This gallery contains 32 photos.
Today was another public holiday – to avoid the masses, my original plan had been to head out for the National Park and enjoy a bit of hiking – – but the bus to get there never showed up. So … Continue reading
A quick train ride got me from Andong to Gyeongju – UNESCO world heritage site and essentially an open museum with a bit of everything – from the graves of kings and a (massively commercialized) hanok area (we’d call it “old town” in the West) to several Buddhist temples and tons of Buddhist artifacts.
After arrival, dropping my stuff at the guesthouse and a quick lunch, I started out to explore the core town and the graves of kings. This being a long holiday weekend Monday it was CROWDED – way too many people for my taste. I made my way through the Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (essentially a park with hilly mound graves) via the observatory (supposedly the oldest in Asia) and on to the National Museum. This one was packed as well, I eventually aborted my visit, as I was not even able to read through the explanations with people pushing behind me. I made my way back into town, to eventually find happiness in the local brew and food.
This gallery contains 28 photos.
From Seoul it was on to Andong by bus, which turned out to be a comfy, yet lengthy (caught in traffic) trip of five hours (instead of a good 2.5 hours per the schedule). After an afternoon check-in at my … Continue reading
This gallery contains 16 photos.
The weather had changed, today was a sunny and warm’ish day. I decided for some outdoor activity – a hike up Inwangsan Mountain for some great views across town. Coming down I made my way towards the center, passing by … Continue reading
This gallery contains 20 photos.
After a bit more than a month in Japan I had completed my itinerary across Northern Honshu and around Hokkaido – diving into a less touristy part of Japan … well worth the trip – and I might be back … Continue reading
This gallery contains 16 photos.
I had an early start this Monday, catching a train at 7:45 South to Shiroai for a visit of Upopoy – the National Ainu Museum and experience center. I arrived at the park just as they opened – and spent … Continue reading
I spent the morning on a train, making all the way from Kushiro to Sapporo and then on to Otaru. This being Sunday and the start of Japanese Golden Week, the place was packed. My walk got me from the station to canal and then on to some other landmark buildings, the last bit through a tourist shopping street. It was too packed to enjoy, hence I made it back to Sapporo to check-in to my hotel and for some first exploration in Hokkaido’s biggest city.
This gallery contains 20 photos.
I made it South today, with the first stop after already one hour at Toro for a visit of Kushiro-Shitsugen NP or the Kushiro Marshlands. From the station I walked over to the Sarubo Observatory and on to the Toro … Continue reading
This gallery contains 20 photos.
I made it to Kawayu-Onsen – and one of the more remote corners of Hokkaido – by another slow train (with some great views on the way). Kawayu-Onsen is situated right in the caldera of a volcano – and part … Continue reading
Today was reserved for the three big-hitters in Abashiri. In the morning I started at the Northern Peoples Museum, a museum essentially covering all Arctic regions and peoples – from the local Okthosk People, via the Sami to the Inuit. Overall another excellent museum with a good combination of exhibits – and of special interest for me given my previous visits to the high North. Though – I was a bit shocked by how they named the various tribes … I have not seen the word “eskimo” in a while – here it is in constant use – also it took me a while to figure out that “North-Indian” actually refers to America – and not India…
A short walk got me over to the drift ice museum and experience center, which – to be honest – felt a bit like a tourist trap with just a small exhibition, a short film and an icy experienc (a room cooled down to -15°C with the option to see a wet towel turn solid) – plus of course the usual well equipped shop and restaurant … at least their viewing platfom and their soft serve did not disappoint.
Final stop was at the infamous Abashiri Prison Museum – a 20 minute walk away. The museum is a collection of buildings from Abashiri prison history. The prison was originally established in Abashiri in the 1880s with the prisoners pushed into forced labour, building up the infrastructure (mainly roads) – to connect this remote part of Hokkaido with the rest of the country … and to allow the establishment of a military presence to avoid a potential Russian invasion from the North. Living and working conditions here were harsh and many died in the process (incl. guards).
