Friday, October 18, 2013

Boston

Was up in Boston for a wedding last month, and had a couple hours to spend in the city. So of course most of the time spent looking for food.

Boston, as seen from North End Park

surrounding area around Quincy Market

Quincy Market

inside Quincy Market

row of shops inside Quincy Market


Lobster roll from Boston & Maine Fish Company
Unfortunately, it wasn't very good. The roll was very hard and just had a little lobster meat slathered on top with nothing but lettuce actually inside the roll.

forgot what this is called...

Mike's Pastry, famous cannoli shop

inside Mike's Pastry
The line didn't go down the block, so it wasn't as crowded as usual.

getting cannolis

Mike's Pastry box

Unfortunately the cannolis were so good that most were consumed before I had time to take a photo >_>

contrast between historical and modern Boston

The site of the  Boston Massacre

markers on the Freedom Trail

The red guide line for the Freedom Trail


Sunday, August 18, 2013

嵐山, 京都, 日本 (Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan)

Arashiyama (嵐山), Kyoto (京都), Japan (日本)

Oi River

Togetsukyō Bridge

somewhere outside of Sagano?

Sagano Bamboo Forest

Sagano Bamboo Forest

scenic train that runs along the Hozu River
(which later becomes to Oi River, and then becomes the Katsura River)

Rice paddy in Takai, outside the Torokko Kameoka Station トロッコ亀岡 on the otherside of the mountain

Thursday, May 9, 2013

京都, 日本 (Kyoto, Japan)

Kyoto (京都), just North of Nara, was the former capital of Japan so there's lots of history to see there, including 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here's a few I was able to visit while there.

Byodo-in (平等院), but over a thousand years ago as a country-side retreat but is now a Buddhist temple.

different angle

somehwere.... i forget where...

The main hall of Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺), one of the most well-known Buddhist temples in the country.

Otawa Waterfall as seen from the wooden deck in the previous picture.
The people are lined up to drink from the water. Each of the three streams is suppose to bring different benefits.

Kiyomizu-dera, from a different angle

a niomon by the Kiyomizu-dera temples

small street by the shops next to Kiyomizu-dera

Sunday, April 28, 2013

東大寺, 奈良, 日本 (Todai-ji, Nara, Japan)

Todai-ji (東大寺) is a Budhist Temple complex and consists of several temples and shrines.  A great place to visit for those who are interested in Japanese history and culture, but probably not as interesting for others. The site is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

stone marker outside the entrance

the main entrance gate


central gate that leads to the main temple

 

Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿 Daibutsuden)
Didn't have time to get interior shots :(

This is the world's largest wooden structure until the 1990s

Deer are considered sacred protectors and many tame deer wander around the area

large bronze bell