Month: September 2011

fleeing the Japanese Alps

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel1 Comment

Likely the most popular overnight hiking destination in Japan is Kamikōchi.

People go to walk high ridges and scramble Mount Yari (槍ヶ岳 Yari-ga-take), … one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. … 3,180 m (10,433 ft).

For two days we had perfect weather. (Trip report and photos coming soon.) I put up my tent on a ridge a couple of hundred metres beneath the “spear” (槍 yari).

The first night was fantastic, one of the best spots I’ve ever camped. Both sunset and sunrise.

… but the second night a storm blew in at 10pm. I listened to an audio book all night, frantic to pack up my soaked belongings at first light. I descended directly to the Tokyo bus.

As a result I missed the infamous “Daikiretto” (die-key-ret-toe – all I see is ‘DIE’).

It will be too late in the season for me this Autumn, but one day I’d love to do the 65km Tate-Yama to Kamikochi traverse of the “Northern Alps”.

Woody Allen does Paris

On By Rick McIn movies1 Comment

I saw the latest “WAllen” — Midnight in Paris

He had fun with this one. Casting Cole Porter, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein must have been a blast.

Corey Stoll as Ernest Hemingway was perfect.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

… The movie explores themes of nostalgia, existentialism and xenocentrism.

Produced by Spanish group Mediapro and Allen’s Gravier Productions, the film stars Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni, Adrien Brody and Michael Sheen. …

His 41st film actually made money.

… Rotten Tomatoes reports that 92% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 149 reviews, with an average score of 7.9/10. Among Top Critics it received 95% positive reviews with an average rating of 8.2. The critical consensus is: “It may not boast the depth of his classic films, but the sweetly sentimental Midnight in Paris is funny and charming enough to satisfy Woody Allen fans.”

I’m a fan.

overwhelmed at Shinjuku Station

On By Rick McIn travel2 Comments

Misinformed, I exited the wrong side of Shinjuko.

oops

Shinjuku Station is used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007, making it the busiest train station in the world in terms of number of passengers. …

For about a half hour I was entertained by the manswarm. Eventually I decided to cross over to my intended destination.

After another 90min, I finally gave up and went home. There seemed to be no way to cross Shinjuku East to West. In fact, I needed to watch this instuctional first. There are three different ways to cross.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

researching Japan

On By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

My friend Kraig Becker linked to this:

One of the more interesting aspects of traveling through Japan is the bullet train, so named because of their distinctive shapes and the fact that they routinely hit speeds in excess of 150 mph. The trains are well known for being safe, efficient, and on time, making them a popular way to get around the country.

… Andrew … wanted to see if he could cross the length of the country by train in a single day – a journey of more than 1200 miles …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gadling – Crossing Japan in a day with National Geographic’s Digital Nomad

hiking Japan’s northern Alps

On By Rick McIn hiking, travel1 Comment

I’m confirmed tomorrow to head for the Northern Alps to hike out of Kamikōchi:

… a remote mountainous highland in the western portion of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, which has been preserved in its natural state. …

It is sometimes referred to as the “Japanese Yosemite,” although it is considerably smaller than its American counterpart. …

34km

Japan’s classic alpine route.

I’ll be back online by Oct 2nd.

Yokohama Harbour by night

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, travel1 Comment

Following the gymnastics competition in Japan, I joined some of the Canadian delegation for dinner and sightseeing.

We were quite impressed.

Yokohama Harbor

Yokohama Tilt Shift

Yokohama Wheel

… Construction of Minato Mirai 21 (“Port Future 21”), a major urban development project on reclaimed land, started in 1983.

… the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. The 860m-long Yokohama Bay Bridge opened in the same year. …

Yokohama

All’s well that ends well. The Canadians were very happy to have come to Yokohama, despite arriving in a Typhoon and experiencing a minor earthquake.