TravelStream™ news feed for member thechans on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/thechans en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:20:24 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1148654100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1148654100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1148654100/tpod.html Wed, 23 Aug 2006 13:20:24 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Yichang, China

Yangtze River, May 26Miles travelled: 76960We are on a 3-day cruise down the famed Yangtze River. The 4th-longest river in the world has its headwaters in Tibet and meanders for thousands of miles until it empties into the ocean near Shanghai. The most scenic section is the "Three Gorges", where the river narrows and passes through limestone canyons with peaks and cliffs rising up to 3000 feet on either side. We took a 5-star cruise ship and even got a free upgrade to a "junior suite" at the stern with windows on two sides. After embarking at Chongqing, we traveled about 640 kilometers downstream through the three gorges, as well as taking a smaller boat through the "Lesser Three Gorges" -- even narrower canyons on one of the tributaries of the Yangtze.Unfortunately, the Three Gorges aren't quite as scenic as they once were, as the Three Gorges Dam is under construction which is resulting in a reservoir submerging parts of the gorges. The water level is already 74 meters higher than it used to be, and will rise another 40 meters by 2009. It has generated controversy because of environmental considerations, plus the forced relocation of over a million people and the potential loss of historical & archaeological sites. On the other hand, arguments for benefits of flood control, navigation, and hydropower are also compelling. Regardless, it is quite an engineering feat, including a 5-step set of Panama Canal-size locks to lower ships from the reservoir to the downstream river level.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151172960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151172960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151172960/tpod.html Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:22:23 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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San Francisco, California, United States

San Francisco, June 24Miles travelled: 87764We boarded a 747 at 2:15pm on Saturday and arrived at SFO at 9:30am on Saturday. Hmmm, I guess the international date line was involved. This brings our big adventure to a close. :-( After 9 months, almost 88,000 miles, and two times around the world, we have come home to resume "normal" life. It's been an amazing experience, seeing such a diversity of cultures, landscapes, traveling by airplane, camel cart, elephant, rickshaw, bus, subway, bullet train, bicycle, and even our own two feet.Check back for another upcoming entry where we'll give some "stats" and thoughts about our adventure.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151086260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151086260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151086260/tpod.html Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:15:51 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Tokyo, Japan

Toyko, Jun 23Miles travelled: 82640We took a couple more trains to get back to Tokyo. Finally, we're back in a western-style hotel where we can sleep on real beds and don't have to take off our shoes. Ahh, the simple things.We saw a Kabuki theatre show -- beautiful costumes, simplistic sets, and incomprehensible language (though we were able to follow the plot by reading the (English) synopsis). The Ginza district is one of the ritziest in the world, full of bright lights, high-end shops, and tons of people. As a counterpoint, we went the next day to the Shinjuku National Garden, a quiet oasis in the middle of Tokyo, with landscaped gardens and ponds in Japanese, French, and English styles.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151075580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151075580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1151075580/tpod.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:56:42 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Kawaguchiko, Japan

Kawaguchiko, June 22Miles travelled: 82490This town is along one of the "Five Lakes" which lie at the base of Mt. Fuji. One of the most recognizable symbols of Japan, Mt. Fuji is a 12,000 foot conical snowcapped volcano rising smoothly from the surrounding hills. Unfortunately, Fuji is also quite shy, preferring to stay covered in clouds about 75% of the time. So, we considered ourselves lucky that we got a pretty good view of the mountain, albeit with a cloudy overcast day. Views of the lake and surrounding hills are also quite scenic.We also visited a museum showcasing some amazing dye-colored kimonos. These are really works of art more than clothing, as they depict Fuji and other landscapes with incredible nuances in coloring and detail. The most extensive work is "Autumn", which is a mountain landscape and fall colors actually spread acros 20 separate kimonos. You can see the whole landscape when all the kimonos are put side-by-side. Unfortunately, photos weren't allowed in the museum, so you'll just have to take my word for it.One of our most unusual meals was a "hunter's grill". Billed as "the freshest food you'll ever have", we cooked our own on a wood fire using skewers. The interesting thing was that the trout was still moving when served to us. We were advised to wait till it stopped moving before putting it on the coals. Not for the squeamish, but it sure was fresh and tasted good.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150816320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150816320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150816320/tpod.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:51:29 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima, June 20Miles travelled: 82010We made a brief stop in Hiroshima, site of the first atomic bombing, visiting the Peace Park and museum. The "Atomic Bomb Dome" is the remains of a building which was almost directly under the explosion, and survived. Particularly moving is the Children's Monument, to which schoolchildren from all over Japan (and the world) bring folded paper cranes as messages of remembrance and peace. It originated with a little girl named Sadako, who survived the bombing in 1945 but then developed leukemia from the radiation. Believing that folding a thousand paper cranes would fulfill her wish to be made well, she folded cranes until her death in 1955. Since then, her story has inspired thousands of children to make and bring paper cranes to Hiroshima.As a counterpoint to the sobering remembrance of the bombing, we then went to nearby Miyajima Island, considered a holy island with several beautiful temples and shrines. A torii gate "floating" on the sea symbolizes that the entire island is a holy place. We had a relaxing stay at a 300-year old ryokan, with a wonderful traditional meal (and traditional clothing).
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150729800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150729800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150729800/tpod.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:45:41 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Yufuin, Japan

Yufuin, June 19Miles travelled: 81810We are on the home stretch of the trip. After some hectic travel and fairly intense cultural sightseeing, we are in more relaxed and scenic areas, showing another side of Japan. Yufuin is known for its hot springs resorts, as the area is volcanic. We stayed in a cute (almost sickeningly cute) guesthouse with lots of Precious Moments decorations and pastoral scenes painted on the walls (including one of Jesus, children, a lion, and a lamb). The "onsens" (hot baths) here are fed by hot springs, and are natural-looking, made with rocks and having small waterfalls. Our big exercise came in climbing Mt. Yufu, an extinct volcano. It isn't that tall (about 5000 feet elevation), but we had about a 3-mile trail each way, with about 2400 feet vertical elevation gain. We made it in about 2.5 hours, with great views of the valley below, with its small villages and numerous rice fields.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150556940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150556940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150556940/tpod.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:42:58 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Nagasaki, Japan

Nagasaki, June 17Miles travelled: 81710This city was the target of the second atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. in WWII, on August 9, 1945. It has since been rebuilt, but the city's motto is "never forget." We visited Ground Zero of the explosion, along with a museum displaying photos, videos, and artifacts from the event and its aftermath. It was a very powerful presentation, with exhibits of twisted steel staircases, burned clothing, and photographs of victims and survivors, all showing the effects of heat, blast, and radiation effects. Also shown was a display of the development of the atomic bomb and the war's lead-up to its use.Before making history in this way, Nagasaki was a thriving, cosmopolitan port city, with many ties with Europe and the West, trading houses, and a sizable Christian population. However, the shoguns cracked down on Christians in the 16th century, making Shinto the official state religion. We visited a shrine to 26 martyrs (20 Europeans, 6 Japanese) who were crucified for their faith in 1597. Pope John Paul II elevated them to sainthood in the 1990s. Urakami Cathedral was the largest church in Asia until it was destroyed in the atomic bombing -- it was rebuilt in 1959. There is still a significant Christian population here, with quite a few churches.Here in town, as in all the cities we've visited, there are "Pachinko" halls. Gambling is illegal in Japan, but these Pachinko games are sort of a cross between slot machines and pinball. You pay for some small metal balls (like ball bearings), shoot them like pinball into a maze, and if they fall into specific slots then you get more balls. You can then turn the balls in for a "prize" like a teddy bear. But then, if you go around the corner to a small unmarked window, you can then "trade" the prize for cash.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150470480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150470480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150470480/tpod.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:37:36 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Himeji, Japan

Himeji, June 16Miles travelled: 81389This city is home to the last remaining imperial castle in Japan, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Begun in 1333, successive rulers added on to it until its completion in 1618. The main tower is seven stories high, with fortifications, ramparts, and a triple moat (with the outer 2 moats now filled in and developed). It's very spartan inside, without the ornamentation and decoration that might be found in a European castle, but it is very impressive and picturesque from the outside and an imposing centerpiece of the city.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150384020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150384020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150384020/tpod.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:34:45 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto, June 15Miles travelled: 81309For almost a thousand years, from the 8th to 17th centuries, Kyoto was the capital of Japan, home to emperors and shoguns. Now a modern city of 1.4 million people, it also retains much of its heritage, with almost 2,000 shrines and temples, manicured gardens and parks. One of the highlights was the Fushimi-Inari shrine -- its distinguishig feature is a set of winding paths with thousands of orange "torii" gates, intermingled with dozens of shrines also festooned with gates. Individuals and businesses pay great amounts to erect these gates, on which are written wishes or prayers to Shinto deities. Without disparaging their beliefs, it is nonetheless sobering to think about the effort and funds spent in these attempts to gain the favor of the gods. Kyoto is also a cultural center, and many geishas train and work in the teahouses which are located in the Gion district. According to the guidebook, "a girl is taken on in her teens as an apprentice and is carefully trained by older geisha in the traditional arts of entertaining Japanese men who want to spend the evening in an elegant teahouse, away from their wives." But, real geishas are professional entertainers, not prostitutes, and are given high stature, similar to top-name actresses or singers in the West. We went to Kyoto's most famous teahouse, featured in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" and staked-out the entrance, paparrazzi-style. We saw several geishas and apprentices walk by, demonstrating an elegance and poise befitting their reputation.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150211100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150211100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/thechans/roundtheworld/1150211100/tpod.html Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:27:47 -0400 Nathan & Anna's big adventure! Around the world twice for travel, service, and mission -- 2005-6.

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Takayama, Japan

Takayama, June 13Miles travelled: 81149Japan is justifiably famous for its fast and efficient rail system, and we had our first experience with the "bullet train", the Shinkansen. Timed to the minute, the train arrives and the passengers have 90 seconds to get on or off before the train pulls away. Top speed on the "Hikari" trains is about 280 km/h (170 mph). It's really moving, and very smooth. We took the bullet train to Nagoya, then transferred to a local train to Takayama, a small town in the "Japanese Alps." Takayama is known for its woodwork and craftsmanship, as historically many of its workers have have contributed to the temples in Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital. There are many examples of historic wooden houses, and a reconstructed "folk village" of houses that have been moved from various parts of Japan, demonstrating architectural and construction techniques.We are staying primarily in "ryokans", or Japanese guest houses. They are, for the most part, small and charming, but they are different from Western hotels. The biggest difference is that you sleep on the floor, on "futons" which are basically thick sleeping pads. The floor is covered with tatami mats, made of straw. Principles of cleanliness and contamination are very structured -- take off your shoes inside the ryokan, wear either socks or the provided slippers. No slippers allowed on tatami mats. Doorways tend to be very short, we don't know why -- maybe because Japanese are short, or the doorway makes you bow before entering, or they just like to make tall Westerners hit their heads.There is a communal shower & bath area (separate areas for men & women, fortunately) with a shared bathtub for a hot soak. No clothing is allowed inside the bath room. Inside the toilet rooms, change into the provided "toilet slippers", which are only to be used there, then change back to regular slippers when done. And some of the toilets are amazing -- along with the automatic flushing, there are heated toilet seats and electronic controls for spraying your backside when done with your business -- with adjustable water temperature, pressure, and aiming point, plus a blow-dryer function. Never seen anything like it.
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