Inner Mongolia - Yurts or No Yurts

Jon and I decided to head to Inner Mongolia for a few days during his trip over here this time. We left early on Sunday morning and arrived in Hohhot an hour later. We were met by our guide and driver and left Hohhot for the grassland in Xilamuren. We found that in the winter, there isn't much grass in the grassland. It was too cold to stay in the grassland yurts so we just spent the day there and then went to a hotel for the night back in Hohhot. While in the grassland, we had a great lunch, rode very furry horses, and drank Mongolian milk tea. I had to borrow a jacket because it was too cold.

The next day, we drove to E’erduosi City to visit the Gobi Desert. It was also very cold in the desert so again we didn't stay in the yurt we had planned on using. We decided that instead of riding the camels (Bactrian, if you were curious), we just wanted to walk in the desert for a while.

Jon had his birthday in E’erduosi City the next day. We visited Genghis Khan's mausoleum, an aobao, and went for a walk in the park across the street from our hotel. In the park, we found a pack of wild dogs, a crime scene, and an old dragon boat ride. In the evening, our driver bought Jon a cake (Yes, it says "Happy Btrsday" on it.) and a bottle of Red Star bai jiu.

We spent our last day back in Hohhot City visiting various sites. My favorite was the Dazhao Lamasery. Unfortunately, it was the coldest it had been the whole trip while we were there plus it was very windy so we didn't stay as long as I would have liked.

Jon and I did enjoy our trip and we would love to come back again... just not in winter. More photos at Flickr.

--Sarah & Jon--

Chinese New Year 2011

Chinese New Year fireworks go on every night for two weeks. Some people here start complaining about them after the first few days and quite often by the first week or so. I love them! My only complaint is when they set off really exciting sounding ones after I've already gone to bed. I can't help jumping up again and looking out the window so I tend to get less sleep for a couple weeks. It is pretty amazing seeing the magnitude of these fireworks right out on the street between buildings. I'll definitely miss these when I move home to where even sparklers are illegal!

Here are some photos and video I took last year when I lived on the second floor and the fireworks were being set off right outside my window.

This year I moved all the way across the street and up to the 30th floor. I had a buildings in the way more often this year but I could see more fireworks being set off around the city.

Here is my video from this year. (I think last year's video is better though.)

--Sarah

Japan - Kawagoe

On my last full day in Japan, I took a train to Kawagoe. Kawagoe is known for sweet potatoes and there is even a beer made by Coedo that uses them. I bought a couple bottles to share with Danny when I returned to his place in the evening.

In Kawagoe, I walked around the shopping streets and visited the clock tower.

I also walked to the candy alley where kids were buying candy and sweet bread loaves. I didn't even have to look at my map to get to the candy alley, I just had to follow all the kids.

In the afternoon, I visited a temple which turned out to be my favorite part of my whole trip.

On the temple grounds there is a Buddha statue garden with hundreds of statues. Each Buddha is different and I took my time looking at each one.

The most famous ones are these two whispering and the one behind them who looks like he is listening in.

On my walk back to the train station, I saw some chopsticks lifting some noodles and a horse.

More photos at flickr.

--Sarah--

Japan - Hakone

Daniel and I went to Hakone for two days during my visit to Japan. We took a train in the morning to Hakone where we got off and walked around a bit before heading a bit further to Gora where we stayed the night. Our hotel had onsen (hot baths) which Danny and I used. There were some that were available to all the hotel guests and each room had one right on the balcony!

We had tasty soba noodles for lunch.

We walked around a park. It would have been beautiful if the flowers were blooming but instead, it was pretty dead except for the flowers in the greenhouses. We saw a very creepy looking pitcher plant.

At our hotel, we dressed up in kimonos and had a fancy dinner with a great view. We had several courses including fugu hotpot!

In the morning, we rode the cable car hoping for a great view of Mount Fuji but it was cloudy and we were disappointed.

Next, we boarded a pirate ship and Danny was nearly shot.

Finally, the clouds went away for just enough time for us to take a few photos of Mount Fuji!

After we got off the pirate ship, we took a walk through cedar trees to another park and then caught the bus back to Hakone.

We had time to visit another temple before it was time to catch the train back to Tokyo.

Nice trip Danny!

More photos at flickr.

--Sarah--