All Lessons 108
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Miyazaki's Tropical Magic Resembles Hawaii
Japan Series: The Countryside
Most people that visit Kyushu from overseas visit Nagasaki on the far west side of the island for historical reasons, perhaps Fukuoka as a pass-thru, and Kummamoto to see the castle. The last time we…
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Ramen Museum in Shin Yokohama, Where You Can Learn and Eat Too!
Japan Series: For the Foodies!
Those that know me are keenly aware that I love a nice bowl of ramen. Well, I found a ramen nirvana of sorts in Shin Yokohama, where you can learn about ramen history, and taste it too!
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Engaging Yokohama, The City of Harbor Lights
Japan Series: The Big Cities
Yokohama's history, compared to other cities in Japan, is rather recent. It was one of the ports opened in 1877, and since has expanded to become Japan's second largest city. In this lesson we'll expl…
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A Lunch Trek Into The Mountains West of Tokyo
Japan Series: For the Foodies!
Did you ever want to just get away from it all? And have a nice lunch in the bargain? Well, I may have the place for you.
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Kamakura, The Kyoto of Eastern Japan
Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles
Kamakura is often referred to as the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, and for good reason. Its historic temples are stunning examples of architecture introduced from Song Dynasty China with Zen Buddhism's infl…
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The Grundy House: A lovely example of the Queen Anne Architectural Style
The Wanderers
The Bristol, Pennsylvania historic district has a variety of archetectural styles and historic buildings, many of which are in private hands and are therefore not open for public viewing. But thanks t…
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A Night at the Opera, in Sapporo
Japan Series: The Big Cities
My wife's cousin Jun composed the music for an opera, and we were invited to attend - in Sapporo! A blend of Japanese history and original music greeted us with this new opera. And while we were in Sa…
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Old Town Kawagoe Is A Great Day Trip Destination
Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles
Kawagoe is an historic Japanese city in Saitama Prefecture, nicknamed "Little Edo" for its well-preserved Edo-period buildings, featuring Kurazukuri warehouses, old merchant streets, and ancient templ…
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Kawagoe Lunch Spots
Japan Series: For the Foodies!
If you're visiting Kawagoe you'll probably want to stop somewhere for lunch. Here are a couple of restaurants that I have tried recently that might work for you. One is a traditional Japanese sushi re…
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The Fall Foliage of Tateshina, Nagano and the Majestic Matsumoto Castle
Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles
If you're in Japan during the fall months, it's always a nice idea to plan an outing outside Tokyo to see the fall colors. We made a plan to do just that, and tacked on a trip to Matsumoto to see the …
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My Glorious Migration to Costa Rica
The Wanderers
Introducing Greg Thomas, an old friend of mine from our time at Kaiser Permanente. He was working out of rosy Pasadena, while I was in various locations in the Bay Area. Greg retired a little earlier …
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A Day Trip to Mount Takao in Western Tokyo Is a Breath of Fresh Air
Japan Series: The Countryside
Mt. Takao is another place off the beaten path that you can visit while you are in the Tokyo area. It has its share of visitors but is still not a hotbed of tourism, at least not yet. It's a nice alte…
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The Magnificent House, Gardens and Arboretum of the Nicholas Biddle Estate
The Wanderers
Introducing Jeremy Soltroff, another old friend of mine from our time working together at the Social Security Administration office in Northeast Philadelphia. A world traveler via the Air Force with v…
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Driving a Tour Bus Through the Alaskan Winderness
The Wanderers
Introducing David Rehmeyer, an old friend of mine from our time at Shared Medical Systems, both in Malvern Pennsylvania and Tokyo Japan. To me, David is a modern day Sal Paradise from Kerouac’s novel …
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Museums in Shizuoka That You Did Not Know Existed
Japan Series: Museums and Estates
I was looking at some old photos the other day and stumbled on a place off the beaten track that I had pretty much forgotten about. Our friends took us for a ride in their car to a unique park and mu…
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Returning to Yosemite National Park Brought Back Some Nice Memories
California Dreaming, The Bay Area and Beyond
After ten years we returned to Yosemite National Park to show my wife's brother and his wife its beauty and alure. It was a chilly weekend in November a decade ago when we brought their daughter Akik…
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The Meta Quest 2 is an Entry Level into Your First Virtual Reality Experience
Key Technologies of the Past and Future
A look at the not so new Meta Quest 2 Virtual Reality package. It is pretty slick, and at the pricepoint it is at right now it is downright affordable. But is it worth it?
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Matsuyama Castle on the Hilltop
Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles
During our time in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture we were able to explore the ancient fortress on the hill, Matsuyama Castle. A cloudy and rainy day made the castle seem overly gloomy, but there were fac…
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Cheesesteaks in Nihonbashi, From Philly With Love
Japan Series: For the Foodies!
A little known sports bar in Nihonbashi got my attention last year with its Philly theme and pursuit of an authentic cheesesteak. The owners just returned from a pilgrimage to Philadelphia to show off…
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The Chambers of Power: A Spring Stroll Through Tokyo’s Political Heart
Japan Series: Museums and Estates
Over the years I have seen many pictures of The National Diet Building in Nagatacho, but never actually came close to visiting it. Well, finally that day came, and it was grander than I expected. And …
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My Latest Experience With ChatGPT and Its Condecending Personality
Key Technologies of the Past and Future
I've been a paying customer of OpenAI for a while in order to use their ChatGPT AI product suite. In the past I've used AI to generate lesson quizzes, at which it did a credible job. Recently I decide…
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Himeji Castle, its White Splendor Amidst the Cherry Blossoms
Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles
Himeji-jō, known as the White Heron Castle because of its distinctive white exterior, is the most visited castle in Japan. We had visited other castles in Japan before, but this one was at a different…
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Yoshinoyama - Hiking the Plush Sakura Hillsides in Nara
Japan Series: The Countryside
The mountainous region of Nara known as Yoshinoyama has been known as one of the best places to visit during cherry blossom season. So we wanted to see if the reality was up to the hype. Well, I am he…
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Tō-ji, an Historic Temple Established After the Capitol Moved to Kyoto
Japan Series: Old Towns and Castles
To-ji is an important temple on the southwest side of Kyoto. It is especially pretty in cherry blossom season, and in the fall when the colors change. It's probably not a place you will visit on your …
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