Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Norway (August, 2016)

hey all,

Here is the big one. A few years ago, Michi and I saw an article in a Japanese magazine about hiking the "Troll's Tongue,"  a rock formation in Norway. Over the next 24 months, going to Norway would come up a few times, and eventually in January and February of 2016, we started planning where to go and what to see, where to stay and how to get around. This was by far one of the best trips we've taken, and easily one of the most fun trips I've ever had.

The weather was piss poor most days, but the food, the scenery, and the people all made up for it.
The fish smoking houses of Bergen.



Fjords!


Can you find us? These roadside waterfalls are huge!





Norway's lakes are worth making the trip to Norway just by themselves.

This is the view from the Priest's Rock. Here is what you can see on a good day.

Really old wooden churches. Only about 30 of them are left in Norway.



One of the oldest surviving wooden churches, build around 1180!







Our hotel in Jotunheimen National Park. The rooms were not fabulous, but the chefs here served a 5-star three course meal every night! Delicious!

Another wooden church near Jotunheimen National Park.


Skyrim, eat your heart out!



This is Bessengen! One of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, even including Sils Maria, Switzerland.




Norwegian art? In Jotunheimen National Park.

Michi hugging the rock foundation of Akerhaus Castle in Oslo.

Oslo




Some art in Vigeland Park

For some reason, this pillar seems like a huge inspiration for the manga Berserk.

Me and a Viking ship

Tanigawadake Redo (June, 2016)

hey all,

So Michi broke her leg in September, 2015, and because of that accident, we never went kayaking that year. By June, 2016, we really wanted to have a do-over for that trip, so we planned this trip: some light hiking, an amazing onsen with around 20 differently themed baths to enter, and of course kayaking.




Outdoor onsen for two.

Outdoor onsen for two.





Kayaking!

Kinugawa Onsen (March, 2016)

hey all,

This is one of the first hiking trips Michi and I took after she broke her leg in 2015.

Beautiful and dramatic temple/waterfall combo





Our onsen/hotel combo in Kinugawa. Difficult to get to but well worth the trip.