Pudong

After Hong Kong, I had one day in Pudong. This city was very different from the island city - very flat and vast - virtually continuous with Shanghai. Also, the weather was much cooler.

When I ran, it was commuting time. There were many buses, cars, motor bikes, and bicycles. The financial crisis does not seem to apply to this city.

One of many street vendors serving breakfast.

The city is gearing up for the World Expo (Shanghai) next year.

Yang Pu Bridge, one of many bridges on Huangpu River.

Shanghai Skyline as seen from my hotel room. The tallest building is Shanghai World Financial Center.

Hong Kong Trail Run

I had one day in Hong Kong and could go for a nice run in the morning this Sunday.
The weather was hot and humid, but it was fun to run up the hills.

I found a nice trail named Bowen Road.

A manner sign on Bowen Road - that's important.

One of the boundary stones of the then city of Victoria on Bowen Road

The skylines of Hong Kong seen from the lookout on Stubbs Road.

Wan Chai Gap Road is a very steep trail I ran down to the city from the entrance of the Police Museum (which I did not visit).

Fukuoka Walk

Last Thursday, I had a nice morning walk in Fukuoka.
I stayed in a hotel close from JR Hakata Station.

Hakata Station is going through a major renovation.

From there, I went to Nakagawa River and walked along it.

These are stainless steel blocks to prevent bikes to overspeed, but can allow them to enter.

Deai Bashi Pedestrian Bridge

Statue of Three Maiko.

Yatai stands.

Kyoto - revisited

The day I visited Kyoto again, Gion Matsuri(Festival) was going on. It is a festival started long ago and it attracts hundreds of thousands of people to this old city every year.

This is what Shinmachi Street looked like in the morning. Street vendors were still setting up their booths. The tall pointy object far away in the middle of the street is called "Yamaboko." It is one of many floats that move around in Kyoto for this festival, thought to house Kami.

And this is the same street and the same Yamaboko (from a different angle) at around 8:30 PM. As you can see, the street was filled with people.

The next morning, I first ran to Heian Jingu Shrine. It is one of the largest shrines in Japan built in 1895 (so it is relatively new for Japan) for the anniversary of 1,100th year of establishment of Kyoto.

Then I went to Ginkaku-ji Temple, or the Silver Pavilion. Unfortunately, the gate was closed for it was too early in the morning (before 6:00).

This is what I could have visited if it was open - the gate I took the picture of is at the bottom left. I did run on the mountain trail seen on the left side a bit before heading back to the hotel. The famous "Ginkaku" (Silver Pavilion) is the "brown" two-story building at the bottom right. It is said that the Shogun at the time originally had a plan to silver plate it, but ran out of budget.
I hope to return to Kyoto to explore more of the ancient city. It is full of history and culture.

Beijing

I had three days in Beijing last week.

Weather was generally overcast or rain. Temperature in the 30s (deg. C), air damp.

I could do three morning runs while I was there.

The first day, I ran to Tiananmen, the main gate to the Forbidden City. Although it was early in the morning, there were many people there. Actually, there really were many people everywhere in Beijing.



Right by the gate was a very nice park - Zhongshan Park, in honor of the man who initiated the revolution and overthrow of the Qing Dynasty - Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the first president of the Republic of China. I visited a park with the same name in Taipei last year.



On the way back to my hotel, I ran through a shopping district. There I saw a famous sporting goods company ad featuring Little Lionel. He is of course one of my football heroes.



Many of the roads in Beijing are very wide with many automobile traffic. Here's one seen from a pedestrian overpass.



The second day, I ran around Ritan Park which was close from my hotel. Many people were there to get their morning exercises.



Here's a view of the pond in the park - peaceful! Here's an HP of someone that took many pictures of this nice park.



The final day in the morning, I took a long run to the Tian Tan Park, the Temple of Heaven. At this beautiful temple, the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 A.D. - 1911 A.D.) conducted ceremonies to thank Heaven and wish for peace and prosperity in the future.



Here again, many people were exercising. Taichi is very popular. Many people in China look fit.

Izumo Taisha

Last week, I visited Izumo Taisha in a pouring rain.

The shrine is in Shimane, close from the Sea of Japan and its deity is Okuninushi.

I had a nice and quiet visit to this place that is filled with myths and legends.

Here's the entrance to the shrine. The sign on the right says that the main building is going through a renovation.

The statue depicting Okuninushi with the white rabbit of Inaba.

On the way over from Tokyo, our airplane flew over Mt. Fuji.