Golden Hall (金堂) of Ninnaji (Kyoto, Japan)

sign giving a little history of Ninna-ji’s Main Hall (a national treasure) in Japanese, Chinese, English, and Korean

Posted on August 30th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: buddhist, kyoto, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Ninna-ji 仁和寺, signs, temples. Comments Off on Ninna-ji (仁和寺)

Signs in Mudeungsan National Park pointing hikers in various directions

My first time on Mount Mudeung was confusing, to say the least. I didn’t have a plan, and there were so many trails, taking me who knows where, that I knew I needed to come back with a better plan. Near the bus stop where Bus 1187 drops you off, you will see the above fork in the road. The trails are pretty well marked but for some of them they are only marked in Korean.

The map below can be viewed in much more detail if you click on the image. This large map with hiking trails and key locations clearly listed in Korean and English can be viewed near the bus stop as well.

Large map of hiking trails on and around Mount Mudeung (Gwangju, South Korea)

My plan for next time is to begin at Wonhyo-sa, climb up to Seoseokdae and Ipseokdae, pass Jeungsimsa (증심사) and Uijae (Art Museum), and then walk to the Hakdong-Jeungsimsa subway station (학동·증심사입구역). Supposedly this takes about six hours.

Note that guidebooks usually refer to Mount Mudeung as Mudeungsan Provincial Park, but the name was changed to Mudeungsan National Park in 2013.

Posted on July 9th, 2013 under Korea. Tags: directions, hiking, Mount Mudeung National Park, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600, signs. Comments Off on Mudeungsan National Park (무등산국립공원) Hiking – so many choices…

しょうゆソフトクリーム in 飛騨高山

Walking the streets of Takayama during rainy season can be charming.

This wasn’t the first time I saw strange ice cream flavors in Japan.

Posted on May 20th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: jinrikisha, signs, takayama. Comments Off on Soy Sauce Ice Cream (しょうゆソフトクリーム)

You don’t normally get a pic of your own car on the road, but we had friends with us in Yosemite over spring break, and when I took this photo I was in their car.

Posted on April 15th, 2013 under Other. Tags: Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Lens, Nikon D600, signs, yosemite national park. Comments Off on Cruising through Yosemite

“Please stay off the grass!” sign in Boston Public Garden

Posted on February 27th, 2013 under Other. Tags: boston, nikon d7000, signs, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Please stay off the grass!