tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-341494802012-01-13T10:11:18.055-06:00Started as an online journal for my time in Japan, but has turned into a travel journal covering my trips around Japan and to India/Sikkim and BhutanFink Nottlenoreply@blogger.comBlogger291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-7154651553200512112007-07-01T18:27:00.000-05:002007-07-10T11:14:34.054-05:00

Thimpu, the capital of some 50,000 people, by far the biggest city in Bhutan. I spent three days here getting to know my guide's friends and just exploring the city.The clock tower square in Thimpu. I spent some time reading on the benches to the rightIndian touristsInstitute of Traditional Medicine ServicesThe Pharmaceutical Unit of the InstituteA sculpture class at the National Academy of the

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-60761711922490787602007-07-01T16:39:00.000-05:002007-07-01T22:54:41.354-05:00

I was lucky enough to be included in a volleyball game with this group of vacationing monks, who live in the Gasa fortress. Every year they take a week to bath in these springs, and when they weren't in the baths they were playing volleyball. They are all conversational in English and recieve a seemingly well-rounded education.My camp at the springsA "general store" and a colorful rooster at the

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-82325289546130037132007-06-04T22:50:00.000-05:002007-07-01T18:27:39.774-05:00

A house and general store in Laya villageMe in Laya villageCommon house ornamentation in LayaSome kids singing and dancing. Just after filming this, I joined them in dance and they taught me a few Bhutanese dance moves. We played soccer later in the day, difficult at 4100m. Gasa villageGasa fortressLooking north from the fortress, the direction from which we had just arrivedDoor

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-71911661816306174832007-06-04T00:34:00.001-05:002007-06-04T21:53:31.576-05:00

International Border/Gate between India and BhutanParo FortressFields in Paro ValleyTown of ParoBeginning of trek to Jomolhari Base camp, then on to Laya and GasaIndian army camp/checkpoint. The Indian army has a large presence in Bhutan, seemingly to ward off the threat of a Chinese invasionThe left path leads to a closed border pass with Tibet/China, the right leads to Jomolhari basecamp along

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-68154175154456947252007-06-03T01:52:00.001-05:002007-06-04T00:34:24.542-05:00

DarjeelingTea field below DarjeelingYuksam, Sikkim: Coronation throne of the first king of SikkimLakeBeginning of the trek to Guecha LaLooking south back to YuksamApproaching the Tibetan village of Tshoka First view of Mt. Pandim (~6600 meters)Mt. Pandim (left)My first cricket game, at ~4300mKhangchendzonga (8585m) on the right with the spiky peakMeGuecha La with Khangchendzonga covered with mist

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-22175104688195479952007-04-24T11:01:00.000-05:002007-06-01T01:20:08.197-05:00

Excuse me for changing the name of my blog, but I am leaving Japan tomorrow for India and Bhutan. I just checked the weather and it is around 100F (38C) in Calcutta where I will be landing, but a pleasant 50F (10C) in Darjeeling where I will be headed first. I've packed, said goodbye to my friends and fellow classmates, had a goodbye dinner with my wonderful hostfamily, and now I'm off. Here's

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-69730349380547615342007-03-31T23:45:00.000-05:002007-03-31T23:46:23.743-05:00

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-31593538647495947612007-03-19T19:54:00.000-05:002007-03-19T23:59:44.874-05:00

I felt like I was in the circus this morning. Riding to class with an umbrella in my hand while snow slowly drifted from the clear sunny sky with gypsy accordian music in my ears.I've finally found a topic for my final translation project. I am working on portions of Yoshimasu Gozo's collection of poems titled "Blue Sky," and I will post parts of it as I go through it. Exciting isn't it?

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-12360881288777982112007-03-19T07:36:00.001-05:002007-03-19T08:14:37.586-05:00

Nagasaki BayStatue at the Peace Park in NagasakiWaiting for the bus outside NagasakiHolding the clouds backThe oceanUnzen "hell" springsThe start of the climb to Mt. FugenGoing downShimabara Castle

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-18057989563419306012007-03-13T22:31:00.000-05:002007-03-13T22:51:37.396-05:00

I haven't mentioned it yet, but I have been volunteering with the NGO CHARM (Center for Health and Rights of Migrants) since January. I have been helping at their STD testing center on Saturdays near Umeda in Osaka. It was established to offer free testing and counseling services to the foreign community, but the people that come are mostly Japanese citizens. I participate in the translation

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-31044531859251849812007-03-11T04:31:00.000-05:002007-03-11T04:53:24.225-05:00

水瓶に　浮かべる蟻の　影はないAn ant floating in a water jar has no shadow向かいなる 山のお寺の 鐘の音が 川霧透ぐり 岸に響けりThe mountain temple's bell that filters through the river mist, echoes off the bankThis translation needs help.

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-63866090111156614422007-03-08T06:12:00.001-06:002007-03-11T04:31:14.206-05:00

I just returned from Kyushu, the southern-most of the 4 main islands. My friends William, Ted (aka Shimizu) and Megan joined me and on this trip, which started Sunday morning. We had originally planned to race from Fukuoka to Kagoshima (cities on opposite ends of the island) without using trains, but we soon decided against this for many different reasons. Instead we headed down the west coast

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-36449023659380810312007-02-25T04:10:00.000-06:002007-03-12T01:48:27.723-05:00

It's been a while. I'm sorry. The feeling to write on the internet hasn't struck me since my last post. I'm writing now out of a need to jot down the things that have come to pass over the last month and a half, and out of obligation. Please forgive me if chronological order doesn't rank high in my list of priorities. It was beautiful today in the late-afternoon. The canopy of clouds

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1737230391069704672007-01-14T07:01:00.000-06:002007-01-22T01:36:03.011-06:00

(Part 2 of 2) Rejoice! Freedom! Escape from a life of setting, serving, clearing, and cleaning 200+ tables twice a day amongst smoke-tinged Swiss jodelling music in a faceless black apron and zipper tie, drowning in incompetence. Kiss the snow. Hug the thin, dry smiling wind that drives from the west. I began work with the ski patrol the following day. A typical work day consisted of an

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-57995144667148803032007-01-14T03:32:00.000-06:002007-01-14T07:00:53.895-06:00

I just arrived back in Kyoto after a three week winter break in Shigakogen, which sits in the northeastern corner of Nagano prefecture. I'll try to make the recapitulation short. Before I had any concrete plans for the break, I knew I wanted to spend it skiing somewhere. This, I soon realized, would be an enormously expensive vacation if I simply spent my time skiing, and an enormously lonely

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-79242994637351581392006-11-23T22:24:00.000-06:002006-11-23T22:47:33.730-06:00

Yesterday was Kinryo-kansha day, which is a sort of Labor Day, and classes were dismissed. I took this opportunity to finally do some much needed capturing of the maple leaves' glorious range of colors that engulf Kyoto in these weeks (perhaps coming to an end next week). Yesterday morning I visited two favorite spots and took a few pictures.Shinyodo, 15 minutes south of Ginkakuji on

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1164075034457577482006-11-20T20:04:00.000-06:002006-11-23T22:23:16.241-06:00

There has been great debate regarding the following poem by Basho Matsuo. 古池や　蛙飛び込む　水の音The old pond;a frog jumps in,the sound of water.There is no plural in Japanese, so the use of "a" in "a frog" may be misleading.How many frogs do you think there are? Why do you think so? I'd like to hear your opinion. So please comment below.

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1164073711073757802006-11-20T19:34:00.000-06:002006-11-20T20:04:07.626-06:00

Every couple weeks, the Cities and Civilization class ventures into different parts of Japan to explore areas that were important to or representative of the current era of study. Last weekend, we boarded the train to Hikone the location of the Ii family's castle, one of the oldest surviving castles in Japan. Our professor (and tour guide) split us into two groups: attackers and defenders.

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1162972796232887212006-11-08T01:52:00.000-06:002006-11-08T01:59:56.233-06:00

月もはや　 The moon quickly 出潮になりて rises the high tide and塩竈の　 the Salt Kiln’sうら寂びわたる lonesome inlet けしきかな is a desolate sight.陸奥は In Michinoku, いづくはあれど there are other such places, 塩竈の　 where I watch Salt Kiln’sうらみてわたる

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1162613334528934732006-11-03T21:55:00.000-06:002006-11-08T01:51:05.223-06:00

I just arrived back at in Kyoto after a week of break. It is a sunny Saturday afternoon and I don't know what I will write.I boarded the ferry from Kobe to Takamatsu early Saturday morning. I didn't really know what to expect in Takamatsu, only that that was the closest "entrance" into Shikoku. I landed at 8 PMish roughly 5 kilometers from the center of Takamatsu, and without any choice,

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1161595573890246272006-10-23T04:22:00.000-05:002006-10-23T04:28:42.296-05:00

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1161591284707708262006-10-23T03:09:00.000-05:002006-10-23T04:21:24.453-05:00

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1160902988847135882006-10-15T03:43:00.000-05:002006-10-21T09:14:43.320-05:00

I spent last weekend with the wonderful Yoshio family in Okayama prefecture. Their home, situated in a cleft between three hills, is an escapist's dream. Behind the main building lies the grandfather's grape vines, which I devoured over the the course of four days. Beautiful grapes the size and color of bleu de lyons ping pong balls that sparkle like diamonds. Or cobalt-colored slightly

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1159791858066950342006-10-02T07:24:00.000-05:002006-10-02T08:06:02.036-05:00

I spent yesterday trying to get to as many festivals and markets as possible. My first stop was the antique market at To-ji, which was still beautiful despite the heavy rain (left). Rusty swords and coins, old robes and wooden cabinets, and the like were strewn under hastily built tents. Local Japanese and visitors from abroad jumped the puddles in unison like prancing deer.Next, I rode the

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1159171833821743332006-09-25T02:42:00.000-05:002006-09-25T07:02:06.040-05:00

Yesterday I went to Arashiyama for the last day of the 2006 Kyoto Music Festival. The 20 minute tram ride from Shijo-Omiya took us straight to the western most subdivision of Kyoto. Praised for its accessible nature walks, its numerous Shinto and Buddhist shrines, and the beautiful Katsura river, Arashiyama was a wonderful surprise. Immediately after exiting the tram, my friend and I ran right

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1158198479090470522006-09-13T20:40:00.000-05:002006-09-14T04:21:02.843-05:00

Yoshida Shrine, in the upper northeastern section of Sakyo-ku, hugs the mountain directly behind Kyoto University. In 859, the tutelary god of the Fujiwara clan moved from Nara to Kyoto. Fujiwara Yamakage built a new shrine at Yoshida Mountain for the clan deity. The park-like grounds of the shrine reach up the beautiful, forested mountain, providing a relaxing way to escape the metropolitan

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1158053579679021742006-09-12T04:16:00.000-05:002006-09-25T07:04:17.496-05:00

My ride to the center, or Kyodai Kaikan, takes about 15 minutes. I pass through narrow streets where potted plants line the road. Tall, thin houses crowd along the path, each with their small gates, which first usually lead into an open but covered garden entrance. Campaign posters of local politicians are splattered along the roads, and occasionally, scents of incense catch the nose. During

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1157967846146784242006-09-11T04:38:00.000-05:002006-09-11T04:45:14.046-05:00

The following, a description of shibumi, is an excerpt from the book "Shibumi" by Trevanian:"When you have doubts, ideas, questions, you will find Otake-san a valuable person to discuss them with. He will listen with interest, but will not burden you with advice." The General smiled. "Although I think you may find one of my friend's habits of speech a little disconcerting at times. He speaks of

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34149480.post-1157878974907887132006-09-10T03:47:00.000-05:002006-09-11T04:46:30.170-05:00

so after accidentally erasing my last two blogs, i`ve decided to not try and recreate them, but rather just keep posting. today was spent getting to know the area immediately surrounding my hostfamily`s house, the upper northeastern portion of sakyo-ku. the surrounding barriers that are thickly forested hills are roughly a 5 minute walk out the door. i was reluctant to press deep into the

Fink Nottlenoreply@blogger.com3