Around The World: Year 2012

Year 2011

January 2012	February 2012	March 2012	April 2012
May 2012

January 2012:

Day #	DATE	PLACES	HIGHLIGHTS
211	January 1	Sydney, Australia Parramatta, Australia SYD Parramatta, Australia	12:00 AM fireworks show at Royal Botanic Gardens Back to my motel in Parramatta Back to Sydney airport to pick up new rental car Back to Paramatta again!
212	January 2	Parramatta, Australia Bowral, Australia	A visit to the Don Bradman Museum/International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral
213	January 3	Bowral, Australia Fitzroy Falls, Morton National Park, Australia Jervis Bay National Park, Australia Bowral, Australia	A drive down to Jervis Bay, with an unplanned stopover at the much nicer Fitzroy Falls!
214	January 4	Bowral, Australia Penrith, Australia	Drive up to Penrith near the Blue Mountains, but did not go to the Blue Mountains yet
215	January 5	Penrith, Australia Coffs Harbour, Australia	Drive north to Coffs Harbour, NSW (without going to Blue Mountains again)
216	January 6	Coffs Harbour, Australia Brisbane, Australia	Drive up to Brisbane, QLD Meeting couple of friends for drinks and dinner at Southbank!
217	January 7	Brisbane, Australia Rockhampton, Australia	Drive up the coast to Rockhampton, QLD (instead of Gladstone/Heron Island)
218	January 8	Rockhampton, Australia Townsville, Australia	Drive from Rockhampton to Townsville View from Flagstaff Hill Lookout near Bowen View from Mt. Inkerman at sunset, with a kangaroo
219	January 9	Townsville, Australia Cairns, Australia	Drive up to Cairns (37 days after my original plan) An attempt to go to Jourama Falls at Paluma Range National Park
220	January 10	Cairns, Australia Wooroonooran National Park, Australia Crater Lakes National Park, Australia Cairns, Australia	Sunrise from hotel balcony An evening drive down to Wooroonooran National Park (Heales Outlook) Lake Barrine at sunset Lake Eacham after sunset
221	January 11	Cairns, Australia CNS Cairns, Australia Port Douglas, Australia Cairns, Australia	1-hour scenic flight over Port Douglas and Great Barrier Reef! An oceanside drive up to Port Douglas (and another "Flagstaff Hill")
222	January 12	Cairns, Australia Caravonica, Australia Kuranda, Australia Kuranda National Park, Australia Mount Hypipamee National Park, Australia Wooroonooran National Park, Australia Townsville, Australia	Drive up to Caravonica Round-trip on Cairns Skyrail (stops and walks at Red Peak, Barron Falls, and Kuranda stations) Henry Ross Lookout at Kuranada National Park McHugh Lookout at Mount Hypipamee National Park Millaa Millaa Falls Zillie Falls Ellinjaa Falls Crawfords Lookout at Wooroonooran National Park Drive down to Townsville
223	January 13	Townsville, Australia Rockhampton, Australia	Coastal drive from Townsville to Rockhampton
224	January 14	Rockhampton, Australia Moree, Australia	Inland drive from Rockhampton to Moree
225	January 15	Moree, Australia Lidcombe, Australia	Inland and coastal drive from Moree to Lidcombe "Who'd A Thought It Lookout"
226	January 16	Lidcombe, Australia SYD Lidcombe, Australia	Returned rental car at Sydney airport: 6063.2km driven on this one (388L of fuel).
227	January 17	Lidcombe, Australia SYD SIN	Flight from Sydney to Singapore
228	January 18	SIN MNL ILO Iloilo, Philippines	Connecting flight from Singapore to Manila, and then from Manila to Iloilo
229	January 19	Iloilo, Philippines	Sunrise from hotel window Dinner to kick off the Dinagyang festival in Iloilo
230	January 20	Iloilo, Philippines	I'd rather not say.
231	January 21	Iloilo, Philippines	I'd rather not say.
232	January 22	Iloilo, Philippines	I'd rather not say.
233	January 23	Iloilo, Philippines	Nothing
234	January 24	Iloilo, Philippines ILO CEB Cebu, Philippines	Flight from Iloilo to Cebu
235	January 25	Cebu, Philippines	Sunrise from hotel window "Administrative duties" (translation: laundry) Researching/planning next 10 days of this trip
236	January 26	Cebu, Philippines	Nothing
237	January 27	Cebu, Philippines Tagbilaran (Bohol), Philippines Panglao island, Philippines	A 2-hour ferry ride from Cebu to Tagbilaran on Bohol island Car to Panglao island
238	January 28	Panglao island, Philippines Bohol island, Philippines Panglao island, Philippines	Day tour to Bohol Island: Chocolate Hills National Geological Monument Butterfly sanctuary Loboc man-made forest Tarsier monkeys sanctuary Bamboo hanging bridge Floating restaurant river cruise/lunch Ati Tribe stop on cruise Baclayon Ecclesiastical Museum Baclayon Church (1727) Blood Compact monument
239	January 29	Panglao island, Philippines Tagbilaran (Bohol), Philippines Cebu, Philippines	Taxi to Tagbilaran seaport followed by 2 hours ferry ride back to Cebu
240	January 30	Cebu, Philippines	Jeepney to Ayala Center, lunch at Banana Leaf, and walk back to hotel
241	January 31	Cebu, Philippines	Golden sunrise behind the Cebu shipyard Buffet dinner at Feria restaurant, Radisson Blu hotel

February 2012:

Day #	DATE	PLACES	HIGHLIGHTS
242	February 1	Cebu, Philippines	Two movies in theater: "Darkest hour", "Contraband" Did not see "Shaolin"
243	February 2	Cebu, Philippines	One more movie: "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" in IMAX-3D
244	February 3	Cebu, Philippines	One more movie: "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" in IMAX-3D
245	February 4	Cebu, Philippines CEB MNL	Flight to Manila and connecting overnight flight to Sydney
246	February 5	SYD Lidcombe, Australia Parramatta, Australia Lidcombe, Australia	Morning arrival at Sydney airport Rest of the day spent sleeping and watching TV
247	February 6	Lidcombe, Australia Parramatta, Australia Sydney, Australia Lidcombe, Australia	Sydney Tower Eye and Skywalk Rest of the day roaming around Sydney on foot: Kings Cross Woolloomooloo Wharf Mrs Macquaries Chair Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney Opera House Boat trip from Circular Quey to Darling Harbour and back The Rocks
248	February 7	Lidcombe, Australia SYD LAX SFO Home	Couple of trains to Sydney airport Couple of flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco airports Couple of car trips back home (temporarily)
N/A	February 8-16	Home	Relaxing Meeting friends Planning the next and next-to-next parts of this journey...
N/A	February 17	Home San Mateo, CA Home	Getting the needed vaccinations for the next-to-next part of this journey...
N/A	February 18-29	Home	Relaxing Meeting friends Researching the next part of this journey

March 2012:

Day #	DATE	PLACES	HIGHLIGHTS
N/A	March 1	Home Fremont, CA Home	Quick trip to the DHL office in Fremont to pick up my Japanese rail pass Changing my next departure date from March 14 to March 4!!!
N/A	March 2-3	Home San Francisco, CA Home	Party time Relaxation time (yeah right! If only...) Family time
249	March 4	SJC DFW Irving, TX	The next phase of this journey begins: flight from San Jose, CA to Dallas, TX Overnight at airport hotel
250	March 5	Irving, TX DFW	Rushing to get to the airport to catch the morning flight from Dallas to Tokyo after waking up 2.5 hours late!
251	March 6	NRT Tokyo, Japan	Afternoon arrival in Tokyo's Narita airport Ginza district for dinner
252	March 7	Tokyo, Japan	Ueno Park: Statue of Prince Komatsu No Miya Akihito Toshogu Shrine (exterior only as it was under renovation) "The flame of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" Ueno Park Zoo (with Sala Thai Pavillion and Daibutsu Pagoda) Benten-do Memorial (exterior only as it was under renovation) Kiyomizu Kannon-do Temple Statue of Saigo Takamori (the "real" last samurai) and his dog Ginza district again for dinner
253	March 8	Tokyo, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Scheduled morning train that got delayed to become an afternoon train: Hikari Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto Remainder of day spent studying and getting overwhelmed by the number of things to see and do in Kyoto!
254	March 9	Kyoto, Japan	Getting "acquainted" with the immediate vicinity of my motel
255	March 10	Kyoto, Japan	Nijo Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Kyoto Tower
256	March 11	Kyoto, Japan	Shimogamo-jinja shrine (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Kamigamo-jinja (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Imamiya shrine Kinkaku-ji temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Ryoan-ji temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
257	March 12	Kyoto, Japan	Snowfall in the morning = an excuse to take it easy after all the walking done the previous day
258	March 13	Kyoto, Japan	Sanjusangendo temple The exterior of Kyoto National Museum (interior was closed) Taiko-en temple Dojuin temple Tofuku-ji temple To-ji temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
259	March 14	Kyoto, Japan Shin-Osaka, Japan Hiroshima, Japan Miyajima, Japan Hiroshima, Japan	Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka, connecting to Hiroshima Streetcar and ferry to Miyajima Island O-Torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine (during high tide) Itsukushima Shrine (exterior) Daiganji temple (exterior) 5-story pagoda (exterior) Bus and gondola "ropeway" to Mt. Misen O-Torii gate again during low tide and up close (as close as I could get to it without wading) Ferry and local train back to Hiroshima
260	March 15	Hiroshima, Japan	Mazda Museum and assembly line tour Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: Peace Memorial Museum Cenotaph for the atomic bomb victims Eternal flame Children's Peace Monument Bell of Peace Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound Monument to Korean victims and survivors Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for atomic bomb victims (Hall of rememberance) Fuel Hall (Hiroshima Rest House) Zero Milestone of Hiroshima City Genbaku Dome (Atomic Bomb Dome) (Reconstructed) Aioi bridge Peace Clock Tower All of the above exterior monuments in Peace Memorial Park again at night!
261	March 16	Hiroshima, Japan Hakata, Japan Nagasaki, Japan	Trains from Hiroshima to Nagasaki via Hakata
262	March 17	Nagasaki, Japan	A rainy morning spent doing laundry Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims Nagasaki atom bomb museum Flame of Peace Urakami Cathedral Wall Remnant Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Monument Peace Fountain Various statues and monuments in Heiwa-koen Park Peace Statue Stone bridges along Nakashima River: Higashishin Bridge Uoichi Bridge Spectacles Bridge (Meganebashi) Fukuro Bridge Susukihara Bridge Ichiran (Yilan) Bridge Furumachi Bridge Amigasa Bridge Koyozan Koyeiji Temple (exterior)
263	March 18	Nagasaki, Japan Hakata, Japan Shin-Osaka, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Three trains from Nagasaki to Kyoto
264	March 19	Kyoto, Japan	A day of rest
265	March 20	Kyoto, Japan Uji, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Fushimi Inari Shrine Byodo-in temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Uji Uji Bridge
266	March 21	Kyoto, Japan Daigo, Japan Takao, Japan Kyoto, Japan Osaka, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Daigo-ji temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Jingo-ji temple in Takao Evening trip to Osaka: Umeda Sky Building
267	March 22	Kyoto, Japan	A "sick day" spent in bed...
268	March 23	Kyoto, Japan	Another sick day spent in bed...
269	March 24	Kyoto, Japan Himeji, Japan Kobe, Japan Maiko, Japan Himeji, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Still sick, but decided to do something! Train to Himeji to see the Himeji-jo castle: under renovation, decided to come back another day Train to Kobe, then back-tracking with another train to Maiko View of Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (World's longest suspension bridge) Trains back to Himeji and Kyoto
270	March 25	Kyoto, Japan Shin-Osaka, Japan Kagoshima-Chuo, Japan Shin-Osaka, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Making full use of my JR Rail train pass: Two trains down to the southern end of the Shinkansen line at Kagushima-Chuo Monument to "19 students who broke the ban on traveling abroad" Two trains all the way back to Kyoto
271	March 26	Kyoto, Japan Tokyo, Japan Shin-Aomori, Japan Tokyo, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Making full use of my JR Rail train pass for another day: Two trains up to the northern end of the Shinkansen line at Shin-Aomori My first view of Mt. Fuji! (Fuji-san) Roaming around Aomori town looking for a place to have lunch, while trying not to fall on ice or 10 feet high pile of fresh snow! Two trains all the way back to Kyoto
272	March 27	Kyoto, Japan	"Administrative duties" (i.e.: laundry and relaxation)
273	March 28	Kyoto, Japan Okayama, Japan Iyo-Mishima, Japan Okayama, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Quest to go to Matsuyama on Shikoku island -- abandoned Walking around Iyo-Mishima instead Back to Kyoto for dinner
274	March 29	Kyoto, Japan	Walking around Southern Higashiyama: Kiyomizu-dera temple complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site): made my wish at the Otowa spring Sannen-zaka Street Hokanji temple and Yasaka-no-To 5-storied pagoda (went up to 2nd floor) Ninen-zaka Street Ishibei-koji Street Kodai-ji temple complex Ryozen Kannon and memorial to World War 2 unknown soldier Kodaiji Sho Museum
275	March 30	Kyoto, Japan	Leisurely stroll on Shijo-dori Street from Gion bus stop to Shijo Nishinotoin bus stop
276	March 31	Kyoto, Japan	Rainy day = Rest day

April 2012:

Day #	DATE	PLACES	HIGHLIGHTS
277	April 1	Kyoto, Japan	Walked up to the front entrance of Museum of Kyoto, but didn't buy the ticket (yet) Daitoku-ji temple complex: Korin-in temple and garden Zuihoin temple and garden Kotoin temple and garden Soken'in temple, garden and cemetary, with tea and dumplings Daisen-in temple and rock garden Obaiin temple and garden Nishi-Hongwanji temple complex and drum tower (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Museum of Kyoto -- went inside this time, and saw the 1954 classic "Godzilla" (in Japanese) in the museum's theater!
278	April 2	Kyoto, Japan	Another "rest day"
279	April 3	Kyoto, Japan	Another "rainy day = rest day"
280	April 4	Kyoto, Japan	Kyoto Imperial Palace Garden Kyoto Imperial Palace Ninna-ji temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Tsune-goten Palace only Higashi Hongan-ji temple Kyoto Tower
281	April 5	Kyoto, Japan Osaka, Japan	Train to Shin-Osaka Leisurely strolls for getting acquainted with the different cafes in the Esaka neighborhood, my next home.
282	April 6	Osaka, Japan	Osaka Acquarium: whale shark Nighttime views from the top of Shin-Osaka station building (with Tenku-no-noen farm on the 12th floor)
283	April 7	Osaka, Japan	Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden (cherry blossoms) Osaka harbor cruise on board the "Santa Maria" Tempozan Ferris Wheel (112.5m height)
284	April 8	Osaka, Japan KIX MNL Manila, Philippines Tarlac City, Philippines	2 trains, 1 plane, 1 taxi and 1 bus from Osaka to Tarlac City
285	April 9	Tarlac City, Philippines	A day of sickness and rest: Did not go to Mt. Pinatubo as originally planned
286	April 10	Tarlac City, Philippines Manila, Philippines	Bus back to Manila Manila Bay sunset
287	April 11	Manila, Philippines MNL KIX Osaka, Japan	Flight back to Osaka
288	April 12	Osaka, Japan Kyoto, Japan Osaka, Japan	In Kyoto: Yasaka Jinja shrine Maruyama-koen park (cherry blossoms) Chion-in temple Shoren-in temple and gardens Kongoji temple In Osaka: Ebisubashi Bridge (daytime view) Dotonbori district (daytime)
289	April 13	Osaka, Japan Arashiyama, Japan Kyoto, Japan Osaka, Japan	Attempt to go to the temples in Arashiyama -- only made it to the train station before turning back Strolling on Kiyamachi-dori Street in Kyoto (cherry blossoms)
290	April 14	Osaka, Japan Arashiyama, Japan Osaka, Japan	Train to Arashiyama, and left the station this time! Following sights in Arashiyama: Arashiyama Park on Nakanoshima island (cherry blossoms) Togetsu bridge over Hozu-gawa and Katsura-gawa rivers Tenryu-ji Temple and garden (UNESCO World Heritage Site; cherry blossoms) Back in Osaka: Dotonbori district (nighttime) Ebisubashi Bridge (nighttime view) Walked the length of "Namba Walk" looking for a place to eat dinner Dinner at Osaka train station
291	April 15	Osaka, Japan Nara, Japan Osaka, Japan	Daytrip to Nara: Himuro-jinja shrine Todaiji Museum Todaiji temple with Nandai-mon gate (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Nigatsu-do Hall Sangatsu-do Hall (exterior only; interior under renovation) Tamukeyama Hachimangu shrine Kasuga Taisha shrine (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Wakamiya-jinja shrine Ukimido Gazebo with Sagi-ike pond (cherry blossoms) Kofuku-ji temple with 5-story pagoda exterior (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
292	April 16	Osaka, Japan	A "rest and laundry day"
293	April 17	Osaka, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Moved back to Kyoto! Ginkaku-ji temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site; cherry blossoms) Tetsugaku-No-Michi (Path Of Philosophy) (cherry blossoms) Eikando temple Nanzenji temple Sanmon gate (view from top) Nanzenji temple and garden "The Happy Bus"
294	April 18	Kyoto, Japan	A relaxing day of roaming around the Sanjo area
295	April 19	Kyoto, Japan Uji, Japan Osaka, Japan ITM Osaka, Japan Kyoto, Japan	Byodo-in Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Uji, this time with the Phoenix Hall Osaka Station for lunch A ride on the Osaka Monorail to Itami airport -- just to go on the monorail Added treat of first sighting of Boeing 787 at Osaka airport observation deck: Decided to take this plane to Tokyo instead of Shinkansen train! Back to Kyoto for dinner!
296	April 20	Kyoto, Japan	Rainy day = movie in theater: "This means War" (AKA Japanese title: "Black & White") in English with Japanese subtitles
297	April 21	Kyoto, Japan Osaka, Japan ITM HND Haneda, Japan	Osaka Station for lunch My first flight on a Boeing 787: Osaka Itami to Tokyo Haneda airport Another view of Fuji-san from the plane
298	April 22	Haneda, Japan Tokyo, Japan	Sony Building in Ginza: Trying to fix problem with camera but no result! Meiji-Jingu Shrine, with Empress Shoken Red Cross Exhibition and Homotsuden (Treasure Museum) Yoyogikoen park
299	April 23	Tokyo, Japan	Rainy day = Sleepy day
300	April 24	Tokyo, Japan	Kitanomaru National Garden (cherry blossoms) Higashi-Gyoen (Imperial Palace East Garden) Japanese Garden next to Higashi Gyoen Sannomaru Shozokan (Museum of Imperial Collections) Tokyo International Forum Plaza Tokyo Tower: evening and night views
301	April 25	Tokyo, Japan	Rainy day = Rest day
302	April 26	Tokyo, Japan	Rainy day = Rest day
303	April 27	Tokyo, Japan	Rainy day = Edo-Tokyo Museum Exploring Akasaka: my new neighborhood for the next 5 nights
304	April 28	Tokyo, Japan	Tokyo National Museum Sumida-gawa river cruise Walking around Roppongi district at night looking for a place for dinner Walking around Shinjuku district at night looking for a place for dessert
305	April 29	Tokyo, Japan	Sompo Japan museum of art ("Sunflowers" by Vincent Van Gogh) Shinjuku Sumitomo Building (51st floor observation deck) Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices Building #1 (North and South Towers 45th floor observatories) Shinjuku NS Building (Largest pendulum clock in the world) Nikon/Canon/Pentax/Sony camera store
306	April 30	Tokyo, Japan	Wadakura Fountain Park Ginza East Shinjuku walking tour at night: with Hanazono-jinja shrine and Kabukicho

May 2012:

Day #	DATE	PLACES	HIGHLIGHTS
307	May 1	Tokyo, Japan	Relaxing before the next day's flight across the Pacific Ginza district for "last dinner"
308	May 2	Tokyo, Japan NRT DFW SFO Home	Flight back home... until I return again!
etc...	...until... (TBD)	TBD	TBD