Zeppelin

We visited the Zeppelin Museum in the suburb of Frankfurt Neu-isenburg, where I used to live as a child and where the founder/operation of Zeppelin had been.

If you think about it, this balloon riding concept is such a romantischer idea, crossing the big ocean in a balloon when there was no airplanes around, but also because it will never ever see the light of day again. At least, a 200m+ balloon filled with explosively flammable hydrogen will never pass today's OHS Occupational Health and Safety standards.

Germany had created and led the operation of Zeppelin. But all countries ended their operation due to the bursting of the balloons while flying. The last German Zeppelin called Hindenburg was 245m long and had already been regularly crossing the Atlantic to the US, until in its last trip burst into flames right above the landing place, in a matter of 34 seconds (the speed of hydrogen traveling!).



But in anycase, the design of the Zeppelin is beautiful, and it is quite a romantic thing to think about a grand operation that will never be seen again in this form, in spite of any technological advancement in the future.

 Last photo credit: Silodrome

"I cannot get over it. The Zeppelin is in the zenith of the night, golden like the moon, having taken control of the sky. Our cosmos has burst; the stars and the moon blown away, the envelope of the sky burst out, and a new cosmos has appeared." by DH Lawrence, Zeppelin during WWI.

Old Japan in Yunishigawa

 

 

Icicles and broomsticks

Perfect snow and mountain view in Yunishikawa

Yunishikawa is the land of the fallen samurais of Heike from almost 1000 years ago. It makes sense that they hid here, as it was so deep in the mountains and snow that nobody could possibly chase after them. It was like time had stopped, just here.

Perfect cafe break near Nikko Toshogu

 

This Lancatlague Cafe in Nikko was a perfect break from the sightseeing and the sequence of nice Japanese food.

Lancatlgue Cafe Nikko
Address: 4-1 Yasukawacho | 2 Fields, Nikko 321-1432, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Phone: +81 288-53-1193

Nikko Toshogu in Tochigi

 

Nikko Toshogu was as magnificent as a World Heritage should be. It's a common destination for school trips, but now as an adult you can really marvel at the grandiosity of the place. Interestingly, it looks a lot more glamorous than the shrines in Tokyo, perhaps because it was meant to show off the power of Ieyasu or that was the trend back then? It was like a little city in itself, with multiple buildings and at different levels of the mountain.

A shrine in the mountain near Mount Fuji

 

 

A beautiful shrine in the mountains near Shosenkyo in Yamanashi.

Kosaku in Yamanashi

I have been the most committed customer to this place Kosaku since childhood. It used to be one of the few options in Isawa Onsen, where we own a hotspring place. Now it's become one of the few more places to go to. They serve hoto, a thicker version of udon noodle in a miso based soup. My favorite is pork hoto, but I also like their ozara, which is a colder version hoto with tempura on the side. Yum!

Kosaku
Address: 73-3 Isawacho Kubonakajima, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi
Phone: +81-55-263-5421

Japanese new year food "osechi"

 

Like during Christmas in the west, you are not supposed to cook food the first few days of January once new year starts.  This is one example of such food called osechi with a lot of festive colors.

New year visit to Hie Shrine in Akasaka

Happy new year! It's been a traditional family gathering this new year, and we paid a visit to the Hie Shrine in Akasaka to make new year wishes for the family. Thanks for the wonderful and eventful 2014 and looking forward to more in 2015!

As with most Japanese shrines and temples, there were street venders selling some yummy pancakes and noodles. Good food to eat outside in the super cold weather.