou

泰平閣 Taihei-Kaku

Maple Leaves

Pine Branches

平安神宮 Heian Jingu

Food of the Day

Japan 75: 鹿苑寺 Rokuon-Ji

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:47:00 +0000

Location: 京都府京都市 Kyoto, Kyoto
Date: June 23, 2009

The golden pavilion in 鹿苑寺 Rokuon-Ji is one of the most recognized attractions of 京都 Kyoto. In fact, it is so well known that Rokuon-Ji is often just referred to as 金閣寺 Kinkaku-Ji, which means Temple of the Golden Pavilion. With the advantage of being coated in gold leaves, it literally outshines all the other parts of Rokuon-Ji.

陸舟の松 Rikushuu no Matsu

龍門の滝 Ryuu-Mon no Taki (Dragon Gate Falls) and 鯉魚石 Rigyou Ishi (Carp Stone)

Food of the Day

Japan 74: More from 清水寺 Kiyomizu-Dera

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:00:00 +0000

Location: 京都府京都市 Kyoto, Kyoto
Date: June 23, 2009

清水寺 Kiyomizu-Dera

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Japan 73: 清水寺 Kiyomizu-Dera

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Location: 京都府京都市 Kyoto, Kyoto
Date: June 23, 2009

View of Kyoto Tower

Niou-Mon 仁王門

The proverb, “Early bird catches the worm”, applies to sightseeing too. By sacrificing a bit of night life and/or sleep, you can have the entire 清水寺 Kiyomizu-Dera to yourself and about ten other like minded visitors.

手水 Chouzu

Metal Slippers

Kiyomizu-Dera is a Buddhist temple founded in 778. Its 本堂 Hondou or Main Hall is supported by more than a hundred giant wood pillars at its base. Just beyond the Main Hall is 地主神社 Jishu-Jinja – a flashy shrine packed with different deities.

Main Hall

Jishu-Jinja

Two Deities at Jishu-Jinja

Another big draw at Kiyomizu-Dera is the spring water rushing out of 音羽の滝 Otowa-no-Taki, which means Otowa Falls. Before its three streams of water reach a pool at the ground, people can take a sip of the spring using the long ladles provided by the temple and kept sanitized by ultraviolet.

Otowa-no-Taki

Food of the Day

Japan 72: 城崎温泉 Kinosaki Onsen

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:59:00 +0000

Location: 兵庫県豊岡市 Toyooka, Hyogo
Date: June 22, 2009

さとの湯 Sato-no-Yu's Ashiyu Outside Kinosaki Station

城崎 Kinosaki is a hot spring town. Immediately outside 城崎駅 Kinosaki Station, there is already a free 足湯 ashiyu, which is hot spring for your feet, and a large shelf of wooden slippers. Hot spring hopping from one resort to another and trying out all the free small outdoor hot springs in town are popular activities.

Wooden Slippers

But Kinosaki is not just about 温泉 onsen or hot springs. Its retro atmosphere is also what draws many visitors. The area around the willow lined banks of 大谿川 Ootani River has several small bridges and only two or three story tall wooden toned houses. When the weather is warm enough, the hot spring resorts would even rent out to customers colorful 浴衣 yukata (thin, summer kimono) adding to the town’s vintage charm.

Ootani River

木屋町通り Kiyamachi Street along Ootani River

A Bridge over Ootani River Being Used as a Driveway

城崎温泉 Kinosaki Onsen

Japan 71: More on Amanohashidate

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:56:00 +0000

Location: 京都府宮津市 Miyazu, Kyoto
Date: June 22, 2009

The area stretching from 天橋立駅 Amanohashidate Station to the other side of 天橋立 Amanohashidate the sand bar is dotted with souvenir shops, restaurants, and sightseeing spots. One that is located next to the ferry docks on the train station’s side is 智恩寺 Chion-Ji.

Fan-Shaped Charms

山門 San-Mon

From Chion-Ji, you can head to the opposite end of Amanohashidate by taking the ferry or crossing the sand bar. Whichever way you choose, you cannot miss the bright red 廻旋橋 Kaisen-Kyou (Rotating Bridge). It is called so because it rotates ninety degrees to allow large boats to pass. Before 1961, the bridge was rotated manually. Now it is electronic to accommodate the increased traffic.

Kaisen-Kyou

Kaisen-Kyou Rotated

Behind Kaisen-Kyou, there is a blue bridge called 大天橋 Daitenkyou. Once you crossed both bridges, you will find yourself at the start of a pine tree lined path.

Daitenkyou

Start of Amanohashidate

Because of the rain, I left Amanohashidate in less than three hours. But there were many things such as biking across the sandbar that I could not experience. Hopefully, I will be able to spend more time there next time.

A Ferry along Amanohashidate

Japanese Black Pines

View from 傘松公園 Kasamatsu Park

Japan 70: 天橋立 Amanohashidate

noreply@blogger.com (Ying Huang) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:55:00 +0000

Location: 京都府宮津市 Miyazu, Kyoto
Date: June 22, 2009

Amanohashidate

天橋立 Amanohashidate is a 3.6 kilometer long sand bar embracing 宮津湾 Miyazu Bay on its east side and 阿蘇海 Aso Sea on its west side. It is home to about 8,000 黒松 Kuromatsu, also known as Japanese Black Pines or Pinus thunbergii.

Believe it or not, I was quite blessed with good weather on this trip. That is until I arrived at Amanohashidate. It rained so hard that I thought the ferries bringing people from one end of the sand bar to the other may be suspended. Fortunately, they were not. Even the cable car that takes people to 傘松公園 Kasamatsu Park’s observatory deck was not closed. But the sun only started to appear while I was already on the train heading toward my next destination.

Cable Car

View from Kasamatsu Park

Next time, I hope the weather will be better so that I can bike across Amanohashidate.

宮津天橋立観光協会 Miyazu Amanohashidate Tourist Information Center