Comments on: Open Thread #56 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/ Korea... in Blog Format Wed, 3 Dec 2008 02:05:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: French Quarter http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169150 French Quarter Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:21:53 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169150 Thank you for the opinions on Japan. Because I don't really know much about cities in Japan, your opinions are invaluable. I think the Kyoto&Nara trip is a great choice and will consider other cities mentioned above as well. I'll appreciate any other opinions. Thank you for the opinions on Japan. Because I don’t really know much about cities in Japan, your opinions are invaluable. I think the Kyoto&Nara trip is a great choice and will consider other cities mentioned above as well. I’ll appreciate any other opinions.

]]> By: slim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169144 slim Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:12:09 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169144 Hokkaido is great, but distances are huge for a short itinerary -- and for the first-time visitor in search of "Japaneseness" (if that's your quest), Hokkaido (Japan's Alaska, for lack of a better comparison) is not terribly Japanese in the cultural sense. Notwithstanding the heat, Kyoto/Nara or a combination of Tokyo and Tokyo day trips to Kamakura, Nikko, or Hakone would give you a decent if brief Japan experience. Mt Fuji is crowded in summer, and often obscured by clouds in the humid summer. For accessible rustic experiences, I've always been fond of the coastal/mountainous regions of Toyama, Ishikawa, and Gifu prefectures, which have decent temples and more comfortable weather than Kyoto. Hokkaido is great, but distances are huge for a short itinerary — and for the first-time visitor in search of “Japaneseness” (if that’s your quest), Hokkaido (Japan’s Alaska, for lack of a better comparison) is not terribly Japanese in the cultural sense.

Notwithstanding the heat, Kyoto/Nara or a combination of Tokyo and Tokyo day trips to Kamakura, Nikko, or Hakone would give you a decent if brief Japan experience. Mt Fuji is crowded in summer, and often obscured by clouds in the humid summer.

For accessible rustic experiences, I’ve always been fond of the coastal/mountainous regions of Toyama, Ishikawa, and Gifu prefectures, which have decent temples and more comfortable weather than Kyoto.

]]> By: squatch http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169141 squatch Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:53:30 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169141 typo, 1st sentence, 2nd para: "If you have more time". Also, don't forget to try out the sea-urchin/crab/ikura(salmon roe) three-in-one-bowl at Sapporo/Otaru. typo, 1st sentence, 2nd para: “If you have more time”.

Also, don’t forget to try out the sea-urchin/crab/ikura(salmon roe) three-in-one-bowl at Sapporo/Otaru.

]]> By: squatch http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169138 squatch Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:41:05 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169138 Kyoto is the place to go in Japan, but in August it's hot there and can be unpleasant. If you're not so keen on medieval stuff, Hokkaido will be nice. Fly in at Sapporo, and go to Otaru which is about an hour's ride by train. Otaru is Meiji-era Japan frozen in time. If you more have time, you should also go to Furano or Tokachi in the countryside. Maybe 3-4 hours one-way by bus or train. The mountains in the distance may be steaming, because they're volcanoes. Kyoto is the place to go in Japan, but in August it’s hot there and can be unpleasant. If you’re not so keen on medieval stuff, Hokkaido will be nice. Fly in at Sapporo, and go to Otaru which is about an hour’s ride by train. Otaru is Meiji-era Japan frozen in time.

If you more have time, you should also go to Furano or Tokachi in the countryside. Maybe 3-4 hours one-way by bus or train. The mountains in the distance may be steaming, because they’re volcanoes.

]]> By: French Quarter http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169129 French Quarter Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:26:54 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-169129 Thank you, Wankon. I'll consider Jeju. A couple of people somewhere else suggested we go to Kyung-Joo. I'm personally interested in the Honam area because I've never been there before. Thank you, Wankon. I’ll consider Jeju. A couple of people somewhere else suggested we go to Kyung-Joo. I’m personally interested in the Honam area because I’ve never been there before.

]]> By: WangKon936 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168741 WangKon936 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:38:39 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168741 Perhaps the <a href="http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200807/200807080012.html" rel="nofollow">Chosun Ilbo</a> listened to <a href="http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168603" rel="nofollow">my advice</a>... ;) Perhaps the Chosun Ilbo listened to my advice… ;)

]]> By: WangKon936 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168624 WangKon936 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:47:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168624 # 43, Jejudo... especially the museum of sex... ;) # 43,

Jejudo… especially the museum of sex… ;)

]]> By: French Quarter http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168615 French Quarter Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:08:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168615 I'd like to ask everyone for some advice regarding traveling in South Korea and Japan. Because I'm a Korean native, I'm not very interested in traveling in South Korea, but I might have to travel there because my girlfriend wants me to take her to South Korea at the end of August. She also wants to see Japan. Would you recommend any places in South Korea and Japan, such as cities, temples, castles, mountains, or anything, that could be nice for a non-Asian female visitor? If we will decide to travel in those countries, we will stay in Korea for 6~7 days and in Japan for 3~4 days. Any idea or opinion will be helpful and appreciated. I’d like to ask everyone for some advice regarding traveling in South Korea and Japan.

Because I’m a Korean native, I’m not very interested in traveling in South Korea, but I might have to travel there because my girlfriend wants me to take her to South Korea at the end of August. She also wants to see Japan.

Would you recommend any places in South Korea and Japan, such as cities, temples, castles, mountains, or anything,
that could be nice for a non-Asian female visitor? If we will decide to travel in those countries, we will stay in Korea for 6~7 days and in Japan for 3~4 days.

Any idea or opinion will be helpful and appreciated.

]]> By: WangKon936 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168603 WangKon936 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:19:31 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168603 What's up with this KT headline? www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/07/136_27135.html "South Koreans Sweep US Golf Titles" ... and one of those "South Koreans" is Anthony Kim, who was born in the U.S. so that would make him an American, rather than South Korean national. Wouldn't a better title be "Ethnic Koreans Win US Golf Titles?" Eh, probably would sell less papers... :P What’s up with this KT headline?

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ww.....27135.html

“South Koreans Sweep US Golf Titles”

… and one of those “South Koreans” is Anthony Kim, who was born in the U.S. so that would make him an American, rather than South Korean national.

Wouldn’t a better title be “Ethnic Koreans Win US Golf Titles?”

Eh, probably would sell less papers… :P

]]> By: pawikirogi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168520 pawikirogi Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:44:50 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/07/05/open-thread-56/#comment-168520 really pisses you off, don't it, spewy? how's your korean wife? btw, i only read your first sentence. so boring. so full of hate. yawn. korea, you've come a long way, baby. now, people actually choose you over japan. and not just cheju but chunchon too! i am so proud! really pisses you off, don’t it, spewy?
how’s your korean wife? btw, i only read your first sentence. so boring. so full of hate.

yawn.

korea, you’ve come a long way, baby. now, people actually choose you over japan. and not just cheju but chunchon too!

i am so proud!

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