I was met with icy blasts as I got off the bus at the trailhead bus stop, and after only a few hundred yards, I abandoned the ascent. Though a comfortable climb I’ve done three times before, today was not the day. There was no snow atop Mt. Yufu this morning, but this afternoon was a different story, as seen in this photo from Yufuin’s main drag.
Category: Living
Exploring Kyushu
It’s been a rainy day, a good day to travel by bullet and local trains from Okayama (1) to Kyushu, one of Japan’s four main islands. I’m staying in the onsen town of Yufuin (2) for two nights then I’ll stay in Fukuoka (3) as a base for day trips.
A reconfigurable art gallery by the Inland Sea
Woke up to rain, so took the Shinkansen 130 miles to sunny Iwakuni on the other side of the weather system. At the Simose Art Museum, designed by star architect Shigeru Ban, I enjoyed a dessert lunch overlooking the Inland Sea. Eight brightly colored, rearrangeable gallery modules can be configured by two people to suit exhibition needs.
Temple walk to the birthplace of Kobo Daishi
Kobo Daishi, born 774, founded Shingon Buddhism and established the Shikoku 88-temple 750-mile pilgrimage, among many accomplishments. Today I walked between temples 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 (Zentsuji) his birthplace. I’ve now walked to 31 of the temples, sometimes more than once. The photo shows purification stations, one for each temple.
Okayama: a good base for exploring
440 miles on a bullet train to Okayama, my base for the next three days. Took this rural train to Kibitsu Shrine, distinguished by a cypress bark gabled roof (unusual) and a 400-year-old, 1,200-foot covered walkway between buildings (again, unusual). Here, the train driver is doing what all train drivers do in Japan: “pointing and calling” (shisa kanko) at signals, status lights, switches, etc., with white-gloved hands. This is a safety protocol.
Yokohama: familiar hotel, familiar treats
Took the Keikyu line from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Yokohama and checked in to the JR (Japan Rail) Hotel as the sun was setting on Thursday. I’ve stayed here before, the rooms are compact, but have everything I need. Note the pajamas on the bed. At a konbini (convenience store), picked up nigiri (rice ball), an egg salad sandwich (Japan does these well), and a small dessert to bring back to the room.
Trippy at Chicago O’Hare ORD
Couldn’t resist a slow-shutter shot at Chicago O’Hare ORD on my way to board a 13-hour United flight to Tokyo Haneda HND. I’ll be in Tokyo tomorrow afternoon: the machinery of travel never ceases to be an adventure.
A fork in the road, the journey continues
All packed for a quick getaway tomorrow. Today I was taken off the clinical trial because it’s no longer working for me. My oncologist strongly encouraged me to go ahead with my trip: another scan and options await my return. I’ll be bearing Japanese Kit Kats from a cluttered Donki for the care team.
Internet micro-influencer for a day
Helped a neighbor install the Airalo app and an eSIM for their Portugal trip. The $16 total was much better than Verizon’s $12/day international roaming. The price included a $3 discount with my code TOM7929 (feel free to use it, I get a kick-back). While I was there I helped resolve other techie issues: cheekily, Dwight called me the Florence Nightingale of Electronica.
Saturday afternoon chamber music with members of the Minnesota Orchestra
Lively works by Stravinsky and Dvořák, and a piece for four violas (unusual) by York Bowen–a British composer I wasn’t familiar with.