We had a wonderful time with faculty and students of Saniku College, including a workshop on
origami (Japanese paper crafts) and a show of martial arts by the students!!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Touring in Tokyo and More Photos Uploaded
Yesterday and today we have enjoyed a grand tour in and around Tokyo.
Our new photos are posted in the Tokyo section of our photo gallery.
Yesterday, Day 12 of the trip, we visited the University of Tokyo, which is the #1 university in Japan. After our visit and tour of the campus, we headed out for a drive to Mt. Omuro. After taking a cable car ride to the top, from the top of Mt Omuro, which once was a volcano, we could see 360 degrees around the area...but we couldn't see Mt. Fuji like we had hoped due to the haze.
In the evening we were in a town called Ito along the Pacific Ocean. The ride to Ito could be compared to a ride on Highway 1 in Northern California. Part of the ride was by bus, and another part was by train on the Izukyu Line Kawatsu Railway. The adventure for the evening was a traditional Japanese dinner with Sushi, soaking in an outside mineral pool, and sleeping in a traditional Japanese hotel, on the floor on mats. Some of us got "in trouble" for cooking our Sushi...
Today, Day 13 of the trip, we visited Yokohama and the Yokohama Chinatown. We also visited a 12 meter tall Bronze Great statue of Kamakura, built in 1252. The Ginza shopping district in downtown Tokyo was a highlight for some on the trip.
We are now at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. It's been another long day...and we're all enjoying the rest that we all need.
Our new photos are posted in the Tokyo section of our photo gallery.
Yesterday, Day 12 of the trip, we visited the University of Tokyo, which is the #1 university in Japan. After our visit and tour of the campus, we headed out for a drive to Mt. Omuro. After taking a cable car ride to the top, from the top of Mt Omuro, which once was a volcano, we could see 360 degrees around the area...but we couldn't see Mt. Fuji like we had hoped due to the haze.
In the evening we were in a town called Ito along the Pacific Ocean. The ride to Ito could be compared to a ride on Highway 1 in Northern California. Part of the ride was by bus, and another part was by train on the Izukyu Line Kawatsu Railway. The adventure for the evening was a traditional Japanese dinner with Sushi, soaking in an outside mineral pool, and sleeping in a traditional Japanese hotel, on the floor on mats. Some of us got "in trouble" for cooking our Sushi...
Today, Day 13 of the trip, we visited Yokohama and the Yokohama Chinatown. We also visited a 12 meter tall Bronze Great statue of Kamakura, built in 1252. The Ginza shopping district in downtown Tokyo was a highlight for some on the trip.
We are now at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. It's been another long day...and we're all enjoying the rest that we all need.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The People and Places of Asia
To get a sense of the place where we're traveling, check out the photos in the section "The People and Places of Asia."
Days 5 to 11 - New photos uploaded
Hi Everyone,
We're here in Tokyo, Japan...and we now have open access to this blog. We've uploaded some new photos from Days 5 to 11. We've had a wonderful time in China...we visited two more universities and we've done some fun shopping...we've also tired to find as many Starbucks and Dairy Queens as possible...
Check out our photos!
We're here in Tokyo, Japan...and we now have open access to this blog. We've uploaded some new photos from Days 5 to 11. We've had a wonderful time in China...we visited two more universities and we've done some fun shopping...we've also tired to find as many Starbucks and Dairy Queens as possible...
Check out our photos!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Photo Pages
Be sure to check out our photo pages. More photos will be coming later...but we have some photos posted for Days 1 to 5 of our trip.
Highlights of our trip so far...
Monday, May 31, 2010
Our group of 29 has arrived safely in Beijing. We are staying at the Holiday Inn in Beijing. Our flight was about 13 hours...and we are 15 hours ahead of Pacific Time (12 hours ahead of Eastern Time).
We rested in the hotel for about an hour, and then we met to have dinner. We had our first Chinese dinner just down the road from our hotel. We even met the fish that they were going to bring us...we declined! It was an amazing thing how fast the meat eaters converted to vegetarian!
We have a great group of people on this trip. Three of us PhD students also attended the European Study Tour.
We are going to try to keep current information about the trip flowing at our blogsite, but we do not have access to it in Beijing...we'll see...
Thoughts before bed…This place is just like National Geographic!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
We had such a nice day today. Today we went to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven. The Forbidden City is HUGE!
A interesting thing we did today was sit through a short presentation on Chinese Medicine. That was interesting. We had my pulse "read"...so now we know what is wrong with us...actually, some of us had it confirmed what we already new.
The skies were gray most of the day, but this afternoon the sun came out, and tonight it is raining. That seems to be the norm. Tomorrow we are going to the Great Wall of China and the Summer Palace.
Thoughts…so much history. Amazing architecture. Sweet people! Lots of people!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
We actually had hash brown potato patties today in the hotel for breakfast...just like home. Today we’re off to see the Great Wall of China. We go to our first University tomorrow.
The weather is mild...it seems to rain in the evening when the sun goes down.
The food is good. Many of us are going vegetarian..."wedgetarian" if you say it with a Chinese accent. Lots of cabbage, mushrooms, peppers, rice, and noodles....some tofu, but not much.
The Chinese people whom we have met at the different tourist/historical places really love Americans. They like to have their picture taken with us...cause we are so different from them. The kids are just beautiful. I can't stop taking their pictures. The kids love to have their picture taken, too. Don't even have to pay them to do it.
The Great Wall of China was a big deal for all of us. We really enjoyed this adventure. Many of our group walked up to four tours, and all of our group walked some of the way. The steps are not even…some are 3 inches, and some are 12 inches. When you walk in each step, the stone is groves from all of the ware.
You can see from the photos that some of us went back in time with some cultural costumes. Boy, was that fun!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Another beautiful day in Beijing! After breakfast we are headed to our first university stop, and then an afternoon of shopping and free time. Some of the group are going to a Kung Fu demonstration. The rest of us shopped, and enjoyed iced coffee in a small coffee shop.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Today we flew from Beijing to Shanghai. Then we drove to the region of Wuxi. After lunch we took a cruise on the Tai Lake...then we went to a Pearl factory. This place is beautiful!
Sabbath, June 5, 2010
Today is Sabbbath, and we're getting some free time in the hotel. After our worship at 10 a.m., we'll be leaving for a full day of touring the Grand Canal (the Venice of the East), the Humble Administrator's Garden, and the Hanshan Temple and Water village.
Our group of 29 has arrived safely in Beijing. We are staying at the Holiday Inn in Beijing. Our flight was about 13 hours...and we are 15 hours ahead of Pacific Time (12 hours ahead of Eastern Time).
We rested in the hotel for about an hour, and then we met to have dinner. We had our first Chinese dinner just down the road from our hotel. We even met the fish that they were going to bring us...we declined! It was an amazing thing how fast the meat eaters converted to vegetarian!
We have a great group of people on this trip. Three of us PhD students also attended the European Study Tour.
We are going to try to keep current information about the trip flowing at our blogsite, but we do not have access to it in Beijing...we'll see...
Thoughts before bed…This place is just like National Geographic!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
We had such a nice day today. Today we went to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven. The Forbidden City is HUGE!
A interesting thing we did today was sit through a short presentation on Chinese Medicine. That was interesting. We had my pulse "read"...so now we know what is wrong with us...actually, some of us had it confirmed what we already new.
The skies were gray most of the day, but this afternoon the sun came out, and tonight it is raining. That seems to be the norm. Tomorrow we are going to the Great Wall of China and the Summer Palace.
Thoughts…so much history. Amazing architecture. Sweet people! Lots of people!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
We actually had hash brown potato patties today in the hotel for breakfast...just like home. Today we’re off to see the Great Wall of China. We go to our first University tomorrow.
The weather is mild...it seems to rain in the evening when the sun goes down.
The food is good. Many of us are going vegetarian..."wedgetarian" if you say it with a Chinese accent. Lots of cabbage, mushrooms, peppers, rice, and noodles....some tofu, but not much.
The Chinese people whom we have met at the different tourist/historical places really love Americans. They like to have their picture taken with us...cause we are so different from them. The kids are just beautiful. I can't stop taking their pictures. The kids love to have their picture taken, too. Don't even have to pay them to do it.
The Great Wall of China was a big deal for all of us. We really enjoyed this adventure. Many of our group walked up to four tours, and all of our group walked some of the way. The steps are not even…some are 3 inches, and some are 12 inches. When you walk in each step, the stone is groves from all of the ware.
You can see from the photos that some of us went back in time with some cultural costumes. Boy, was that fun!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Another beautiful day in Beijing! After breakfast we are headed to our first university stop, and then an afternoon of shopping and free time. Some of the group are going to a Kung Fu demonstration. The rest of us shopped, and enjoyed iced coffee in a small coffee shop.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Today we flew from Beijing to Shanghai. Then we drove to the region of Wuxi. After lunch we took a cruise on the Tai Lake...then we went to a Pearl factory. This place is beautiful!
Sabbath, June 5, 2010
Today is Sabbbath, and we're getting some free time in the hotel. After our worship at 10 a.m., we'll be leaving for a full day of touring the Grand Canal (the Venice of the East), the Humble Administrator's Garden, and the Hanshan Temple and Water village.
From Beijing to Shanghai (Day 1 to 7)
We are now in Shanghai...we haven't been able to log into this blog...but we have figured out a back door to the blog, so we'll try to get you all updated. We're safe. We're all having fun! We've seen so much. We'll try to get some pictures uploaded now.
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