Boog's Blog

BSJ Isuien garden Nara went there due to recommendation of a local

In Album 10/26/15

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BSJ. Todaiji Temple Nara

In Album 10/26/15

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Sunny a little less warm.

Morning Japanese bath report: 107.6

He was ascetic thin, ribs almost bursting through, a smidge less than six feet, sitting in a lotus position, back so perpendicular it makes one think of a right angle training machine, smate (rag for those not from NYC) on his head, meditating rock still in the sauna before, after a rinse, continuing in the cold pool. I suspect that he went for two grains of rice afterward but ate only one.

Walking is quite a challenge here. Very large number of bicycles weaving in and out on the sidewalks. Far far more than I remember from Tokyo days. Osaka thing to bike or will we see so much of it in Tokyo? Stay tuned.

We had read that Osaka is a shopping town. Nothing prepares one for what that really means. We have never in all our travels seen so many retail shops; no empty storefronts. Hard to believe the density of shops.

In Denden city, the electronics section, a bit like akihabra, at least in theory, we went into a manga shop. Tens of thousands of mangas. Five floors of books sorted by genre. Impressive 3D printers at Japan Computer, also five floors. Tokyu Hands has seven floors

QB entered a shop, pictured, with so many plates on the floor I expect that we would be purchasing the ones broken after broken field walking. This is on a street of kitchen supplies, knives, bowls and ….well everything you can imagine.

In Album 10/25/15

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Saturday sunny warm

The Japanese bath, today, was only 106.2. Lack of process control? My thermometer is my Cascio pathfinder each. Either way, some Japanese system is out of control.

While heading to Osaka castle we passed a large group with the sketching pads, tried to find out more about the group but language failed; short stop at Daimuru, an old and elegant department store – on order of takashimaya, enormous grapes as well as other fruits, at of course, the legendary Japanese gift prices.

At the castle a gentlemen from Nara stopped us to practice his English. HRC and Obama liked, at least by him, due to first African and first woman, a good country. Suggested that we see the Isu… garden in Nara.

Green tea ice cream, museum visit, and first Osaka subway ride part way back. Subway is easy but getting the right line and ticket not so much. Even knowing the station name, thanks to google, and the line, the machine would not cooperate. Got some help from locals who also had significant problems even in kanji.

Stopped again at Daimuru for a visit to their food court. Ordered takoyaki, octopus balls in an egg batter, fried. Tried to eat them in the store but an employee came by with a sign and some sharp facial expressions indicating "no eating in store".

Soba noodles for dinner.

In Album 10/24/15

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Sunny warm

106.4 degrees is was/is. Day started,gloriously, with a visit to the Japanese bath in the hotel. Traditional system, hot and cold tubs, washing stands, sauna. Wide variety of water toys for washing up. In the "finishing area" , my term, lotions, gels, razors, on and on. One hesitates to leave this level of cleanliness and put on clothing. But, then, one has to eat.

Kuromon market, walk took an extra 4km, some wrong turns getting there. We were not alone. Jam packed with shops of food and sundries. People eating everywhere and everything in sight. Oysters larger than we have ever seen before. Long lines for Kobe beef at small stalls.

Eat we did at takashimaya. Soup dumplings HK style at din tai Fung as well as the 7 th floor with its samples. More oriented to volume and take out than the upscale basement.

Exited to Namba park a vertical version of the high line in NYC. Nine stories with shops and views and gardens followed by a pointless attempt to find a coin operated laundry. Google maps cannot navigate the warren of streets, overpasses, escalators, lack of street names (go north go west go north cross street go north cross street tale crosswalk go west etc. with directions that do not match my compass).

In Album 10/23/15

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Thursday warm and sunny

Easy flight and train ride; hotel is in or part of the Namba station. The plane is to stay here a few days before hiking the mountain temple route.

Dining experience of Okonimiyaki a local specialty. Pictured. Also bean paste filled fish,another local speciality. Got it at takashimaya along with a couple of samples. Reminiscent of previous trips with Tom K.

Wandering Namba station with its included hotel and high end shops reminds of a Bert and I tale. Bert wins a trip to New……York…..City. When he returns he recounts the largeness and number of people etc. turns out he never left grand central station. Namba station and area is much bigger and more everything.

In Album 10/22/15

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Monday

Red farm: outstanding!
Soup dumplings, pickle dish, duck,much more.

In Album 8/3/15

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Sunday. Hot and sunny

QB negotiated free two day parking, a C$50 value. The room we ordered was described as having a sofa bed, we got a chair. Paid for the other room but were sold out. QB just continued to repeat her request. They folded.

Natal day weekend in Halifax. A busker holiday along the harbor. Yes, buskers. Paper program is, astonishingly, C$3

Shaws landing for final lobster. Ryers said we were too late; web site said 5pm but when we got there at 4:15 said not cooking after 4. So sorry. Shaws landing another pretty spot though without the larger lobsters.

Homemade gingerbread for pudding.

"O lobsters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none–
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

Back via Peggy's cove,a charming spot along the East Shore. Three hundred and fifty million year old plate collision created granite encrusted natural fishing and artist colony shore. One of the most photographed Canadian locations it said.

In Album 8/2/15

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Saturday (had a lot of trouble finding a place to stay – many sold out) sunny and very warm

Bird sanctuary, charming photo shoots. Few birds other than the usual warblers.

Joggins fossil center. Interpretive center, modern, and cliffs with fossils, heavy on the trees.

In Album 8/1/15

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Friday heavy rain last night

Wherein there were two two balls of string, gouda and Force. The third is the shower, be sure to read the instructions.

Unfortunately we missed the pumpkin racing. Better planning required.

First stop a gouda cheese making farm. Very Dutch with lots of gouda to taste but shipping not so much. New Canada regulations require shipping only in refrigerated vehicles. Nope, not to California or the UK.

Next to the Fundy geologic museum with a good rock history of the areas. Sort of a junior, very junior, museum of natural history. With the visit, a brief one.

High tide today at 13:17. 12.6 meters

Did everything right this time: anniversary, romantic blue moon, highest tide viewed, balls of string,….

Force, Fundy ocean research center for energy, www.fundyfotce.ca. four different turbines, as opposed to barrier technology, being developed and tested here. Force is the associated non profit. Annapolis Royal, a bit further on has a working tidal barrier large generator. Just a bit too much out of our way.

The Maple inn, 1893, run by a Viennese, has the most amazing slower. Nice B and B. QB already fussing about their 9 an breakfast.

Dinner at the same warf as where we saw the high tide except this time at low tide time. Pictures reveal the change.

Big lobsters available here! Harbor view where the high (low tide) viewing is best. Scallops as appetizer. Lobsters, not pictured today, look like the others.

In Album 7/31/15

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