tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191399002024-03-13T10:38:21.989-07:00my journalA legacy blog that strives to entertain and most importantly, to inform.Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-40886053264559840782018-11-05T05:32:00.000-08:002018-11-05T05:32:04.738-08:00Canberra - "Bush Capital of Australia"It has been a while since my last blog post and since mid-2017, I had changed jobs and relocated from the Land of the Rising Sun (Tokyo, Japan) to the Land Down Under (Brisbane, Australia). Recently, I had the chance to travel domestically for work in Australia for the first time and got to visit the so-called Bush Capital of Australia, Canberra for 5 days at the end of October 2018.<br />
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The view of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory from the Telstra Tower on Black Mountain.<br />
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Canberra is quite an unusual city it that it is completely master planned as a capital city of the 20th century like Brasilia, Brazil and Islamabad, Pakistan following "garden city" town planning principles. What this means in reality is that the entire city looks very beautiful when driving through in a private vehicle. The city is like one giant country park and instead of "walking through the park", you are expected to admire the city and its monumental buildings by "driving through it". As a result, the city is characterized by endless suburbia with all shops and commercial facilities located at "designated centres" and is not very walkable but very green.<br />
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One of my stops was the Telstra Tower, a communications tower built in the 1980s on top of Black Mountain. From here I got a spectacular 360 degree view of the city.<br />
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The lake (Lake Burley Griffin) which is named after the American town planner responsible for the design of Canberra is actually a man-made lake which was only completed in the 1960s.<br />
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Here, you can see what a "garden city" looks like. Low density suburbia separated by vast areas of natural vegetation from which parkways run through to connect all the suburbs.<br />
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Here you can see the town centre of Belconnen in the far distance.<br />
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The main city. You can clearly see the main axis of the city in straight diagonal lines.<br />
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The central business district west of the lake with the giant fountain and the government zone east of the lake.<br />
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Back on ground level, I visited the Parliamentary Zone where all the government buildings and ministries were located. The area is shaped like a triangle with Parliament House located on a hill at the top of the triangle.<br />
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The Australian national parliament building where you can see the giant flag from far away. It was only completed in 1988! Despite visiting on the weekend, it was almost deserted because there is simply no way to walk to the building from the Parliamentary Zone (the distance is too far). The only way to get there was to drive there.<br />
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Back to the central area of the Parliamentary Zone.<br />
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Since Canberra was not really developed until after the post World War II period (due to a lack of funds), there aren't many grand historic buildings. Even the Treasury (Finance Ministry) Building shown here is very simple.<br />
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The vast empty lawn in front of the Old Parliament House.<br />
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The Australian War Memorial in the distance as viewed from Old Parliament House.<br />
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Before the current Parliament House opened in 1988, the national parliament used to meet in this tiny temporary building!<br />
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It only cost AUD $2.00 to visit the building which is now a museum. I think this must be one of the lowest admission costs for a museum in Australia (considering how expensive things are here).<br />
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The main hall inside.<br />
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The former House of Representatives chamber (House of Commons in other Commonwealth countries).<br />
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It was interesting how they preserved the offices just like how they were in the late 80s. This is the speaker's office which seems to date from the 1930s?<br />
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Secretary desks for the speaker which looks like the 1960s.<br />
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The Prime Minister's offfice. This has a 1970s vibe.<br />
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The Cabinet Room.<br />
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Back outside, the rows of flags on the lakefront.<br />
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Telstra Tower on Black Mountain in the background.<br />
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The Australian War Memorial at the foot of Mount Ainslie across from the lake.<br />
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The grand boulevard leading to the Australian War Memorial.<br />
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The Australian-American Memorial "The Eagle" near the Defence Precinct.<br />
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On my way to the National Capital Exhibition museum near the lake on the opposite side of the Parliamentary Zone.<br />
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The National Library and Parliament House in the distance.<br />
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Mosaic of the original plan for Canberra by the American planner, Walter Burley Griffin.<br />
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The original site of Canberra before the city was built.<br />
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Scale model of Canberra.<br />
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The central business district of Canberra (Civic). Almost completely empty on the weekend.<br />
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The main bus terminal.<br />
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Even in the central area, you see parking lots everywhere.<br />
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Parkways and wide roads mean it is difficult to walk to places.<br />
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What city would be complete without a Chinatown? There is one in Canberra too. Located in the Dickson Town Centre and is a concentration of Asian shops in a strip mall.<br />
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Light rail under construction. When this opens it will make moving around much easier for non-residents.<br />
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My hotel, 15 minutes walk from the central business district and 15 minutes walk to the Dickson Chinatown.<br />
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Interesting looking UFO building at the Australian National University.<br />
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Canberra bus stops looked like something out of a Studio Ghibli movie.<br />
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And finally, Canberra Airport, only a 15 minute drive from the central business district and I think the most modern in Australia.<br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-63032058552315074532015-10-23T08:23:00.000-07:002015-10-23T08:23:45.571-07:00More than One Month in Haiphong and One Day in HanoiFrom March 17, 2015 to April 14, 2015, due to working on an international (Japanese) aid funded transport-related project for work, I stayed for more than one month in Haiphong and one day in Hanoi. (usually it would be the other day around, right?)<br />
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This was my second time in Vietnam and my first time in Northern Vietnam. The first time was last year when due to work purposes again, I stayed in <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.jp/2014/06/ho-chi-minh-city-saigon.html">Ho Chi Minh City</a> for around one month.<br />
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One of the symbols of a typical Vietnamese city and Haiphong, a colonial French-style opera house, topped off with giant national flags and a portrait of Uncle Ho to show who is in charge these days.<br />
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So where is Haiphong? It is a port city located around 2 hours east of Hanoi by car that is home to many factories in industrial parks that produce a lot of the "Made in Vietnam" goods that you see on store shelves nowadays. <br />
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Since Haiphong doesn't have an international airport, I had to fly from Tokyo to Hanoi and then once I landed at the airport in Hanoi, the assigned driver drove me directly to Haiphong. <br />
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I once again flew on Vietnam Airlines and compared to many North American airlines, the food and service was quite good. The only downsides was the lack of selection in the in-flight movies and the fact that the airline mileage accrual on Delta's SkyMiles was extremely stingy. (People don't call it SkyPesos for nothing)<br />
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The in-flight meal of Vietnam Airlines. I would say it was better than meals I had recently with Cathay Pacific (a real disappointment) and United Airlines (the worst).<br />
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The hotel I stayed in at Haiphong was called the "Lac Long Hotel" and for less than US$50.00 per night it was quite a good deal. <br />
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It was extremely spacious, newly renovated and most importantly, it was really clean. To top it off, they even offered laundry service for free each day for 1 set of undergarments, 1 shirt and 1 pair of pants. It seemed that most of their customers were foreigners or Vietnamese people who were out in Haiphong to do business in those factories in the industrial parks and often needed to stay for long periods of time. <br />
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As an aside, while I was there, I meet a Taiwanese businessman who was an ex-civil engineer and was also staying at the hotel for a couple of months while he was getting ready to start up a factory to produce mechanical parts. The amazing thing was that he previously had stayed in Haiphong for 10 years, learnt the Vietnamese language and had previously retired only to "un-retire" because he was bored!<br />
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The room I stayed in at the hotel. The only thing that didn't work well was the speed of the Wi-Fi connection.<br />
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In the room, I noticed that the light fixtures had the "Panasonic" logo printed right on the fixture itself and as a former electrical design engineer/assistant lighting designer, I know that any self-respecting lighting designer would have a heart attack if they ever saw one of these things installed in their projects!<br />
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The purpose of the project I was working on was to study the feasibility of building 2 bridges to connect the city centre of Haiphong with industrial parks to the north of the city across the Cam River. I was assigned to be in charge of the traffic surveys so that the project team could see what was the existing traffic condition in the city so they could use the data to make future traffic forecasts. One of the things we had to do was to contract out the work of doing the actual traffic surveys to local Vietnamese consultants and one of the main tasks for being at the local city was to coordinate and to monitor their works.<br />
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Here, they set up cameras at a local hotel to record the amount of vehicles that passed by this cross section. The videos would be recorded for 24 hours and then afterwards the Vietnamese consultants would hire local university students to manually count the number of vehicles for all 24 hours (the labour cost is still cheap in Vietnam). <br />
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Usually in developed countries, they would install automatic vehicle counting devices at set locations so they could monitor the traffic situation year round. <br />
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The Vietnamese countryside had a lot of hybrid Vietnamese-European like buildings.<br />
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A typical street in the Vietnamese countryside. No one walks on the street because everyone has motorbikes.<br />
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In addition to counting the number of vehicles, another task was to interview a sample of drivers to get a sense of where they came from and where they were heading in order to get a better sense of the traffic situation and also to use as inputs for the traffic forecast. With the cooperation of the traffic police, the Vietnamese consultants hired local students to fill out a questionnaire that we developed.<br />
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Driving down a typical street in Vietnam. <br />
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You have to have quick reflexes to dodge motorbikes, bicycles, pedestrians and anyone and anything that crosses the road. The driver who drove me to the various survey sites had absolutely no patience such that his driving style was if there was a car in front of us, he would start honking the horn like crazy, then use the opposite lane with *opposing traffic* to overtake the car in front of us! This happened on a regular basis.<br />
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Crossing one of the bridges that was previously funded by Japan and now kind of deteriorating due to a lack of maintenance.<br />
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I wonder why the Japanese engineers designed a modern bridge without a barrier in the median to separate the opposing traffic, it seems unsafe to me...<br />
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When I was there, an official project office had not yet been set up, so we had to work out of the local transport department's conference room "under the guidance of Uncle Ho and the Communist Party".<br />
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A typical street in the city centre of Haiphong.<br />
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One of the bad things about Vietnamese cities is that because of the amount of motorbike users, walking around the city is extremely unpleasant. <br />
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A lot of the sidewalks were de-facto motorbike parking spaces.<br />
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I also noticed a lot of these Chinese-made? electric bikes.<br />
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While I was there, almost everyday was cloudy and on one of the sunny days during the weekend, I walked around and explored the city by foot. Compared to the other megacities of Vietnam, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong is less chaotic and way more laid back. There seemed to be less motorbikes compared to the other 2 megacities and I still saw a lot of people riding their bicycles on the street.<br />
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Street barbers.<br />
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Local mini amusement park with rides. <br />
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I wonder where they got that giant New Super Mario Bros. 2 image from for use as decoration?<br />
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Balloon hawker. They would actually push their cart full of balloons along the road with the cars and motorbikes to try to make some sales.<br />
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There were quite a few parks as well as a giant canal and promenade in the centre of the city.<br />
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The symbolic centre of the city. The square with the giant national flag and the French colonial-style opera house with the Ho Chi Minh portrait. At night time, this was a popular place for the locals to play sports.<br />
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Balloon hawker in the background.<br />
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The canal.<br />
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Various modern day propaganda.<br />
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The Haiphong railway station area. You could catch one of the few slow moving trains to Hanoi here.<br />
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This is the type of intersection that you have to physically cross to get to the railway station.<br />
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Inside the station from another era.<br />
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Street shops.<br />
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Roadside fruit vendors.<br />
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Live chickens for sale.<br />
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One of the main wet markets.<br />
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So fresh and so cheap.<br />
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Guy in an army helmet carrying construction materials on his bicycle-powered cart.<br />
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Typical commercial street.<br />
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Household goods market.<br />
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Toy shop.<br />
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Remnants of the French colonial era. The Catholic church.<br />
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Decaying French style buildings around the old French colonial administrative area.<br />
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The old French colonial administrative area, now occupied by Vietnamese government offices.<br />
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Abandoned construction.<br />
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Railway tracks that bisect a roundabout. When one of the few passenger trains in the day pass through here, traffic grinds to a halt in all directions.<br />
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In Haiphong, there were maybe 5-6 restaurants that were foreign friendly (i.e., they had English menus) and one of them was this Pizza Hut. Needless to say, I had never eaten Pizza Hut so many times in a period of around 30 days before. (Note: Never ever order pasta at Pizza Hut, it tastes just like frozen microwaved pasta)<br />
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Above the Pizza Hut, there was a stylish Vietnamese cafe and we often ate lunch there.<br />
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A typical lunch set from that upstairs Vietnamese cafe that included a side dish, rice and soup. It only cost around 40,000 VND to 60,000 VND (US$1.70-2.69). I actually wanted to eat pho a lot of times, but actually in Vietnam, pho is considered a breakfast meal so it was not usually served during the lunch time.<br />
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Another place that I often went to was a restaurant called "Texas BBQ" that served American food. I have no idea why such a restaurant existed here but it was quite decent and the portions were "Texas-sized".<br />
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Nachos.<br />
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Ribs. I had never seen ribs served with the meat stabbed with a knife before!<br />
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In all the restaurants, all the napkins are meticulously folded into a shape of a lotus, Vietnam's national flower.<br />
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In addition, I also had some local food from Haiphong. Apparently what was famous in Haiphong was not pho, but rather, "banh da cua", Haiphong crab noodles where the soup is seafood based. Personally, I prefer the beef-based pho instead. At this meal, there were also generous servings of giant ball-sized fried spring rolls which were delicious.<br />
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A local staff also recommended a "traditional style" Vietnamese restaurant to me and I didn't know it was an upscale place until I saw the menu. Anyways, what I ordered turned out to be disappointing.<br />
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This tasted like fried fish with tartar sauce, except with a hint of Vietnamese-ness.<br />
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Lemongrass chicken, nothing really special, except for the price.<br />
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I walked by this street hawker almost everyday while I was there because it was on the road from the hotel to the Pizza Hut area with restaurants. Unlike most street hawkers, the guy who runs this place also manages to plug in a big screen TV for his customers that was connected to a satellite dish that he just places on the sidewalk!<br />
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Local weekend leisure activities at the park, cock fighting?<br />
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April 14, 2015 was the day of my flight back to Tokyo and since all flights from Southeast Asia to Japan are red eye for some reason, I decided to spend one day checking out Hanoi. <br />
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While I was heading west to Hanoi, another project team member had just landed in Hanoi from Japan and was going eastbound towards Haiphong. Instead of my Haiphong-based driver driving me directly to Hanoi, we rendezvoused with the Hanoi-based driver who was driving the project team member east. The cars pulled off at the side of the highway and we switched cars. I was quite surprised that they did this because no one told me that we were going to switch drivers in the middle of the journey!<br />
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I was quite surprised to see that Hanoi was still a low-rise city except for a few tall buildings. Its nice to see an Asian city that is still predominately low-rise and still has its own character. I wonder if Hanoi will be transformed into a typical generic Asian megacity full of banal glass and steel high rises as its economy continues to develop.<br />
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The skyline of Hanoi as seen from crossing the bridge and entering the city proper.<br />
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By the time I reached Hanoi, it was already lunchtime, so I had researched some famous pho restaurants in advance and I asked the driver to take me to them to try the northern Vietnamese-style pho. In an article by the Wall Street Journal about the famous pho restaurants of Hanoi, they recommended a place called "Pho Thin Bo Ho" and said that it was a family establishment which had been open since 1949. What I didn't realize once I got there was that this "restaurant" was literally a hole in the wall eatery. When the driver dropped me off in front of the entrance to the alley, I asked him if he went to the wrong place.<br />
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This pho stall was located in an alley that connected the outside street with residences in a courtyard and while I was eating, residents on motorbikes would just speed by through the passageway.<br />
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The "kitchen".<br />
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The Hanoi-style pho is less sweet when compared to its southern Saigon-style pho. It was really delicious (I drank all the soup) and it only cost 50,000 VND (US$2.24).<br />
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The pho place was located in the ancient Old Quarter of Hanoi and since I had some time to kill before the driver picked me up, I walked a bit around the area.<br />
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There was a nice lake right in the centre of the Old Quarter with a temple on a small island (very ancient Chinese like). The only other big city that I had been to before in Vietnam was Ho Chi Minh City and in that city, it seemed like there was no historical connection with the past (kind of like what Tokyo feels like today), but in Hanoi, it seemed that I could feel the history and culture of Vietnam.<br />
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The last place I went to before I had dinner with Vietnamese colleagues and the subsequent flight out of Hanoi was the newly constructed Lotte Tower built by the Korean multinational of the same name. Inside the Lotte Tower was the 5 star Lotte Hotel and their lobby was on one of the top floors of the building so instead of paying the pricey entrance fee to the observation deck, I could view the entire skyline of Hanoi from the lobby of the hotel which had floor to ceiling windows.<br />
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From the top, Hanoi looks very European-like.<br />
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The grey coloured, grim-looking building that is the Japanese embassy, in contrast with the other buildings that all have red roofs.<br />
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There are so many lakes right in the middle of the city.<br />
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New generic Asian-style "modern buildings".<br />
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Hanoi airport's new international terminal building which just opened 1-2 months before and it was also built with funding assistance from Japan. It was a nice new building, but again, very generic. I guess this is what happens when the in-house architects from a mega general contractor does the designs. Efficiency and cost over design.<br />
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There were many people at the airport, but the check in counters had almost no lineups. This was when I noticed that most of the people were family members sending off their relatives at the airport!<br />
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I still had a lot of time to kill before my 12 am flight so I just wondered around and checked out the rest of the building.<br />
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From the second floor restaurants and dining area.<br />
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Unfortunately, a lot of shops and restaurants had yet to open.<br />
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Packed crowds gathered at the windows to see the airplanes take off from the runway.<br />
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The middle floor between the departure floor and the arrival floor. Still waiting for tenants.<br />
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The arrival floor.<br />
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Too bad I had already eaten, I really wanted to get some Popeyes fried chicken.<br />
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Localized fast food.<br />
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In the secure area.<br />
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One of the odd things about Vietnam airports is that before security on the departure level, everything is priced in the local currency but once you pass security, everything is priced in US dollars. Here at the duty free shop, they were selling giant boxes of Tic Tacs for US$45.00 at the duty free shop!<br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-74605497310401701872014-06-28T22:53:00.000-07:002014-06-28T22:53:26.284-07:00Ho Chi Minh City - "Independence, Freedom, Happiness" On May 11, 2014 I was assigned by the Japanese company that I work for to Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a. Saigon) for 41 days to work on a project at the local project office.<br />
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The skyline of modern Saigon from the window of the project office, a rapidly changing city. What will it look like 10 years later?!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241538877" title="IMG_20140530_123554 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14241538877_997045fe53_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140530_123554"></a><br />
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Although no stranger to Vietnamese people and their food because of the numerous numbers who live in North America, this was my first time to experience Vietnam live and uncut.<br />
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For some reason all the flights from Japan to Vietnam are all scheduled at hours to "maximize" working time, for example, the flights departing from Japan or Vietnam either were all overnight flights (so you could get into the office once you get off the plane) or early in the morning (so that you could get into the office in the late afternoon after you arrive!). <br />
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I took Vietnam Airlines and it seemed that most of the passengers were going back and forth for business purposes. The flight from Tokyo to Saigon took around 5 hours and 30 minutes. Including all of the airport waiting time and access to the airport, it took like 7-8 hours in total.<br />
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The meal from Vietnam Airlines, this was advertised in the menu as a "western" meal but it definitely did not taste western at all. The taste is like all other economy class airline meals but unlike stingy Japanese airlines which give small portions, at least Vietnam Airlines was generous with the portions! (the secret is not cheaping out on the rice!)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14525301104" title="IMG_20140620_062043 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/14525301104_d69c5af1ed_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140620_062043"></a><br />
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After one week of staying in a hotel near the project office, I found a serviced apartment for the rest of my stay there. The cost per night was around US$40-50 at a so-called 3-star/4-star hotel which was quite reasonable, but the serviced apartment was cheaper overall per night. It cost me around US$700 for the studio room and it included laundry service everyday so I would just put my dirty clothes in a bin and it would come back ironed and cleaned at night (including the underwear).<br />
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The only bad thing about the serviced apartment is the lack of privacy as the cleaning person usually came in the early morning to pick up your clothes and would just come into your apartment without letting you know, even if you were sleeping. Also by the end of my stay, they were showing potential renters my room before I had even checked out!<br />
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The small kitchen area of the serviced apartment. I did not even bother to cook because it was just cheaper to eat out. Also, because tap water is not drinkable, bottled water is usually provided everywhere you go.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241385920" title="IMG_20140615_163123 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14241385920_1d8912bd6e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_163123"></a><br />
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For some reason, there was very little water pressure and at night the water would flow to a trickle compared to the morning, this made taking a proper shower hard.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426670112" title="IMG_20140615_163110 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/14426670112_b134ae4844_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_163110"></a><br />
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The actual room, it was bigger than the shoebox apartment that I rent in Tokyo.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241322830" title="IMG_20140615_163054 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5547/14241322830_029f937a3e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_163054"></a><br />
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The neighbourhood where the apartment was located. This area mostly served Japanese salarymen who were assigned to work in Saigon. One bad thing is that there were some karaoke places located nearby and just like Japanese apartments that are built with paper-thin walls, it was the same in Saigon. At night there was constant noise from the bar/karaoke places on the ground floor and in the morning there was the constant annoying sounds from motorbikes.<br />
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The entrance to the neighbourhood.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14421755466" title="IMG_7102 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14421755466_38e35accc9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7102"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258239449" title="IMG_7101 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2897/14258239449_d56f868bd8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7101"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258252249" title="IMG_7100 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2936/14258252249_8fedacb4b3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7100"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14443549152" title="IMG_7099 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/14443549152_97e37a63f0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7099"></a><br />
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The project office was located in this building in the "Japanese area" of Saigon, an area concentrated with Japanese restaurants, all designed to serve the expatriate Japanese salaryman population. My service apartment was only a 5 minute walk to the office.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258271698" title="IMG_7025 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2906/14258271698_8d8684751e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7025"></a><br />
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The skyline of Saigon from the 16th floor of the project office.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404729756" title="IMG_20140530_123601 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/14404729756_59d9bce44c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140530_123601"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404729756" title="IMG_20140530_123601 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/14404729756_59d9bce44c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140530_123601"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404729756" title="IMG_20140530_123601 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/14404729756_59d9bce44c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140530_123601"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404832996" title="IMG_20140530_123625 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14404832996_4d3428b75d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140530_123625"></a><br />
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The night view. I should have used a real camera instead of using a smartphone.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14427882865" title="IMG_20140612_181837 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/14427882865_97a2a74a74_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140612_181837"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426778244" title="IMG_20140612_181844 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/14426778244_a3aceb5614_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140612_181844"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14424514041" title="IMG_20140612_181852 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14424514041_70a40baf22_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140612_181852"></a><br />
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The typical day during the rainy season which lasts for half the year in Saigon from around May to November. The most unusual part about the rainy season is that almost everyday it would rainy heavily for around 1 hour or less and then stop and become sunny again!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241163749" title="IMG_20140613_142935 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/14241163749_6ea2f2a4d3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140613_142935"></a><br />
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The street in front of the office. The traffic would just flow like water down a river. The only way to cross at areas out of the intersection with traffic lights was to basically jaywalk "Saigon style", that is, you just keep walking and the traffic will swerve around you. Cars and motorbikes would never stop or slow down for you but will honk at you instead!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258339717" title="IMG_7029 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5551/14258339717_6f3274067d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7029"></a><br />
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One thing I noticed about the buildings are the prevalence of skinny tall buildings.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14464990083" title="IMG_7105 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3868/14464990083_3bdd07606e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7105"></a><br />
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The environment at street level, total chaos. People on motorbikes driving on the sidewalk, street hawkers selling their wares, people just hanging around on the street...<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258209850" title="IMG_7028 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/14258209850_4a17c1fbed_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7028"></a><br />
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One of the streets north of the office. Basically anything goes at this intersection, it is a wonder that there aren't more accidents, but that is probably because the speed of traffic is really low inside the central area.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258220029" title="IMG_7026 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5558/14258220029_0505053415_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7026"></a><br />
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Basically, because of the heat, traffic chaos and the space hogged by motorbikes on the sidewalk for parking, it is not comfortable to walk anywhere in Saigon. That's why there wasn't much foot traffic anywhere in the central area of Saigon.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258400557" title="IMG_7104 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14258400557_d699a89e59_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7104"></a><br />
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Some typical street scenes. Notice the crazy electric poles and wiring!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241387887" title="IMG_20140531_173454 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14241387887_28f76c1abb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_173454"></a><br />
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241382548" title="IMG_20140518_161243 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3870/14241382548_3e6787f81e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20140518_161243"></a><br />
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Its amazing what people can carry on their motorbikes. This guy was carrying pipes I think.<br />
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14424647361" title="IMG_20140518_160534 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14424647361_dd1745648b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20140518_160534"></a><br />
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Motorbikes everywhere.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404712216" title="IMG_20140531_143137 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5159/14404712216_0086f8aed3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_143137"></a><br />
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During the weekends, I had a lot of free time to go exploring, however because of the heat and poor conditions to walking, I could not go to as many places as I would have liked to.<br />
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The central area of Saigon, still full of beautiful French colonial buildings.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258306860" title="IMG_7030 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/14258306860_f008840272_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7030"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258226119" title="IMG_7032 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/14258226119_560c2a0b7e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7032"></a><br />
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The Saigon opera house.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258257710" title="IMG_7033 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/14258257710_5b856f12e2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7033"></a><br />
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The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee building, basically its city hall.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14444826665" title="IMG_7035 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2919/14444826665_6a49a09c36_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7035"></a><br />
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The square in front of the building with a statue of Uncle Ho.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14444935675" title="IMG_7038 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/14444935675_6ff7c3df8a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7038"></a><br />
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This area is where all of the city's high end shops and department stores are located.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258305420" title="IMG_7039 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14258305420_f45dba6770_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7039"></a><br />
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One thing good about Saigon are the abundance of trees on the streets unlike tree-less Tokyo.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14465016693" title="IMG_7040 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/14465016693_f90b9d3210_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7040"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258228408" title="IMG_7041 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/14258228408_e33da0c483_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7041"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14464979983" title="IMG_7042 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2928/14464979983_9953287678_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7042"></a><br />
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Even in the central area there were a lot of street hawkers.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14421811126" title="IMG_7044 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/14421811126_8172763b0b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7044"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258324388" title="IMG_7045 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5579/14258324388_23591d16a4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7045"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258303480" title="IMG_7046 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/14258303480_5ed91fdc54_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7046"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14421765526" title="IMG_7047 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14421765526_89da48c248_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7047"></a><br />
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On this day, I was walking on the way to visit the former South Vietnam Presidential Palace.<br />
<br />
The Notre Dame cathedral built by the French during the colonial period.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14421729786" title="IMG_7049 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5526/14421729786_86878846c4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7049"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14465079583" title="IMG_7053 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2927/14465079583_d333dc4c3c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7053"></a><br />
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The French style central post office.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258448087" title="IMG_7054 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/14258448087_cf337b8578_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7054"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14443531422" title="IMG_7055 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14443531422_0af8c43ee3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7055"></a><br />
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Always under the watch of Uncle Ho. I would have stayed longer to explore if there was air conditioning but there wasn't and it was boiling hot inside!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258254430" title="IMG_7056 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/14258254430_903ca33f00_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7056"></a><br />
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The central post office seems to be a popular photography site for wedding photos.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14465142713" title="IMG_7060 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14465142713_09daa88c0f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7060"></a><br />
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Typical street hawkers selling the typical "pop up cards" that you see everywhere.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258441547" title="IMG_7061 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/14258441547_040e137e8d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7061"></a><br />
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Despite the capitalist economy now, there are still socialist propaganda on the streets.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258426597" title="IMG_7062 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/14258426597_fdb8843145_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7062"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258207349" title="IMG_7063 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14258207349_a3d60f727c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7063"></a><br />
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Tons of them featuring Uncle Ho.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404878646" title="IMG_20140531_143319 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2936/14404878646_a6e71a497e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_143319"></a><br />
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The former Presidential Palace of South Vietnam. I arrived at 11 am and it closes everyday from 11 am to 1 pm, so I had to come back later!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14464997583" title="IMG_7065 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/14464997583_6615d04ecc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7065"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14464976463" title="IMG_7066 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3846/14464976463_befaa58427_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7066"></a><br />
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The grand boulevard in front of the former Presidential Palace.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14421813276" title="IMG_7067 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5157/14421813276_83be919ebe_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7067"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14444903735" title="IMG_7069 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/14444903735_dcea25748a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7069"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14421736336" title="IMG_7070 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/14421736336_aca81c11ec_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7070"></a><br />
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The tanks that crashed through the gates during the fall of Saigon.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258393347" title="IMG_7071 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/14258393347_0609e73bfb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7071"></a><br />
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The building had a very 60s feel to it but it was much smaller than I imagined for a Presidential Palace.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258371857" title="IMG_7072 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5237/14258371857_80d84b7bd3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7072"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258329237" title="IMG_7074 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/14258329237_945d28d1c1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7074"></a><br />
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One of the interesting things was that the building was not enclosed, all of the rooms lead to an open space. As you can imagine it was boiling hot and I was sweating like crazy while walking around.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14421803366" title="IMG_7075 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5073/14421803366_de15c5247e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7075"></a><br />
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The formal dining room.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258173630" title="IMG_7073 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/14258173630_ba567ce194_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7073"></a><br />
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The cabinet meeting room.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14443542962" title="IMG_7077 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14443542962_36317603a7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7077"></a><br />
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The hall, not with a bust of Uncle Ho in the front.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14441433771" title="IMG_7080 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2920/14441433771_0b1cfaf423_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7080"></a><br />
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Taken from the 2nd floor.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258480787" title="IMG_7082 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14258480787_3655890bba_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7082"></a><br />
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You can really feel the 60s architecture here.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14441541571" title="IMG_7083 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/14441541571_cd4c52ee08_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7083"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258440527" title="IMG_7084 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/14258440527_dc8685b3ca_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7084"></a><br />
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The formal meeting rooms.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258222809" title="IMG_7086 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/14258222809_b8f879febd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7086"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14441431091" title="IMG_7089 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14441431091_c5a5470d55_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7089"></a><br />
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The private apartments in the back. I was surprised at how sparse they were, just 3 rooms in a courtyard.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14443706564" title="IMG_7088 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14443706564_cd87c815b8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7088"></a><br />
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The war room.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258290618" title="IMG_7090 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5552/14258290618_873ceeda7c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7090"></a><br />
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The presidential office.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258279910" title="IMG_7091 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3843/14258279910_24dc3f65bb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7091"></a><br />
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The helicopter pad on the roof.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14443757264" title="IMG_7092 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3913/14443757264_31de113490_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7092"></a><br />
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The presidential entertainment room complete with a mahjong table.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258406257" title="IMG_7093 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/14258406257_0ecd84cf06_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7093"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258196259" title="IMG_7094 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3881/14258196259_1e3220f614_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7094"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258385447" title="IMG_7095 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14258385447_1d33417ceb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7095"></a><br />
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The rooftop complete with a 60s-style dance hall.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258314550" title="IMG_7098 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/14258314550_17c0c9c103_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7098"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258204648" title="IMG_7096 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2910/14258204648_9ab93ec868_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7096"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14441419451" title="IMG_7097 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/14441419451_5e14aaa646_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7097"></a><br />
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Brochures from the former Presidential Palace.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241253108" title="IMG_20140609_221539 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/14241253108_d52736827b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140609_221539"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14427846105" title="IMG_20140609_221553 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2924/14427846105_8a8c5edcfe_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140609_221553"></a><br />
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Since Vietnam is the birthplace of Pho, I also tried went to some famous restaurants.<br />
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This is Pho Hoa Pasteur.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241404108" title="IMG_20140531_140106 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3890/14241404108_e1a03de4d2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_140106"></a><br />
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The menu. I ordered a bowl of Pho and spring rolls. A bowl cost around 60,000 dong which is around US$3.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14447998703" title="IMG_20140531_133331 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/14447998703_4690fea096_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_133331"></a><br />
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The soup was really clear and the flavour was really good. If this place wasn't so out of the way, I would have come here again. I had to take a taxi to get here where the fare cost almost the same as the meal!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241266279" title="IMG_20140531_133444 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/14241266279_f19b71bdd2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_133444"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14427870475" title="IMG_20140531_134618 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/14427870475_9610712303_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_134618"></a><br />
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The interior of the restaurant.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426870864" title="IMG_20140531_134623 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/14426870864_6db651f3a4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140531_134623"></a><br />
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Another place I went to was Pho Le in District 5 near the city's Chinatown area. There were no menus at this place, and when the Vietnamese waitress noticed that I couldn't speak any Vietnamese he referred me to the owner who started speaking to me in Mandarin and then in Cantonese when he realized that I didn't know any Mandarin.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241315889" title="IMG_20140607_134750 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/14241315889_c9df4dfe08_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140607_134750"></a><br />
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Giant plates of bean sprouts on each table. I wonder if they reuse them?<br />
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While I was waiting for my bowl of pho to come, a Chinese funeral procession complete with a mini parade came by on the street facing the restaurant.<br />
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241332050" title="IMG_20140607_134847 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14241332050_ac013241bd_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20140607_134847"></a><br />
</center><br />
The soup was sweeter than the one from Pho Hoa Pasteur.<br />
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426859164" title="IMG_20140607_134833 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/14426859164_d0a77a6798_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20140607_134833"></a><br />
</center><br />
After eating, I walked around the edge of the Chinatown area but left after a short while because there wasn't much to see and it was just too hot.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14464955663" title="IMG_7106 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/14464955663_85a283e137_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7106"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14444923235" title="IMG_7108 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2924/14444923235_5d40bb2289_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7108"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14464995063" title="IMG_7112 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/14464995063_251d14fe1f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7112"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258310130" title="IMG_7115 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5154/14258310130_545db17a4b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7115"></a><br />
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Most of the time, I went to a local chain called Pho 24 to get my pho because it was much closer to where I was living and it was located in the Vincom Center mall.<br />
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The place where I ate two of my three daily meals out, at the Vincom Center mall.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14424486871" title="IMG_20140608_165125 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3874/14424486871_44072dc25c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140608_165125"></a><br />
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At the B3 level, there were many restaurants and this is where the Pho 24 that I visited frequently was located. Although not as good as the famous restaurants, the price and taste was acceptable.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241191659" title="IMG_20140611_190013 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/14241191659_b9768f0396_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140611_190013"></a><br />
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This small bowl only cost 29,000 dong (US$1.50).<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14424512301" title="IMG_20140608_171654 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/14424512301_4b7959eb87_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140608_171654"></a><br />
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In addition they also serve "broken rice pork chop".<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241362668" title="IMG_20140608_172423 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2939/14241362668_8023a934e2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140608_172423"></a><br />
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At the Vincom Center, I also noticed the largest durian I had ever saw. In fact the entire shop smelled like durian!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241519307" title="IMG_20140608_170112 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3907/14241519307_8c4ded1b1f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140608_170112"></a><br />
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Some other things that I ate include the following. One of the things Vietnam does well is that they don't seem to alter Western cuisine to suit local tastes. Here I had steak frites at a French bistro for around US$10.00.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14424482021" title="IMG_20140609_183328 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/14424482021_59f0bea92a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140609_183328"></a><br />
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Later on while walking around I also discovered a Hong Kong-style BBQ meat shop.<br />
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426747184" title="IMG_20140613_183640 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/14426747184_d86266fcfb_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20140613_183640"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426754034" title="IMG_20140613_184937 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2911/14426754034_fda5234f6e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20140613_184937"></a><br />
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Another one of Saigon's tourist attractions is the Ben Thanh Market, basically an open market selling various things. I don't really like these types of markets so I just quickly walked around and left.<br />
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The area around the market.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258253079" title="IMG_7116 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2902/14258253079_51579175a5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7116"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258277058" title="IMG_7117 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/14258277058_a437425b61_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7117"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14444940865" title="IMG_7121 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2936/14444940865_cac3a23288_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7121"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14465085013" title="IMG_7122 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3892/14465085013_aa5c7bf298_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7122"></a><br />
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Some kind of drink with scorpion inside.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258263668" title="IMG_7118 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/14258263668_d1b151c096_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7118"></a><br />
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Inside the market.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14444781085" title="IMG_7120 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/14444781085_abd4ba44b8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7120"></a><br />
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The giant roundabout in front of the market.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14443772944" title="IMG_7124 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5561/14443772944_ccd1712af6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7124"></a><br />
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The tallest building in Saigon in the background, the Bitexco Financial Tower.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14258194619" title="IMG_7127 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/14258194619_9afd3e631e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7127"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14441456781" title="IMG_7128 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3918/14441456781_8b56215535_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_7128"></a><br />
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The front of the market.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241305240" title="IMG_20140614_142117 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/14241305240_6e7f56dfd4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140614_142117"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404764156" title="IMG_20140614_142242 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2909/14404764156_aaae43b1ef_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140614_142242"></a><br />
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The 2nd ever McDonalds in Vietnam!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426539082" title="IMG_20140614_142757 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14426539082_d2ca02636e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140614_142757"></a><br />
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Area in front of the McDonalds.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241426677" title="IMG_20140614_142818 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/14241426677_5472b0da9d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140614_142818"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241429877" title="IMG_20140614_142825 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/14241429877_8ce1e9f002_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140614_142825"></a><br />
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The view from the 2nd floor of the McDonalds. This will become such a prime location in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14404753926" title="IMG_20140614_145039 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5238/14404753926_693e18e85a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140614_145039"></a><br />
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The interesting thing about this McDonalds is that the kitchen is on the top floor and they have a vertical conveyor belt to bring the food to the counter on the 1st floor.<br />
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241226138" title="IMG_20140614_145056 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14241226138_61da6bb107_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_20140614_145056"></a><br />
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This being Vietnam, there are some special Vietnam-only features like a take out window for motorbike riders.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426705594" title="IMG_20140614_153759 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14426705594_befb57f85b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140614_153759"></a><br />
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Lastly one of the areas I went to on one of the weekends before I left was a new development in District 7. Quite a change from the chaotic environment of the central city.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14427910025" title="IMG_20140615_121320 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5587/14427910025_9df9f0549b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_121320"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14424510151" title="IMG_20140615_121342 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2899/14424510151_1db79656e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_121342"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14427937655" title="IMG_20140615_121410 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2897/14427937655_e83f2ba29f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_121410"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14424468811" title="IMG_20140615_121532 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/14424468811_5ab4b829a5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_121532"></a><br />
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Inside the mall, I noticed an HP store, I never knew HP had their own branded stores?<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241241829" title="IMG_20140615_114538 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/14241241829_32d2d2db3d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_114538"></a><br />
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The whole area was quite deserted compared to the central city.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14427946365" title="IMG_20140615_122111 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5588/14427946365_1df8040c42_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_122111"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426707984" title="IMG_20140615_132817 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14426707984_60cfe2e945_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_132817"></a><br />
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<center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426707984" title="IMG_20140615_132817 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3896/14426707984_60cfe2e945_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_132817"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14426662412" title="IMG_20140615_133001 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2937/14426662412_212e2e90cc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_133001"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14241383710" title="IMG_20140615_133007 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5117/14241383710_2c6b9cc021_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140615_133007"></a><br />
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Finally on the day of departure. Because my flight was at 5:55 am, I decided to go to the airport at 11 pm the day before and just wait out my time. Unknown to me, the airport actually closes for 2 hours from 12 am to 2 am or something for cleaning but no cared to kick me out and the cleaners just ignored me.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14525754422" title="IMG_20140619_230333 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2897/14525754422_9250d6a781_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140619_230333"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14340325057" title="IMG_20140620_014445 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/14340325057_5cecbfb0a7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140620_014445"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14523364591" title="IMG_20140620_014958 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/14523364591_4ebba12a50_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140620_014958"></a><br />
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One of the weird things that I noticed about this airport was the layout. You could not access the restaurants which are located on the 2nd floor from inside the check-in hall but had to access the escalators to the 2nd floor from the outside. Also weird were the two fast food joints (Burger King and Dominos's Pizza) that were located at the ends of the drop off curb and also the number of local people just hanging out at the entrance of the airport terminal!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14503634656" title="IMG_20140619_231007 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14503634656_7a272fa6be_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140619_231007"></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/14340173759" title="IMG_20140619_230743 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/14340173759_9742d025c7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_20140619_230743"></a><br />
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Before you go through security when departing, you have to go through customs again and it seems like the purpose of this is to check how much money you are bringing out of Vietnam. I had to put my bags through a scanner and they were purposely checking for cash and once they found the cash, they asked me to take out my wallets so they could count the bills! <br />
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After looking up some information on the Internet, it seems that you are not allowed to bring out more than US$5000...I guess the rest will just become the customs officer's "coffee money" if you exceed the limit and did not know? (there were no forms to fill out either)<br />
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PS: The Socialist Republic's motto - "Independence, Freedom, Happiness" <br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-33174633093932478992013-12-29T22:20:00.000-08:002013-12-29T22:20:18.000-08:002011 Taiwan Trip: Taipei Back to TokyoApril 4, 2011 was our last day in Taipei ending our week long trip to Taiwan. On this day our flight was in the afternoon so we still had the morning to explore a little bit of Taipei before we left.<br />
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Takeoff from Taipei's Songshan Airport on a cloudy day with the Taipei 101 building sticking out in the background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506360255/" title="IMG_2652 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/11506360255_f5c6c4c278_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2652"></a><br />
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First, in the morning we went to Taipei's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanhua_District">Wanhua District</a> (萬華區) which is one of the oldest areas of Taipei. One of the attractions is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mengjia_Longshan_Temple">Longshan Temple</a> (龍山寺).<br />
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The main gate of Longshan Temple. I still don't understand the Taiwanese obsession of adding electronic signs displaying the time and date in traditional architecture like temples...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506450584/" title="IMG_2626 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/11506450584_0710d227b0_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2626"></a><br />
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Inside the temple grounds. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506408265/" title="IMG_2627 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/11506408265_7d1079a778_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2627"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506412004/" title="IMG_2628 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/11506412004_bfd3295f33_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2628"></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506374525/" title="IMG_2629 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/11506374525_1e7843e151_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2629"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506393754/" title="IMG_2631 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/11506393754_1ddb847013_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2631"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506475824/" title="IMG_2632 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/11506475824_39598ea648_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2632"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506515373/" title="IMG_2633 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/11506515373_474e6fd615_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2633"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506477203/" title="IMG_2635 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/11506477203_069a09f8ca_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2635"></a><br />
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Next, we went to the nearby <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_Alley_(Taipei)">Huaxi Street Night Market</a> which is a night market known as "Snake Alley" because of the many shops that sell snake blood and meat and other "exotic" delicacies. It has a reputation for being quite seedy as well. We were hoping that at least some of the snake shops would be open in the morning but unfortunately, it seems most of their business is conducted at night so there was nothing for us to see as we got there.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506363055/" title="IMG_2637 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/11506363055_b961181697_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2637"></a><br />
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The area around "Snake Alley". Not much happening in the morning.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506507146/" title="IMG_2638 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/11506507146_51534e15e5_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2638"></a><br />
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Afterwards it was time to head to the airport for our flight to Tokyo. Because we booked a hotel and flight package through Rakuten Travel that included transportation from the hotel to the airport, the chartered bus made a forced detour to "Ever Rich Duty Free Shop" before arrival at Taipei's Songshan airport because apparently, this airport does not have a "proper" duty free shop.<br />
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We were lucky that our flight tickets were from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Taipei's Songshan Airport, two centrally located airports. It only took us less than 20 minutes to reach the airport from our hotel. Usually people arrive in Taipei at the much farther Taoyuan International Airport.<br />
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Songshan Airport is so close that you could see the Taipei 101 building in the background!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506456033/" title="IMG_2644 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3742/11506456033_84776e84f2_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2644"></a><br />
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However the airport seems to be stuck in the 70s still and the faux traditional Chinese architecture favoured at the time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506545403/" title="IMG_2645 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/11506545403_473fca8d47_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2645"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506498266/" title="IMG_2646 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/11506498266_544ae57078_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2646"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506444494/" title="IMG_2647 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/11506444494_f73fc8cb0f_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2647"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506400455/" title="IMG_2648 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/11506400455_84fa39a1ef_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2648"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506488336/" title="IMG_2639 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/11506488336_dbcfc77b8e_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2639"></a><br />
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The terminal actually evokes the atmosphere of a bygone era in aviation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506525353/" title="IMG_2640 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/11506525353_0e6754cf63_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2640"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506479916/" title="IMG_2641 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/11506479916_b7850b4e90_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2641"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506403455/" title="IMG_2642 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/11506403455_54cdd9d26e_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2642"></a><br />
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In the secure area of the airport.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506468113/" title="IMG_2649 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3683/11506468113_b2ffc1111c_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2649"></a><br />
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Getting ready for take off. The airport is located so close to the central area of Taipei.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506448976/" title="IMG_2650 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2844/11506448976_a638da0a24_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2650"></a><br />
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Lift off.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506360255/" title="IMG_2652 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/11506360255_f5c6c4c278_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2652"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506510323/" title="IMG_2654 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/11506510323_a58d8b9317_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2654"></a><br />
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The next day on April 5, 2011 after our arrival in Tokyo, it was time for my mom to fly back to Vancouver. Instead of taking the cheap train that takes more than 1.5 hours to Narita Airport from Tokyo, we decided to try out the new Keisei Skyliner which had recently opened and connected Tokyo with Narita Airport with a travel time of around 40 minutes. This is also one of Japan's fastest non-Shinkansen trains with a top speed of 160 km/h.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506439284/" title="IMG_2655 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/11506439284_daf37756e3_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2655"></a><br />
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From the window of the train, I could see the Tokyo Sky Tree which was under construction.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506437626/" title="IMG_2657 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/11506437626_59c85ac781_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2657"></a><br />
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Arrival at Narita Airport. After seeing my mom off at the airport, I had to go back to Tokyo to transfer my luggage to another hotel for one more night's stay before heading back to Hiroshima. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506469984/" title="IMG_2659 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/11506469984_b735cd3bf0_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2659"></a><br />
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On April 6, 2011, on my last day of my lengthly trip to Kansai/Okinawa/Kyushu/Taiwan/Tokyo which started 1 day before the March 11, 2011 earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster, I spent the day exploring Tokyo and revisiting places which I had been before.<br />
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I visited the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunkyo_Civic_Center">Bunkyo Civic Center</a> which I had <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2006/09/tokyo-skylines-from-tall-buildings.html">last visited</a> when I was a short-term exchange student in 2005-2006 to see the changing skyline of Tokyo because I knew there was a free observation deck on the 25th floor. Also what was nice about this building was that it is located right in the centre of Tokyo so you could see the skyline from every direction.<br />
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The Tokyo Sky Tree then under construction in the direction looking east.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506518436/" title="IMG_2660 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/11506518436_c6c0207be9_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2660"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506494666/" title="IMG_2661 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/11506494666_fb2b86acce_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2661"></a><br />
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Towards Ueno Park.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506424904/" title="IMG_2663 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/11506424904_cb86cec11b_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2663"></a><br />
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The Sunshine City building in Ikebukuro.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506406144/" title="IMG_2664 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/11506406144_71238aabb1_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2664"></a><br />
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The group of skyscrapers in Shinjuku.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506453683/" title="IMG_2665 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/11506453683_13d05485c0_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2665"></a><br />
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Sakura blooming below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506515186/" title="IMG_2666 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7436/11506515186_e5f7381b98_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2666"></a><br />
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Afterwards I went to explore the new underground Shibuya station for the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line that had recently opened.<br />
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This area was not in use at the time but now the Tokyu Toyoko Line uses these tracks and platforms.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506474876/" title="IMG_2668 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5486/11506474876_fb11e67d6a_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2668"></a><br />
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A scale model of the crazily designed underground Shibuya station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506479883/" title="IMG_2669 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/11506479883_8239511783_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2669"></a><br />
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A closer up view of the model.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11506491333/" title="IMG_2670 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/11506491333_acf7e8d206_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2670"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-8660177031094526532013-12-20T16:30:00.000-08:002013-12-20T16:30:43.365-08:002011 Taiwan Trip: Taipei - Martyrs Shrine, Grand Hotel and Maokong On April 3, 2011, during the last full day of our Taiwan trip in 2011, we explored a bit more of Taipei. We went to visit the Martyrs' Shrine had a buffet lunch at the Grand Hotel and went to Maokong.<br />
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Changing of the guard at the Martyrs' Shrine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285623974/" title="IMG_2589 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/11285623974_4a9882e316_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2589"></a><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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Our first stop of the day was the Martyrs' Shrine, or formally known as the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Revolutionary_Martyrs'_Shrine">National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine</a> (國民革命忠烈祠)" on the outskirts of Taipei. This is like a war memorial for the solders who fought for the Republic of China (Taiwan's formal name) but in the form of a shrine/temple instead of a Western-style monument.<br />
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What is interesting is that "...although the Martyrs' Shrine is located in Taiwan, most of the soldiers [who fought for the Republic of China] were born on Mainland China...[and since]...Taiwan was ruled by Japan throughout World War II...about 200,000 Taiwanese who lived under Japanese rule served in the Japanese Imperial Army."<br />
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On the way to the Martyrs Shrine, the interesting looking anchor monument in front of the Republic of China Navy building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285488795/" title="IMG_2552 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/11285488795_30e2c45364_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2552"></a><br />
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The surrounding area.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285587826/" title="IMG_2553 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3702/11285587826_707041db72_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2553"></a><br />
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The massive traditional Chinese facade of the Grand Hotel in the background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285640294/" title="IMG_2554 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/11285640294_1db461bb0e_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2554"></a><br />
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Rules and guidelines includes among others: "undershirts or slippers are not allowed", "no photographs or mapping except in the shrine area" and to "unbonnet and bow before entering the main shrine".<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285600835/" title="IMG_2555 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/11285600835_7108f36618_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2555"></a><br />
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Although the shrine was built in 1969, it takes its inspiration from Beijing's Forbidden City.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285590374/" title="IMG_2556 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/11285590374_0c302bcda8_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2556"></a><br />
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The main gate.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285641556/" title="IMG_2558 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/11285641556_92571caee5_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2558"></a><br />
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The monumental size of the complex.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285484565/" title="IMG_2559 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2818/11285484565_88cb68fd39_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2559"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285528295/" title="IMG_2560 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/11285528295_6565d38eed_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2560"></a><br />
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The entrance to the shrine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285638174/" title="IMG_2561 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/11285638174_011607c0bc_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2561"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285530096/" title="IMG_2562 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/11285530096_45be08def7_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2562"></a><br />
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The carvings depicting the struggles for the establishment of the Republic of China.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285636373/" title="IMG_2563 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/11285636373_6968aba005_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2563"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285621844/" title="IMG_2564 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/11285621844_4658845475_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2564"></a><br />
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The palace-style doors.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285639446/" title="IMG_2565 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/11285639446_3fdbe2b3d7_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2565"></a><br />
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The main shrine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285608883/" title="IMG_2566 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/11285608883_51b2ff4f9a_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2566"></a><br />
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The intricate detail. Among all the public buildings in Taiwan, this is the one that is best maintained.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285603454/" title="IMG_2567 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/11285603454_4610d681f8_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2567"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285636134/" title="IMG_2568 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/11285636134_0e83f1d5c1_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2568"></a><br />
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One of the auxiliary shrines.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285655006/" title="IMG_2569 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/11285655006_271bb578ce_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2569"></a><br />
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The walls around the complex tell the story of how the Republic of China was established. Quite interesting actually if you are into history...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285600344/" title="IMG_2574 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/11285600344_469feb2281_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2574"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285507955/" title="IMG_2570 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/11285507955_7a7d0e3f1f_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2570"></a><br />
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Some of the facades and detailing of the shrines.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285619724/" title="IMG_2571 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/11285619724_7cb6480b76_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2571"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285705213/" title="IMG_2572 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/11285705213_cac47109de_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2572"></a><br />
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A scale model of the entire complex.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285558044/" title="IMG_2573 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3828/11285558044_4599355245_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2573"></a><br />
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The elaborate main shrine. What is more amazing was that this was built in the "modern era" of 1969.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285633774/" title="IMG_2575 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/11285633774_8e346191d5_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2575"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285720573/" title="IMG_2576 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3680/11285720573_62f603c6ff_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2576"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285567255/" title="IMG_2579 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/11285567255_82bcb39261_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2579"></a><br />
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Changing of the honour guard. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285520985/" title="IMG_2581 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/11285520985_0c28a5f587_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2581"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285611586/" title="IMG_2582 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/11285611586_28cf31b227_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2582"></a><br />
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Its interesting how the crowd can just follow the honour guard from behind.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285578594/" title="IMG_2584 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/11285578594_0cc497e875_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2584"></a><br />
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The actual changing of the guard.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285662533/" title="IMG_2585 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/11285662533_e978e2799c_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2585"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285631296/" title="IMG_2586 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/11285631296_02742a4dd9_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2586"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285554524/" title="IMG_2587 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/11285554524_423a109bff_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2587"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285623974/" title="IMG_2589 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/11285623974_4a9882e316_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2589"></a><br />
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The old guard marching back out.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285557096/" title="IMG_2591 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/11285557096_88edbc889a_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2591"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285646464/" title="IMG_2593 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/11285646464_775f6dc6a9_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2593"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285532826/" title="IMG_2594 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5481/11285532826_46dab13b54_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2594"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285514275/" title="IMG_2595 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/11285514275_142cb9d0b1_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2595"></a><br />
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Afterwards it was time for lunch and because the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Hotel_(Taipei)">Grand Hotel</a> (圓山大飯店) was right next to the Martyrs' Shrine, we decided to see if there anything interesting to eat there.<br />
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The Grand Hotel is a gigantic hotel built in the Chinese classical style and is one of the tallest traditional Chinese buildings in the world.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285643516/" title="IMG_2597 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/11285643516_5b6275862a_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2597"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285565074/" title="IMG_2598 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/11285565074_821cc22308_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2598"></a><br />
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The main archway.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285725153/" title="IMG_2600 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2861/11285725153_fa7dec47c7_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2600"></a><br />
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The front view of the hotel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285561676/" title="IMG_2601 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/11285561676_3f99e5900d_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2601"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285617174/" title="IMG_2602 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/11285617174_b864c58664_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2602"></a><br />
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Because the Grand Hotel is built on top of a hill, if the skies were clear, there would be good views of Taipei. Here we can see the outline of the Taipei 101 building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285576775/" title="IMG_2603 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/11285576775_0a2964d245_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2603"></a><br />
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The main entrance. Up close, the hotel kind of looks tacky.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285577036/" title="IMG_2605 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/11285577036_cf11f8d79d_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2605"></a><br />
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The main lobby.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285609356/" title="IMG_2606 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/11285609356_2f4a78000f_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2606"></a><br />
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After seeing what was offered in the hotel's restaurants, we decided on the buffet lunch at the Grand Hotel. The quality was quite good and you could get unlimited Häagen-Dazs ice cream for dessert, although it was kind of pricey.<br />
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After eating we walked around the hotel grounds. Unfortunately, like most buildings in Taiwan, the Grand Hotel was not maintained very well.<br />
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Behind the main hotel, the annex buildings were not built in the traditional Chinese style architecture.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285496615/" title="IMG_2608 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/11285496615_2895409f48_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2608"></a><br />
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A clearer view of Taipei with the Taipei 101 building in the background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285611734/" title="IMG_2609 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/11285611734_5456279172_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2609"></a><br />
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More views of the Grand Hotel from the back.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285652714/" title="IMG_2610 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/11285652714_4ef0d409a4_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2610"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285556124/" title="IMG_2611 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/11285556124_6a591064d3_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2611"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285594384/" title="IMG_2612 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/11285594384_c090b284ba_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2612"></a><br />
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The last place we went to on this day was taking the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maokong_Gondola">Maokong Gondola</a> to the Maokong area southeast of Taipei. On the day that we went, there was a really long lineup to board to gondola so we had to wait for 1-2 hours.<br />
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At the end of the Maokong Gondola, we reached the Maokong area of Taipei which is supposedly famous as a place for tea culture in Taipei and for viewing the night scenery of Taipei. Unfortunately, for foreign tourists, there is not much to see because there are very few interesting facilities near the station or any observation decks.<br />
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What was at the top of the mountain were a collection of street food vendors and stalls that you could see anywhere else in Taipei. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285667844/" title="IMG_2614 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/11285667844_db7fd810d6_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2614"></a><br />
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The final station of the gondola.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285619913/" title="IMG_2615 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/11285619913_d844df506c_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2615"></a><br />
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Also if you wanted to go to a tea house you had to walk on the shoulder of the mountainside road. Not exactly tourist friendly!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285690663/" title="IMG_2617 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/11285690663_64c608ce17_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2617"></a><br />
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Street food which you could find anywhere else in Taipei.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285564496/" title="IMG_2619 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/11285564496_9c387b0439_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2619"></a><br />
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Most people who come to Maokong just come here to eat. In fact, most of the people in Taiwan just love to eat, especially during their leisure time!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285606756/" title="IMG_2620 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/11285606756_202ae3256c_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2620"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285665684/" title="IMG_2621 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/11285665684_a9030e2db9_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2621"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285569674/" title="IMG_2622 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/11285569674_57ac46a57c_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2622"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11285609224/" title="IMG_2623 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5545/11285609224_ea1c910be1_z.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2623"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-4172387588250499752013-12-07T23:54:00.000-08:002013-12-07T23:54:10.375-08:002011 Taiwan Trip: Presidential Building (總統府) and Tamsui (淡水)During our Taiwan trip in 2011, on April 2, 2011, we explored a bit more of Taipei after getting out of the Taipei area for the previous 2 days to visit Taichung and Kaohsiung.<br />
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We were lucky that our trip coincided with the official open house of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Office_Building,_Taipei">Presidential Office Building</a> of the Republic of China (Taiwan) that only happens once per month and on that month it happened to fall on April 2 so the first thing we did that day was visit the Presidential Office Building.<br />
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The Presidential Office Building from a distance.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217651573/" title="IMG_2459 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/11217651573_43e88ff459_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2459"></a><br />
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The surrounding area of the Presidential Office Building. Lots of empty space for vehicles!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217603393/" title="IMG_2461 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/11217603393_f79f06fa4a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2461"></a><br />
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Looking north towards the Shin Kong Life Tower in the distance. (I cannot believe that building opened in 1993, it looks like a relic of the 70s or 80s!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217597043/" title="IMG_2468 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/11217597043_cf2c3559d2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2468"></a><br />
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Looking east you can see Taipei 101 in the far distance. You kind of wonder why there is so much pavement and so little greenery and I think that is because during the authoritarian era, the Chinese Nationalist Party used to conduct Soviet-style military parades to remind the mainland authorities that they were still alive and kicking. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217508265/" title="IMG_2469 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/11217508265_a2dc0cea3a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2469"></a><br />
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A nice pop-up pamphlet of the Presidential Office Building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217601283/" title="IMG_2686 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/11217601283_29a33e4e94_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2686"></a><br />
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A closer up view of the building. Whats interesting is that the building was actually built by the Japanese during the colonial era as the office of the Japanese Governor-General.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217639056/" title="IMG_2464 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/11217639056_2d174ba586_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2464"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217587594/" title="IMG_2467 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/11217587594_c36e190804_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2467"></a><br />
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You would have thought that the government would only select 6 feet tall (183 cm) guards? (I guess there is no height requirement?)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217616264/" title="IMG_2471 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/11217616264_1cfe3d7ea5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2471"></a><br />
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Inside the main hall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217522186/" title="IMG_2472 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/11217522186_082f3ca301_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2472"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217532774/" title="IMG_2473 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/11217532774_8f46d3931d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2473"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217578125/" title="IMG_2474 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/11217578125_dcda6bb611_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2474"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217477404/" title="IMG_2475 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/11217477404_3ff5e73c4c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2475"></a><br />
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Statue of Republic of China founder, Sun Yat-sen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217670863/" title="IMG_2477 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/11217670863_d41b835734_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2477"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217598515/" title="IMG_2478 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/11217598515_d466a55302_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2478"></a><br />
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One of the courtyards in the building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217516636/" title="IMG_2479 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2842/11217516636_8c693a0c27_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2479"></a><br />
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I thought this was an interesting piece of artwork, the "Happiness Piggy Bank".<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217655833/" title="IMG_2480 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/11217655833_2dda87d6a1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2480"></a><br />
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The "Taiwan Heritage Room" for general receptions.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217599826/" title="IMG_2481 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/11217599826_dab8639d00_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2481"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217468505/" title="IMG_2482 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/11217468505_ca4192db2f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2482"></a><br />
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The "President's Hall" where only VIPs are welcomed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217506265/" title="IMG_2483 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/11217506265_6af9d735ae_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2483"></a><br />
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I wonder which seat is reserved for the President?! Usually in formal VIP meeting rooms, you can tell which seat the leader sits on and which seat the VIP sits on.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217669553/" title="IMG_2484 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/11217669553_3bae3ef958_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2484"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217721913/" title="IMG_2485 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/11217721913_eee8012d13_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2485"></a><br />
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Another courtyard.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217519115/" title="IMG_2487 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3694/11217519115_0406ba105b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2487"></a><br />
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I think this is the inauguration room where the President is sworn in after elections. The current President, Ma Ying-jeou is actually shorter than I thought, if this cardboard cutout is correct.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217623354/" title="IMG_2489 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/11217623354_d8873d07bc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2489"></a><br />
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The Vice-President's cardboard cutout.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217531486/" title="IMG_2490 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/11217531486_beb6220527_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2490"></a><br />
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Some sort of contemporary artwork.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217548904/" title="IMG_2491 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5521/11217548904_476ddb85e8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2491"></a><br />
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The tower of the Presidential Office Building.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217621106/" title="IMG_2492 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/11217621106_e0e7459e09_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_2492"></a><br />
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"Welcome to the Presidential Office Building"<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217485915/" title="IMG_2493 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/11217485915_b2369912e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2493"></a><br />
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The evolution of flags in the free area of the Republic of China. The top is the evolution of flags in the Taiwan area and the bottom is the evolution of flags in Kinmen, an island off the mainland Chinese coast, the last bit of territory that the Republic of China controls on the mainland area.<br />
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Its interesting to note that the Taiwan area had gone through 5 different regimes since 1624: Dutch colony, Ming Dynasty loyalist stronghold, Qing Dynasty, Empire of Japan and finally the Republic of China.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217640593/" title="IMG_2494 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/11217640593_a996060c55_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2494"></a><br />
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A model of the Presidential Office Building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217562135/" title="IMG_2495 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/11217562135_4249222229_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2495"></a><br />
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Artifacts used by former Presidents. Here the artifacts from Chiang Kai-shek are displayed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217540174/" title="IMG_2498 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/11217540174_07ba86aabe_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2498"></a><br />
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His ceremonial sword.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217700523/" title="IMG_2499 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/11217700523_5f4f1d1519_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2499"></a><br />
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His uniform.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217636533/" title="IMG_2500 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/11217636533_6890bcdacc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2500"></a><br />
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Next we have the artifacts from his son, Chiang Ching-kuo, the second President. I find it interesting that he seems to bear no resemblance to his father!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217551505/" title="IMG_2501 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/11217551505_101f7c3f95_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2501"></a><br />
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His Jiang Zemin-like glasses are also on display.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217607204/" title="IMG_2502 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/11217607204_f0db41e33c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2502"></a><br />
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Unlike father, the son preferred a more informal look.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217497505/" title="IMG_2497 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/11217497505_30297edc64_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2497"></a><br />
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An honorary Doctorate of Law from the fine institution known as the University of West Florida.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217641296/" title="IMG_2496 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/11217641296_8978d7287e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2496"></a><br />
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And now to the current President, a plastic model of him and his wife.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217617773/" title="IMG_2503 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3769/11217617773_8a30615f2a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2503"></a><br />
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The 23 nations that the Republic of China has full diplomatic relations with.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217531124/" title="IMG_2504 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7299/11217531124_a8bc5f276a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2504"></a><br />
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Gifts from its diplomatic allies.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217565715/" title="IMG_2505 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/11217565715_5b23442722_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2505"></a><br />
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Famous products of Taiwan, like the GIANT bicycle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217493456/" title="IMG_2506 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2810/11217493456_88301b0552_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2506"></a><br />
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I don't know if I would consider a netbook a famous product anymore?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217626193/" title="IMG_2507 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/11217626193_1d75fa86dd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2507"></a><br />
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The set up for a musical performance from a university.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217542804/" title="IMG_2508 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/11217542804_8d77943e61_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2508"></a><br />
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After we finishing the tour of the open house of the Presidential Office Building, we walked around the nearby area.<br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhongshan_Hall">Zhongshan Hall</a>, which was where the Japanese surrendered Taiwan to the Republic of China government in 1945.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217593075/" title="IMG_2509 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/11217593075_34da7273b1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2509"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217615603/" title="IMG_2510 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/11217615603_a601216f7d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2510"></a><br />
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Memorial of the war against Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217548446/" title="IMG_2511 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/11217548446_6199786dec_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2511"></a><br />
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The wide open square in front of the Zhongshan Hall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217687203/" title="IMG_2512 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/11217687203_c3db824625_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2512"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217508334/" title="IMG_2514 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/11217508334_8180ec541e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2514"></a><br />
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Next, we took the metro around 30 minutes north to the town of Tamsui (淡水), a major tourist attraction. It is a popular sea-side town for viewing the sun set into the Taiwan Strait.<br />
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Tamsui station at the end of the metro line.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217540885/" title="IMG_2515 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/11217540885_303507a36e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2515"></a><br />
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Because Tamsui is a major tourist attraction, there are a lot of touristy shops which mostly sell food souvenirs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217590375/" title="IMG_2516 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/11217590375_6c3c8ae241_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2516"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217511416/" title="IMG_2517 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/11217511416_fc80d90e7b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2517"></a><br />
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A traditional Chinese temple, Taiwanese-style, featuring colour changing LCD displays.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217682043/" title="IMG_2519 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/11217682043_ac1a781d94_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2519"></a><br />
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Maybe there is a good reason to display the date and time in a temple?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217663493/" title="IMG_2522 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/11217663493_41099df806_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2522"></a><br />
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A more traditional facade.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217613596/" title="IMG_2523 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/11217613596_90e71db538_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2523"></a><br />
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Continuation of the shopping arcade.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217605803/" title="IMG_2524 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/11217605803_9461c1f4a4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2524"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217536694/" title="IMG_2529 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/11217536694_62c6200f1b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2529"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217582895/" title="IMG_2530 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/11217582895_73e088345c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2530"></a><br />
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The only other place I had seen a Playboy clothing store was in mainland China.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217579304/" title="IMG_2537 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/11217579304_24c59740b2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2537"></a><br />
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The Tamsui Red Castle (淡水紅樓), a Victorian red-brick building on a hill turned into a restaurant. One of the attractions according to the travel guides.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217581706/" title="IMG_2526 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/11217581706_7f87e20d2c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2526"></a><br />
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The view of Tamsui from the hill.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217521834/" title="IMG_2525 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/11217521834_78b31f989e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2525"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217607405/" title="IMG_2527 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/11217607405_9e42c03e7a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2527"></a><br />
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A creepy looking statue.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217474735/" title="IMG_2538 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/11217474735_22786b5665_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2538"></a><br />
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It actually commemorates <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Leslie_Mackay">George Leslie Mackay</a>, a Canadian missionary and one of the first Westerners to have lived in Taiwan.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217634553/" title="IMG_2539 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/11217634553_1bdf35dbf7_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_2539"></a><br />
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One of the churches that Mackay founded.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217554255/" title="IMG_2540 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/11217554255_c35902c3d0_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_2540"></a><br />
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A view of the Tamsui River which flows into the Taiwan Strait.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217728263/" title="IMG_2541 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/11217728263_3fdba2fc29_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2541"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217595866/" title="IMG_2544 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/11217595866_9225cbd072_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2544"></a><br />
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The former British Consulate in Tamsui.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217549505/" title="IMG_2547 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/11217549505_09b2deeae4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2547"></a><br />
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Lastly, before heading back to the hotel, ordering soft ice cream from a street vendor. The speciality of this soft ice cream was the crazy height of the soft ice cream on top of the cone!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11217692053/" title="IMG_2551 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/11217692053_e1df69c395_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2551"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-18696269328013275652013-11-28T23:55:00.000-08:002013-11-28T23:55:28.863-08:002011 Taiwan Trip: Taiwan by High Speed Rail - Taichung (台中) and Kaohsiung (高雄)On March 31, 2013 and April 1, 2013, on our week long Taiwan trip, we went to Taichung (台中) and Kaohsiung (高雄) respectively.<br />
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One of the major reasons was to try out Taiwan's high speed rail line which opened in 2007 and to see how it compared to Japan's Shinkansen. Unfortunately, at the time, Taiwan High Speed Rail did not offer a rail pass for tourists like Japan and other European countries, but luckily the ticket prices were not so expensive, compared to say, that of Japan's.<br />
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Also we wanted to see how other cities in Taiwan looked like outside of its capital of Taipei. Since our hotel booked for the week was in Taipei, we had to pick some destinations which would work for a day trip. From the guidebooks it seemed like Taichung and Kaohsiung would be interesting places to visit...<br />
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The high speed trains of Taiwan with the distinctive orange stripe. What is interesting is that the only other places that uses Japanese Shinkansen trains for high speed rail are Taiwan and China, with Taiwan using the newer model while China uses the slightly older one. The trains that Taiwan uses are actually a derivative of the trains that run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line in Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090284066/" title="IMG_2367 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/11090284066_0cf93f8f16_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2367"></a><br />
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The high speed rail tickets.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090341284/" title="IMG_2676 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/11090341284_0f89327e8c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2676"></a><br />
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Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung with respect to their geographical locations.<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004ec36f7647ee9490cd&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=23.946096,120.72876&spn=3.011934,4.389038&z=8&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004ec36f7647ee9490cd&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=23.946096,120.72876&spn=3.011934,4.389038&z=8&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Taichung and Kaohsiung</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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First on March 31, 2013 we headed to Taichung from Taipei via the high speed trains.<br />
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The one way ticket for the 1 hour journey only cost NT$675 (US$22.30), which I thought was quite reasonable.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090271926/" title="IMG_2335 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/11090271926_722ebb7bb6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2335"></a><br />
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At Taichung station. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090491003/" title="IMG_2336 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/11090491003_59eba72c1f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2336"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090354965/" title="IMG_2337 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/11090354965_149c0b55cf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2337"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090270664/" title="IMG_2338 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/11090270664_381274b17d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2338"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090429543/" title="IMG_2339 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/11090429543_c62fb24c80_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2339"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090413894/" title="IMG_2340 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/11090413894_496befd7d5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2340"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090227794/" title="IMG_2341 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/11090227794_7c9ef51064_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2341"></a><br />
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Unfortunately, the Taichung high speed rail station is located in the outskirts of Taichung and you had to take a free shuttle bus for around 45 minutes to get to the actual city! The time to take the shuttle bus was almost as long as the travel time from Taipei!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090255105/" title="IMG_2343 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/11090255105_fd3f140374_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2343"></a><br />
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Once we got to Taichung, we unfortunately discover that Taichung is more of an industrial city rather than a city with tourist attractions. We thought that we could easily walk to the few tourist attractions by foot, but it seemed like the city was not designed for walking. Outside of Taipei, the motorbike is still the main mode of transportation for most people.<br />
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The city centre of Taichung, almost deserted except for people on motorbikes!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090551973/" title="IMG_2344 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/11090551973_0e5733b576_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2344"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090150715/" title="IMG_2345 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/11090150715_63446b6661_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2345"></a><br />
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Plenty of spaces to park your motorbike though.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090421383/" title="IMG_2346 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/11090421383_91654db091_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2346"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090398206/" title="IMG_2347 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/11090398206_a01c07e32e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2347"></a><br />
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Taiwan's cities really need a makeover to reflect the fact that it is not a 3rd world country anymore!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090213414/" title="IMG_2348 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/11090213414_03fdd4ae99_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2348"></a><br />
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Near the city centre of Taichung. By this point we were getting really tired of walking in this hostile environment.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090259476/" title="IMG_2349 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/11090259476_69593d73ab_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2349"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090434184/" title="IMG_2351 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/11090434184_7f74044646_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2351"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090139195/" title="IMG_2352 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/11090139195_25ec3aab06_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2352"></a><br />
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A canal or river? Completely reinforced with concrete on all sides like in Japan!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090516553/" title="IMG_2354 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/11090516553_b4e0208fee_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2354"></a><br />
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After eating KFC (of all things), we looked at our tourist guide to see if there was anything worth visiting. There were some temples listed as a tourist attraction but to access those temples required a taxi ride and we determined that it wasn't worth a taxi fare to visit some temple on purpose. So we decided to head back to Taipei instead as we thought that there were more interesting things to see and do there.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090451776/" title="IMG_2355 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/11090451776_657225b38d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2355"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090387953/" title="IMG_2356 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/11090387953_314fe89cff_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2356"></a><br />
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Back to the Taichung high speed rail station in the middle of nowhere!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090531803/" title="IMG_2358 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/11090531803_fdb64cddcd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2358"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090227256/" title="IMG_2359 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/11090227256_39473f6e5c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2359"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090211585/" title="IMG_2360 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/11090211585_1e365705a2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2360"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090384334/" title="IMG_2361 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/11090384334_db95b94be8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2361"></a><br />
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Leaving Taichung and going back to Taipei!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090209746/" title="IMG_2362 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/11090209746_e02839b77d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2362"></a><br />
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Back in Taipei, we spent the rest of the day wondering around and browsing shops and restaurants and we ordered this shaved ice dessert from some "famous shop". (It seems that almost every single food shop in Taipei has some sort of award or has been recognized by some TV programme)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090342316/" title="IMG_2364 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/11090342316_7b5af74980_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2364"></a><br />
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Verdict on Taichung, not worth visiting as a tourist!<br />
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On the next day, on April 1, 2013, we took the high speed rail again, this time for Kaohsiung, the 2nd largest city in Taiwan on the southern tip of the island.<br />
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The 1.5 to 2 hour journey (depending on the type of train) from Taipei cost NT$1445 (US$48.84) one way.<br />
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Like Taichung, the high speed rail station in Kaohsiung is not actually located in the centre of the city, but north of the city in a place called Zuoying. Luckily, unlike Taichung, there is a metro line connecting Zuoying station to the city centre.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090284066/" title="IMG_2367 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/11090284066_0cf93f8f16_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2367"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090443026/" title="IMG_2369 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/11090443026_c99bce302a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2369"></a><br />
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This was the first high speed rail train ever to be used in Taiwan!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090231315/" title="IMG_2371 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/11090231315_9059e7c5a9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2371"></a><br />
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Compared to Taipei station which is basically located underground, Zuoying station is open and airy!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090292144/" title="IMG_2374 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/11090292144_deb7030b27_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2374"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090269005/" title="IMG_2375 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/11090269005_54dc1e9da6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2375"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090370233/" title="IMG_2377 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/11090370233_792271767c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2377"></a><br />
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Although I ate breakfast, I wanted to try one of the Taiwanese-style railway bentos (台鐵便當). Unlike Japanese-style bentos, Taiwanese-style bentos are hot and feature an overflowing amount of meat, like the giant pork chop placed on top of the rice!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090322664/" title="IMG_2378 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/11090322664_b73656a0a9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2378"></a><br />
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The Zuoying high speed rail station was conveniently located next to one of the attractions of Kaohsiung, the Confucius Temple.<br />
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The local markets near the temple. Like Taichung, motorbikes everywhere! <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090390166/" title="IMG_2379 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/11090390166_7ed9c3b2db_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2379"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090222266/" title="IMG_2380 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7387/11090222266_680dd2e667_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2380"></a><br />
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The Confucius Temple, we were among the handful of visitors there.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090307984/" title="IMG_2381 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/11090307984_c2f4fb77c3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2381"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090349465/" title="IMG_2383 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/11090349465_f3cbdf5fc3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2383"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090505213/" title="IMG_2386 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/11090505213_d79782bc94_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2386"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090179415/" title="IMG_2388 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/11090179415_7ece6304da_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2388"></a><br />
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The Conficius Temple is actually located near a man-made lake and tourist attraction called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Pond,_Kaohsiung">Lotus Pond</a> (蓮池潭) which also feature other Chinese-style temples.<br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pei_Chi_Pavilion">Pei Chi Pavilion</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090242135/" title="IMG_2389 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7316/11090242135_2b547fd7e3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2389"></a><br />
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Some other temple which I have no idea what it is called.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090554403/" title="IMG_2390 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/11090554403_81bed3524c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2390"></a><br />
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The lotus pond in detail.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090246055/" title="IMG_2396 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2860/11090246055_bd77425cb0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2396"></a><br />
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View of one of the other temples (among many) from the back.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090304894/" title="IMG_2399 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/11090304894_66230f7887_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2399"></a><br />
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We saw this person fishing in the pond, is there anything to catch?!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090358465/" title="IMG_2401 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/11090358465_340f77756f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2401"></a><br />
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Next, we took the metro and headed to the actual city centre of Kaohsiung.<br />
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The railway station in the centre of the city. Again, like Taichung, where are all the people?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090330554/" title="IMG_2403 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/11090330554_799d2309d2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2403"></a><br />
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Apparently, to get around in Kaohsiung, you are supposed to rent a motorbike, as evidenced by the large number of motorbike rental shops near the station and the giant billboard.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090420224/" title="IMG_2404 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3667/11090420224_21f4909b3d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2404"></a><br />
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Near the station, there was also a traditional market, so we decided to check it out.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090126325/" title="IMG_2405 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/11090126325_9f1fc5aee8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2405"></a><br />
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Traditional family owned Chinese-style stores still exist in abundance in Taiwan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090356546/" title="IMG_2407 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/11090356546_f494b8d6e4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2407"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090549163/" title="IMG_2408 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3734/11090549163_0eec07f5be_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2408"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090268074/" title="IMG_2409 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/11090268074_58e071e6bd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2409"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090443083/" title="IMG_2410 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/11090443083_ec4ec9de77_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2410"></a><br />
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Afterwards we made our way to one of the temple attractions listed in the guidebook. Like all temples, once you visit one, you have seen them all...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090404236/" title="IMG_2411 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/11090404236_b8d6596d86_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2411"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090362924/" title="IMG_2414 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2889/11090362924_becb092d4f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2414"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090237776/" title="IMG_2416 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/11090237776_7419459856_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2416"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090379466/" title="IMG_2418 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/11090379466_fc3fe91299_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2418"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090106155/" title="IMG_2419 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/11090106155_e75c85e2ec_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2419"></a><br />
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A typical deserted sidewalk of Kaohsiung.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090400483/" title="IMG_2420 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/11090400483_7374257c22_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2420"></a><br />
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What is interesting here is NOT what is above the ground, but what is below ground.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090352726/" title="IMG_2421 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/11090352726_8229192285_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2421"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090425196/" title="IMG_2422 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/11090425196_9df140a836_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2422"></a><br />
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Below ground is actually an interchange metro station, but it is also home to the "Dome of Light", one of the world's largest stained glass installations, created by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090233866/" title="IMG_2423 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3688/11090233866_f0803d1d79_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2423"></a><br />
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The actual metro station, on the other hand, is not quite so impressive. Again, even the metro seems deserted!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090328354/" title="IMG_2424 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/11090328354_02bdbbc92c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2424"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090499063/" title="IMG_2425 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/11090499063_3640c2a43c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2425"></a><br />
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Riding the metro, we went to the waterfront area because there was a "Fisherman's Wharf".<br />
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On the way, there was the "Takao Railway Museum". <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090338514/" title="IMG_2428 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/11090338514_e07fffb1eb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2428"></a><br />
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Not much of a museum...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090454306/" title="IMG_2426 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/11090454306_6dacbedd40_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2426"></a><br />
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The road to the Fisherman's Wharf. It was kind of dangerous, because there were no sidewalks anywhere and large trucks were moving in and out.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090156935/" title="IMG_2430 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/11090156935_9b2a617e22_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2430"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090298786/" title="IMG_2431 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/11090298786_82553a30df_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2431"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090496913/" title="IMG_2432 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/11090496913_1a080bacd7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2432"></a><br />
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The tallest building in Kaohsiung, the Tuntex Sky Tower, in the background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090328373/" title="IMG_2433 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/11090328373_79dfc01ee5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2433"></a><br />
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As we entered the Fisherman's Wharf, there were almost no other tourists around either!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090353814/" title="IMG_2435 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/11090353814_5696af5baa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2435"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090539423/" title="IMG_2436 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/11090539423_429624ae79_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2436"></a><br />
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Next, we headed to the "Love River", supposedly a place where you can "enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kaohsiung" and enjoy various cafes and etc.<br />
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The actual "Love River" was a disappointment because there was nothing to see, admire or do!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090365536/" title="IMG_2439 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3688/11090365536_057ca1f485_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2439"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090212966/" title="IMG_2440 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5529/11090212966_28519d77ea_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2440"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090265756/" title="IMG_2441 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/11090265756_e282e1edb6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2441"></a><br />
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Run down buildings do not add any charm to this supposed tourist attraction.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090240045/" title="IMG_2442 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/11090240045_3f28509d82_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2442"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090224666/" title="IMG_2437 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/11090224666_df6742b733_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2437"></a><br />
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After being disappointed by the "Love River", we walked to the city centre of Kaohsiung.<br />
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Passing by the city museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090428404/" title="IMG_2443 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/11090428404_0097da5bee_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2443"></a><br />
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Passing by the Bank of Taiwan building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090280996/" title="IMG_2445 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/11090280996_0419bf35bf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2445"></a><br />
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The tallest building in Kaohsiung, the Turex Tower, up close.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090271725/" title="IMG_2446 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/11090271725_55a06a3d27_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2446"></a><br />
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Nothing but cars and motorbikes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090447714/" title="IMG_2447 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/11090447714_a042a062e4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2447"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090322705/" title="IMG_2450 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3673/11090322705_3f1084a8a6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2450"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090412193/" title="IMG_2452 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/11090412193_58bf35f708_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2452"></a><br />
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Finally we see some people!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090160845/" title="IMG_2455 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3716/11090160845_90bf3aa702_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2455"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090435703/" title="IMG_2456 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/11090435703_9d20c16719_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2456"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090508313/" title="IMG_2457 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/11090508313_73201f3f8f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2457"></a><br />
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The motorbike is so ingrained into the local culture that they just ride their motorbikes right up to the street food stalls, buy their food and leave, all without ever dismounting!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11090115915/" title="IMG_2458 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/11090115915_05d540ab75_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2458"></a><br />
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Verdict on Kaohsiung: a one time visit just to say that you have been there is enough.<br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-36799649601863582052013-11-23T22:48:00.000-08:002013-11-23T22:48:18.846-08:002011 Taiwan Trip: Taipei - National Palace Museum, Official Residences and MarketsOn our second day in Taipei on March 30, 2011, visiting museum and museum-like attractions took up the bulk of our day.<br />
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The main museum that we visited on that day, the National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) from the outside, designed as a fusion of 1960s architecture combined with traditional Chinese architecture.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016114626/" title="IMG_2297 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/11016114626_ca4d2599d2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2297"></a><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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A map of the places we visited on that day. <br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004ebe5558f3ca930e1c&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=25.072383,121.520634&spn=0.093292,0.137157&z=13&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004ebe5558f3ca930e1c&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=25.072383,121.520634&spn=0.093292,0.137157&z=13&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">2011-03-30 Taipei</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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The first place we visited was the National Palace Museum in the suburbs of Taipei. This is cited as one of the "must visit" attractions in every tourist guidebook on Taiwan.<br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Palace_Museum">National Palace Museum</a> has a very interesting history. Basically, it houses the national treasures and artifacts of China which originally belonged to the imperial dynasties. During the Chinese Civil War in 1945 to 1949, the national treasures were loaded into crates and moved around mainland China to avoid the Communist Chinese advances and eventually ended up in Taipei when the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomingtang) lost control of the entire mainland area to the Chinese Communist Party.<br />
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The Chinese Nationalist Party planned to "retake the mainland" in the early days of exile in Taiwan but as this looked more and more unfeasible, they built this museum in the 1960s to exhibit and display all the national treasures of China. So, the majority of the best artworks and treasures from China cannot be seen on mainland China but in Taiwan!<br />
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The traditional Chinese archway with the interesting "tropical" colour scheme.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016039075/" title="IMG_2288 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/11016039075_fa2d1948e9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2288"></a><br />
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The grand imperial style entryway to the museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016149074/" title="IMG_2290 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7349/11016149074_479fea6cce_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2290"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016134404/" title="IMG_2291 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/11016134404_dedf209230_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2291"></a><br />
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I have no idea what this thing is called but it seems to be an important part of traditional Chinese architecture.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016119704/" title="IMG_2292 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/11016119704_643c66dbcc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2292"></a><br />
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The view of the museum grounds from the museum building. Maybe those ugly apartment buildings directly in front of the museum shouldn't have been built?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016168106/" title="IMG_2293 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/11016168106_05e162f579_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2293"></a><br />
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The main museum building. Actually the museum and archives extends into the mountain.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016266483/" title="IMG_2294 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5529/11016266483_2a12f2b7ca_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2294"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016114626/" title="IMG_2297 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/11016114626_ca4d2599d2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2297"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016001125/" title="IMG_2298 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/11016001125_7a7ed4e054_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2298"></a><br />
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The only interior photo I could take. Unlike a majority of museums elsewhere, photos were strictly prohibited, which means if you want to see the national treasures of China, you have to come visit Taipei!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11015997755/" title="IMG_2300 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/11015997755_28f1b3802a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2300"></a><br />
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Some of the artifacts available for viewing at the National Palace Museum as illustrated on the tickets.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016160886/" title="IMG_2675 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/11016160886_8df4534757_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2675"></a><br />
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The museum is tremendously popular among mainland Chinese tourists (for the reasons mentioned above), however, the average mainland Chinese tourist does not seem to understand or know the international etiquette of visiting museums or "touristing" in general, so, in the museum, there were signs like this everywhere. In addition, they hired people to walk and stand around exhibits holding the same signs in order to try to enforce this "international etiquette". Alas, it was generally unsuccessful, as people talked loudly and tried to sneak in a couple of photos here and there!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016089716/" title="IMG_2301 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/11016089716_df35ec4046_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2301"></a><br />
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I am not really a big fan of traditional Chinese art and artworks and I still managed to spend 2-3 hours looking around at the National Palace Museum. So that means that the tourist guidebooks are right and it indeed is a "must see" attraction in Taipei.<br />
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Next, since we were in the immediate area, we visited the former official residence (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilin_Official_Residence">Shilin Official Residence</a>, 士林官邸) of President Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese Nationalist Party leader who lost the mainland area to the Communists and retreated to Taiwan with the national treasures of China.<br />
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Of course, one of the major things they love to display is the former leader's cars, a Cadillac.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016190693/" title="IMG_2302 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7349/11016190693_c86833f234_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2302"></a><br />
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The path surrounded by greenery leading to the residence.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11015958585/" title="IMG_2303 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/11015958585_163075f1d6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2303"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016289253/" title="IMG_2304 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/11016289253_34241c6bdc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2304"></a><br />
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Line up for the official tour of the residence. Unfortunately, like the National Palace Museum, we were not allowed to take photos inside.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016229094/" title="IMG_2305 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/11016229094_38c368c860_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2305"></a><br />
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I didn't think that the residence looked that impressive, compared with the monumental buildings that the former President was building at the time. It looked like an ordinary large house to me.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016032575/" title="IMG_2307 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/11016032575_220f79c7a9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2307"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016020605/" title="IMG_2308 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/11016020605_70654eb720_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2308"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016111676/" title="IMG_2309 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2831/11016111676_831a9274a5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2309"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11015951475/" title="IMG_2310 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/11015951475_02216c61bb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2310"></a><br />
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Afterwards in the late afternoon, we headed back to the central area of Taipei to explore <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihua_Street">Dihua Street</a> (迪化街), one of the oldest commercial streets of Taipei which currently sells mostly Chinese medicinal herbs and traditional Chinese dried food products.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016224464/" title="IMG_2312 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/11016224464_85ef923952_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2312"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016035825/" title="IMG_2313 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/11016035825_b6ee69a3a3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2313"></a><br />
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By this time it was getting dark so we headed to the nearby Ningxia Street Night Market to check it out.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016126274/" title="IMG_2333 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/11016126274_d1b4f66a8b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2333"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016132236/" title="IMG_2314 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/11016132236_6bfc072ed3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2314"></a><br />
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This shop specializes in turkey.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016118126/" title="IMG_2315 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/11016118126_dc2c6a4cf6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2315"></a><br />
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A giant raw (?) turkey just sitting on the counter.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016177184/" title="IMG_2316 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/11016177184_79fbb35b1d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2316"></a><br />
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Typical street food stalls at the night market.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016083206/" title="IMG_2318 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/11016083206_8e78c79f8d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2318"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11015970185/" title="IMG_2319 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/11015970185_17e7bcfb3c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2319"></a><br />
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The food ranged from dim sum...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016198154/" title="IMG_2321 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/11016198154_89f91d236f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2321"></a><br />
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...to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_mei">braised</a> duck heads...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016163154/" title="IMG_2324 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2881/11016163154_b19828fba5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2324"></a><br />
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...to cheese potatoes...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016138564/" title="IMG_2326 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7345/11016138564_bc75abf141_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2326"></a><br />
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...to geese meat...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016116404/" title="IMG_2327 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/11016116404_6470041d70_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2327"></a><br />
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...to stir fried food, cooked in front of you, or at the back...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016280713/" title="IMG_2328 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/11016280713_3bce0a9060_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2328"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016086866/" title="IMG_2331 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/11016086866_2e3633e118_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2331"></a><br />
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...to more braised assorted meats and intestines!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016043025/" title="IMG_2329 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/11016043025_747f18ee94_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2329"></a><br />
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After eating, some entertainment for the kids.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11016097726/" title="IMG_2330 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/11016097726_af23979255_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2330"></a><br />
Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-11806914031989789262013-11-19T19:27:00.001-08:002013-11-23T21:09:46.490-08:002011 Taiwan Trip: Taipei - Presidents and TowersMarch 29, 2011 was the second full day of our week long trip to Taiwan. It was my first trip to Taiwan and my mom's first trip to Taiwan in 20 years. On this day we mostly spent the time exploring Taipei.<br />
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My mom had heard that Taipei had been "completely rebuilt" after the devastating 1999 earthquake and wanted to see how "modern" Taipei had become since the last time she had visited ages ago.<br />
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The symbol of Taipei, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949677086/" title="IMG_2126 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/10949677086_1c4b79fee5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2126"></a><br />
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We started from our hotel in the Zhongshan District (中山區) of Taipei and we took the MRT (metro) to Taipei Main Station area to walk around the central government district.<br />
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A typical Taipei street. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949694936/" title="IMG_2101 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/10949694936_bcb0083672_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2101"></a><br />
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Like any other Asian city, it has advertisements everywhere.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940551066/" title="IMG_2102 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2889/10940551066_7ef7360dd4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2102"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940537054/" title="IMG_2103 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/10940537054_33731e926b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2103"></a><br />
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Inside the Taipei Main Station. For a railway station, it seemed awfully quiet during the day!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940838205/" title="IMG_2104 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/10940838205_bd4d8f07cd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2104"></a><br />
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The exterior of the Taipei Main Station. I quickly noticed that buildings and infrastructure here are not well maintained!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940513306/" title="IMG_2105 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2853/10940513306_55ea438520_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2105"></a><br />
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Near the central government area. By this time, I was quickly developing the opinion that Taiwan is a 1st world country with 3rd world buildings and infrastructure!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940948014/" title="IMG_2107 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/10940948014_da9b151a35_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2107"></a> <br />
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The grand looking National Taiwan Museum at the 228 Peace Park.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940562974/" title="IMG_2108 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3808/10940562974_62bfffd974_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2108"></a><br />
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Inside the 228 Peace Park.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949855343/" title="IMG_2109 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/10949855343_45ae58cb7d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2109"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940972294/" title="IMG_2110 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/10940972294_091585fe1c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2110"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940599594/" title="IMG_2111 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/10940599594_819a22e9a3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2111"></a><br />
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The Presidential Building, the seat of power in Taiwan. We did not visit on this day because there was a full open house a couple of days later. This only happens a couple times a month and we were lucky to come at the right time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949760824/" title="IMG_2113 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/10949760824_ae0bd2a6fa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2113"></a><br />
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The Jieshou Park, or literally "Long Live Chiang Kai-shek Park". There was literally no one else there except for us. Apparently, since the democratization of Taiwan, he seems to have follow out of favour with the people?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940666243/" title="IMG_2114 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/10940666243_933c53a1e9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2114"></a><br />
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The statue of the President.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10941517816/" title="IMG_2115 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/10941517816_fed1e182f4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2115"></a><br />
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The Taipei Guest House was directly in front of the park. The "100" sign on the gate celebrates the fact that 2011 was the 100th anniversary of the disposal of the Emperor on mainland China and the founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan's formal name).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940731473/" title="IMG_2116 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/10940731473_12bed462d6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2116"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949570206/" title="IMG_2117 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/10949570206_41c0da7201_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2117"></a><br />
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940958804/" title="IMG_2118 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/10940958804_985dea9c4a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2118"></a><br />
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The East Gate of Taipei and the giant building behind the gate is the former headquarters of the Chinese Nationalist Party which directly faces the Presidential Building. Now its the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940658773/" title="IMG_2120 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/10940658773_fbacb45de4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2120"></a><br />
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Despite the development of the extensive metro system, motorbikes are still widely used in Taipei.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940896556/" title="IMG_2121 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2810/10940896556_83ee85a205_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2121"></a><br />
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Next, we went to "Liberty Square" where the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall was located. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940465515/" title="IMG_2122 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/10940465515_8e2d3e8c21_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2122"></a><br />
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The grandiose square. You can get a sense of the scale from this photo.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949677086/" title="IMG_2126 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/10949677086_1c4b79fee5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2126"></a><br />
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On both sides of the square is the National Concert Hall and National Theatre, both built in an impressive imperial Chinese style.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940380005/" title="IMG_2128 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/10940380005_043a95e819_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2128"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940964664/" title="IMG_2129 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/10940964664_f53cd079cb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2129"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940412035/" title="IMG_2131 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/10940412035_eff06c07c5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2131"></a><br />
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The archway of Liberty Square.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940810525/" title="IMG_2130 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/10940810525_9d68b8f3c7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2130"></a><br />
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The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall building. This is a popular tourist attraction for mainland Chinese visitors!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10942104555/" title="IMG_2132 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3676/10942104555_62e16e5b7b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2132"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949572796/" title="IMG_2134 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3667/10949572796_782a37c721_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2134"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10944496413/" title="IMG_2137 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/10944496413_877b376c67_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2137"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940526934/" title="IMG_2139 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/10940526934_92a1ce16de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2139"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949503365/" title="IMG_2140 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/10949503365_ae79122d58_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2140"></a><br />
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A view of the entire square from the hall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940637774/" title="IMG_2138 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/10940637774_38e8bcc383_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2138"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940962454/" title="IMG_2141 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/10940962454_4f5bff8ee4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2141"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10948092283/" title="IMG_2159 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/10948092283_7a1d651638_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2159"></a><br />
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Honour guards at the entrance. Standing as still as a statue.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940483756/" title="IMG_2142 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/10940483756_39884b1300_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2142"></a><br />
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The giant statue of the former President.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10942885624/" title="IMG_2143 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/10942885624_e620cbeffd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2143"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940741213/" title="IMG_2144 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/10940741213_55854e9a1f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2144"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940880216/" title="IMG_2146 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/10940880216_96d3759e7f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2146"></a><br />
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One of the most impressive things that occurs is the changing of the guards in which the guards would hand over their guns to their colleagues by throwing it to them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940737043/" title="IMG_2150 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/10940737043_eb6298b3c7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2150"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940581794/" title="IMG_2153 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/10940581794_5fcf90a6f7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2153"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949690936/" title="IMG_2154 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/10949690936_fdacc33567_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2154"></a><br />
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In addition, the lower floor of the hall is a museum dedicated to the life of Chiang Kai-shek.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949686826/" title="IMG_2160 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/10949686826_6381b8e9e6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2160"></a><br />
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Model of the entire complex.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940489825/" title="IMG_2161 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/10940489825_23786451e1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2161"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940441666/" title="IMG_2162 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/10940441666_c3dd0cdc72_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2162"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940595484/" title="IMG_2164 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/10940595484_80afc11227_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2164"></a><br />
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Another statue of Chiang Kai-shek!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949800584/" title="IMG_2165 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/10949800584_181ab26631_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2165"></a><br />
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Inside you can learn about the entire life of Chiang Kai-shek. The entire exhibition seemed to focus on his time on the mainland and certain periods of his life were omitted like the period after 1950 and others...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940401185/" title="IMG_2167 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/10940401185_c730661b53_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2167"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940499246/" title="IMG_2170 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/10940499246_46f9545f04_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2170"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940538824/" title="IMG_2173 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3823/10940538824_61925f00d7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2173"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940891476/" title="IMG_2174 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/10940891476_05f787da8f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2174"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940462965/" title="IMG_2175 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/10940462965_986b0d93d9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2175"></a><br />
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No exhibition about a former leader would be complete without a display of the cars he previously used!<br />
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His Cadillacs with the auspicious license plates.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940414465/" title="IMG_2178 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/10940414465_b7d34782ce_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2178"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940833965/" title="IMG_2180 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/10940833965_901796ffd6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2180"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940510386/" title="IMG_2181 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/10940510386_81699632e0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2181"></a><br />
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A 1970s model.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940462886/" title="IMG_2184 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/10940462886_ed095bba6c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2184"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949669946/" title="IMG_2185 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/10949669946_79ab18eb81_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2185"></a><br />
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A painting of Chiang Kai-shek with the founder of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10941058543/" title="IMG_2183 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/10941058543_4b4540a51e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2183"></a><br />
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Chairs used by the former President!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940527006/" title="IMG_2186 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/10940527006_0f77a98da0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2186"></a><br />
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The grand finale, a reproduction of the Presidential Office.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949751483/" title="IMG_2187 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/10949751483_916c8f1a40_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2187"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940871346/" title="IMG_2188 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/10940871346_b86863092f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2188"></a><br />
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At the gift shop. Souvenirs of the current President, Ma Ying-jeou.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940663573/" title="IMG_2190 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/10940663573_924db0c198_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2190"></a><br />
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The walled Chinese-style garden at the exit.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949765394/" title="IMG_2191 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/10949765394_675b28c5fd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2191"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940519766/" title="IMG_2192 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/10940519766_da12382a3f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2192"></a><br />
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After getting a mega dose of Chiang Kai-shek propaganda, it was time to eat lunch and what better place to digest all that propaganda than to eat lunch at the original branch of the restaurant famous for <i>xiaolongbao</i>?!<br />
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The restaurant, Ding Tai Fung (鼎泰豐), was so popular that we had to wait for around 1 hour before we were seated.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949659704/" title="IMG_2193 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/10949659704_62c8ee6d29_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2193"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10941067883/" title="IMG_2194 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5539/10941067883_664a7b7818_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2194"></a><br />
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One of the typical streets of Taipei.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940569014/" title="IMG_2195 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/10940569014_f046025e62_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2195"></a><br />
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Afterwards we headed to the Taipei 101 area in Xinyi (信義區).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949860933/" title="IMG_2196 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/10949860933_bb34c09dd9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2196"></a><br />
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On the way we passed by another memorial hall, this one to Republic of China founder Sun Yat-sen.<br />
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Taipei 101 from the grounds of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940576604/" title="IMG_2201 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/10940576604_dec4fb8514_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2201"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10945282614/" title="IMG_2213 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7425/10945282614_5758f0219b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2213"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940441925/" title="IMG_2212 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/10940441925_d2ca714727_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2212"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940532836/" title="IMG_2197 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/10940532836_1923fbd8e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2197"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949683356/" title="IMG_2202 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/10949683356_bf01250625_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2202"></a><br />
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For some reason, this memorial hall felt less formal than the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. There weren't even any honour guards!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940484855/" title="IMG_2203 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/10940484855_9248d8647a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2203"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10947099664/" title="IMG_2207 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/10947099664_9158ce0ace_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2207"></a><br />
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And every bench outside had groups of old people enjoying the day by playing Chinese Chess on the benches!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940396745/" title="IMG_2209 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/10940396745_8e53fcb359_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2209"></a><br />
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Another shot of Taipei 101.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940497345/" title="IMG_2214 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7328/10940497345_8dea7b570f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2214"></a><br />
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We also passed by the Taipei City Hall, one of the most banal buildings I had ever seen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940389485/" title="IMG_2215 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/10940389485_b7008f4049_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2215"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940836055/" title="IMG_2216 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/10940836055_986ffd001b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2216"></a><br />
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The price to go up the Taipei 101 was actually quite expensive at NT$500 (US$17). Because Taipei doesn't have many tall buildings, there is not much of a skyline to admire. A one time visit is enough.<br />
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The low-rise skyline of Taipei.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10948776246/" title="IMG_2218 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/10948776246_afaece5452_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2218"></a><br />
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Taipei City Hall view from above. The building is shaped like two ten characters in Chinese (十十) to commemorate the 1911/10/10 revolution led by Republic of China founder Sun Yat-sen which overthrew the imperial system in China. Every year that day is celebrated as Double-Ten Day in Taiwan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940492945/" title="IMG_2220 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/10940492945_8e8efa8dbf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2220"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940384415/" title="IMG_2221 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/10940384415_16ea42c88a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2221"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940454075/" title="IMG_2223 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/10940454075_638c36219a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2223"></a><br />
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What is interesting is how mountainous Taipei really is and how the developments just fill up to the sides of the mountains.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10946100826/" title="IMG_2230 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/10946100826_199c826ca5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2230"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940893876/" title="IMG_2233 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/10940893876_19dda41ace_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2233"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949648005/" title="IMG_2235 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7305/10949648005_1aeba791ef_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2235"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940470576/" title="IMG_2237 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/10940470576_3ed1cc273c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2237"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940476675/" title="IMG_2239 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/10940476675_2eaefe83bc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2239"></a><br />
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Taipei 101 has the world's fastest elevator.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940522276/" title="IMG_2228 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/10940522276_28c96e4781_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2228"></a><br />
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Zoomed up shots of the Xinyi District where the Taipei 101 is located.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949707166/" title="IMG_2241 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/10949707166_6e12ab2e83_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2241"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940945784/" title="IMG_2242 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/10940945784_8a80f55e1b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2242"></a><br />
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Taipei at night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940866136/" title="IMG_2253 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/10940866136_317f1def10_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2253"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940572054/" title="IMG_2254 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/10940572054_29285d9aa0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2254"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940826765/" title="IMG_2258 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/10940826765_a519c71fdb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2258"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940703043/" title="IMG_2259 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/10940703043_551cce29ee_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2259"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940423205/" title="IMG_2260 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/10940423205_bdb671f73b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2260"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940695693/" title="IMG_2265 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/10940695693_1f746dd9dc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2265"></a><br />
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The Xinyi District at night. Because it is a newer development that most other areas of Taipei, the buildings and everything look much more modern.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10943601604/" title="IMG_2272 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/10943601604_ea6fa2c6a0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2272"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940630324/" title="IMG_2273 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/10940630324_f31ee8683c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2273"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10940449825/" title="IMG_2276 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/10940449825_b775daf18a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2276"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10949797434/" title="IMG_2277 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3796/10949797434_3a0f6f3453_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2277"></a><br />
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The last place we visited for the day was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilin_Night_Market">Shilin Night Market</a>, one of the largest and most famous night markets in Taipei. Unlike most definitions of a "night market", this one seems to be permanent as regular shops and etc. have congregated around the night market.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11018736243/" title="IMG_2281 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/11018736243_7daa11a942_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2281"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11018726663/" title="IMG_2284 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/11018726663_49558d107d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2284"></a><br />
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One of the major attractions of the Shilin Night Market is the street food.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11018660844/" title="IMG_2280 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/11018660844_7219828bc9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2280"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11018511465/" title="IMG_2282 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/11018511465_c887d9120d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2282"></a><br />
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This fried chicken steak stand was one of the popular ones, being featured in the travel books and guides.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11018729353/" title="IMG_2283 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/11018729353_63050a672a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2283"></a><br />
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It was tasty although there was *a lot* of MSG!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/11018501985/" title="IMG_2286 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/11018501985_29f8b679b2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2286"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-18834799864096394092013-11-16T23:31:00.000-08:002013-11-16T23:38:10.622-08:002011 Taiwan Trip: Flight from Tokyo Haneda to TaipeiOn March 28, 2011, as a continuation of the almost one month long trip that I took with my mom when she visited me in Japan while I was studying there, we flew to Taiwan for a 1 week trip.<br />
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I booked the hotel and flight package from Rakuten Travel and it was surprisingly cheap. The 7 nights, 8 days package including the airfare cost 140,000 yen (US$1400) for 2 people. That is like 70,000 yen (US$700) per person for 7 nights in a hotel and the airfare!<br />
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The airline in the package was All Nippon Airways and the flight was from Tokyo Haneda airport to Taipei Songshan instead of the much farther Tokyo Narita airport. Because international flights from Tokyo Haneda airport are usually targeted to business travellers, the flight tickets are usually much more expensive, thereby making this hotel and flight package even more of a deal!<br />
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Historically, Tokyo Haneda airport was designated for domestic flights while Tokyo Narita airport was designated for international flights. At the time, they changed the laws to allow for short distance international flights to Asia at Tokyo Haneda airport so an international terminal was newly built.<br />
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The brand new international terminal at Tokyo Haneda airport.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814530675/" title="IMG_2064 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/10814530675_a83d61ca74_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2064"></a><br />
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Unlike Tokyo Narita airport which is more than 1 hour away from the city, Tokyo Haneda airport is only around 30 minutes away from the city and has a monorail that connects the city to the airport.<br />
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The Tokyo Monorail. The ride was actually quite bumpy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814641454/" title="IMG_2018 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/10814641454_3a4d524357_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2018"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814581796/" title="IMG_2019 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/10814581796_47c6828b5b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2019"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814793823/" title="IMG_2020 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/10814793823_bd591423f9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2020"></a><br />
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Unlike other airports, the monorail station is literally right in front of the international terminal. In less than 5 minutes of walking, you enter the terminal building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814735864/" title="IMG_2021 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/10814735864_a79b2d3d95_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2021"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814560026/" title="IMG_2022 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/10814560026_986137803d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2022"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814876043/" title="IMG_2023 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/10814876043_288f253012_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2023"></a><br />
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One of the features of the new international terminal, is that they recreated a typical shopping street called the "EDO Marketplace" based on the Edo-era (old Tokyo) and recruited a lot of famous restaurants and shops to open a branch at the airport.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814564365/" title="IMG_2024 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/10814564365_cebc6c446c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2024"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814518266/" title="IMG_2025 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/10814518266_cc59879b30_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2025"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814578105/" title="IMG_2026 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7432/10814578105_9204821888_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2026"></a><br />
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Old and new, the simplicity of Japanese architecture.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814656004/" title="IMG_2027 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3722/10814656004_fc9e8bca27_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2027"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814597985/" title="IMG_2028 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2819/10814597985_64a0f3cd60_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2028"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814668744/" title="IMG_2029 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2861/10814668744_3c024a91c0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2029"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814627786/" title="IMG_2030 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/10814627786_0b59b817a1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2030"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814695534/" title="IMG_2031 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3798/10814695534_c504b17e01_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2031"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814709124/" title="IMG_2033 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/10814709124_3ca2631774_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2033"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814520596/" title="IMG_2062 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/10814520596_ed69166de8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2062"></a><br />
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Further upstairs was another shopping area called "Tokyo Pop Town". The shops here all sold pop-culture related goods.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814729054/" title="IMG_2035 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/10814729054_566a47417b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2035"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814670904/" title="IMG_2036 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/10814670904_790870fffb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2036"></a><br />
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What would be Japanese pop-culture without Hello Kitty?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814557145/" title="IMG_2038 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7347/10814557145_a4e0d3f763_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2038"></a><br />
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Some merchandise sold in the Tokyo Pop Town.<br />
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Goods from Studio Ghibli.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814551286/" title="IMG_2059 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/10814551286_974238ea25_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2059"></a><br />
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And Pringles socks!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814756373/" title="IMG_2060 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/10814756373_a996282c86_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2060"></a><br />
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Next was the "Cool Zone" which featured shops that sold electronics, stationary and other fashionable goods.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814582435/" title="IMG_2040 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/10814582435_76287d4013_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2040"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814780893/" title="IMG_2041 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/10814780893_46e3c7dd64_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2041"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814815973/" title="IMG_2045 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/10814815973_5b6695a8b6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2045"></a><br />
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At this point I was hungry and I noticed an interesting fast food restaurant called "R Burger" (now shuttered) which made "burgers" using the Chinese-style steamed buns as the buns for the burger. Also the "fries" where actually fried tofu. The taste was only so-so I thought.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814608406/" title="IMG_2042 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/10814608406_44b793c861_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2042"></a><br />
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Like other Japanese airports, the international terminal also has an extensive observation deck for viewing airplanes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814500796/" title="IMG_2046 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/10814500796_b8f7d39664_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2046"></a><br />
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The control tower and the domestic terminals in the background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814697084/" title="IMG_2047 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/10814697084_effd7f4eaa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2047"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814543195/" title="IMG_2050 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/10814543195_4c590e59fa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2050"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814615016/" title="IMG_2051 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/10814615016_1ccbb30842_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2051"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814576216/" title="IMG_2054 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/10814576216_9d4a257f44_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2054"></a><br />
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A green roof.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814590726/" title="IMG_2056 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7398/10814590726_b605058095_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2056"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814532786/" title="IMG_2057 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/10814532786_01cac3ebc8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2057"></a><br />
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View of the terminal from the upper floor.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814587045/" title="IMG_2063 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/10814587045_6cbba82d31_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2063"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814530675/" title="IMG_2064 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/10814530675_a83d61ca74_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2064"></a><br />
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Most of the departures during the daytime were to Asian destinations while most of the departures during the late night were bound for farther overseas destinations.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814549805/" title="IMG_2066 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5486/10814549805_8bc626b759_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2066"></a><br />
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Preparing to pass the security check.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814818383/" title="IMG_2068 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5486/10814818383_ab5d431785_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2068"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814617876/" title="IMG_2067 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/10814617876_dda8c66239_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2067"></a><br />
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At a gift shop inside the secure area. Tokyo Sky Tree souvenirs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814508866/" title="IMG_2069 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/10814508866_ff7ee3ba42_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2069"></a><br />
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Compared to other airports, the international terminal is actually quite small.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814847313/" title="IMG_2070 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/10814847313_1aefb6270a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2070"></a><br />
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Waiting to board our flight bound for Taipei Songshan airport.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814610196/" title="IMG_2072 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2872/10814610196_2ca1bc4be9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2072"></a><br />
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The boarding pass. This was my first time taking All Nippon Airways!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814871253/" title="IMG_2074 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/10814871253_63b39897d3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2074"></a><br />
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Taxiing to the runway.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814636304/" title="IMG_2076 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7460/10814636304_a2ff0878aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2076"></a><br />
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While we were preparing to depart, another plane arrived.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814700744/" title="IMG_2077 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/10814700744_ffdc26609f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2077"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814522276/" title="IMG_2078 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/10814522276_75ee141f72_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2078"></a><br />
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Tokyo Haneda airport from the air. For the bottom runway, part of it is actually a bridge-like structure suspended above the water!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814758343/" title="IMG_2083 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/10814758343_474cdcdaea_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2083"></a><br />
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Flying past Yokohama and the Yokohama Bay Bridge.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814702804/" title="IMG_2084 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3812/10814702804_e1a21470a7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2084"></a><br />
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The airline meal. I had a "Western-style" meal while my mom had a "Japanese-style" meal. The meal was actually quite good!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814519015/" title="IMG_2085 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/10814519015_6ee3f2b4e4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2085"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814592485/" title="IMG_2086 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/10814592485_3f81c90e05_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2086"></a><br />
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Finally, arrival at Taipei Songshan airport at 3:45 pm after departing Tokyo at 1:20 pm.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814537426/" title="IMG_2087 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/10814537426_9b208f3866_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2087"></a><br />
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The interesting thing about the Rakuten Travel hotel and flight package is that it included someone to pick us up from the airport and to bring us to our hotel. Sure enough as soon as we exited the baggage claim area, there was someone holding up my name waiting to greet me! So this is the <i>omotenashi</i> service that Japan is famous for?! (even though I booked it from an online travel website like Rakuten Travel)<br />
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After checking into our hotel, it was already dark so we headed to the Ximending area of Taipei. It was supposed to be one of the "hip areas" of Taipei where youth gather (according to guidebooks).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814521615/" title="IMG_2092 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/10814521615_38742c2e96_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2092"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814602076/" title="IMG_2093 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/10814602076_f0f656bdde_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2093"></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814534665/" title="IMG_2094 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/10814534665_ec19832173_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2094"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814809783/" title="IMG_2096 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/10814809783_5344de5e36_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2096"></a><br />
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In Taiwan, the land of night markets, even in the hip areas there are street food vendors!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814873613/" title="IMG_2097 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/10814873613_bc04fefd91_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2097"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814508055/" title="IMG_2099 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/10814508055_d10823397f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2099"></a><br />
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Just like Japan, in Taiwan the convenience store is ubiquitous, except in Taiwan, 7-Eleven seems to dominate.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10814630676/" title="IMG_2100 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3738/10814630676_8c1cc5be5f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2100"></a>Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-64464556104570104822013-11-09T20:25:00.001-08:002013-11-09T20:25:56.945-08:00The JR East Railway Museum in Omiya in March 2011During the week at the end of March when me and my mom were visiting the Tokyo and Yokohama area, on March 25, 2011, we took a day trip to the northern suburbs of Tokyo, to Omiya in Saitama Prefecture to visit the JR East Railway Museum.<br />
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Now normally visiting a railway museum would seem like a dull experience for people who are not railway fans but this museum seemed designed to cater to everyone of every demographic. <br />
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One of the reasons is that railways are to Japan how cars are to America. Railways are embedded in the ordinary life in Japan and also in the cultural psyche. If one lives in a large city in Japan, he would most likely take the train to go to work or to go shopping and if he was to do any domestic traveling, he would probably also take the train to get there.<br />
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In fact, one of the high speed Shinkansen rail lines in Kyushu was opened on March 12, 2011, one day after the 3/11 earthquake/tsunami disaster, and as a result, all the opening ceremonies were closed and an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNbJzCFgjnU">excellent heartwarming commercial</a> produced to advertise for the Kyushu Shinkansen was not aired on TV. (Its popularity exploded on the Internet and it ended up winning international awards for advertising)<br />
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The entrance of the railway museum, because of the ongoing power shortage caused when all nuclear reactors were ordered to be taken offline following the nuclear disaster, the opening hours were cut short to 10 am to 4 pm.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506428286/" title="IMG_1864 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5491/10506428286_c038c4d26b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1864"></a><br />
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Steam locomotive parked outside the museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506411395/" title="IMG_1865 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/10506411395_876632eb6f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1865"></a><br />
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Commemorating the Tohoku Shinkansen extension which extended the line to Shin-Aomori in the northern most part of Honshu.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506382946/" title="IMG_1867 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3810/10506382946_61363a88d8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1867"></a><br />
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Just like taking the trains in Tokyo, you do not receive any admission ticket upon paying the admission fee, instead you receive a reusable smart card to enter the museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506370765/" title="IMG_1868 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/10506370765_a8c65b919a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1868"></a><br />
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Upon entering the museum, you are greeted by the history of Japan's railways.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506385114/" title="IMG_1869 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/10506385114_5c3f3565e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1869"></a><br />
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A replica of the station and the historical trains used in the first railway line in Japan which opened in 1872 connecting Shinbashi in Tokyo to Yokohama.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506617933/" title="IMG_1872 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/10506617933_3c4d9576c3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1872"></a><br />
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One of the interesting things was a cut out and cross section of a steam locomotive. I never knew how complex this old technology was!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506531943/" title="IMG_1878 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7310/10506531943_e6962aa85c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1878"></a><br />
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You could even go underneath to see the bottom of the train.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506385175/" title="IMG_1881 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/10506385175_6e2631af76_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1881"></a><br />
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The Emperor's train, naturally it has to be behind glass so that commoners cannot touch it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506375585/" title="IMG_1882 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/10506375585_24fb76ea05_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1882"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506339006/" title="IMG_1884 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/10506339006_bfe21b9845_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1884"></a><br />
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One of the sleeper cars used in the past.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506351804/" title="IMG_1885 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/10506351804_8522b55afd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1885"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506316546/" title="IMG_1886 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/10506316546_646297277a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1886"></a><br />
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The train used for the Chuo Line in Tokyo in the past.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506546103/" title="IMG_1891 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/10506546103_457759c3cf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1891"></a><br />
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Everything is well preserved including the seats and the maps.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506465314/" title="IMG_1889 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/10506465314_36fd64e5c1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1889"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506383054/" title="IMG_1890 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/10506383054_58861c89b7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1890"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506483763/" title="IMG_1888 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/10506483763_834afda934_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1888"></a><br />
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The second generation Shinkansen high speed train.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506395025/" title="IMG_1899 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/10506395025_6d1f66dee0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1899"></a><br />
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Other trains that were used prior to the introduction of the Shinkansen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506639093/" title="IMG_1901 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/10506639093_eac7516105_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1901"></a><br />
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The central area of the museum showcased a train from every era I think.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506536443/" title="IMG_1908 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/10506536443_c06788702c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1908"></a><br />
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The view from the second floor.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506388235/" title="IMG_1911 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/10506388235_7218b858a9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1911"></a><br />
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The evolution of the Shinkansen high speed train cars. The bottom one is the first generation which was first operated in 1964.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506569263/" title="IMG_1913 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/10506569263_e936a80aae_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1913"></a><br />
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At the museum, there was even a mock railway station called "Teppaku Station" that included real ticketing machines and faregates as used in the real stations. I think this is used for educational purposes for kids?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506346126/" title="IMG_1914 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/10506346126_e3dc4cd859_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1914"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506332646/" title="IMG_1915 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/10506332646_6339cf32ba_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1915"></a><br />
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Outside, there was a mini-railway for kids. The most impressive thing was how much effort and detailed they put into building this "attraction".<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506349604/" title="IMG_1916 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/10506349604_25d81cc593_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1916"></a><br />
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Only a 15 minute wait that day and there weren't many people visiting that day. Can you imagine the lineup when the museum is packed on a holiday?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506508553/" title="IMG_1917 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/10506508553_1228839432_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1917"></a><br />
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The mini railway course.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506471804/" title="IMG_1919 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/10506471804_df7cb99a1e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1919"></a><br />
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The livery of each mini-train is based on a real train that is used in the Tokyo area, can you identify which train is operated on which real line?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506348845/" title="IMG_1921 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/10506348845_4257eb8041_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1921"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506321186/" title="IMG_1923 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/10506321186_af731087ef_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1923"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506331004/" title="IMG_1924 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/10506331004_574f36fb52_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1924"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506621293/" title="IMG_1928 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/10506621293_32064ed2d5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1928"></a><br />
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A view of the railway museum building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506446095/" title="IMG_1926 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/10506446095_79cd45c19f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1926"></a><br />
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You can also buy "eki-ben" (駅弁), which are lunch bento boxes only sold in certain lines in Japan. Here you can buy some "exclusive" bento boxes that are not normally sold in Tokyo. The eki-ben are so popular that periodically, a department store will have an "eki-ben fair" where people can buy eki-bens that are usually only sold in certain railway lines all over Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506399445/" title="IMG_1929 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/10506399445_de6a9604de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1929"></a><br />
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Where to eat an eki-ben after you have purchased it? Of course, inside a train!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506300806/" title="IMG_1931 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/10506300806_c62c5b2585_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1931"></a><br />
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Back in the museum, there were a number of full sized train simulators with the real controls where you can try out for free. These were really popular with the kids.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506293096/" title="IMG_1932 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/10506293096_e82e77cb00_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1932"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506419155/" title="IMG_1935 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/10506419155_9b1abd3398_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1935"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506425174/" title="IMG_1936 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3673/10506425174_027e500372_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1936"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506372366/" title="IMG_1938 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/10506372366_acbe0829d5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1938"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506359956/" title="IMG_1939 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/10506359956_44d2bf2cf3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1939"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506476034/" title="IMG_1940 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/10506476034_b59a0b4e16_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1940"></a><br />
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A view of the entrance and exit area with an actual train passing through outside.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506459884/" title="IMG_1941 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7339/10506459884_cb65c6816b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1941"></a><br />
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The last section of the museum was devoted entirely to the Tokaido Shinkansen, the world's first high speed rail line which opened in 1964.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506421865/" title="IMG_1942 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/10506421865_74eb072f48_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1942"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506607883/" title="IMG_1943 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/10506607883_d3cb90aa03_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1943"></a><br />
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News articles, and brochures produced at the time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506369115/" title="IMG_1945 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/10506369115_5783693ae3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1945"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506380854/" title="IMG_1946 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/10506380854_5243c22a9b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1946"></a><br />
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The control system.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506338334/" title="IMG_1949 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7364/10506338334_ae91018115_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1949"></a><br />
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The inside of the actual train car that was used in 1964. The design was quite utilitarian, 3 + 2 seating to pack as many people as possible. Not much as changed on the train cars used in the Tokaido Shinkansen now except for the updated utilitarian design.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506405714/" title="IMG_1952 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3790/10506405714_dbd729a6f6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1952"></a><br />
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Explanation on why the Shinkansen stops in a station called Shin-Osaka in the middle of nowhere instead of at Osaka station in the centre of the city.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506552683/" title="IMG_1953 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5521/10506552683_21899ac88b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1953"></a><br />
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Back when Japan was still a developing country, the World Bank loaned money to build the Shinkansen. Now Japan is trying to export its Shinkansen technology to developing countries by giving out development aid loans...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506342136/" title="IMG_1954 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/10506342136_1e991672e2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1954"></a><br />
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The 0-series train, the first high speed train in the world.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506353554/" title="IMG_1955 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/10506353554_41922115b2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1955"></a><br />
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The evolution of the railway company logo. From the Japan National Railways era to the current privatized Japan Railways (JR) era.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506344174/" title="IMG_1956 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/10506344174_a661069142_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1956"></a><br />
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A model of the original Tokyo station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506286265/" title="IMG_1958 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/10506286265_4fee0fa518_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1958"></a><br />
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1987, the year Japan National Railways ceased to exist and Japan Railways started operations.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506363034/" title="IMG_1961 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/10506363034_5ea1cbf92a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1961"></a><br />
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Another view of the cavernous museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506390324/" title="IMG_1960 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/10506390324_71130b5015_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1960"></a><br />
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One of the most impressive things was the model railway diorama they had. I think every hour or so, there was a 15 minute "show" where they would run the trains and turn on and off the lights to simulate day and night.<br />
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The railway model workshop. This must be a dream job for some people?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506516623/" title="IMG_1963 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/10506516623_9d52aac14e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1963"></a><br />
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The gigantic diorama.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506298596/" title="IMG_1964 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/10506298596_7d8fefa6d8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1964"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506292235/" title="IMG_1965 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/10506292235_5d9db2533f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1965"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506439895/" title="IMG_1966 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/10506439895_2cde5ce093_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1966"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506427365/" title="IMG_1967 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/10506427365_323a2280ba_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1967"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506610773/" title="IMG_1968 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/10506610773_384f8d18de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1968"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506511463/" title="IMG_1970 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/10506511463_28c32385a6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1970"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506297475/" title="IMG_1971 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/10506297475_8519789621_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1971"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506314914/" title="IMG_1972 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/10506314914_f562d95a5c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1972"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506596673/" title="IMG_1976 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/10506596673_2d88e10355_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1976"></a><br />
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Stained glass window depicting railways.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506583823/" title="IMG_1977 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/10506583823_b508e4d575_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1977"></a><br />
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View of the mini-railway course.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506613623/" title="IMG_1982 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7447/10506613623_6b9bb5bd69_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1982"></a><br />
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On the second floor, there was a viewing area where you could watch high speed Shinkansen trains passing through on their way up north.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506392624/" title="IMG_1978 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/10506392624_8a1ce2391d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1978"></a><br />
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Unfortunately, my camera was not ready when it passed through.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10506418094/" title="IMG_1983 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5512/10506418094_4e9d133b68_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1983"></a><br />
Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-66133848284698141832013-10-25T21:24:00.000-07:002013-10-25T21:24:42.333-07:00Tokyo and Yokohama During the 3/11 DisasterI visited Tokyo and Yokohama from the March 23 to March 27, 2011 when my mother came to visit me in Japan during the spring of 2011. This is a continuation of our trip that started in <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/10/kansai-trip-2011-march-11-disaster.html">Osaka</a> on March 10, 2011, one day before the biggest disaster to hit Japan in recent memory occurred. After visiting the Kansai region, we went to <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/05/okinawa-naha.html">Okinawa</a> and then flew back to Fukuoka, stopping at <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/05/nagasaki-birthplace-of-champon.html">Nagasaki</a> for a day before spending a couple of days in Hiroshima. Afterwards we took a night bus (never again) to Tokyo on March 23, 2011.<br />
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At this time, it was my first time back in Tokyo after I had left in 2006 when I was as an exchange student at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.<br />
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Because the Tokyo area was moderately affected by the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster (the 3/11 disaster), many foreigners living in Tokyo at the time were hysterically leaving for home via their embassies or for "safer" areas like the Kansai area or even places like Hong Kong because paranoia over radiation concerns. Instead because we had already booked and planned everything, we decided that it was safe to visit and it was indeed safe during our time there. In addition, there were less crowds!<br />
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The only odd thing that happened was that due to all the nuclear reactors being in shutdown mode as a precautionary measure, there were fears of a power shortage so in order to conserve energy, the train operators decided not to turn on any of the lights inside the trains during the overground sections. It felt weird to be riding the JR Yamanote Line in the dark with only sunlight coming through the windows.<br />
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The Nakamise-dori in front of the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353371043/" title="IMG_1997 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/10353371043_f121b2a6aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1997"></a><br />
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After arriving in the morning on March 23, 2011 in Shinjuku via an overnight bus(*) from Hiroshima we checked into our hotel and I decided to show my mom the area where I lived when I was an exchange student at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies way back in 2005-06.<br />
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(*) <i>For tall people, like myself, overnight buses are a nightmare because the seats are designed for the average Japanese body, who are not so tall, so it feels like sitting in economy class in an airplane, except that the ride is very bumpy and you cannot get up. Another thing about overnight buses is the standard practice among bus operators in Japan to turn off all the lights and to bring down the black curtains on the windows to try to force passengers to sleep. In this case, even if you cannot sleep, you cannot do other things like read a book because it is so dark and you do not want to disturb other passengers.<br />
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Another interesting thing on the overnight buses that I noticed were the salarymen who were forced to take the overnight bus for transportation, in this case, they would sleep on the seat with their suits on, or they would hang their jacket and sleep with their dress shirt/pants on! I don't know how they can just continue to go to work after such a rough night of sleep?</i><br />
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The dormitory that I stayed in during my student exchange days had been turned into a police dormitory because the university opened new dormitories for foreign students on the suburban campus. It is too bad that future foreign students to Tokyo University of Foreign Studies could not experience life in the heart of the old city.<br />
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Unauthorized persons need not enter!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353271455/" title="IMG_1799 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/10353271455_646a1ceb00_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1799"></a><br />
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After walking around the area we took the Toden (one of Tokyo's last streetcar lines) to the Waseda University campus and explored a bit over there. One of the things we noticed was that almost all the passengers of the Toden were elderly people...<br />
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The next day on March 24, 2011, we went to Yokohama to visit the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, a ramen "food theme park". This was the second time being here since <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2005/11/going-to-shin-yokohama-ramen-museum.html">my first visit back in 2006</a>. Other than a new rotation of ramen shops, things mostly stayed the same. You still had a pay an admission fee to enter the museum and then you still had to pay to order the ramen from the shops. Therefore, a bowl of ramen here can get pretty pricey.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353301905/" title="IMG_1836 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5549/10353301905_0e31b6ab57_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1836"></a><br />
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All the ramen shops were downstairs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353412523/" title="IMG_1813 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/10353412523_f408cc688e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1813"></a><br />
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The setting of the museum is the "good old days" of early Showa Tokyo (1950s and 60s).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353307686/" title="IMG_1811 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/10353307686_3af469abab_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1811"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353236065/" title="IMG_1806 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/10353236065_56c8180616_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1806"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353274035/" title="IMG_1805 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/10353274035_eec7bf6280_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1805"></a><br />
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The shoyu-ramen that we ordered.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353166915/" title="IMG_1804 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/10353166915_06f849fc58_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1804"></a><br />
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After eating we went back upstairs to explore the massive gift shop which included information and artifacts related to ramen.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353301756/" title="IMG_1815 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/10353301756_829ae1f50b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1815"></a><br />
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The different styles of ramen all over Japan. According to this, there are 4 main styles of ramen in Japan. The Sapporo (札幌) style was started in 1922 and uses a miso-based soup. The Tokyo (東京) style was started in 1910 and uses a shoyu-based (soy sauce) soup. The Kitakata (喜多方) style uses the Kitakata shoyu-based (soy sauce) soup and was started in 1925. The last style is the Kyushu (九州) style was started in 1937 and uses a tonkotsu-based (pork bone broth) soup.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353217335/" title="IMG_1817 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/10353217335_2d31d52ebe_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1817"></a><br />
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Examples of all the different variations of ramen that has been invented since ramen was popularized in Japan. According to this display, there are 28 different types of ramen!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353189186/" title="IMG_1818 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/10353189186_151b81c79c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1818"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353407823/" title="IMG_1820 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/10353407823_5c4846ba3b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1820"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353373473/" title="IMG_1821 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/10353373473_eee3aaf821_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1821"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353257214/" title="IMG_1823 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/10353257214_06dabd9347_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1823"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353212834/" title="IMG_1824 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/10353212834_76fa0bb610_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1824"></a><br />
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People in Japan love to buy food souvenirs and here you can buy pre-made ramen and soup from all your favourite ramen shops to eat at home.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353289626/" title="IMG_1826 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/10353289626_b3d6cc054f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1826"></a><br />
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Ramen goods from the Kanto region, the Hokkaido region, and Kyushu region...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353250076/" title="IMG_1827 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/10353250076_b43a047f59_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1827"></a><br />
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Fresh ramen souvenirs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353203465/" title="IMG_1828 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/10353203465_e6daca95fe_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1828"></a><br />
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Here you can buy ramen bowls for home use.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353346853/" title="IMG_1829 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7447/10353346853_5792d8cbaf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1829"></a><br />
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Here you could personalize your ramen souvenir by picking out the type of noodles, soup and etc.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353253464/" title="IMG_1830 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/10353253464_5435b38496_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1830"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353253464/" title="IMG_1830 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/10353253464_5435b38496_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1830"></a><br />
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You could even personalize the packaging by sticking your face to the package!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353279284/" title="IMG_1833 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/10353279284_a65eef9f17_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1833"></a><br />
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I am assuming that this is the mascot for the ramen museum?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353241615/" title="IMG_1834 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/10353241615_e715f211d4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1834"></a><br />
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After finishing our ramen, we went to visit the Yokohama Chinatown. It seems that now the Chinatown has become synonymous with Yokohama?<br />
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The massive Shin-Yokohama station building on our way back to the central area of Yokohama.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353268854/" title="IMG_1837 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7421/10353268854_c610942beb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1837"></a><br />
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But before going to Chinatown, we walked along the waterfront to see the Yokohama skyline. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353201186/" title="IMG_1842 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7436/10353201186_3e25d870de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1842"></a><br />
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Yokohama Chinatown, an idealized version of a Chinatown without the "distinct smell" of other Chinatowns elsewhere in the world.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353223804/" title="IMG_1845 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/10353223804_348d63e1d6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1845"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353294864/" title="IMG_1847 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3810/10353294864_9d2141d82a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1847"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353392793/" title="IMG_1849 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/10353392793_3115927527_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1849"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353264916/" title="IMG_1851 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/10353264916_eaf34494bf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1851"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353401503/" title="IMG_1852 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/10353401503_2807d7f1d4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1852"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353293986/" title="IMG_1854 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/10353293986_81f12f060d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1854"></a><br />
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Fortune teller stands. You don't really see these in other Chinatowns elsewhere.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353433443/" title="IMG_1855 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/10353433443_8490e80c81_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1855"></a><br />
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Chinese temple.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353171415/" title="IMG_1857 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/10353171415_4938ee8408_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1857"></a><br />
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Apparently this restaurant was visited by Chinese President Jiang Zemin when he came here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353241766/" title="IMG_1859 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/10353241766_46ed296d74_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1859"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353278966/" title="IMG_1858 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/10353278966_ee7962ee2c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1858"></a><br />
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By this time it was getting dark and we noticed this shop that had multiple locations bragging about how its chefs where "world champions in Chinese cooking" and their "World's No. 1 steamed buns" so we tried one of their things by ordering the pan-fried bao/mantou (生煎包/生煎饅頭). <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353286746/" title="IMG_1861 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/10353286746_f39e084aa1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1861"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353203466/" title="IMG_1863 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/10353203466_7e44ed5139_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1863"></a><br />
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It was pretty good although I don't know if it qualified as "the best".<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353182655/" title="IMG_1860 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/10353182655_501514714c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1860"></a><br />
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The neon lights of Yokohama Chinatown at night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353252466/" title="IMG_1862 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/10353252466_7610ab7bbf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1862"></a><br />
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The next day on March 25, 2011, we visited the Railway Museum near Omiya in Saitama but because there are too many pictures, it will be covered in the next post.<br />
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On March 26, 2011, we went to the Ueno and Asakusa area of Tokyo.<br />
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First we went to the Ameyoko market near Ueno, one of the rare open air markets which sells everything from candy to dried goods to seafood.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353415553/" title="IMG_1985 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2814/10353415553_290b1ce3a5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1985"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353301344/" title="IMG_1987 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3676/10353301344_672a2d22b6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1987"></a><br />
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Next we went to Asakusa.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353266434/" title="IMG_1988 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7349/10353266434_520d1fea80_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1988"></a><br />
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The Tokyo Sky Tree tower under construction in 2011.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353221284/" title="IMG_1989 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/10353221284_3cfba26b6c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1989"></a><br />
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At Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353228155/" title="IMG_1992 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/10353228155_5c7d37966f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1992"></a><br />
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There were very few tourists here despite this temple being a major tourist attraction because of the effects of the 3/11 disaster.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353199346/" title="IMG_1993 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/10353199346_b2870d931d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1993"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353264155/" title="IMG_1995 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2870/10353264155_cfd3952616_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1995"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353397243/" title="IMG_1996 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/10353397243_1477d7797b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1996"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353371043/" title="IMG_1997 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/10353371043_f121b2a6aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1997"></a><br />
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For some reason, the "Denny's" sign seems to stand out in this picture.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353289284/" title="IMG_1998 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/10353289284_15e446eb44_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1998"></a><br />
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In front of the then under construction Tokyo Sky Tree and the Asahi Beer building.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353259244/" title="IMG_2003 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/10353259244_7bf13aaf5d_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_2003"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353297024/" title="IMG_2002 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3714/10353297024_1381c33659_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_2002"></a><br />
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I think this is the first underground shopping arcade ever built in Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353183574/" title="IMG_2005 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/10353183574_b351eab3b9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2005"></a><br />
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After finishing our visit of Asakusa, we went to Ginza to walk around.<br />
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I couldn't help but notice the popularity of the German layered cake called the <i>Baumkuchen</i> (バウムクーヘン) that is prominently displayed at the department store windows.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353389973/" title="IMG_2008 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7328/10353389973_3f19ab944d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2008"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353167344/" title="IMG_2009 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/10353167344_a1e015f032_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2009"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353255555/" title="IMG_2010 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/10353255555_b27f4f1b7c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2010"></a><br />
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All the different flavours of Kit-Kat sold by Nestle in Japan at a souvenir shop in Tokyo station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353179926/" title="IMG_2012 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/10353179926_2c6276f9cc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2012"></a><br />
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Includes such weird flavours as miso.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353173205/" title="IMG_0025 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/10353173205_005273b234_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0025"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353277414/" title="IMG_0026 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/10353277414_3569ded54c_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0026"></a><br />
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And the cheese flavour which I bought. (It wasn't good...)<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353421213/" title="IMG_0027 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/10353421213_c3ef5d7bc2_o.jpg" width="540" height="720" alt="IMG_0027"></a><br />
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On March 27, 2011, we walked around the the Roppongi (六本木) and Azabu-jūban (麻布十番) area because I wanted to show my mom where most of the expatriates, mostly from Western countries live.<br />
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But first we went to eat lunch at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Chef">Iron Chef</a> Chinese (from the TV show), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Kenichi">Chen Kenichi's</a> (陳 建一) main restaurant in Akasaka.<br />
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Passing the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery on the way to the restaurant.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353284236/" title="IMG_2013 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/10353284236_b18d0352dc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2013"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353247556/" title="IMG_2014 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/10353247556_fca3674a02_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2014"></a><br />
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His restaurant, unimaginatively called Akasaka Sisen Hanten (赤坂四川飯店) was really hard to find. It was located in an office building in the heart of the central government district. Maybe he does a lot of business among politicians?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353344653/" title="IMG_2016 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3830/10353344653_4a38892cd1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2016"></a><br />
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His famous ma-po tofu (麻婆豆腐) dish which cost around 2000 yen (US$20.00) and unlike most restaurants which charge for bowls of extra rice, if you ordered ma-po tofu, you could eat as much rice as you wanted! Because it was so hot and spicy, I think I ate around 3-4 bowls of rice. <br />
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I observed other Japanese diners and they did not eat the ma-po tofu with any rice, maybe this is the Japanese style of eating ma-po tofu?<br />
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Despite being a high-end Chinese restaurant, the price was quite reasonable for the amount of food you got. In addition, we also ordered a dish of stir-fried noodles.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10353205274/" title="IMG_2015 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3738/10353205274_c457e9be81_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_2015"></a><br />
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This ended our the Tokyo section of our trip (which went as planned without any problems despite the fears of radiation and etc.) as on the next day, on March 28, 2013, we headed to Taipei.<br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-73692162135321680542013-10-13T22:06:00.000-07:002013-10-13T22:06:00.876-07:00Kansai Trip During the 2011 3/11 DisasterMore than two years have passed since the devastating earthquake and tsunami disaster (3/11 Disaster) that hit the Tohoku area in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011 and during that time, I was an international student studying in graduate school in Hiroshima on the opposite side of where the disaster hit in Japan. While going through my files, I discovered some photos I had not yet posted and those were the ones taken while I was traveling in the Kansai region during that time.<br />
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In the beginning of 2011, my mom made travel plans to visit me during the Japanese university academic calendar spring vacation (from February to the end of March) and we started off by visiting the Kansai (Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto) region.<br />
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So what was it like to be in Japan during the 3/11 Disaster in the Kansai region in western Japan? Surprisingly normal.<br />
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The Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社) that we visited in Kyoto on March 12, 2011.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231944895/" title="IMG_1525 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2864/10231944895_ab9a852cf8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1525"></a><br />
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Location of the 3/11 disaster area, the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant (blue marker), in relation to the rest of Japan.<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e8ac322166758f8db&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.603719,136.208496&spn=10.711447,17.556152&z=6&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e8ac322166758f8db&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.603719,136.208496&spn=10.711447,17.556152&z=6&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">2011-03 Kansai Trip During the 2011 3/11 Disaster</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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I started the trip on March 10, 2011 by taking a bus from the <i>inaka</i> (rural area) of Hiroshima where my university (Hiroshima University) was located to Osaka to meet my mom who was flying in. Since there was no direct flight from Vancouver, Canada to Osaka, she had to transfer at Narita Airport and to board another flight to Itami Airport in Osaka. The flight was scheduled to arrive at night and since I had arrived in Osaka at around 12:00 pm, I decided to do a bit of exploring before picking up my mom at Itami Airport.<br />
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I went to the Namba area of Osaka and explored Namba Parks which I had read about in some architecture and design magazines. Although Namba Parks is just a office and commercial building, what sets it apart from other similar buildings is the incorporation of a sloping urban park on the roof of the building and built to resemble a natural canyon.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231998064/" title="IMG_1486 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/10231998064_34485e63e0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1486"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231947066/" title="IMG_1487 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/10231947066_e20e2c06a2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1487"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231862974/" title="IMG_1488 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8395/10231862974_b7e568fc49_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1488"></a><br />
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At the top level of Namba Parks. The giant building in front is the Swissotel at the Nankai Railway Namba terminal.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231876074/" title="IMG_1489 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/10231876074_5d4509732b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1489"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231976105/" title="IMG_1491 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/10231976105_a2a1ffc77b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1491"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231903044/" title="IMG_1492 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7299/10231903044_440d811e76_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1492"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232010695/" title="IMG_1493 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3680/10232010695_075a14c07b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1493"></a><br />
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Since I had a lot of time before my mom's flight arrived, next I walked to the Umeda Sky Building from Umeda station. I had gone to the top during my first visit to Japan way back in 2004 and this time I just walked around the bottom. I remember it being very windy on that day!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232061685/" title="IMG_1495 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/10232061685_85c3b0ec67_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1495"></a><br />
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By this time, it was time to head to the Itami Airport or more formally known as Osaka International Airport. Before Kansai International Airport (which is located on an artificial island far away from Osaka) opened in 1994, this was the main international airport to Osaka. Now it just handles domestic flights. Compared to Kansai airport, Itami airport is very close to the centre of Osaka but because of all the transfers between monorail and train, the fare turns out to be quite expensive.<br />
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The nice thing about Japan's airports is that almost every airport has a public observation deck.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231987164/" title="IMG_1496 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/10231987164_5f41d8aa17_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1496"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231856274/" title="IMG_1498 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/10231856274_30d0b0f990_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1498"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232047383/" title="IMG_1499 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/10232047383_c11a188cde_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1499"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232026235/" title="IMG_1500 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7420/10232026235_cb779bebec_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1500"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231974064/" title="IMG_1502 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/10231974064_e7a3b15e2c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1502"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232093666/" title="IMG_1503 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8545/10232093666_d1f6d17e8e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1503"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231866424/" title="IMG_1505 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3754/10231866424_93cb1901e3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1505"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231986365/" title="IMG_1507 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/10231986365_6013262f6d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1507"></a><br />
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The arrival hall at Itami airport, old yet well maintained.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232008046/" title="IMG_1508 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/10232008046_e64da0506d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1508"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231936364/" title="IMG_1509 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7394/10231936364_d9a9908e5f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1509"></a><br />
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I did not know that my mom had brought two heavy suitcases (most of it was filled with foodstuffs for me ^-^) so it was a challenge to carry the suitcases to our hotel in the Namba area of Osaka that was not located near a major train station.<br />
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On the next day on March 11, 2011, we went around exploring Osaka, it felt like any ordinary day...<br />
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Since we were in Osaka, we wanted to try some of the food specialities of Osaka. One of the things famous in the Shinsekai area (新世界) area of Osaka is the kushi-katsu (串カツ) which are Japanese-style deep fried kebabs. I had previously visited the area by myself a couple of months earlier in the <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2012/07/osaka-urban-walks.html">fall of 2010</a> but did not try any kushi-katsu because I was traveling by myself and eating kushi-katsu by yourself is just weird. <br />
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Therefore we had some kushi-katsu for lunch.<br />
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On the tables of every kushi-katsu restaurant, there were metal tins of containing some kind of sweet sauce that you were supposed to dip the kushi-katsu in before eating. In addition, to your order of skewers, they also gave you a plate of raw cabbage for you to eat with the fried skewers. The below photo, not taken by me, shows a typical kushi-katsu restaurant.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10257705754/" title="kushikatsu by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/10257705754_ff9fbdab42_c.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="kushikatsu"></a><br />
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Also you were supposed to dip the raw cabbage with the sauce to eat. We did not finish our plate of raw cabbage.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10257889144/" title="cabbage by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/10257889144_fbd161ba57_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="cabbage"></a><br />
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I also have to note that at this particular kushi-katsu restaurant that we went to, I experienced the worst service in a restaurant in Japan to date. It took them more than 30 minutes to fry the skewers we ordered and when we inquired why nothing was coming, it turned out they forgot to write down our order!<br />
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My mom in front of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ts%C5%ABtenkaku">Tsutenkaku Tower</a>. The symbol of the Shinsekai area of Osaka.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232022715/" title="IMG_1510 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/10232022715_f6d49f265f_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1510"></a><br />
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Next we went to the Shinsaibashi area to do some shopping and it was at the Uniqlo flagship store in Osaka that I learned of the 3/11 earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in the Tohoku region of Japan.<br />
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While my mom was shopping for clothes in the store, suddenly, on my iPhone, I started to get emails and messages non-stop asking if I was alright. Since earthquakes in Japan are a common occurrence, I didn't think this earthquake was a big deal at the time and did not understand the magnitude of the disaster until later...<br />
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For the rest of the day in Osaka, things went on normally as usual, and that night, we had Osaka-style <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki">okonomiyaki</a> (Japanese-style pancakes) at a well known restaurant called Chibo (千房). There are two major styles of okonomiyaki in Japan, the Osaka-style and Hiroshima-style, and personally, I prefer the Osaka-style more. The Hiroshima-style usually comes with noodles on the bottom which I find too filling when combined with all the batter used to make the okonomiyaki.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10258238495/" title="okonomiyaki by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/10258238495_8f12418043_c.jpg" width="800" height="531" alt="okonomiyaki"></a><br />
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On the next day on March 12, 2011, we visited Kyoto and the first place we visited was the Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社) in southern Kyoto which is famous for its thousands of torii gates.<br />
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As you can see, it was just another quiet day in Kyoto.<br />
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From the train station leading to the shrine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232126073/" title="IMG_1511 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5330/10232126073_896017475f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1511"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232057905/" title="IMG_1512 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3683/10232057905_78b74ce6d9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1512"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232164393/" title="IMG_1513 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8271/10232164393_8c6ed229da_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1513"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232037843/" title="IMG_1515 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/10232037843_32b8c6ceed_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1515"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232065403/" title="IMG_1517 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/10232065403_9495f160d6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1517"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232103943/" title="IMG_1519 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/10232103943_3e24b224ab_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1519"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232039166/" title="IMG_1521 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/10232039166_220e2bf895_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1521"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232050245/" title="IMG_1522 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/10232050245_05ed9a8b2e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1522"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232071915/" title="IMG_1523 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7460/10232071915_a5ccdb8876_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1523"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231944895/" title="IMG_1525 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2864/10231944895_ab9a852cf8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1525"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232058023/" title="IMG_1527 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/10232058023_b6f9d17b2a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1527"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231996686/" title="IMG_1528 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/10231996686_435380a10e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1528"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232012286/" title="IMG_1529 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3714/10232012286_b58d4c141c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1529"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232130263/" title="IMG_1532 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2845/10232130263_d8f43984c1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1532"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232065545/" title="IMG_1533 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/10232065545_34227873c4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1533"></a><br />
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Afterwards, we visited the Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) in Kyoto, it was not packed but there were a lot of tourists and visitors on that day. By now, in total, I must have visited this temple 3-4 times.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231991164/" title="IMG_1534 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/10231991164_133ca3a5cc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1534"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231964515/" title="IMG_1537 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/10231964515_a3990ba8b1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1537"></a><br />
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The skyline of Kyoto from the temple.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231983275/" title="IMG_1538 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/10231983275_22cdb5d969_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1538"></a><br />
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After leaving the Kiyomizu Temple, we spotted some maiko (apprentice geisha), a rare sighting!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232085723/" title="IMG_1539 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/10232085723_05faec0b56_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1539"></a><br />
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The next day on March 13, 2011, we visited Kobe. One of the purposes of visiting Kobe was to eat its famous Kobe beef. We choose to eat it for lunch rather than dinner because it is cheaper at lunch. Although cheaper during lunchtime, 100 g or 150 g costed around 3000-4000 yen.<br />
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A blurry shot of our Kobe beef lunch using the ancient iPhone 3GS camera that I had at the time.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232174206/" title="IMG_0046 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5474/10232174206_82fd93553e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0046"></a><br />
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After lunch we explored the tourist areas of Kobe like the Chinatown and the port area.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10231921304/" title="IMG_1541 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/10231921304_aa1aa02667_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1541"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232079426/" title="IMG_1544 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/10232079426_220306f81b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1544"></a><br />
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We also tried a Kobe-style "Cream Cheese Cake" and it was actually really good. Although kind of pricey at around 2000 yen (US$20.00).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232122793/" title="IMG_1542 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8545/10232122793_762ac0b81b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1542"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10232137523/" title="IMG_1543 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8546/10232137523_75f66e2fa1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1543"></a><br />
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However the real purpose of coming and staying in Kobe was to board a flight to the next portion of our trip to Okinawa which I posted before <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/05/okinawa-naha.html">here</a>. The reason why we had to fly out of Okinawa was because the airline we took that had the cheapest tickets, Skymark Airlines, only flew out of Kobe airport for some reason.<br />
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All in all, despite what happened on the other side of Japan during this time, things were quite normal in the rest of Japan.<br />
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For those living in Japan at the time, what were you doing when the 3/11 disaster occurred?<br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-91989651301329185882013-10-06T19:43:00.000-07:002013-10-06T19:55:22.573-07:00Road Trip to Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県)In the summer of 2012 on August 15, my friend from Jamaica and I were discussing about places to do a one day road trip since he had just acquired a car and Japanese driver's license. (I had a Japanese driver's license but no car) <br />
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Originally we wanted to drive across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Seto_Bridge">Seto Ohashi Bridge</a> (瀬戸大橋) from Okayama (岡山) to the island of Shikoku (四国) but we wanted to see the scenery of the Inland Sea from the bridge and since the weather was not cooperating with us on the day we wanted to go (it was cloudy), we choose to instead drive to neighbouring Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県) from where we lived in Higashi-Hiroshima (東広島) in Hiroshima Prefecture (広島県).<br />
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It was hard to find tourist attractions worth visiting in Yamaguchi Prefecture, but after looking at some travel magazines at the local Tsutaya, a book and video rental store, we decided to visit Hagi city (萩) and then Yamaguchi city (山口市).<br />
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Yamaguchi city, the capital of Yamaguchi Prefecture, also known as "Kyoto of the West" in the tourism propaganda.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063698873/" title="IMG_4298 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/10063698873_56346586c5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4298"></a><br />
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It took about 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach Hagi on the Sea of Japan side of Japan from Higashi-Hiroshima via the expressways and since all expressways in Japan are tolled, the one way toll cost about 4100 yen (US$41.00). You don't realize how mountainous a country Japan is until you drive through Yamaguchi Prefecture!<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e7b990335bf7b63a8&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.270836,132.080383&spn=1.361823,2.194519&z=9&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e7b990335bf7b63a8&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.270836,132.080383&spn=1.361823,2.194519&z=9&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">2012-08-15 Yamaguchi Prefecture</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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One of the reasons why we choose to visit Hagi was because it was a well preserved former castle town and its Hagiyaki Pottery (萩焼) is one of the most famous pottery types in Japan.<br />
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When we arrived in Hagi, it was a pleasant surprise to find a lot of free parking at the suburban style stores built in the centre of the city. However, the presence of suburban style stores in the centre of the city kind of sucked the life out of the city. Another surprising thing we noticed was the absence of young people and the abundance of old people. You really have to travel to rural areas to see how much Japan is aging.<br />
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Even though we arrived by car, we had to go to the nearest railway station to find a tourist kiosk to find tourist brochures and information.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063651315/" title="IMG_4268 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7412/10063651315_8a893034bb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4268"></a><br />
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Model of Hagi Castle that is now long gone near the station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063624544/" title="IMG_4269 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5346/10063624544_8e85f03839_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4269"></a><br />
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The central area of Hagi, we couldn't help but notice how dead it was. In fact there was not even a single convenience store anywhere and this is a country where convenience stores are everywhere.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063646435/" title="IMG_4270 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5334/10063646435_663ce868e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4270"></a><br />
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The preserved former samurai district.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063742063/" title="IMG_4273 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/10063742063_c6f62111f4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4273"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063682366/" title="IMG_4274 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/10063682366_667caee60e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4274"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063679886/" title="IMG_4275 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/10063679886_b0eec7a5b0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4275"></a><br />
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In this area, there were a lot of preserved residences of leading figures involved in the Meiji Restoration. Because we were not so familiar with modern Japanese history, it wasn't really interesting to us.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063714286/" title="IMG_4277 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/10063714286_3f257633a9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4277"></a><br />
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The Kido Takayoshi residence, one of the influential statesmen of the Meiji Restoration.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063746933/" title="IMG_4271 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/10063746933_1a7700121a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4271"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063744713/" title="IMG_4272 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/10063744713_5f28859c63_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4272"></a><br />
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Statues of the leading figures of the Meiji Restoration in a park near the preserved area.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063734863/" title="IMG_4276 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/10063734863_4ac9d7a347_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4276"></a><br />
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An interesting "art" display, no idea what is was though.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063715773/" title="IMG_4279 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/10063715773_905111e6aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4279"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063708316/" title="IMG_4280 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/10063708316_436c6170c8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4280"></a><br />
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Next we headed to the ruins of Hagi Castle. The weather was perfect but it was really really hot that day!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063647216/" title="IMG_4282 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/10063647216_6c0665574a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4282"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063768913/" title="IMG_4283 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5443/10063768913_5dab18996a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4283"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063687603/" title="IMG_4286 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/10063687603_4f8a74a5af_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4286"></a><br />
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I guess this was the former moat.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063622485/" title="IMG_4284 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/10063622485_ac5a445896_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4284"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063606055/" title="IMG_4285 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/10063606055_68f93783bd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4285"></a><br />
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Parking lots and tourist facilities for the domestic group tours.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063626525/" title="IMG_4287 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/10063626525_265ee51688_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4287"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063657436/" title="IMG_4288 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/10063657436_b8ca2a33a4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4288"></a><br />
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"Ruins of Hagi Castle". We didn't bother walking around the grounds because it was so hot and also because there was nothing much to see.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063693253/" title="IMG_4289 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/10063693253_81aaf19f08_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4289"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063665356/" title="IMG_4290 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/10063665356_c090d22074_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4290"></a><br />
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Near the castle ruins, there were many workshops that made the Hagiyaki Pottery.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063649316/" title="IMG_4291 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/10063649316_3c165e404b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4291"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063671505/" title="IMG_4292 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/10063671505_e0c0aa06ec_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4292"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063623795/" title="IMG_4293 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3676/10063623795_73bb272f19_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4293"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063584234/" title="IMG_4294 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/10063584234_34e50bbf87_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4294"></a><br />
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Afterwards, at mid-afternoon, we drove back south 1 hour to Yamaguchi city, the capital of Yamaguchi prefecture. In the tourist literature, it is called the "Kyoto of the West", but I don't think that description is accurate because although there are many historical buildings there, the city atmosphere did not feel like a traditional Japanese city.<br />
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The main attraction for Yamaguchi city is the Ruriko-ji Temple (瑠璃光寺) and surprisingly there was no entrance admission fee, unlike in Kyoto!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063674566/" title="IMG_4296 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7418/10063674566_66e3ccb06d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4296"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063698873/" title="IMG_4298 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/10063698873_56346586c5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4298"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063591744/" title="IMG_4302 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/10063591744_174f0b2a5f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4302"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063705966/" title="IMG_4306 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3679/10063705966_20f4ee0622_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4306"></a><br />
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After that, we drove to the city centre since the Ruriko-ji Temple was not located in the city centre and parked the car in a pachinko parlour beside the Yamaguchi railway station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063657655/" title="IMG_4307 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/10063657655_bb87e00090_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4307"></a><br />
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The city centre of Yamaguchi was quite quiet and there was a lot of greenery which is something you don't see much in other Japanese cities.<br />
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The main shopping arcade.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063630644/" title="IMG_4308 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/10063630644_94d28921f4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4308"></a><br />
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One of the other attractions of Yamaguchi was the Xavier Memorial Church which commemorates Francis Xavier's visit Yamaguchi city.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10063699156/" title="IMG_4309 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/10063699156_1426e93c78_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_4309"></a> <br />
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We ate dinner at Yamaguchi city before we left. When we inquired about what kind of dish Yamaguchi city was famous for, we were told that something called Bari-soba (バリそば) was a local special. Bari-soba is like a Japanized hybrid Chinese dish with a sauce consisting of cabbage, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and squid put on top of pan-fried thick noodles. We were recommended to go to a restaurant called Shunraiken (春来軒) which invented this dish.<br />
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I was quite disappointed at this "local special" that I did not even take any pictures so the following photos are not mine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10130270643/" title="restaurant by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/10130270643_a1c26d7e7e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="restaurant"></a><br />
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The actual Bari-soba dish that we ordered for 2 persons. I usually have no problems finishing food but for this dish, I had trouble trying to finish it because it just wasn't tasty. The sauce was too watery and overwhelmed the noodles, it seemed like you were drinking the sauce like soup! Also the ingredients they used for the sauce was quite tasteless like the cabbage and squid.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/10130211066/" title="dish by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/10130211066_3bccf3d8fc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="dish"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-44413977869191385522013-09-23T22:33:00.000-07:002013-09-23T22:33:08.027-07:00Biking in Kyoto in JanuaryOn the 5th and last day of my trip to the Kansai area during the school winter vacations in 2012, on January 4, 2012, I decided to explore the "local areas of Kyoto" by renting a bicycle and biking around Kyoto. <br />
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I had been to Kyoto many times in the past and I always thought that it was the perfect city to explore by bicycle because it is mostly flat and the city streets are laid out in a grid-like pattern meaning that it would be hard to get lost unlike in other cities of Japan like Tokyo for example.<br />
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It started out with perfect weather, but as I would experience in later visits to Kyoto during the same month, the weather in Kyoto in January is really unpredictable...<br />
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My primary interest in biking in Kyoto was to explore the urban areas and local neighbourhoods and only by bike can you explore less touristy areas like this one. The Toji Temple (東寺) area south of Kyoto station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909785813/" title="IMG_3832 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/9909785813_1ac2f28975_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3832"></a><br />
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At the time, I did not know that there were smartphone apps which can use GPS to track your cycling path so I had to rely on my memory to reconstruct the route that I took. I think it is roughly accurate...<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e7008656257c06095&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.015798,135.760117&spn=0.084354,0.137157&z=13&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e7008656257c06095&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.015798,135.760117&spn=0.084354,0.137157&z=13&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">2012-01-04 Kyoto Biking</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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I rented by bike from the "<a href="http://www.kctp.net/en/">Kyoto Cycling Tour Project</a>" shop west of Kyoto station. The standard bike which I rented was a 3 speed bike and only cost 1000 yen (US$10.00) for the entire day and they did not even require a deposit! <br />
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Surprisingly, unlike most bikes sold in Japan, the bikes that they rented out were really high quality, especially the brakes, which had a firm grip even when the tires were wet. This would prove to be *extremely* useful later on in the day...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9910120835/" title="bike_shop by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/9910120835_d1bb614544_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="bike_shop"></a><br />
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I also bought a bike map of Kyoto that they produced for 100 yen (US$1.00).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909559455/" title="IMG_0945 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/9909559455_1cef0cb727_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0945"></a><br />
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After I got my bike, because I did not eat breakfast yet, I searched out a ramen restaurant nearby called the Honke Dai-ichi-asahi (本家 第一旭) which got high reviews. This is one of the few ramen restaurants which open in the early morning, in fact, they open from 5 am to 2 am! When I got there at around 9 am, there was no lineup but when I finished eating there was a long lineup.<br />
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This shop specialized in Kyoto-style ramen which uses a thick shoyu-based soup.<br />
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Kind of run-down looking, but this is what makes it authentic, right?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9910077275/" title="daiichiasahi by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/9910077275_50e175dcda_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="daiichiasahi"></a><br />
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What better way to start your day than with a big bowl of ramen topped with slices and slices of <i>chashu</i>?!<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909627516/" title="IMG_0253 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/9909627516_e2e274ee93_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0253"></a><br />
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Next I biked over to the south side of Kyoto station. To get over all the railway tracks, you have to cross a bridge and in the process you can see the ugly backside of Kyoto station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909631614/" title="IMG_3830 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/9909631614_1984335c3d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3830"></a><br />
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Without a specific destination in mind, I biked west and ended up at the Toji Temple (東寺).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909785813/" title="IMG_3832 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/9909785813_1ac2f28975_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3832"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909595096/" title="IMG_3833 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/9909595096_0bbdb05300_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3833"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909780493/" title="IMG_3835 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/9909780493_934d75d97d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3835"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909670874/" title="IMG_3837 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/9909670874_ff8e73278e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3837"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909704533/" title="IMG_3839 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/9909704533_86d59764b8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3839"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909550765/" title="IMG_3840 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/9909550765_0a416109e2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3840"></a><br />
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Next I headed north and arrived near the Nishi Honganji Temple (西本願寺). I didn't enter the temple, but the surrounding area was quite interesting.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909783303/" title="IMG_3842 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/9909783303_4342db6bc3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3842"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909591806/" title="IMG_3843 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/9909591806_c8455a4d4b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3843"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909757783/" title="IMG_3844 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/9909757783_7ccf59fef3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3844"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909614504/" title="IMG_3846 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/9909614504_7f548a014d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3846"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909606915/" title="IMG_3845 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/9909606915_1e6c1f2558_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3845"></a><br />
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Afterwards, I biked north towards the main commercial district, parked my bike and took a walk through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishiki_Market">Nishiki Market</a>, the main "wet market" of Kyoto.<br />
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The purpose was to find the tea shop called Kyoto Tsuruya Kakujuan (鶴屋鶴寿庵) whose speciality is the <i>keiran somen</i> (鶏卵素麺), "which resembles...yellow angel hair pasta but is actually a sweet made from egg yolks and sugar and pulled into a rope of fine strands. Like so much in Japan, it's beauty and delicacy in one delicious package." (<a href="http://www.cntraveler.com/food/2012/07/nishiki-market-guide-kyoto">Conde Nast Traveller</a>, 2012)<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909674494/" title="IMG_0257 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/9909674494_ebd4632f05_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0257"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909643064/" title="IMG_0300 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/9909643064_0c4d8a3deb_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0300"></a><br />
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I also bought one of their chilled bottle macha green tea to try out.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909652824/" title="IMG_0256 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9909652824_83af736427_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0256"></a><br />
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Next it was time for lunch, and I had an oyako-don (親子丼) which is a "rice bowl dish, in which chicken, egg, sliced scallion, and other ingredients are all simmered together in a sauce and then served on top of a large bowl of rice." (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyakodon">Wikipedia</a>, 2012)<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909578566/" title="IMG_0255 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/9909578566_25db981eb1_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0255"></a><br />
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While I was biking I saw this Corvette parked beside some traditional warehouse buildings. Not only are American cars rare in Japan, but American muscle cars are even rarer!<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909601315/" title="IMG_0254 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3774/9909601315_40f8be9c16_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0254"></a><br />
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Next, I made by way to the Kyoto Imperial Palace, which is located in the centre of Kyoto. Unfortunately there was nothing much to see as everything was behind the walls. I just rode through the palace grounds over the bumpy gravel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909582165/" title="IMG_3847 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/9909582165_3e4927996f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3847"></a><br />
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After crossing the Kamo River (鴨川), I went to the main campus of Kyoto University. The No. 2 ranked university in Japan, the top university is located in...where else...Tokyo.<br />
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By this time, the weather was turning bad. The blue skies had given way to thick grey clouds.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909619536/" title="IMG_3850 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/9909619536_2aba8431a9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3850"></a><br />
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The main square of Kyoto University. That tree is in the university's official logo.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909590005/" title="IMG_3851 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/9909590005_c1e1e91687_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3851"></a><br />
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Afterwards I continued biking north up to the Kitayama (北山) area and this is when it started to snow really hard at around 3 pm. So in the heavy snow, I biked back to the bicycle rental shop near Kyoto station and this took around 40+ minutes because of the poor visibility due to the snow and poor traction due to the wetness of the ground. Luckily the brakes on this bike were quite good as I had no problems stopping. (Biking in the rain or snow is kind of dangerous...)<br />
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After returning the bike, I wondered around Kyoto station and saw these incredible displays of <i>ikebana</i> or flower arrangement.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909568425/" title="IMG_3853 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/9909568425_fdbd55f5b4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3853"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909663124/" title="IMG_3854 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9909663124_1cc096d08f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3854"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909775053/" title="IMG_3855 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/9909775053_cb75715eb6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3855"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9909710913/" title="IMG_3856 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/9909710913_4fbc6def2a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3856"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-68507055809034829202013-08-29T23:01:00.000-07:002013-08-29T23:01:32.818-07:00The City of Uji (宇治) and Fushimi (伏見) in Kyoto PrefectureOn the 4th day of my trip to Kansai during the winter school vacations in 2012, on January 3, 2012, I went to the city of Uji (宇治) and Fushimi (伏見) which is just south of the city of Kyoto. <br />
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Kyoto is one of my favourite cities to visit in Japan because a lot of the nice traditional city atmosphere of "old Japan" still remains, unlike most other cities in Japan. Because I had basically visited most of the attractions in Kyoto at least once, I wanted to find another area near Kyoto that I had not been to before. After looking at some tourist guides, the city of Uji and Fushimi looked like an interesting place to visit.<br />
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In Uji, the main attraction is the Byodoin Temple (平等院) which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto".<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624018295/" title="IMG_3744 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/9624018295_6805e294a3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3744"></a><br />
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The location of Uji and Fushimi in relation to Kyoto. Using the JR trains, it takes about 30 minutes to get to Uji from Kyoto station. <br />
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After the relatively short train ride from Kyoto station, arrival at Uji station. Even the train station is built in a sort of "traditional style".<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627255098/" title="IMG_3740 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/9627255098_54f2470ff8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3740"></a><br />
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Feeling hungry, the first thing I did was to find something to eat. When traveling by yourself, the easiest and fastest thing to eat that is fresh and not fast food is ramen!<br />
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Afterwards, I noticed that there was a tea shop called Nakamura Tokichi (中村藤吉) and its main store was located in Uji. Apparently this shop is famous for the high quality green tea it sells and in the main store, in addition to the tea shop, they also had a cafe that sold dessert and sweets made from green tea. I decided to buy a take out version of its green tea maccha jelly for eating later.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623986999/" title="IMG_0244 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/9623986999_237146be64_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0244"></a><br />
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I later ate the green tea maccha jelly in my hotel room later that night.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624010727/" title="IMG_0250 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5449/9624010727_a288e9cc1e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0250"></a><br />
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After all that eating, I proceeded to the main tourist attraction in Uji, the Byodoin Temple. The temple complex was originally built in 998 and in 1053, the most famous building, the Phoenix Hall, was built. The Phoenix Hall is also featured on the back of a Japanese 10 yen coin.<br />
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Entry ticket to the Byodoin Temple.<br />
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The Phoenix Hall, visitors can't actually visit the actual building but can only see it from afar.<br />
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From other angles.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624002569/" title="IMG_3741 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3732/9624002569_318819a006_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3741"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627211292/" title="IMG_3746 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/9627211292_75b5c39f86_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3746"></a><br />
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Inside the Byodoin Temple, there was a Treasure House, a museum showing the Buddhist temple's most valuable artifacts. To me, the exhibition of the artifacts was not very interesting but on the contrary, the building housing the artifacts was interesting because I thought it was like a modern Japanese interpretation of traditional Japanese architecture.<br />
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Leading to the Treasure House building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627213008/" title="IMG_3753 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/9627213008_78482e3c76_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3753"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627267352/" title="IMG_3758 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/9627267352_0925196b68_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3758"></a><br />
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The Treasure House building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624033667/" title="IMG_3754 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/9624033667_b7f2b84dff_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3754"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623999701/" title="IMG_3756 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9623999701_b1dc075bff_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3756"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627250240/" title="IMG_3759 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7421/9627250240_5bfdeaf9ee_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3759"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623994941/" title="IMG_3763 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/9623994941_f02ed54a92_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3763"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627264882/" title="IMG_3769 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/9627264882_a9a6bfb5b2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3769"></a><br />
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The temple complex's walls from the Treasure House building.<br />
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More views of the Phoenix Hall as I make my way out of the temple complex.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627234040/" title="IMG_3770 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9627234040_b20f0f9472_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3770"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624031389/" title="IMG_3772 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/9624031389_b88c14c18a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3772"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624014169/" title="IMG_3773 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/9624014169_589af89534_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3773"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623991201/" title="IMG_3774 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2809/9623991201_bf4bf380e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3774"></a><br />
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Interesting contraption to support the trees.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623972565/" title="IMG_3775 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9623972565_c7ece97908_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3775"></a><br />
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Exiting the temple complex.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624028719/" title="IMG_3776 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/9624028719_fdcde7d044_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3776"></a><br />
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The plaque that designates the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627248252/" title="IMG_3777 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/9627248252_f3716937b3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3777"></a><br />
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Next, I across the Uji River by foot to see what there was on the other side.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623988177/" title="IMG_3778 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9623988177_5e710f9e2d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3778"></a><br />
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Even though the Uji River looked calm from a distance, the river currents flowed really fast.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623992267/" title="IMG_3781 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/9623992267_9da2e67927_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3781"></a><br />
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View of the train crossing the Uji River.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624011955/" title="IMG_3784 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/9624011955_66e3a7eab5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3784"></a><br />
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After crossing the pedestrian bridge across the Uji River, the Uji Shrine was directly in front. Since it was January 3, there were still long lineups as people were still doing their New Year's shrine visits.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623990301/" title="IMG_3785 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/9623990301_1f86433f97_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3785"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623970021/" title="IMG_3786 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/9623970021_da7dbf662c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3786"></a><br />
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A lot of families with kids there.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627261304/" title="IMG_3787 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/9627261304_edd890911a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3787"></a><br />
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Because of the long lineups I didn't bother going inside to see.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627244132/" title="IMG_3788 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5480/9627244132_dbc09a19a6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3788"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627218942/" title="IMG_3789 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/9627218942_23cea74763_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3789"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627262548/" title="IMG_3790 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/9627262548_6b8e9536e4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3790"></a><br />
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Walking on my way to the nearest train station to go to my next destination, I noticed that some land was being cleared for new houses. What was interesting to me was how small, neat and tidy these little plots of land where for building houses.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627259166/" title="IMG_3798 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/9627259166_780e45b549_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3798"></a><br />
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How typical suburban Japanese housing really looks like. Rows and rows of small houses connected by alleyways without any greenery or trees.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624004247/" title="IMG_3799 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/9624004247_fa3c524a2e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3799"></a><br />
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My next destination was Fushimi, just north of Uji. I alighted from the train at Chushojima station (中書島駅) on the Keihan Uji Line. The Chushojima and Fushimi areas are major sake production sites in Japan.<br />
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Upon leaving the station, there were a lot of canals in the area which adds to the nice atmosphere. Unfortunately, since January 3 was still part of the station New Year's holiday for most Japanese businesses, a lot of stores and etc. were not open.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627224582/" title="IMG_3800 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/9627224582_7ce073f528_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3800"></a><br />
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This included the boats that ply the canal.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624025401/" title="IMG_3802 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/9624025401_bcc609bdef_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3802"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623982189/" title="IMG_3804 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/9623982189_13f34e1ed0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3804"></a><br />
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The original factory of famous sake producer, Gekkeikan (月桂冠). Normally you could tour the factory and get sake samples, but since this was the New Year's holidays, nothing was open.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624022049/" title="IMG_3806 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/9624022049_09b521e36e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3806"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627216770/" title="IMG_3808 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/9627216770_57f901944f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3808"></a><br />
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The corporate headquarters of Gekkeikan right across the street from its original factory.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624007993/" title="IMG_3810 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/9624007993_d803d50e7d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3810"></a><br />
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More canals around the town.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627201780/" title="IMG_3812 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/9627201780_fb1fecbb8f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3812"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624023377/" title="IMG_3813 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/9624023377_7b13de6619_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3813"></a><br />
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The Teradaya Inn (寺田屋). The inn favoured by 19th century historical figure Sakamoto Ryoma, who helped to end Shogunate rule and to bring power back to the emperor. One prominent event was an assassination attempt on him at this inn in 1866. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623979523/" title="IMG_3815 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7457/9623979523_939be5d930_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3815"></a><br />
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Walking through the traditional looking streets to the train station to go back to Kyoto.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627238422/" title="IMG_3814 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/9627238422_ea4d821d22_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3814"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624035691/" title="IMG_3816 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/9624035691_e96c0259ac_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3816"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627236808/" title="IMG_3818 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/9627236808_ee932bea97_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3818"></a><br />
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Return back to modern Japan at the Fushimi-momoyama station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627256116/" title="IMG_3820 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/9627256116_6897d4a32f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3820"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624005311/" title="IMG_3821 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/9624005311_c45a713651_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3821"></a><br />
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Because it was still early when I got back to Kyoto, I decided to see the Sanjusangendo Temple (三十三間堂) which is supposed to be famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. However, once I got there, I found that there was an entrance fee and by this time, I was "templed out", and did not feel it was necessary for me to visit another temple so I just walked around the perimeter and left.<br />
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It is a tragedy that in an attempt to please tourists, mainly coming from tour buses, all sides surrounding the temple had been paved over into a parking lot. Seems that this is no different than treating a historical temple like a suburban shopping centre!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623980445/" title="IMG_3822 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/9623980445_5b44021f37_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3822"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9623965253/" title="IMG_3823 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/9623965253_d22cdfb82d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3823"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627254162/" title="IMG_3824 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/9627254162_0b3c00b399_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3824"></a> <br />
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Afterwards I walked by the Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社) on my way to the Kawaramachi main shopping area of Kyoto.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624034659/" title="IMG_3827 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9624034659_46a984d461_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3827"></a><br />
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Back in my hotel, the Kintetsu Hotel Kyoto Station, one of the newest and most convenient hotels in Kyoto. It is located inside Kyoto station. Because of the New Year's holiday and because of the large amount of hotel rooms available all over Japan in general, by booking through Japanese online websites like Rakuten Travel (this is the key), it is possible to stay at a nicer hotel at a fraction of the cost! (like Toyoko Inn prices)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9624000547/" title="IMG_3829 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/9624000547_b1c163ff50_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3829"></a><br />
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I also brought my Nintendo 3DS with me that day and I got a lot of Streetpasses including a new one from Shiga. On my way to getting a Streetpass from every region of Japan...<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627220666/" title="IMG_0251 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/9627220666_9e0077877b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0251"></a><br />
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The Nintendo 3DS also has a built in pedometer and I walked up to 26,000 steps that day!<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9627203786/" title="IMG_0252 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/9627203786_d0414f77e1_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0252"></a><br />
</center>Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-64664772433497917282013-08-17T16:06:00.000-07:002013-08-17T16:19:07.475-07:00Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka (宝塚), Nishinomiya (西宮) and Ashiya (芦屋)On the 3rd day of my trip to Kansai in 2012, I went to the area of Kansai between Osaka and Kobe. I visited the cities of Takarazuka, Nishinomiya and Ashiya. Previously I had gone to <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/07/kobe-arima-onsen-mt-rokko.html">Kobe</a> and <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/08/mount-koya-san-new-years.html">Koya-san</a> on December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2012 respectively.<br />
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There were a couple of reasons why I choose to visit these un-touristy areas. (1) Due to my interest in railway plus property urban planning and development, I wanted to see what the areas along the Hankyu Railway lines looked like since Hankyu Railway was considered a pioneer of this urban development model in Japan. (2) Since the Hankyu lines went through Takarazuka, I could also make a visit to the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum on the way. (3) Because of the New Years, Hankyu was selling its 1 day unlimited pass as the "New Year Ticket" for only 1000 yen (US$10) compared to the normal price of 1200 yen (US$12).<br />
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The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531017787/" title="IMG_3724 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/9531017787_4b5d216a27_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3724"></a><br />
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The cities of Takarazuka, Nishinomiya and Ashiya are located between Osaka and Kobe.<br />
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The New Year Ticket from Hankyu and the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum ticket.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531322307/" title="IMG_0293 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9531322307_80e73eed35_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0293"></a><br />
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My first destination from my hotel in Osaka was Takarazuka. When Hankyu Railway opened its Takarazuka Line almost a century ago in 1910, it had trouble attracting enough passengers to make it financially viable, so it decided to pursue real estate development along the line and to make the terminus station at the time, Takarazuka, into a major tourism spot. As a result Hankyu Railway established Takarazuka Revue, all-female musical theatre troupe with its main theatre based in Takarazuka.<br />
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This was the first implementation in Japan of the so-called railway and property development model that one can clearly see if one lives in Tokyo for a while. Because of that, I wanted to see how the urban development along the Hankyu areas compared to the Tokyo ones.<br />
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Arrival at the Hankyu Takarazuka station. It felt like an upper, middle class area complete with its own Hankyu Department Store built inside the station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531106769/" title="IMG_3731 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/9531106769_bc9438cfd1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3731"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531107847/" title="IMG_3732 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9531107847_bcbd0ea6be_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3732"></a><br />
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Walking around Takarazuka, there were many "non-cheap" looking apartment buildings all around. None of them looked like the non-descript <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danchi">danchi</a></i> buildings that you see in many of the new towns surrounding all the major cities of Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533778326/" title="IMG_3704 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/9533778326_7c4f670344_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3704"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531000503/" title="IMG_3705 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7310/9531000503_65ffa36cdb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3705"></a><br />
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There was a nice tree-lined pathway to the Takarazuka Revue Grand Theatre.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531005791/" title="IMG_3710 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/9531005791_57f2742dca_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3710"></a><br />
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The Takarazuka Revue Grand Theatre. Although it also has a theatre in Tokyo, this is the main one.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531001543/" title="IMG_3706 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/9531001543_cdb25ce6db_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3706"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531002533/" title="IMG_3707 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9531002533_b6e2106606_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3707"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531004871/" title="IMG_3709 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5480/9531004871_7be41a3e05_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3709"></a><br />
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Bust of Hankyu Railway founder, Ichizō Kobayashi.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533782912/" title="IMG_3708 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/9533782912_fb60f3b072_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3708"></a><br />
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Next, I visited the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum, best known as the person who drew Astro Boy. The museum is located near the Takarazuka Revue Grand Theatre and is actually quite small.<br />
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At the museum, I also saw a short animation produced just for the museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531017787/" title="IMG_3724 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5331/9531017787_4b5d216a27_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3724"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531016311/" title="IMG_3723 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/9531016311_2ed396ce5e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3723"></a><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9534101124/" title="IMG_0236 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/9534101124_c3a67d43ac_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0236"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531015441/" title="IMG_3722 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/9531015441_d77b2e585f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3722"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531014417/" title="IMG_3720 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2829/9531014417_4a53e5a628_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3720"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531010369/" title="IMG_3715 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5322/9531010369_0f8a0a317f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3715"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531009503/" title="IMG_3714 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/9531009503_9ce8dfe369_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3714"></a><br />
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Sketches and other artifacts.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531007727/" title="IMG_3712 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/9531007727_ab2f32a6ca_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3712"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533787728/" title="IMG_3713 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/9533787728_18a42a402b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3713"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533786004/" title="IMG_3711 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/9533786004_b7687817e9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3711"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531011267/" title="IMG_3716 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9531011267_65ee781397_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3716"></a><br />
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Upstairs was a manga library with all the works produced by Osamu Tezuka.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533792200/" title="IMG_3718 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5326/9533792200_a846f450e4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3718"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533791356/" title="IMG_3717 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/9533791356_53fdda6bfa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3717"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531013823/" title="IMG_3719 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/9531013823_cc2610ef07_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3719"></a><br />
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After spending some time at the museum, I walked around Takarazuka and headed for the station to explore the next destination.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531018773/" title="IMG_3725 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3694/9531018773_a5e2fe5046_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3725"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531019767/" title="IMG_3726 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/9531019767_01df43c7e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3726"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533800128/" title="IMG_3727 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/9533800128_c77d821bf9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3727"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533885090/" title="IMG_3729 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/9533885090_eef4e670aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3729"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531126179/" title="IMG_3728 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/9531126179_7c4d25d173_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3728"></a><br />
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Next I headed to Nishinomiya because I had to change trains. While I was there, I saw a large commercial development known as Nishinomiya Gardens. Apparently, the site was a former baseball stadium that was no longer in use and was now developed into an impressive looking shopping centre. Too bad I did not take any good pictures of the development...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533890704/" title="IMG_3737 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/9533890704_3fbb9b26e3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3737"></a><br />
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Rooftop gardens on the shopping centre. It looked much more impressive in person.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533889844/" title="IMG_3735 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9533889844_116b73da83_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3735"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533888008/" title="IMG_3733 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/9533888008_cd6d055ab6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3733"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9533888750/" title="IMG_3734 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3791/9533888750_c00f8ee555_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3734"></a><br />
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My final destination before the sunset was Ashiya. Ashiya is known as a high end residential area where many celebrities live and I wanted to see how a high end residential are in the Kansai area compared to that of Tokyo.<br />
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Compared to Osaka and Kobe, the area was not really dense and featured a lot of greenery, something that is sorely missing in Osaka.<br />
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While it was interesting to walk around, there was nothing of interest to take photos of, except for the one stream/canal that ran through the low density high end residential area.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9531112193/" title="IMG_3739 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3795/9531112193_834eced4d3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3739"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-14856446433151662072013-07-31T23:45:00.000-07:002013-08-17T16:09:04.897-07:002012 New Year's Trip to Koya-san/Mount Koya (高野山)On January 1, 2012, during my winter trip to Kansai, I went to Koya-san/Mount Koya (高野山). One of the reasons I choose to go to Koya-san on New Years is because nothing is open on New Years Day in Japan and going to a commerce-free mountainous temple town seemed to be a good idea and it would be interesting to soak up the atmosphere of a temple town.<br />
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Koya-san is the centre of Shingon Buddhism which was introduced in 805 by the monk Kukai (空海) (Kobo Daishi, 弘法大師) and Koya-san was first settled in 819. Koya-san is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range".<br />
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The main gate of Koya-san, the traditional entrance to Koya-san before the advent of modern transportation means.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411401677/" title="IMG_3664 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/9411401677_5791152081_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3664"></a><br />
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Koya-san is roughly 80 km south of Osaka and it took around 90 minutes by train and cable car to get there from Namba station in Osaka. <br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e2dba0ab23e1e2356&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.498635,135.372162&spn=0.679068,1.09726&z=10&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e2dba0ab23e1e2356&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.498635,135.372162&spn=0.679068,1.09726&z=10&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">2012-01-01 Koya-san/Mount Koya</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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Like all other temples, there are admission fees to pay for maintenance and others. Luckily you can buy a combination ticket that Nankai Railway sells that basically covers all the tourist attractions that you are expected to visit.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414116382/" title="IMG_0222 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3729/9414116382_f7bd04947e_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0222"></a><br />
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Koya-san is located in quite a mountainous area in Wakayama Prefecture, quite a change of pace from the urban sprawl of Osaka. For the final stretch of the journey to Koya-san, you had to switch from the train to taking a cable car.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411354821/" title="IMG_3562 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7327/9411354821_ddee5b7957_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3562"></a><br />
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At the Koya-san cable car station. Once I arrived at the station I thought I had arrived at the Koya-san town. It turns out that I had to transfer and take another bus that made its way through windy mountain roads to actually reach the town.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414119220/" title="IMG_3565 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/9414119220_9bf778436e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3565"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411355753/" title="IMG_3564 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/9411355753_792e01607b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3564"></a><br />
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The Koya-san temple town. Because it was New Years, it was almost completely deserted. By the time I arrived, it was already lunch time and I had to search for a restaurant that was open. After eating some soba, I walked around the town. What was interesting is that there were no traces of shops and restaurants like convenience stores that are ubiquitous in modern Japan.<br />
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Quite a peaceful environment!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411357771/" title="IMG_3566 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/9411357771_86779db686_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3566"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414120818/" title="IMG_3568 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7349/9414120818_d69397aa64_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3568"></a><br />
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Being the temple town that Koya-san is, there were lots of temples sandwiched between buildings in the town centre.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414121976/" title="IMG_3569 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/9414121976_963a4ed1c5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3569"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411360517/" title="IMG_3570 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3727/9411360517_4a40082658_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3570"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414123532/" title="IMG_3573 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9414123532_c690498535_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3573"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414124466/" title="IMG_3574 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/9414124466_375b75d2cb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3574"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414125278/" title="IMG_3575 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9414125278_ac7a11c31b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3575"></a><br />
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Who says no one drives SUVs in Japan?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414125914/" title="IMG_3576 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/9414125914_c5e0a83cc2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3576"></a><br />
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The first tourist attraction to was walk to the Okunoin Temple (奥の院) which is the mausoleum of the monk Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism.<br />
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The path to the Okunoin Temple.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411364571/" title="IMG_3577 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9411364571_e5440a1f21_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3577"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411365229/" title="IMG_3578 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7426/9411365229_83e24452d0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3578"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411365897/" title="IMG_3580 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/9411365897_b6bde65629_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3580"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414128946/" title="IMG_3582 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/9414128946_c370a8e34e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3582"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414129758/" title="IMG_3584 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/9414129758_2c1de42659_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3584"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414130460/" title="IMG_3585 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2892/9414130460_68c08caba7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3585"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414131460/" title="IMG_3588 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/9414131460_4b39efa62a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3588"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411370265/" title="IMG_3590 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/9411370265_123e1bd1de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3590"></a><br />
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At the entrance to the Okunoin Temple complex. After crossing the first bridge, there was a 2 km path to the monk Kukai's mausoleum. The path goes through the largest cemetery in Japan. Over 200,000 tombstones line the 2 km path to the mausoleum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414133148/" title="IMG_3592 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/9414133148_63d9339fe7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3592"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411372135/" title="IMG_3593 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/9411372135_642b16c01a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3593"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414135078/" title="IMG_3594 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2827/9414135078_a1dd8aab6f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3594"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411373967/" title="IMG_3595 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3761/9411373967_0cd465fa9c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3595"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414136908/" title="IMG_3599 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2818/9414136908_b36be85e89_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3599"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411375355/" title="IMG_3600 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2846/9411375355_c87b5ed55d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3600"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414138332/" title="IMG_3603 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/9414138332_f437632d5a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3603"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414139206/" title="IMG_3607 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/9414139206_213fd9edb1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3607"></a><br />
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What was interesting is that in addition to personal tombstones there were also memorials from companies and organizations.<br />
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Here is one from Panasonic.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414140026/" title="IMG_3608 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3738/9414140026_c22c2453e8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3608"></a><br />
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The fire department.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411378657/" title="IMG_3611 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/9411378657_c875f8353a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3611"></a><br />
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After a long walk over the icy stone path, I finally reached the main temple of Okunoin and the monk Kukai's mausoleum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411379391/" title="IMG_3612 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5490/9411379391_7f2804e90a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3612"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411380307/" title="IMG_3613 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9411380307_2f1206f57c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3613"></a><br />
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Visitors praying for departed family members at the the statues, known as Mizumuke Jizo (Water Covered Jizo).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414143400/" title="IMG_3614 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/9414143400_9482ce87f6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3614"></a><br />
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A group of wooden markers placed in the stream as a memorial to unborn children.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411381855/" title="IMG_3617 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/9411381855_1d911eaab6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3617"></a><br />
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The main temple complex and mausoleum. You were not supposed to take any pictures here and initially I didn't...until I noticed that no one else was following the rules.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411382621/" title="IMG_3619 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2870/9411382621_08eaf811de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3619"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414145774/" title="IMG_3620 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/9414145774_e9d51eb88b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3620"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414146638/" title="IMG_3621 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5346/9414146638_13eaf32ce2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3621"></a><br />
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On the path exiting the main temple complex was a newer area of the cemetery. It seemed that this area was dominated by memorials by corporations.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414147218/" title="IMG_3622 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3683/9414147218_7023d20c3b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3622"></a><br />
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This one is by UCC Coffee.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411385551/" title="IMG_3623 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/9411385551_4ff7d6a379_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3623"></a><br />
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Nissan's memorial.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411386455/" title="IMG_3624 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/9411386455_31cc50de92_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3624"></a><br />
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The yogurt drink maker Yakult's memorial.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414149582/" title="IMG_3625 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3782/9414149582_f4f1309b14_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3625"></a><br />
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This company even had one of their products installed at its memorial.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414150408/" title="IMG_3626 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/9414150408_a8795690c6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3626"></a><br />
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The memorial for ShinMaywa Industries, a Japanese industrial conglomerate descended from the Kawanishi Aircraft Company.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414151116/" title="IMG_3627 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/9414151116_dfac5ab331_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_3627"></a><br />
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At the other side of the Okunoin complex was a giant parking lot. This is where most of the tourists to Okunoin come from. If they parked their cars on this side, they did not have to make the long trek from the traditional entrance of Okunoin from Koya-san town.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411389503/" title="IMG_3628 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/9411389503_dc24f8e329_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3628"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411390289/" title="IMG_3629 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/9411390289_ac0a457bc8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3629"></a><br />
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I thought that this kind of convenience of catering to cars kind of wrecks the atmosphere of the place.<br />
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The entrance for the much shorter path to main Okunoin temple and mausoleum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414154082/" title="IMG_3631 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9414154082_cc0c36dc1a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3631"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414155078/" title="IMG_3632 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2834/9414155078_67f35e1cfc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3632"></a><br />
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After that, I trekked back to the main town on the perimeter of the Okunoin cemetery. By this time, the sun had finally come out.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411394035/" title="IMG_3633 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/9411394035_4bf2ed3f90_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3633"></a><br />
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I walked around and visited some temples that were included in my combination ticket that I bought from Nankai Railway.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414157230/" title="IMG_3640 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/9414157230_650701b57a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3640"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411396237/" title="IMG_3643 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/9411396237_0465ecc09a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3643"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411396949/" title="IMG_3649 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/9411396949_b437dbfc62_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3649"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414159906/" title="IMG_3653 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5324/9414159906_4878f58b66_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3653"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414160980/" title="IMG_3654 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/9414160980_a49dc6c9e1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3654"></a><br />
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The Danjo Garan (壇場伽藍), Koya-san's main temple complex.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414161588/" title="IMG_3657 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/9414161588_64888e89b6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3657"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414162272/" title="IMG_3659 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/9414162272_8cec06836f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3659"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414163010/" title="IMG_3662 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/9414163010_53d9d81ef0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3662"></a><br />
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The last place I visited in Koya-san was the main gate. Which in traditional times, would be the first place a visitor to Koya-san would see!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411401677/" title="IMG_3664 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/9411401677_5791152081_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3664"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414164576/" title="IMG_3666 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/9414164576_af119fb67c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3666"></a><br />
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After coming back to Osaka, instead of resting after all that walking, since my hotel was near the newly renovated Osaka station, I decided to walk around and check out the station. I think in Japan now, Osaka has one of the best railway stations in the country. <br />
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The main feature of the new Osaka station is its spaciousness. Something that you definitely don't see in any of the stations in Tokyo.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414165326/" title="IMG_3667 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/9414165326_12ea0b7a3c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3667"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414165924/" title="IMG_3670 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/9414165924_3ebbb5cab1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3670"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411404519/" title="IMG_3673 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/9411404519_85c1dd0091_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3673"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414167244/" title="IMG_3675 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/9414167244_2612229044_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3675"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414168076/" title="IMG_3677 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/9414168076_61fb7fbd3a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3677"></a><br />
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Going to the terrace.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414169176/" title="IMG_3687 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/9414169176_93f04787e6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3687"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411407429/" title="IMG_3688 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/9411407429_3a12e2cca5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3688"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411407881/" title="IMG_3689 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7346/9411407881_2d67afe5ce_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3689"></a><br />
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The Umeda Sky Building in the background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411406631/" title="IMG_3680 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/9411406631_2874aa9fba_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3680"></a><br />
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The bright and wide passageways to the train platforms.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411408455/" title="IMG_3696 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9411408455_be49f18068_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3696"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9411410519/" title="IMG_3699 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/9411410519_25f7acbefa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3699"></a><br />
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Looking up to the roof.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414171288/" title="IMG_3697 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/9414171288_ec9c931afc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3697"></a><br />
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Too bad the giant roof was not built long enough, they still needed to use those ugly canopies to cover the rest of the train platforms.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9414171850/" title="IMG_3698 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/9414171850_d2157a7509_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3698"></a><br />
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At the main entrance of Osaka station there was a large animated waterfall. Previously I had only see a smaller version of this in the Kintetsu Kyoto station.<br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-19826499207935499252013-07-20T23:04:00.000-07:002013-08-17T16:09:04.899-07:00Kobe: New Towns, Arima Onsen (有馬温泉) and Mt. Rokko (六甲山)On December 31, 2011, I visited Kobe, Japan (神戸) again as part of a trip to the Kansai (関西) area because luckily I had a Japanese classmate who was going back to his hometown in the Kansai area for the New Years Holidays and I could share a ride in his car for the 4 hour journey from the campus of Hiroshima University to the Kobe suburban town of Kakogawa (加古川).<br />
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I actually arrived in Kobe the previous day at around mid-afternoon and I stayed at a hotel north of the main Sannomiya (三宮) railway station called the Hotel Area One. In all my travels around Japan, it was one of the worst stays I ever had in a hotel. The hotel was located right behind a shrine and in preparation for the new year, the shrine was open for some sort of festival the entire night and because buildings in Japan generally have poor noise insulation, from the room, the noise was so loud that I could hardly sleep!<br />
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Generally in my opinion, there are not a good range of easily accessible hotels in Kobe, it is often better to stay in a hotel in Osaka and just take the 30 minute train ride to Kobe as there is a large selection of affordable and cheap hotels in Osaka.<br />
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One of the reasons for visiting Kobe (again) was to see the areas of Kobe that I had never seen before this was mainly the Kobe new town suburbs, Arima Onsen (有馬温泉) and Mt. Rokko (六甲山).<br />
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One of the interesting things I saw by chance in Kobe, the Gigantor (鉄人28号, <i>Tetsujin 28-gō</i>) statue.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328754313/" title="IMG_0203 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/9328754313_fa203da803_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0203"></a><br />
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I visited many places in Kobe on this day going from the far western suburbs all the way to the eastern most part on Mt. Rokko.<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e1e9e0dc165583ba2&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.726659,135.139732&spn=0.169302,0.274315&z=12&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004e1e9e0dc165583ba2&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.726659,135.139732&spn=0.169302,0.274315&z=12&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">2011-12-31 Kobe, Arima Onsen</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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The previous day I had to take the train to Kobe from Kakogawa where I was dropped off and I noticed a "Kansai special" - the <i>all day</i> Women Only train cars. This was the first time I had seen such a thing (I had previously seen peak-period Woman Only train cars in the Tokyo area).<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328767173/" title="IMG_0211 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/9328767173_69998d1277_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0211"></a><br />
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I started the day by buying a one day pass of the subway system and tickets for the subway and a combination discount ticket for the ropeway and cable cars for Arima Onsen and Mt. Rokko. In Japan, transportation in general is very expensive and if you don't do proper research on the discount tickets available, your travels will cost you can arm and a leg.<br />
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The 1 day subway ticket cost 1,000 yen (US$10) which was a fair price but the ropeway and cable car ticket cost 1,700 yen (US$17) which I thought was kind of pricey.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331604966/" title="IMG_0291 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/9331604966_1702442991_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0291"></a><br />
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My first destination of the day was to visit and see what the suburbs of Kobe looked like because I wanted to get a feel of the city of Kobe outside of its touristy areas. I don't think many people would go to these places but as a student of transport and urban planning, I naturally had an interest in visiting these "unconventional" attractions. <br />
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One of the benefits of wandering around urban areas by foot is that you discover a lot of interesting things by chance. To visit the suburbs of Kobe located at the northwest of the city, I had to change trains at Shinnagata (新長田) station and in the subway I saw an advertisement for some sort of statue from an anime.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328757235/" title="IMG_0208 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7420/9328757235_5aac759dd2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0208"></a><br />
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After getting out of the station, I found that it was the Gigantor statue which I describe earlier. It was actually bigger than expected. I read that they built the status to symbolize Kobe's recovery from the 1995 Kobe earthquake. The statue was only completed recently in 2009.<br />
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Indeed the area around the statue looked like it had been completely rebuilt as you could tell which areas had been hit hard by the quake.<br />
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After walking around the area a bit, I spotted an interesting shoe statue in front of a shoe store.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328759155/" title="IMG_0209 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/9328759155_8e485df7da_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0209"></a><br />
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Next I went to the north-west suburbs of Kobe to see what a master-planned community looked like. I gained interest in the new towns of Japan after working as an intern in the previous summer of 2011 where I worked to design a new town project for an overseas client. Also this was one of the projects I had read about in one of the academic reports on transport and new towns in Japan of how the city government of Kobe worked with private developers to design and build this new town.<br />
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The main hub of the new town, Seishin-Chuo station (西神中央駅). This was the first time that I had actually visited a master-planned new town in Japan. One thing that struck me was the lack of greenery and the abundance of concrete.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331558168/" title="IMG_3445 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/9331558168_6b1affcb85_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3445"></a><br />
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Like every other new town in Japan, it is anchored by big-name department stores and malls.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328763453/" title="IMG_3443 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5465/9328763453_a533f59498_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3443"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328761947/" title="IMG_3440 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9328761947_1c72bb49b8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3440"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331556554/" title="IMG_3441 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9331556554_e050c6fd71_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3441"></a><br />
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As I looked at the map, I was struck by how similar my work for the design of the new town at the internship had been with this new town. As I would find out later, almost all new towns built by Japanese companies are designed in this style.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328764973/" title="IMG_3446 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/9328764973_d6f89a1305_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3446"></a><br />
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One of the characteristic of new towns in Japan is that as you walk further away from the stations, first there are fairly uniform looking apartment buildings followed by rows of detached homes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331554168/" title="IMG_3438 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/9331554168_3a8d5c5e6d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3438"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328761087/" title="IMG_3439 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2816/9328761087_861a3f7897_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3439"></a><br />
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Afterwards, I took the subway to the end of the line where the development was planned as a university or college town. There wasn't much to see so I just took a walk round, had lunch and left for my next destination.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331559640/" title="IMG_3450 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/9331559640_384a7f117e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3450"></a><br />
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My next destination was Arima Onsen, a famous hot spring resort located in the mountains of Kobe. To get there I had to take the subway back east towards Shin-Kobe and change trains.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331562608/" title="IMG_0212 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/9331562608_8d7865f499_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0212"></a><br />
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The train to Arima Onsen travelled north past the range of mountains that surround the central area of Kobe and I was struck at how different the urban environment was between the 2 areas. Just 10-15 minutes north of Sannomiya was completely rural, totally different from the dense urbanity of Sannomiya.<br />
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Arrival at Arima Onsen. For some reason, I felt an 80s-vibe. It seemed like many of the buildings where built during Japan's bubble economy in the 1980s. I didn't plan on going to any onset, I just wanted to walk around and see what the town looked like.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331563734/" title="IMG_3451 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/9331563734_a534048a42_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3451"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331564758/" title="IMG_3452 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9331564758_78243be4e2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3452"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331565678/" title="IMG_3453 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/9331565678_374272c42b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3453"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331566816/" title="IMG_3455 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/9331566816_b1a725f941_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3455"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331567758/" title="IMG_3458 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/9331567758_075a83684f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3458"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331568798/" title="IMG_3461 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/9331568798_76effe7517_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3461"></a><br />
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Once you get past the highly built up (and ugly) area around the railway station, you can start to get a feel of the traditional hot spring resort.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328775407/" title="IMG_3463 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/9328775407_8eec71b40b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3463"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331570520/" title="IMG_3465 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/9331570520_ae35baf6a0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3465"></a><br />
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People enjoying an onsen where you can dip your feet into on the left.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331571424/" title="IMG_3466 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2819/9331571424_ac345bfbeb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3466"></a><br />
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Walking further up along the narrow streets heading for the ropeway that would take me to Mt. Rokko.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328777971/" title="IMG_3468 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/9328777971_a1d079a581_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3468"></a><br />
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I can't believe this crazy guy wanted to drive his minivan through these narrow lanes!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328778841/" title="IMG_3470 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/9328778841_904d33876a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3470"></a><br />
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The source of the hot spring.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328779897/" title="IMG_3471 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/9328779897_076609ee40_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3471"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328781395/" title="IMG_3472 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/9328781395_118509405b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3472"></a><br />
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"Taiko's Drinking Spa Water", hot spring water you can drink!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328782387/" title="IMG_3474 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2815/9328782387_00ec6935ff_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3474"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328783023/" title="IMG_3475 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/9328783023_f30d51c797_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3475"></a><br />
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Next I walked to the ropeway station that connects Arima Onsen with Mt. Rokko. Mt. Rokko is the highest peak on the mountain range surrounding Kobe and the Osaka area and I thought it would be interesting to see the view of the Kansai area from this viewpoint.<br />
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Despite being marked prominently on the tourist maps, there was no sidewalk to the ropeway station. I had to walk on the side of the road. Also surprisingly there was absolutely no one (cars or people) on the road to the ropeway station. I am assuming during peak tourist seasons, there are shuttle buses from the onsen hotels?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331580358/" title="IMG_3476 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/9331580358_ef53389ab4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3476"></a><br />
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Near the ropeway station there was a small waterfall park with no one there at all.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328787485/" title="IMG_3477 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5548/9328787485_98a86eabbd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3477"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331579478/" title="IMG_0216 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2856/9331579478_ff63a7682b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0216"></a><br />
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Absolutely deserted!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328788517/" title="IMG_3481 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/9328788517_df64063113_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3481"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328789889/" title="IMG_3482 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/9328789889_03c2335d8b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3482"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328791033/" title="IMG_3483 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9328791033_a867b69709_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3483"></a><br />
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Finally, arrival at the ropeway station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331585728/" title="IMG_3485 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/9331585728_ab51309614_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3485"></a><br />
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View from the ropeway car. There was only one other passenger along with the operator on the car that I boarded.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331586278/" title="IMG_3486 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/9331586278_e3ca1f73dd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3486"></a><br />
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The mountains that surrounded central Kobe extend quite a bit into the distance to the north.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328792805/" title="IMG_3487 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/9328792805_db2c5c3966_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3487"></a><br />
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Arrival at the peak of Mt. Rokko and looking towards the heavily urbanized area of Osaka. You could see all the way to the central area of Umeda in Osaka from here.<br />
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At the Mt. Rokko ropeway station there were various touristy attractions including this fake castle tower to provide better views of the area.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328798385/" title="IMG_3499 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/9328798385_196849dccb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3499"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328793485/" title="IMG_3490 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7303/9328793485_e816190c24_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3490"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331588186/" title="IMG_3490t by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/9331588186_5c67e1338f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3490t"></a><br />
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Looking towards the Osaka Bay direction.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331591532/" title="IMG_3495 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5453/9331591532_eddbd7d608_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3495"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328794803/" title="IMG_3491 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3795/9328794803_be4af0a689_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3491"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331589314/" title="IMG_3491t by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/9331589314_db0dc0d563_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3491t"></a><br />
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Looking directly at the Kobe direction with the three artificially reclaimed islands in the background: Rokko Island, Port Island and Kobe Airport.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328795937/" title="IMG_3492 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9328795937_5d5cefc900_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3492"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331590958/" title="IMG_3493 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/9331590958_554d8ea53e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3493"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328796565/" title="IMG_3492t by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/9328796565_915b3d68d7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3492t"></a><br />
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Sun setting.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331592834/" title="IMG_3501 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/9331592834_e026d86574_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3501"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328799237/" title="IMG_3504 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5455/9328799237_8808f64e14_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3504"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328799595/" title="IMG_3507 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9328799595_125d218166_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3507"></a><br />
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As it got dark, I took a shuttle bus from the Mt. Rokko ropeway station to the Mt. Rokko cable car station further down the mountain.<br />
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The view of Kobe from the Mt. Rokko cable car station.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328800841/" title="IMG_3522 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/9328800841_f9b9a73a45_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3522"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331595130/" title="IMG_3528 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/9331595130_cc66bbc776_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3528"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328802063/" title="IMG_3536 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/9328802063_a5d9710705_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3536"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331596736/" title="IMG_3542 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/9331596736_5ecf1a1d67_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3542"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331597564/" title="IMG_3550 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/9331597564_501193c162_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3550"></a><br />
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The Mt. Rokko cable car station had a nice retro feel to it, like from the pre-war era.<br />
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Bags of salt in preparation for roads freezing over.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331598606/" title="IMG_3555 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5336/9331598606_433a12b05a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3555"></a><br />
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The waiting hall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331599292/" title="IMG_3557 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/9331599292_15b2871f08_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3557"></a><br />
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The cable car that brought me back down to the city of Kobe.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328806369/" title="IMG_3558 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3802/9328806369_ca6b235291_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3558"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9331600888/" title="IMG_3560 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9331600888_499f0d5c41_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_3560"></a><br />
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I brought along my Nintendo 3DS which has a built-in pedometer and on that day I walked around 29,000 steps!<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9328809581/" title="IMG_0221 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2867/9328809581_c1a4e634aa_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_0221"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com1Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan34.690083 135.1955112000000634.2726045 134.55006420000007 35.1075615 135.84095820000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-32072280677053671572013-07-03T00:04:00.000-07:002013-07-03T00:04:56.820-07:00The Many Visits to MiyajimaMiyajima is famous for being one of Japan's three best views and is also the home of the iconic floating <i>torii</i> that is usually featured in the travel books and pamphlets on Japan. <br />
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I have now been to Miyajima too many times. Four times in fact, first in 2004 on my first visit to Japan, and then two times in 2010, one time for a school field trip and one time when I went with a visiting friend, and then one time in 2011 for a travel survey. That's quite a lot of times going to a place whose sole tourist attraction is basically the floating <i>torii</i> and shrine!<br />
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In this post, I will show pictures taken during my 2010 and 2011 visits.<br />
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The famous floating <i>torii</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196136255/" title="IMG_0244 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/9196136255_ba453cbea4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0244"></a><br />
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Miyajima is actually quite close to Hiroshima and is only around 30 minutes away by either the streetcar or JR trains. Once you reach the station closest to Miyajima, you have to take a ferry to get to the actual island where the floating <i>torii</i> and shrine are located. The first time that I visited Miyajima in 2004, we combined a visit to Hiroshima on a day trip from Osaka using the Japan Rail Pass.<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004deb332896c30378c5&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.35279,132.395554&spn=0.170064,0.274315&z=12&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004deb332896c30378c5&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.35279,132.395554&spn=0.170064,0.274315&z=12&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Miyajima, Japan</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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During my 2011 visit for the travel survey, the consulting company that was paying us to do the survey told us to take the Shinkansen high speed train from our university which was located east of Hiroshima city in a place called Higashi-Hiroshima. Normally it takes 30 minutes by regular train to go to Hiroshima, but by Shinkansen, it literally took 5 minutes! Of course the cost of the regular train is 560 yen (US$6) whereas the Shinkansen cost around 2000 yen (US$20).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196165945/" title="IMG_1427 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/9196165945_af246d56d5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1427"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198950308/" title="IMG_1430 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/9198950308_fa97b7041f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1430"></a><br />
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In 2011, I stopped by Hiroshima as per my travel survey before I went to Miyajima.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196167171/" title="IMG_1431 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/9196167171_06e02c29c2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1431"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196167923/" title="IMG_1435 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/9196167923_d530069d0e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1435"></a><br />
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Seeing the A-Bome Dome for the <i>n</i>th time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196169191/" title="IMG_1436 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/9196169191_b4904a2721_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1436"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196170101/" title="IMG_1437 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/9196170101_b448f5eb8c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1437"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196171209/" title="IMG_1438 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/9196171209_983ec2a996_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1438"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196172303/" title="IMG_1439 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/9196172303_7b038daa75_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1439"></a><br />
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Taking the ferry to the island of Miyajima. The side opposite to Miyajima is quite nondescript. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198906654/" title="IMG_0214 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5324/9198906654_a707e6dc89_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0214"></a><br />
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The Seto-Inland sea which is surrounded by mountain ranges. The entire area around Hiroshima is quite mountainous. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198907126/" title="IMG_0215 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/9198907126_8908a05f18_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0215"></a><br />
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It was quite a hot day as shown in the mugginess of the photos.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196124141/" title="IMG_0217 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9196124141_7c33f8e293_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0217"></a><br />
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The shrine and floating <i>torii</i> from the ferry.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196124549/" title="IMG_0218 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3694/9196124549_1fd31eee3f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0218"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198908578/" title="IMG_0219 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9198908578_0e29716e2d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0219"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196173101/" title="IMG_1440 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7401/9196173101_d0a64cbf58_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1440"></a><br />
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Arrival on the island. Compared to the other side, there is very few developments on the island, other than the tourist facilities, and almost no cars.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196125711/" title="IMG_0220 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/9196125711_91b5816e89_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0220"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198910000/" title="IMG_0222 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7410/9198910000_5f7ac954a0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0222"></a><br />
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The main entrance and ferry terminal on the island side.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196181775/" title="IMG_0227 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9196181775_e1e16a8466_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0227"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198910896/" title="IMG_0223 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/9198910896_f07996d8aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0223"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198957488/" title="IMG_1441 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/9198957488_23e36a4b49_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1441"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196174459/" title="IMG_1442 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5334/9196174459_e41c29bf2f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1442"></a><br />
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An overview of the island of Miyajima.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196132095/" title="IMG_0234 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/9196132095_1b401350e7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0234"></a><br />
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The classmates whom I went with on the 2010 field trip. Almost all of us were in the Japanese language class that Japanese Government scholarship recipients had to take before we entered our respective programmes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196128267/" title="IMG_0228 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9196128267_2d13718564_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0228"></a><br />
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Like the other city in the Kansai region famous for shrines and temples, Nara, Miyajima also had a lot of free-roaming deer.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198912986/" title="IMG_0229 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/9198912986_7b8ab373c1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0229"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196130359/" title="IMG_0231 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/9196130359_1d35775230_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0231"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196133863/" title="IMG_0237 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/9196133863_b29ec75e42_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0237"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196134859/" title="IMG_0241 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/9196134859_4bf723bb69_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0241"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196161513/" title="IMG_0290 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/9196161513_99d4cb8568_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0290"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198959046/" title="IMG_1443 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/9198959046_cfb19639b1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1443"></a><br />
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The town is quite quite and peaceful during the times when there aren't many tourists. For some reason this place reminded me of one of the towns in the Pokemon games!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198914648/" title="IMG_0233 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/9198914648_4ce8702fdf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0233"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196132885/" title="IMG_0235 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/9196132885_05a7465855_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0235"></a><br />
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Approaching the shrine. Actually the shrine's name is the Itsukushima Shrine and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198966740/" title="IMG_0240 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/9198966740_8ddc42f05f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0240"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196135713/" title="IMG_0242 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9196135713_b0bd310a3b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0242"></a><br />
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During the 2010 visit, we came just in time for low-tide.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198920688/" title="IMG_0245 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7453/9198920688_b092f5fd82_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0245"></a><br />
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In my 2011 travel survey visit, I also came during low tide. But this time I could walk up to the <i>torii</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198959690/" title="IMG_1444 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/9198959690_023e7250aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1444"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198960308/" title="IMG_1445 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/9198960308_4b440a72b4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1445"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198960946/" title="IMG_1447 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/9198960946_c764ac9a71_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1447"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196177559/" title="IMG_1448 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/9196177559_f35f4ac5be_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1448"></a><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198962018/" title="IMG_1450 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/9198962018_32752775de_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1450"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198962922/" title="IMG_1452 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9198962922_b146ef6ec3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1452"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196179837/" title="IMG_1453 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3792/9196179837_7183c7127e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1453"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196180621/" title="IMG_1454 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/9196180621_4b20024004_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1454"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198965198/" title="IMG_1456 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/9198965198_b765bb23c2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1456"></a><br />
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The entrance to the shrine. Like most other shrines that are major tourist attractions, there is an admission fee. Luckily, because we were foreign students in the Hiroshima area, we were issued the "Hiroshima International Center" card which enabled us to have free access to all of the tourist attractions in the Hiroshima area while we were still enrolled as students. Therefore, we got in for free. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198922338/" title="IMG_0249 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3666/9198922338_d956c401e2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0249"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198921388/" title="IMG_0247 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/9198921388_f38dc83824_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0247"></a><br />
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The shrine complex.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196139467/" title="IMG_0251 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5325/9196139467_903c3736c2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0251"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196140277/" title="IMG_0252 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5333/9196140277_1fb9e9d669_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0252"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196140933/" title="IMG_0253 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7425/9196140933_43cc68dcf8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0253"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196143949/" title="IMG_0260 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/9196143949_24834ff6e1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0260"></a><br />
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As the tide went back up.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198943792/" title="IMG_0286 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7295/9198943792_521de10514_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0286"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198944352/" title="IMG_0288 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2873/9198944352_244721f9f5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0288"></a><br />
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The famous floating <i>torii</i> surrounded by water.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196162071/" title="IMG_0292 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3754/9196162071_2acb927694_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0292"></a><br />
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While we were there in 2010, a traditional Japanese wedding was being held. It was the first time that I had seen this before!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198925184/" title="IMG_0254 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/9198925184_7ff6e80aa1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0254"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198925858/" title="IMG_0255 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5446/9198925858_71c84d5c89_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0255"></a><br />
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The Japanese wedding guests and one of our classmates, <i>kawaii</i>!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198926932/" title="IMG_0257 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/9198926932_af0e594907_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0257"></a><br />
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A gate at the exit side of the shrine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196144751/" title="IMG_0262 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3744/9196144751_e3d54aac1a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0262"></a><br />
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Afterwards, we went to the local museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198939328/" title="IMG_0278 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/9198939328_f3677ec42d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0278"></a><br />
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Models of boats used in the shrine festivals.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198937692/" title="IMG_0275 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/9198937692_881f2bc8a1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0275"></a><br />
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Model of the island.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198938492/" title="IMG_0277 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/9198938492_269049daf2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0277"></a><br />
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Next, our school group decided to hike up the mountain, Mount Misen, on the island. On that day, it was really really hot and I think 30C with 100% humidity.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198929738/" title="IMG_0264 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/9198929738_21d87965ef_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0264"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196147513/" title="IMG_0265 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/9196147513_156478d3e5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0265"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196148905/" title="IMG_0266 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/9196148905_bc20ff25ee_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0266"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198934054/" title="IMG_0267 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/9198934054_78b019db64_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0267"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196151765/" title="IMG_0268 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/9196151765_78bc1930b5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0268"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196152975/" title="IMG_0271 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/9196152975_07da2029d5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0271"></a><br />
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Near the top of Mount Misen where you can see the mountainous Seto-Inland sea in the muggy weather.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9198942164/" title="IMG_0283 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/9198942164_a58d4b0c79_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0283"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196157773/" title="IMG_0280 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3793/9196157773_e9b1b927a5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0280"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196159155/" title="IMG_0284 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/9196159155_bc1a4ebc0f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0284"></a><br />
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On the way back, we had to past by the local shopping arcade which sold a lot of touristy stuff like food souvenirs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196163697/" title="IMG_0295 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/9196163697_e6eebb4003_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0295"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196164615/" title="IMG_0297 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3732/9196164615_45525d2aa7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0297"></a><br />
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Giant spoon for scooping rice!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/9196162741/" title="IMG_0293 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/9196162741_86aca8e7f9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0293"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0Itsukushima, Japan34.2796599 132.311404134.1746854 132.1500426 34.384634399999996 132.4727656tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-37552194114947162812013-06-08T13:15:00.001-07:002013-06-14T15:34:26.989-07:00Kure (呉) - Imperial Japan's Naval PastOn February 19, 2011, I visited Kure, Japan (呉) as part of a travel survey I was paid to do by a consulting company. Because the local government wanted to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the area, they hired a consulting company to look at and to asess the tourism facilities, mainly the transport facilities. As a result, the consulting company contacted our university and asked a couple of foreign students from a couple of different countries to take part in a survey of the transport facilities around Kure.<br />
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Basically I was paid to follow a set travel route and to take pictures and note down any difficulties in using the transport system to get to the tourist spots.<br />
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Kure is about 31 minutes by train southeast of Hiroshima and is famous for its naval past in Imperial Japan.<br />
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The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Kure Museum with the giant submarine in the entrance.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955918412/" title="IMG_1353 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/8955918412_2a15fb4291_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1353"></a><br />
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Instead of taking a train directly from Hiroshima, the consulting company's itinerary told us to take a ferry to the island of Etajima first and then to take another ferry from Etajima to Kure. <br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004de70b8867855d51b3&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.233945,132.534943&spn=0.340609,0.54863&z=11&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004de70b8867855d51b3&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=34.233945,132.534943&spn=0.340609,0.54863&z=11&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Kure</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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Departure from the Hiroshima Ferry Terminal. It is also worth nothing that the ferry terminal was located in an out of the way location.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954705085/" title="IMG_1307 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/8954705085_e2ec1cfbd1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1307"></a><br />
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From here, you can also take ferries to Matsuyama on Shikoku, one of the main islands of Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954706009/" title="IMG_1311 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/8954706009_bcee432825_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1311"></a><br />
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The ticket vending machine. Only in Japanese, this was one of the things I noted in my report.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954706753/" title="IMG_1313 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/8954706753_f784957421_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1313"></a><br />
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The ferry that I took.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955903848/" title="IMG_1314 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/8955903848_91123055aa_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1314"></a><br />
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The Seto Inland Sea which is surrounded by mountains.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954708235/" title="IMG_1315 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5340/8954708235_0701abcde1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1315"></a><br />
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Another ferry that goes somewhere...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955905270/" title="IMG_1316 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3831/8955905270_139b0ea6ea_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1316"></a><br />
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Arrival on the island of Etajima. The reason why we went here was that tourists were thought to be interested in the former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Naval_Academy">Imperial Japanese Naval Academy</a> located on the island. Because this survey was primarily about surveying transport facilities, we were told not to go there was there would not be enough time to finish the survey.<br />
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If you actually wanted to go, you would need to take a non-frequent public bus to the site.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955907060/" title="IMG_1323 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7333/8955907060_6c599bbcb3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1323"></a><br />
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The area felt kind of deserted...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954709849/" title="IMG_1322 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2817/8954709849_fa152969dd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1322"></a><br />
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After missing the next available ferry, I had to wait for about 30-40 minutes for the next ferry to Kure. Thank goodness for smartphones and 3G for helping me kill the time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954711485/" title="IMG_1328 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/8954711485_cb3c2813d1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1328"></a><br />
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Inside the ferry, it had a weird seating arrangement and an odd colour scheme.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954712063/" title="IMG_1329 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/8954712063_c0c62de8e9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1329"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955908982/" title="IMG_1330 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3673/8955908982_e3b3e70fb5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1330"></a><br />
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The view from the deck of the ferry.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955909780/" title="IMG_1334 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/8955909780_15dee75a8a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1334"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954714123/" title="IMG_1335 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/8954714123_404e2b549f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1335"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954714919/" title="IMG_1336 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/8954714919_c4014a12c3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1336"></a><br />
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The area is heavily industrialized, probably because of its pre-war past as a major centre of naval activity.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955911976/" title="IMG_1338 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3784/8955911976_2f3fce7910_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1338"></a><br />
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Here the structure of a bridge is being constructed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954716355/" title="IMG_1339 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/8954716355_c3d6be16f5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1339"></a><br />
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Giant shipyards.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955913484/" title="IMG_1340 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/8955913484_fae1913703_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1340"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954718685/" title="IMG_1343 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7437/8954718685_566681f1cc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1343"></a><br />
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Approaching the city of Kure. The pink "you me town" sign stands out from the skyline. It is a big-box chain store ubiquitous in the Hiroshima area. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954718041/" title="IMG_1341 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5345/8954718041_6baf929026_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1341"></a><br />
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The main railway station was close to the ferry terminal. I had to get on a tourist "loop bus" to get to the tourist attractions as specified in the survey route.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954723057/" title="IMG_1357 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3748/8954723057_a3645a3111_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1357"></a><br />
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I waited a long time because the bus only ran every 20 minutes and of course everyone knows that bus schedules are never accurate.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955921480/" title="IMG_1360 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/8955921480_47b2039d3d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1360"></a><br />
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One of the first tourist attractions of Kure was the "history course" where you can see the site where the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_battleship_Yamato">Battleship Yamato</a> was built (one of the "heaviest and most powerfully armed battleships ever constructed" during World War II by the Imperial Japanese Navy).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955924798/" title="IMG_1365 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/8955924798_78355fd669_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1365"></a><br />
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The site where the Yamato was built. Now an IHI Heavy Industries shipyard.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954727057/" title="IMG_1364 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8556/8954727057_f451d9f53a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1364"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955922492/" title="IMG_1362 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/8955922492_b5ee734aba_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1362"></a><br />
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The next stop was the "hill where you can see history", which was basically a concrete covered hillside full of decaying monuments.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954731035/" title="IMG_1368 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/8954731035_0d41a27e5f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1368"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954729757/" title="IMG_1366 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/8954729757_e97cab1865_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1366"></a><br />
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After that, I went to the promenade where you could see military ships and one of the submarine fleets of Japan. The only other submarine base of Japan is in Yokosuka near Yokohama in east Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954731911/" title="IMG_1369 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/8954731911_75cc3616c9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1369"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955929292/" title="IMG_1371 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5445/8955929292_4071a8cd39_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1371"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954734177/" title="IMG_1376 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8414/8954734177_6160a4b314_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1376"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954733461/" title="IMG_1374 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/8954733461_c4111818ff_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1374"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955933358/" title="IMG_1383 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/8955933358_ddb7c81b36_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1383"></a><br />
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The area was full of military facilities.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955931492/" title="IMG_1378 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/8955931492_d7c2cf5116_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1378"></a><br />
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Wherever there is a Japan Self-Defence Force facilities, there is always a U.S. military facility nearby. We know who is really in control of the security situation in Japan...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954736371/" title="IMG_1379 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/8954736371_9c67c1f16c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1379"></a> <br />
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Afterwards, I headed back to the city centre of Kure to visit the Battleship Yamato Museum was specified in our survey route. I found that the museum's content was fairly neutral unlike the war museum near Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo where you are not allowed to take pictures inside for obvious reasons.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955936306/" title="IMG_1391 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/8955936306_321474b8e8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1391"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955934272/" title="IMG_1386 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5329/8955934272_c1617b34cb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1386"></a><br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero">Mitsubishi Zero</a> aircraft on display.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955937738/" title="IMG_1397 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/8955937738_994e97fdf1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1397"></a><br />
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A decommissioned submarine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955938416/" title="IMG_1398 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7384/8955938416_1d0d9023ae_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1398"></a><br />
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The most impressive thing was a scaled model of the Battleship Yamato. The Japanese in particular love building scale models of almost everything.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954742915/" title="IMG_1401 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/8954742915_677ecd55bc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1401"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954743679/" title="IMG_1403 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7398/8954743679_e718243d63_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1403"></a><br />
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The last stop was the Japan Marine Self-Defence Force Kure Museum where a decommissioned submarine from the late 80s, the Akishio was displayed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954738885/" title="IMG_1389 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/8954738885_fb48c82789_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1389"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954744609/" title="IMG_1404 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/8954744609_0621ee7d20_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1404"></a><br />
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The entrance to the museum was through the decommissioned submarine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955941678/" title="IMG_1406 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/8955941678_0298a298f2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1406"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954746121/" title="IMG_1407 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/8954746121_faaef78e5c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1407"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955943068/" title="IMG_1408 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7372/8955943068_89dc00097c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1408"></a><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955944000/" title="IMG_1411 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3822/8955944000_7a515c5d38_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1411"></a><br />
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Walking through the streets of Kure on the way back. Interestingly I saw a <i>yatai</i>, a road side food vendor. You don't really see these outside of Fukuoka I think.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8955945326/" title="IMG_1412 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/8955945326_b8576b48d9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1412"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954750643/" title="IMG_1413 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/8954750643_045c3bc0da_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1413"></a><br />
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To me it seemed like Kure was a city in decline, like every other city in Japan centred around the activities of the armed forces. It was mid-day and there was hardly anyone walking around the streets in the city centre.<br />
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"Naval Coffee", I don't know why this would be famous?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954751787/" title="IMG_1414 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/8954751787_288c0a296c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1414"></a><br />
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The shopping arcade or <i>shotengai</i> of Kure. I think the presence of the "you me town" big-box chain store near the train station sucked the life out of the city.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954753055/" title="IMG_1415 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8954753055_1df9ee5460_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1415"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954753927/" title="IMG_1416 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/8954753927_4e90c8f2c0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1416"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954755049/" title="IMG_1418 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8547/8954755049_b3bc625358_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1418"></a><br />
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Even the gas station was shuttered.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8954755903/" title="IMG_1421 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/8954755903_b418350938_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1421"></a><br />
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Overall, I didn't think that Kure was that interesting. Because Kure is located in an out of the way location, I wouldn't recommend anyone coming here unless you had a deep interest in the military history of Japan or you lived in the region and looking to do a day trip. <br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan34.2492541 132.565804533.828920100000005 131.92035750000002 34.6695881 133.2112515tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-89658349796176788792013-05-24T23:50:00.000-07:002013-06-14T15:34:26.994-07:00Nagasaki - The Birthplace of ChamponAfter arriving in Fukuoka from the trip to <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/05/okinawa-ryukyu-mura-bases.html">Okinawa</a> on March 17, 2011, we stayed in Fukuoka for one night before taking a bus from Fukuoka to Nagasaki on March 18, 2011.<br />
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This was the second time I had been to Nagasaki. I first visited Nagasaki while I was an undergraduate short term exchange student back in 2006. I posted about that visit <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2006/07/nagasaki-part-1-apr-1-06.html">here</a> and <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2006/07/nagasaki-part-2-bomb-site-and-others.html">here</a> in 2006. (Note: it is interesting to see what I wrote back then as a someone who was new to Japan compared to now where I feel like an <i>old Japan hand</i>)<br />
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Nagasaki, in recent history, is infamous for being the second place ever to be bombed with an atomic bomb. The first place was <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2010/05/hiroshima-city-field-trip.html">Hiroshima</a>, also in western Japan. However, long before the atomic bombing, in the pre-modernization era feudal era, Nagasaki was one of the first and only places where foreign influences entered Japan. Especially Chinese and other European influences.<br />
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One of the modern symbols of Nagasaki. At the Peace Park. I personally think it looks really weird.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810705466/" title="IMG_1752 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/8810705466_992a1ce919_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1752"></a><br />
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The location of Nagasaki is actually quite remote. It is approximately 160 km away from the largest city on the island of Kyushu, Fukuoka and takes 2 hours and 30 minutes by highway bus. The limited express train is faster by 30 minutes but it is also a lot more expensive (4580 yen ($46 USD) vs. 2500 yen ($25 USD)).<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004dd2b2c163d2f344be&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=33.72434,133.000488&spn=5.481358,8.778076&z=7&output=embed"></iframe><br />
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Arrival at Nagasaki station with my mom. The station is actually not located in the city centre.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800115683/" title="IMG_1741 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3702/8800115683_3bd55d2544_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1741"></a><br />
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After leaving our luggage at the hotel, we went to the Nagasaki Peace Park where the atomic bomb landed. Unlike in Hiroshima, the bomb was not dropped directly over the city centre, but in a suburban area, so much of the original Nagasaki still survives today unlike Hiroshima.<br />
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At the entrance of the Nagasaki Peace Park.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810697604/" title="IMG_1743 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7425/8810697604_631c3f157a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1743"></a><br />
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On the path leading to the main commemorative statue at the Peace Park, lined statues donated by other countries. What was interesting is that most of the statues or works of art were from the socialist countries of yesteryear.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800118047/" title="IMG_1744 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7437/8800118047_bf00b77dc9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1744"></a><br />
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This one is from the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810699742/" title="IMG_1745 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/8810699742_fa13566983_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1745"></a><br />
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The Soviet Union.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800120383/" title="IMG_1746 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/8800120383_1ec3b7925a_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1746"></a><br />
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The German Democratic Republic, a.k.a. East Germany.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800121997/" title="IMG_1747 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/8800121997_2d436dc6cf_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1747"></a><br />
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Forgot which country donated this one, but judging from the art style, I would say, probably another socialist country.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810708300/" title="IMG_1755 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/8810708300_179283c663_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1755"></a><br />
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From Bulgaria.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800133275/" title="IMG_1759 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/8800133275_915282db36_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1759"></a><br />
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From Cuba.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800136465/" title="IMG_1761 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/8800136465_efbecfb16d_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1761"></a><br />
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There were also donated art from non-socialist countries as well. This one was from Turkey.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800138073/" title="IMG_1762 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/8800138073_b24ac5c3b1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1762"></a><br />
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From Brazil.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800135161/" title="IMG_1760 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/8800135161_f96a24b814_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1760"></a><br />
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From the United States.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810746774/" title="IMG_1763 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/8810746774_6cd620a7b9_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1763"></a><br />
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From Argentina.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810720096/" title="IMG_1764 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/8810720096_b83afd9b04_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1764"></a><br />
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This was also an interesting piece of work. I forgot which country donated it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810710092/" title="IMG_1757 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/8810710092_757ef4f6a7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1757"></a><br />
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One of the Japanese memorials.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800123843/" title="IMG_1748 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/8800123843_93e8aeab2b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1748"></a><br />
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Commemorating reconstruction after the war.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800131557/" title="IMG_1758 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/8800131557_499e225a77_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1758"></a><br />
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The centrepiece of the Peace Park was this monument. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810705466/" title="IMG_1752 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/8810705466_992a1ce919_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1752"></a><br />
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From an angle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810706538/" title="IMG_1753 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/8810706538_4734ba0c0e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1753"></a><br />
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From a distance with myself and my mom. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800126761/" title="IMG_1754 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/8800126761_1ebcfac057_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1754"></a><br />
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The exact location where the atomic bomb landed. It landed right next to a Catholic Church, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urakami_Cathedral">Urakami Cathedral</a>, that is why to the right of the monument, stands the remnants of the church. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810721234/" title="IMG_1766 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/8810721234_e408e4d8e0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1766"></a><br />
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Another statue at the square where the bomb was dropped.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810722844/" title="IMG_1768 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8810722844_f28c4d212c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1768"></a><br />
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The entire Peace Park is actually located on a hill.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800143249/" title="IMG_1770 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/8800143249_ae3f0424a1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1770"></a><br />
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The rebuilt Urakami Cathedral. The original was destroyed in the atomic bombing.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810724964/" title="IMG_1771 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7398/8810724964_6f0ff92093_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1771"></a><br />
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Next we headed to Nagasaki's Chinatown in the city centre. Because of historical circumstances where the ports of Yokohama (eastern Japan near Tokyo), Kobe (western Japan near Osaka) and Nagasaki (western Japan closest to the Asian continent) were used for foreign trade, Chinatowns were established in each of these cities. There are only three "official Chinatowns" in Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810726266/" title="IMG_1772 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/8810726266_c3cdafb15a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1772"></a><br />
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The look of this Chinatown is similar to <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2006/02/lunar-new-year-in-yokohamajan-30-06.html">Yokohama's Chinatown</a> and <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2012/06/kobe-walks-chinatown-waterfront.html">Kobe's Chinatown</a>. An idealized version of China. No place in the modern mainland China looks like this.<br />
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Like the other Chinatowns of Japan, the shops were mainly restaurants. But it was much more quieter than the others. Probably due to Nagasaki's remote location.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800146469/" title="IMG_1774 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2880/8800146469_eecfa38fcf_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1774"></a><br />
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Stereotypical Chinese restaurants.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810728554/" title="IMG_1775 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8810728554_25be233cdb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1775"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810729658/" title="IMG_1776 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/8810729658_7fe8b194c3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1776"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810731638/" title="IMG_1777 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/8810731638_440c2de01c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1777"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810733178/" title="IMG_1778 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/8810733178_81d6b11026_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1778"></a><br />
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A Chinese temple at near the perimeter of Chinatown. I think a lot of Chinese people used to live here. I did not notice many Chinese people while I was there, maybe they had all been "Japanized" over the years.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800153589/" title="IMG_1779 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/8800153589_9f83f09db2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1779"></a><br />
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Nearby Chinatown was the Confucius temple and museum. We did not go in because there was an admission fee and it did not look interesting. Also, it was because I had already <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2006/07/nagasaki-part-2-bomb-site-and-others.html">been there in 2006</a>, on my first visit to Nagasaki.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800162285/" title="IMG_1793 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/8800162285_dd4ea14183_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1793"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800164049/" title="IMG_1794 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/8800164049_ab01d4f003_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1794"></a><br />
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Next it was time for lunch, and from reading one of the tourist brochures that I got from the local tourism office. I found out that Nagasaki was the birthplace of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champon">Champon</a></i> as per the title of this post.<br />
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<i>Champon</i> is a dish originally made by Chinese migrants that somehow morphed into a uniquely Japanese noodle dish like <i>ramen</i>. I personally don't like it but it is like ramen, except its more watery and its topped by a stir fry of pork and vegetables over the noodles in soup. One of the fast food chains that popularized this in Japan is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringer_Hut">Ringer Hut</a>. <br />
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Anyways the Chinese restaurant that invented this dish is still around, Shikairō (四海楼) and we visited their restaurant for lunch.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810736182/" title="IMG_1784 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/8810736182_898b2962de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1784"></a><br />
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Judging from the fortress style size of the restaurant, I'd say they made a lot of dough from this simple noodle dish.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800156521/" title="IMG_1786 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/8800156521_842c60bf1a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1786"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810741384/" title="IMG_1789 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/8810741384_dd34bf9fa5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1789"></a><br />
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"The History of <i>Champon</i>", at the restaurant's own little mini museum.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8810735068/" title="IMG_1782 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/8810735068_2981a0e5ca_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1782"></a><br />
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Right nearby the <i>Champon</i> restaurant stands a monument to the "Birthplace of Bowling in Japan". So not only is Nagasaki famous for <i>Champon</i>...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800158291/" title="IMG_1787 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/8800158291_dc3f7c6378_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1787"></a><br />
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According to this sign, bowling only reached Tokyo in 1952?!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8800159785/" title="IMG_1788 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/8800159785_82816f6814_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1788"></a><br />
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Afterwards we just spent the rest of the day walking around the city centre but I did not take any pictures because there wasn't anything special or interesting.Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan32.7502856 129.8776669999999732.3229841 129.23221999999998 33.1775871 130.52311399999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-64827855820166955632013-05-15T14:52:00.001-07:002013-06-14T15:34:26.991-07:00Okinawa Island: The Land of American Military Bases in JapanPreviously, I posted about the <a href="http://ngaie.blogspot.ca/2013/05/okinawa-naha.html">first 2 days of my trip to Okinawa in 2011</a>. This post covers the last 2 days of my trip on March 16 and 17 in 2011.<br />
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We went to Ryukyu Mura, the Chatan/Mihama area and Okinawa City. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739251305/" title="IMG_1655 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/8739251305_a793ab64de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1655"></a><br />
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The prefectural capital Naha and the airport is located in the southern part of the main island of Okinawa and this time, all of the attractions were up north. Ryukyu Mura is shown by the yellow marker on the map. The blue marker shows Okinawa City, the green marker shows the Chatan/Mihama area and the purple marker shows Naha.<br />
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When we were traveling north, it seemed that all the prime flat land and coastal areas were all fenced off for the use of the U.S. military and I thought it would be interesting to map out how much of the land on the island of Okinawa was off-limits to the people. All of the red markers show American military bases.<br />
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Looking at the unmarked grey areas on Google Maps, I approximately identified land used by the U.S. military by outlining the areas in red. The results look like some disease has infected the island of Okinawa! <br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004dc7fd45c864d7c379&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=26.299571,127.826614&spn=0.369342,0.54863&z=11&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004dc7fd45c864d7c379&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=26.299571,127.826614&spn=0.369342,0.54863&z=11&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Okinawa Island</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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In Okinawa, unlike on mainland Japan, public transportation isn't really good, but we did not rent a car thinking that the bus would be suitable. Bad idea.<br />
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From the bus terminal in Naha, it took almost 1.5 hours to reach Ryukyu Mura (translation: Ryukyu Village) which is an open air theme park where you can experience traditional Okinawan culture. (Open air theme parks based on "traditional culture" seem to be popular in Japan. I went to another one years ago called Meiji Mura which focused on a reproduction of Meiji-era, 19th century Japan, after the fall of the feudal government.)<br />
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I was surprised to see how empty the place was. There were only a handful of other tourists there. I guess March is the low season for tourism in Okinawa because I didn't see many tourists in other touristy areas as well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739250805/" title="IMG_1654 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8739250805_80cb524411_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1654"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739251853/" title="IMG_1656 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/8739251853_8f884e30a5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1656"></a><br />
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Upon arrival, it was already lunch time and while we were eating, there was a performance of traditional Okinawan music on the stage. A lot of the traditional dress looks Chinese-influenced.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739250393/" title="IMG_1652 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8739250393_3ea695d29d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1652"></a><br />
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Working loom used to make stuff for sale at the gift shop?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739252249/" title="IMG_1657 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8739252249_f38b4c7c33_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1657"></a><br />
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One of the main attractions of Ryukyu Mura is the collection of traditional Okinawan homes that have been moved and preserved in this open air theme park.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739252831/" title="IMG_1659 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/8739252831_d9d6ffccfd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1659"></a><br />
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Unlike the concrete monstrosities that dot the island of Okinawa now. Most people used to live in houses like these.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740370586/" title="IMG_1660 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/8740370586_a43c591ce2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1660"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739253773/" title="IMG_1661 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8739253773_77178a5b99_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1661"></a><br />
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A traditional pigpen. Unlike on mainland Japan, pork has been a traditional part of the diet of Okinawa. I think it probably comes from the influence of China during its long history as a semi-independent Chinese tributary state prior to its annexation by Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740371604/" title="IMG_1662 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/8740371604_33cfacf29c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1662"></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740372022/" title="IMG_1663 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8740372022_3b2fc2e219_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1663"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740372452/" title="IMG_1664 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/8740372452_bbb18f92a3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1664"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739256157/" title="IMG_1666 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8739256157_fd011e80d5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1666"></a><br />
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The event square of the theme park with the obligatory photo-op sign.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739255579/" title="IMG_1665 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8739255579_2cc1d88ed1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1665"></a><br />
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Traditional modes of transportation, the rickshaw.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740373858/" title="IMG_1669 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8740373858_0b8627fbbb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1669"></a><br />
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Different types of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shisa">shisa</a></i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739257177/" title="IMG_1670 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/8739257177_bfc28d7252_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1670"></a><br />
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A contraption for milling cane sugar.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740374844/" title="IMG_1671 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8740374844_c32eb92fa3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1671"></a><br />
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The water buffalo used to power the cane sugar milling device.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739258185/" title="IMG_1672 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8739258185_a6030d5c24_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1672"></a><br />
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The cane sugar milling device in action.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739259939/" title="IMG_1678 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8739259939_b891f903e6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1678"></a><br />
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A performance of traditional dance in the main square.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739258597/" title="IMG_1673 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8739258597_d7f4954c55_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1673"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740376228/" title="IMG_1674 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8740376228_a31de07852_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1674"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739259397/" title="IMG_1675 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8739259397_9d25c13d6b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1675"></a><br />
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After a couple of hours in the theme park, it was time to leave and because the public bus didn't come so frequently, we had to wait for about 40 minutes for the next bus to come. Almost all other tourists arrived and left via their rental cars.<br />
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Our next destination was the Mihama/Chatan area where the local tourist guides said that there was a beach and an "American Village" shopping centre.<br />
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Although I am not personally interested in beaches, since Okinawa's tourism appeal is related to beaches, I wanted to see at least one beach while I was there. It seems that unlike Hawaii, in Okinawa, if you wanted to go to a beach, you had to make a special effort to go to a beach, either in some far away location, or located at some expensive resort hotel (also in far away). From my observations, it seems that none of the beaches in Okinawa are located "on the way".<br />
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The Sunset Beach, an artificial man-made beach next to the Mihama American Village shopping centre in the Chatan area. The relatively cold weather meant that there was almost no one there. Although it is a man-made beach, was there a need to install so much concrete?!<br />
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In the background, you can see a concrete breakwater and some industrial installations in the background...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740377414/" title="IMG_1681 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8740377414_1a025aa882_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1681"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740377688/" title="IMG_1682 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/8740377688_bf75403400_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1682"></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739260847/" title="IMG_1683 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/8739260847_e7aa39e2bc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1683"></a><br />
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Swimming is not allowed at this beach either. What are people supposed to do when it gets hot here, lie down on the hard concrete?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740378438/" title="IMG_1684 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/8740378438_23202cf1db_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1684"></a><br />
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The Mihama American Village, a collection of strip malls. Not so interesting in my opinion. Maybe its interesting, if you never seen American style suburban shopping centres?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739261693/" title="IMG_1685 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8739261693_9433b500dd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1685"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740379478/" title="IMG_1687 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8740379478_48cc0401b4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1687"></a><br />
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What thing that I noticed is that Japan (and Asia in general) loves giant ferris wheels, especially building them into shopping centres. Nevermind that probably once the novelty wears out, no one is ever going to be using them again.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740379164/" title="IMG_1686 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8740379164_6804457571_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1686"></a><br />
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The next stop was Okinawa City in the middle of the island. Okinawa is infamous in Japan as the home of 90% of the U.S. military bases in Japan and I wanted to see what the surrounding area around a U.S. military base looked like. Apparently no tourists ever go to Okinawa City, and I would soon figure out why.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739267393/" title="IMG_1706 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8739267393_65ddf9d0de_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1706"></a><br />
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Okinawa City is located right next to the main gate of the Kadena Air Force base and it seems that all of the shops and services serve the "needs" of the U.S. military.<br />
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I was surprised at how run-down the area looked like. The setting looked like it was imported straight from some depressed area in America. The area was almost completely deserted by locals except for the old people who lived nearby.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740390022/" title="IMG_1689 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8740390022_3291f89588_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1689"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740379970/" title="IMG_1688 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/8740379970_06f4cea274_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1688"></a><br />
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This is in the middle of the day and it was completely empty. I imagine things get rough and rowdy during the nighttime?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739263221/" title="IMG_1690 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/8739263221_802f8cdae7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1690"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739263585/" title="IMG_1691 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8739263585_a45ac754ed_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1691"></a><br />
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The main arcade of Okinawa City. It seems that the area has been frozen in time, from 50 years ago?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740381066/" title="IMG_1692 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/8740381066_94b9474b61_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1692"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739264301/" title="IMG_1693 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8739264301_74a24f914f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1693"></a><br />
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Shuttered shops.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739264609/" title="IMG_1694 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8739264609_9b0890f8d8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1694"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739265051/" title="IMG_1695 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/8739265051_d8b3506a00_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1695"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739265383/" title="IMG_1697 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8739265383_6ef0d6afa2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1697"></a><br />
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Shady looking nightclub. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740382758/" title="IMG_1698 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/8740382758_f8e3361c51_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1698"></a><br />
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Shady looking bar.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739265935/" title="IMG_1701 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7288/8739265935_15da209163_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1701"></a><br />
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Some sort of gambling establishment? <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740383404/" title="IMG_1703 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/8740383404_e52ca2cd88_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1703"></a><br />
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Of all the places you would expect to find a Jamaican restaurant, you find one here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739266615/" title="IMG_1704 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8739266615_dd1487fa89_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1704"></a><br />
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"Mickey's Family Restaurant"<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740384278/" title="IMG_1705 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7285/8740384278_d72bed76c2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1705"></a><br />
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On the main arterial road of Okinawa City. Nothing but shop vacancies.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739267819/" title="IMG_1707 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/8739267819_12e0471720_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1707"></a><br />
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It was starting to feel creepy walking around a semi-ghost town. So we took the bus back to Naha.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740385390/" title="IMG_1708 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/8740385390_bbb273d8b5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1708"></a><br />
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Views from the Okinawa expressway back to Naha. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740385616/" title="IMG_1709 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8740385616_9ddf20604f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1709"></a> <br />
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You can't help but notice how mountainous the island of Okinawa is, yet all of the prime flat land is used by the U.S. military which forces the local people to live in the hilly and mountainous areas.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740385880/" title="IMG_1710 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8740385880_3019f5f070_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1710"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740386088/" title="IMG_1712 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8740386088_0593d538a2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1712"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740386292/" title="IMG_1713 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7284/8740386292_cfc6335745_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1713"></a><br />
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One of the nicer looking pieces of infrastructure in Okinawa.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740386558/" title="IMG_1715 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8740386558_135a657361_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1715"></a><br />
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The next day, we departed Okinawa for Fukuoka, Japan on the island of Kyushu.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740386892/" title="IMG_1723 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8740386892_77eb84ea2e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1723"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740387242/" title="IMG_1724 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/8740387242_14a5cabf41_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1724"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739270639/" title="IMG_1726 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8739270639_de363840dc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1726"></a><br />
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Buying one more <i>omiyage</i> (souvenir) before leaving. An Okinawa grown pineapple. They were not cheap, at around 2000 yen ($20 USD) for one, but it was sure tasty.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739270369/" title="IMG_1725 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7290/8739270369_e9552f7776_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1725"></a><br />
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Landing in Fukuoka.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8739271087/" title="IMG_1727 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8739271087_ddfff53485_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1727"></a><br />
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Some of the ramen <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yatai_(retail)">yatai</a></i> (basically food carts) that Fukuoka is famous for.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740388798/" title="IMG_1732 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/8740388798_6c90587e87_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1732"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740389180/" title="IMG_1734 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7289/8740389180_8311f0a67a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1734"></a><br />
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At JR Hakata station in Fukuoka. Whats interesting is that there is a railway shrine on the rooftop.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740389428/" title="IMG_1735 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/8740389428_e41d7f4cb2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1735"></a><br />
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The skyline of Fukuoka from the rooftop of JR Hakata station. You can really notice the difference in "orderliness" between mainland Japan and Okinawa.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8740389638/" title="IMG_1739 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/8740389638_5eb064db8a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1739"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0Okinawa Prefecture, Japan26.2124013 127.6809316999999718.9181473 117.35378319999998 33.5066553 138.00808019999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-82078070717982561812013-05-11T17:52:00.000-07:002013-06-14T15:34:26.992-07:00Okinawa - Naha: The Most Foreign Looking Place in JapanFrom March 14-17, 2011, when my mother visited me in Japan, we visited Okinawa, sometimes known as "Japan's Hawaii". Having been to Hawaii a long time ago, I was interested to see how Okinawa compares to Hawaii.<br />
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This post covers the first 2 days of the trip (March 14-15) when we flew from Kobe, Japan to the Okinawa prefectural capital of Naha.<br />
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The shopping street aimed strictly at tourists in Naha, <i>Kokusai-dori</i> (国際通り). The most interesting thing is that almost everything in Okinawa, unlike on mainland Japan, was aimed at tourists. More precisely, Japanese domestic tourists, for whom, Okinawa feels like visiting a foreign country, yet everyone knows how to speak standard Japanese. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416421386/" title="IMG_1570 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8416421386_bf6f893ff8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1570"></a><br />
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The location of Okinawa in relation to the rest of Japan. It seems that Okinawa is closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo.<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004d42b50c15ca337299&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=30.145127,135.043945&spn=22.701209,35.112305&z=5&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004d42b50c15ca337299&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=30.145127,135.043945&spn=22.701209,35.112305&z=5&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Okinawa</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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In the days before low cost carrier airlines were launched in Japan, flying to Okinawa was really expensive. So in order to get the cheapest flight, we had to fly from Kobe, Japan via Skymark Airlines, an airline that was "cheap" compared to the regular airlines like Japan Airlines or All Nippon Airways, but not as cheap as today's low cost carriers in Japan, like Jetstar Japan, Peach Aviation or AirAsia Japan.<br />
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Like most newly built airports in Japan, Kobe's airport was located on a reclaimed island in the harbour. The Port of Kobe is in the background.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415323317/" title="IMG_1551 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8415323317_20ffa4ba6d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1551"></a><br />
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One of the good things about Japan is that every airport had viewing platforms without windows where you could see the airplanes. Truly an aviation enthusiast's wonderland.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415322949/" title="IMG_1548 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8415322949_ed54f681c1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1548"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416419312/" title="IMG_1550 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8416419312_24fcecaa5a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1550"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416419118/" title="IMG_1549 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8416419118_009f532e7c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1549"></a><br />
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The boarding pass for the flights. The one way fare was about 17,800 yen ($180 USD).<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415323417/" title="IMG_1552 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8415323417_27cacee63a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1552"></a><br />
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Lift off from Kobe.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416419676/" title="IMG_1555 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8416419676_d11cdff111_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1555"></a><br />
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Arrival at Naha airport. One of the things that was most notable upon arrival, was the tropical environment of Okinawa compared to mainland Japan. (i.e., very green, a lot of palm trees, etc.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415333573/" title="IMG_1718 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8369/8415333573_a9d5d79277_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1718"></a><br />
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Taking the monorail from the airport to our hotel in the central area of Naha. Unlike "standard American thinking", monorails *can* be used for "regular public transport". It is not a transport mode exclusive to theme parks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416429672/" title="IMG_1719 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8416429672_86f5ff8dc1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1719"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415333975/" title="IMG_1721 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8188/8415333975_28c6082a06_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1721"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416426850/" title="IMG_1630 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8416426850_5c0151fefb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1630"></a><br />
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Riding the monorail and looking out into the Okinawan landscape, I was surprised to see so much open space in an urban area.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415333419/" title="IMG_1717 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8415333419_a11ef94c61_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1717"></a><br />
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A monorail switch.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415333271/" title="IMG_1716 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8415333271_e3b0eef251_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1716"></a><br />
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Arrival in the central area of Naha. Similar to mainland Japan, there are tons of concrete and ugly buildings everywhere, but however, things in Okinawa seem "less orderly" and more "dirty" than on mainland Japan. In some respects, Okinawa, looks like a developing Asian country, except that everyone speaks Japanese.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416427088/" title="IMG_1631 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8506/8416427088_c2be5b4c26_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1631"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416422364/" title="IMG_1580 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8416422364_57a02f0229_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1580"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415325579/" title="IMG_1574 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8415325579_184235f16b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1574"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416421970/" title="IMG_1575 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8416421970_d6ba975b2f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1575"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415326099/" title="IMG_1577 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8415326099_2457f2512c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1577"></a><br />
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The Naha skyline.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416426736/" title="IMG_1629 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8416426736_85441a3d06_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1629"></a><br />
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Daytime, at the <i>Kokusai-dori</i> street (国際通り), the main tourist trap in Okinawa, where you can buy all sorts of Okinawan "original goods" like Okinawa-made snacks, food souvenirs and regular souvenirs. <br />
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Also, steak restaurants where chefs do some sort of "performance" while cooking seem to be part of the tourist attraction for mainland Japanese tourists. <br />
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Because Okinawa was only handed over back to Japan in 1972 from the United States, it still has remnants of the American influence, like the popularity (and cheap price) of SPAM, canned soup and the ONLY <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Restaurants">A&W fast food outlets</a> in Japan and the only place where you can buy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%26W_Root_Beer">root beer</a> in Japan (most Japanese people hate the taste of this soft drink!). <br />
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The "Sams Maui Steak House" ad board in the middle of the picture seemed to be really popular on this street as they had multiple shops on the same street!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416420462/" title="IMG_1560 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8416420462_8edfec3884_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1560"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416419972/" title="IMG_1557 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8416419972_4ce5e01b79_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1557"></a><br />
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Street vendors. Now this is definitely something you *never* see in any city on mainland Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416427446/" title="IMG_1633 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8416427446_507c7928fe_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1633"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416427608/" title="IMG_1635 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/8416427608_bbc863deee_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1635"></a><br />
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One of the main intersections of the area and the entrance to the public market. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415324107/" title="IMG_1559 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8415324107_e7be930d76_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1559"></a><br />
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Inside the public market. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416420700/" title="IMG_1562 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8416420700_35e6bfe5f6_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1562"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415331709/" title="IMG_1639 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8415331709_4d3f6fd226_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1639"></a><br />
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The <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shisa">shisa</a></i> (シーサー) is one of the traditional decorations of Okinawa and you see them everywhere on gates, rooftops, etc. Apparently, they are popular as souvenirs. What better way to prove that you went to Okinawa when you give one of these things to your family, friends or your superiors at work?! Nothing like an expensive <i>omiyage</i> to curry favour with <i>buchō-sama</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415332059/" title="IMG_1642 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8415332059_b3d89f9479_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1642"></a><br />
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Canned soup on sale. Now this is something you never see on mainland Japan. When I saw this, I was wondering where they sourced this from? Did someone have access to a supermarket on an American military base? (Okinawa hosts 90% of the U.S. military bases in Japan)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416428162/" title="IMG_1643 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8416428162_a08d998a81_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1643"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416428304/" title="IMG_1644 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8416428304_5d55544958_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1644"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415332417/" title="IMG_1646 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8415332417_24e8957f81_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1646"></a><br />
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Feels like a place that time has forgotten.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416428920/" title="IMG_1649 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8416428920_389c8c660d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1649"></a><br />
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A traditional Okinawan snack, the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sata_andagi">sata andagi</a></i> (サーターアンダーギー). They are sweet deep fried dough similar to doughnuts.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416429072/" title="IMG_1651 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8416429072_616c5b20bd_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1651"></a><br />
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The end of the market.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415332671/" title="IMG_1647 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8415332671_e06c398bda_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1647"></a><br />
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<i>Kokusai-dori</i> at night. One of the shops that sells some sort of liquid with a snake inside.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416420872/" title="IMG_1563 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8416420872_c7e238a235_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1563"></a><br />
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My mother beside a <i>shisa</i> of <i>Kokusai-dori</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416421068/" title="IMG_1568 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8496/8416421068_1bd3eaec36_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1568"></a><br />
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The lights of <i>Kokusai-dori</i> at night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416421386/" title="IMG_1570 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8416421386_bf6f893ff8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1570"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416421548/" title="IMG_1572 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8416421548_96aab9cab7_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1572"></a><br />
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The next day, we went to visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuri_Castle">Shuri Castle</a>. The castle was the home of the King of the Ryūkyū Kingdom before its annexation into Japan as Okinawa. The castle is a reconstruction of the original building that was almost completely destroyed after World War II in 1945.<br />
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Shuri Castle from the monorail.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416426546/" title="IMG_1620 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8416426546_c04eab2154_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1620"></a><br />
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Arriving in the area near the castle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415326455/" title="IMG_1581 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8415326455_220528775e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1581"></a><br />
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The tropical climate of Okinawa really wears down many buildings and structures so the exterior of many buildings look like this. This is a university, near the castle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416422810/" title="IMG_1583 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8416422810_f85315bf02_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1583"></a><br />
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Traditional Okinawan buildings.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415327065/" title="IMG_1585 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8415327065_ed29061136_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1585"></a><br />
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Apparently, this is a World Heritage site.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416423716/" title="IMG_1588 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8416423716_c572b28896_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1588"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415327899/" title="IMG_1589 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8415327899_2e473ebc65_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1589"></a><br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shureimon">Shureimon</a>. The Chinese-style gate near the castle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416424248/" title="IMG_1590 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8416424248_475ac61b6d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1590"></a><br />
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The walls of Shuri Castle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415327423/" title="IMG_1586 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8415327423_0f87206a94_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1586"></a><br />
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Entering Shuri Castle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415328589/" title="IMG_1597 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8415328589_a2fcbfb9d9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1597"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416424870/" title="IMG_1599 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8416424870_5ab0d1e8a5_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1599"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415329137/" title="IMG_1601 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8415329137_493fc223c8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1601"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416425282/" title="IMG_1605 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8416425282_d8e01e5790_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1605"></a><br />
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A picture of me and my mother in front of the reconstructed main hall.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416425578/" title="IMG_1608 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8416425578_77d6a6803f_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1608"></a><br />
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Inside the meticulously reconstructed throne room. You can see the Chinese influences on the Ryūkyū Kingdom.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416425790/" title="IMG_1610 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8416425790_d317bf80a4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1610"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415329847/" title="IMG_1612 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8415329847_173c43c712_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1612"></a><br />
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The seat where the King would sit to look out the square in front of the castle.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416426124/" title="IMG_1613 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8416426124_d622be34b4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1613"></a><br />
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Diorama of the ceremonies the King held in the past. Very Chinese-like.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415330219/" title="IMG_1614 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8415330219_be42ec9a61_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1614"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8415330347/" title="IMG_1615 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8415330347_9850d17e53_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1615"></a><br />
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The last attraction that we went to for the day was the Okinawa Prefectural Museum. Here is a traditional Okinawan house/building.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416427238/" title="IMG_1632 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8416427238_f565ab382a_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1632"></a><br />
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Admission tickets of the attractions we visited on our trip.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8416430044/" title="IMG_6235 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8416430044_8ab6dd13b0_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_6235"></a><br />
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Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan26.2285302 127.6891103000000426.114563200000003 127.52774880000004 26.3424972 127.85047180000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19139900.post-41821656605298193862013-05-09T16:54:00.000-07:002013-06-14T15:34:34.249-07:00Toyama Study Trip - City Revitalization Through Light Rail TransitOn Dec. 10-11, 2010, I joined a study trip to Toyama, Japan with other foreign students of our laboratory to see an implementation of the "Compact City Development Using Public Transport" that Japan's Ministry of Land, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism had been promoting as a means of revitalizing hollowed out (due to suburbanization and excessive reliance of private vehicles) cities in local areas.<br />
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In the case of Toyama. Japan's first implementation of light rail transit (LRT) was used as a catalyst for urban redevelopment. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721731527/" title="IMG_1040 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/8721731527_9a636835b2_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1040"></a><br />
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Below is a map of the route we took to go to Toyama from our university's campus (Hiroshima University) in the place known as Saijo. We had to take the Shinkansen or "bullet train" from Hiroshima to Kyoto and then from Kyoto, we transferred to a "Limited Express" train called the "Thunderbird" to Toyama.<br />
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<iframe width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004d184d9ba5e596c9ca&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.5054,135.911865&spn=5.36516,8.778076&z=7&output=embed"></iframe><br />
<small>View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=204140326073364683473.0004d184d9ba5e596c9ca&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.5054,135.911865&spn=5.36516,8.778076&z=7&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">2010-12-10 Toyama</a> in a larger map</small><br />
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Whereas in North America, where the car is deeply embedded into the public consciousness, where when people do intercity traveling they think in terms of miles or kilometers or expressway/freeway exits, in Japan, for most of the population, people think in terms of railways and railway stations, like which station do you depart and arrive at and how long it takes to get from one station to another.<br />
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Because of this, for using public transport, there is a nationwide system which tells you exactly how to get from Point A to Point B, even if you wanted to do intercity travel. <br />
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It took 5 hours and 41 minutes to go to Toyama using the Shinkansen and the Limited Express train covering almost 700 km. Transportation is pricey in Japan and it cost an equivalent of 16,070 yen ($160 USD) one way for these tickets.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721776503/" title="Train Route by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/8721776503_dcac7d0f7c_o.jpg" width="695" height="398" alt="Train Route"></a><br />
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The tickets. For intercity travel, for some reason, paper tickets are the only way to go. It is not possible to buy train tickets online in Japan.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722853454/" title="IMG_5977 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/8722853454_ac37511a95_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_5977"></a><br />
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The N700 series Shinkansen train at Hiroshima Station. (Picture not taken by me)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721754543/" title="N700-Shinkansen-Hiroshima by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/8721754543_712a9c3706_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="N700-Shinkansen-Hiroshima"></a><br />
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After arriving in Kyoto, we had to transfer to a Limited Express train called the "Thunderbird". (Also not my picture)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722870262/" title="JR-West_Raicho-Thunderbird by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/8722870262_2e88086882_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="JR-West_Raicho-Thunderbird"></a><br />
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While riding the Thunderbird, I ordered a train bento box (they call them <i>eki-ben</i>) for lunch. What is surprising to many foreigners is that most bento boxes sold in Japan are cold and people just eat them cold. Although I don't really prefer it, but even I had gotten used to eating cold bento boxes.<br />
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Such bento boxes usually cost 1000 yen each ($10 USD). While not exactly value for money, there is no other choice unless you bring your own.<br />
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Nothing like eating cold, fried shrimp tempura....<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722843600/" title="IMG_0978 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/8722843600_ccc45a8089_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0978"></a><br />
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At round 3 pm we finally arrived in Toyama, after taking the obligatory group photo, we headed to the city office to get a presentation and explanation of Toyama's efforts at city revitalization using LRT and the "Compact City" concept.<br />
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Group photo in front of Toyama's main railway station.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722853792/" title="Group Photo by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/8722853792_ddb2f04c32_b.jpg" width="720" height="480" alt="Group Photo"></a><br />
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The main attraction, Toyama's LRT. The difference between Toyama's LRT and other streetcar/tram systems in Japan (like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toden_Arakawa_Line">Toei Arakawa Line in Tokyo</a>) is that Toyama's system is Japan's first and so far only modern implementation of an LRT system. This means that it uses modern low-floor vehicles (without steps to enter the train), has level boarding between the platform and the train and uses a proof of payment system where users buy tickets at ticket vending machines before entering the train through any door. On all other streetcar/tram lines in Japan, you have to enter through the back doors, and then pay at the ticket box as your leave through the front door like a bus.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721723479/" title="IMG_0979 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/8721723479_ae01251fca_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0979"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721723741/" title="IMG_0984 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/8721723741_54d05528cb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0984"></a><br />
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Model of the city at the exposition centre for the LRT system. What is interesting is all the scale models of the trains all move!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721724049/" title="IMG_0985 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/8721724049_4d14015ea3_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0985"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721726101/" title="IMG_0999 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/8721726101_36e315369c_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0999"></a><br />
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They are obviously really proud of their LRT system as evidenced by all the awards.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722846158/" title="IMG_0994 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/8722846158_26eb3b0ef4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0994"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721725893/" title="IMG_0995 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7386/8721725893_e0f70b6c63_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_0995"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722848490/" title="IMG_1013 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7447/8722848490_6db962d4bc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1013"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722848704/" title="IMG_1016 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/8722848704_8f5ed6bf25_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1016"></a><br />
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The mayor of Toyama telling us what happened in Toyama and our professor doing rough translations for us.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721726305/" title="IMG_1000 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/8721726305_8fc69d235e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1000"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721727137/" title="IMG_1010 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/8721727137_f0130a30db_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1010"></a><br />
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Project storyboards. Shows Japanese-style urban planning.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721726505/" title="IMG_1002 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/8721726505_01d4f3297b_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1002"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721726715/" title="IMG_1003 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/8721726715_7fcd8e798f_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1003"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722847466/" title="IMG_1008 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7412/8722847466_dfd005f665_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="IMG_1008"></a><br />
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What exhibition centre in Japan would be complete without the sale of omiyage (souvenirs) featuring "original goods". You could buy branded bags and even branded ties!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722849898/" title="IMG_1025 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7282/8722849898_4443fbf489_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1025"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722850102/" title="IMG_1026 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/8722850102_c10a42815d_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1026"></a><br />
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Next, we took the LRT (for free) to visit the operations and maintenance centre.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722850480/" title="IMG_1029 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/8722850480_aa0b65979b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1029"></a><br />
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At the operations and maintenance centre, there was an electric (battery powered) bus developed by Hino Motors (subsidiary of Toyota) which they were testing. It apparently could only operate for 7-8 hours a day for each charge...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722850706/" title="IMG_1030 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/8722850706_49b114388e_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1030"></a><br />
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Listening to explanations with regards to the LRT vehicles.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721730403/" title="IMG_1032 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7308/8721730403_f8ba2a537b_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1032"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8722851118/" title="IMG_1033 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/8722851118_bfb8d0d4e1_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1033"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721730833/" title="IMG_1035 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7394/8721730833_37fe811512_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1035"></a><br />
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The hotel room I stayed in after the day was over. What's interesting about this room is that there was a sink located on the desk right beside my bed! (Out of all the hotels I stayed in, in Japan, this was the first and last time I had ever seen such a thing)<br />
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The next day, was basically a free day where our group explored around Toyama and went to the town of Tateyama.<br />
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Because Toyama is one of the places which receives a lot of snow during the winter, they have installed public shovels for people to help in digging out the snow!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721731823/" title="IMG_1042 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/8721731823_d0121906b4_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1042"></a><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tateyama_Cable_Car">Tateyama had a cable car</a> which was supposed to be an attraction however, because it was the winter season, nothing was open at all, and there was no one on the streets as well. Everything was just dead! It seemed like a ghost town!<br />
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No one in town except for us! <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8721732507/" title="IMG_1045 by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/8721732507_68493ef0fc_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="IMG_1045"></a><br />
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Some background information on Toyama, this LRT project and their efforts at city revitalization. Based on a summary I did prior to going on this study trip. (Only for urban planning/transport nerds)<br />
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<b>Background Information</b><br />
<ul><li>Toyama City<br />
<ul> <li>City Population: 420,000 (2005) <br />
<li>Metro Population: 540,000 (2005) <br />
<li>Located in the Hokuriku Region on Sea of Japan side of central Japan<br />
<ul> <li>Largest city: Kanazawa <br />
<li>2nd Largest City: Toyama <br />
</ul> <li>Modal Share in Toyama City in 2006 <br />
<ul> <li>72% - Private Transport<br />
<li>28% - Public Transport <br />
</ul> <li>Public Transport Companies<br />
<ul> <li>West Japan Railway Company (JR West) <br />
<ul> <li>JR Hokuriku line (east to west)<br />
<li>Defunct Toyama Kosen line (from Toyama station to northern part of Toyama), now part of the LRT network <br />
</ul> <li>Toyama Local Railway Company <br />
<ul> <li>Tram (streetcar) network south of Toyama station<br />
</ul> <li>Toyama Light Rail Company<br />
<ul> <li>LRT (Portram) network north of Toyama station<br />
</ul> </ul> </ul></ul><br />
<b>Urban Problems</b><br />
<ul><li>Lagging behind Kanazawa in interurban competition <br />
<li>Aging and declining population <br />
<ul> <li>City population flat since the late 1990s<br />
<li>Peaked in 2005 and predicted to decrease by 10% over the next 20 years <br />
</ul><li>Suburbanization and hollowing of the city centre <br />
<ul> <li>In 2005, in the city’s densest district, the population density was 40.3 persons/hectare (the lowest among all prefectural capitals in Japan) <br />
<li>Studies show that 200 persons/hectare maximizes sustainability in terms of environment and quality of life <br />
<li>Central shopping district’s retail turnover decreased by 40% from 1994-2004 <br />
<li>Administrative costs will increase in light of declining population (decreasing tax base) and low-density suburbanization <br />
</ul><li>High reliance on cars<br />
<ul> <li>2nd highest car ownership rate in Japan (1.73 vehicles/household in 2005)<br />
<li>Bus ridership dropped by 1/3 from 1989-2004<br />
<li>30% of adult population has neither a driver’s license nor a car<br />
<ul> <li>76% female <br />
<li>71% are aged 60 and older<br />
</ul> </ul><li>Hokuriku Shinkansen connecting Toyama with Kanazawa to the west and Tokyo to the east due for completion in 2014<br />
<ul> <li>Outflow of retail activity may increase due to easier access to Kanazawa<br />
</ul></ul><br />
<b>Urban Countermeasures</b><br />
<ul><li>City government pursuing the “Compact City” policy by using the development of the Toyama LRT Project as a vehicle to generate transit oriented development and compact development <br />
</ul>
<b>Toyama LRT Project</b>
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<i>Brief Timeline</i>
<ul><li>Number of passengers on the former Toyama Kosen line (operated by JR West) had decreased by a large amount even though the population along the line had been stable at about 45,000<br />
<li>JR West shareholders strongly requested that the company divest itself from the unprofitable Toyama Kosen line<br />
<li>Toyama city looked in the possibility of a town development that connected the north part of Toyama station with the existing commercial district on the south part of the station as part of the city regeneration plan<br />
<ul> <li>Improvement in the city’s public transport system was badly needed to enhance the accessibility of the local people in light of the rapidly aging and declining population<br />
</ul><li>The central government decided to built the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa through Toyama<br />
<ul> <li>Because of the planning for the new Toyama Shinkansen station, there were expectations that the existing lines (JR Hokuriku Line, former Toyama Kosen Line) would be elevated <br />
</ul><li>Due to the low ridership and profitability of the Toyama Kosen line, 3 options were considered instead of just automatically elevating the line in preparation for the new station<br />
<ul> <li>Option 1: Keep the Toyama Kosen line by elevating the rail infrastructure at the new Toyama station<br />
<li>Option 2: Abolish the Toyama Kosen line and replace it with a local bus service<br />
<li>Option 3: Convert the Toyama Kosen line into a new LRT system<br />
<ul> <li>There is the option of connecting the LRT system to the existing tram network 10 years after the start of its services<br />
</ul> </ul><li>After a cost-benefit analysis, it was concluded that Option 3 had the highest new social benefit <br />
<li>Former Toyama Kosen line operated by JR West donated to Toyama city for the conversion to LRT<br />
<li>LRT system built with public and private stakeholders <br />
<ul> <li>Private stakeholders <br />
<ul> <li>Local firms invested in the LRT fund for its construction in anticipation for the boast in the local economy would receive upon the operation of the line <br />
<li>JR West donated its money-losing Toyama Kosen<br />
<li>Existing tram operator Toyama Local Railway Company invested capital so that the LRT would be integrated with the firm’s bus services <br />
</ul> <li>Public stakeholders<br />
<ul> <li>Toyama city government<br />
<li>Toyama prefectural government <br />
<li>National Police Agency <br />
<li>Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation<br />
<ul> <li>Gave permission for the operation of light rail vehicles on heavy and light railways thus exploiting the advantages of the LRT’s tram-train feature <br />
</ul> </ul> </ul></ul><i>Characteristics of the LRT System</i><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ernestngai/8723722175/" title="LRT Characteristics by Ernest Ngai, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/8723722175_ef0dc5d61e_o.jpg" width="641" height="489" alt="LRT Characteristics"></a><br />
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<ul><li>8 km line <br />
<li>10 stations (3 upgraded, 7 new)<br />
<ul> <li>Average stop spacing of 0.9 km <br />
</ul><li>7 new light rail vehicles produced by Niigata Transys using a design licensed from Bombardier <br />
<li>Total cost of the project: 5.8 billion yen ($51.4 million USD) or $6.5 million/km <br />
<li>Toyama Light Rail Company (the operator) expected to have annual debts of 20-30 million yen for the next 10 years ($177,000-266,000 USD) <br />
</ul><b>References</b>
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Kato H., Shiroyama H., and Fukayama T. (2008). “Process Management in Public Transit Planning: Case Study of Introduction Project of Light Rail Transit in Toyama, Japan.” <i>Transportation Research Record</i>, 2042, 30-40.
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Light Rail Now Production Team (2006). “Toyama: Tram-Train Streetcar Line is Model for Japan’s Light Rail Revival” <i>Light Rail Now</i>, < http://www.lightrailnow.org > (Nov. 18, 2010).
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Muto, M. (2006). “A Study on Sustainable Urban Management Strategy in Japanese Local Cities: Through the Research on LRT Project in Toyama City”, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, 1-13.
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Takami, K., and Hatoyama K. (2008). “Sustainable Regeneration of a Car-dependent City: The Case of Toyama toward a Compact City.” <i>Sustainable City Regions: Space, Place and Governance</i>, Springer, 145-162.
<br>Ernest Ngaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08786475598397508102noreply@blogger.com0Toyama, Toyama Prefecture, Japan36.6959518 137.2136768000000336.2878528 136.56822980000004 37.1040508 137.85912380000002