Yosemite

 Over the spring and fall, I made a trip to Yosemite National Park for some quick overnight stays.  The first in early spring was a 2 nighter to rediscover the park.  Literally decades since my last visit so I wanted to give myself ample time.  On both occasions, I stayed at lodgings within the park and primarily ate at the stores and restaurants.  I dont own much in the way of camping equipment and this makes pack in and pack out very easy.  This was especially helpful on the days I left the park.

The first trip I went around the valley with the help of the shuttle bus system.  The weather was fabulous and the waterfalls were in full gush from winter melt.  I took the opportunity to watch the sun set and fall over Tunnel View.  I stayed at Housekeeping with a site near the Merced river.  Nice set up with fire pit, tables, covered porch, lighting, and electricity.  Sleeps several with a double bed and bunk beds.  The canvas flaps were the only "doors" and could not keep out the elements, bugs, or woodland creature.  That trip has been posted with links to videoes.

On the return a few months later, I really wanted to visit Glacier Point above the valley.  In early spring, the road to the point had not been opened yet.  This time, they would close shortly after my visit.  The sun rise and set with nothing but Half Dome and the sky behind it was breath taking.  Twinkling lights along the trails below Half Dome were evidence of those making their way back from the long hike.  After sunset I got back to my ten at Curry Village.  This area has a greater number and density of free standing tents but do not have facilities for cooking or campfires.  One of the main benefits are the restaurants and eating establishments within the grounds.  Head over to my Youtube page, RogueogueVlogue, to see the videoes post for the second go around.

Also available is a video for Castle Air Museum.  I stopped by here on the way to Yosemite

Japan 2024 - Videoes

 My Youtube page will have all the videoes posted soon, https://www.youtube.com/@RogueDogueVlogue.  They have been premiering on Wednesdays and the last one willl be coming up this week, Nov 6.  The videoes all the footage of the parades that I was present for, what I ate, and what I did while in Tokyo.  The last video is a bunch of leftover stuff that did not make it into the previous ones.

The video after that will be an account of a visit to Copenhagen Bakery and Cafe.  Then a recount of an overnighter to Yosemite.  Finally, for the forseeable future, a video on the Castle Air Force Museum in Atwater, CA/

Japan 2024 - Day 12 The last day

 Theres not much left to do but check out and head to the airport.  However, the flight is not until 2130 and that leaves me several hours in the baking sun before sunset and lowered temps.

Japan 2024 - Day 11 The last full day

Headed over to Toyosu this morning but not for the fish market.  Near the popular fish market is a new establishment of shops, eateries, and spa.  Located off Shijo Mae on the Yurikamome is Senkyaku Banrai. 

Japan 2024 - Day 10 Shinjuku

Today, Im staying local to the Shinjuku area.  How local are you staying?  So local I dont have to get on a train today.  Family Mart starts the day with their Famichiki, croquette, and tsukune.  The three minced chicken meatballs on a skewer were grilled with a bouncy texture.  It was good but a bit on the sweet side for my liking.  I think they misheard me or there was no beef in the croquette because I ordered beef croquette.  The potato filling is creamy while the outside is crispy.  This too is good and a nice replacement for a hash brown.   Finally, I would have the Famichiki over KFC.  Its a boneless thigh meat thats also deep fried.  It less mess less fuss sincd there is no bone to deal with and the flavors are on par.  All topped off with an iced latte, of course.

Japan 2024 - Day 9 Enoshima

 Its already Monday and in a few days I will be flying home again.  I do welcome the return to more moderate temps that Im used to but still lament the end of another trip.  I started the day at the aforementioned Gusto Cafe for breakfast.  Their menu is pared down and has japanese and western items.  I opted for hamburger steak with sausage and a fried egg.  It included the drink bar.  It took several attempts to get the iced cappucino.  The plain iced coffee was too strong.  The other machine overly sweet coffee drinks.  In the middle was the regular cappucino machine that you can pour into a glass of ice.  As I enjoyed the savory flavor of the beef patty and sauce, I looked over the regular menu.  I saw the chicken karaage and thought I could go for some of that.  Little did I know how prohetic that would be.

Japan 2024 - Day 8 Shopping again?!?!

Had a late breakfast at Saizeriya near the bus terminal.  It opened at 10am but there was a Gusto Cafe next door that opens at 7am.  Had the hamburg steak with chicken wings and fried shrimp.  This was preceded by a small green salad with shrimp.  All washed down with the drink bar, iced cappucino especially.  It was a very satisfying start to the day.

Japan 2024 - Day 7 Shopping

     I started out a bit confused.  I knew there was a Kura Sushi place near the intrsection of Yasakuni Dori and Shinjuku station.  There was a large sign above Omoide Yokocho.  I headed that way and could find nothing at the base of the sign.  Googled it and it was across the street to the north.  Had various cooked and fried sushi.  It was ok but dont expect too much.  The first plates went down the hole and surprisingly, I won a gachapon. 

Japan 2024 - Day 6 Back to Tokyo

 This was an uneventful day except for the earthquake in Miayazaki the day before.  Flew into Haneda and got on the way to Shinjuku via Shinagawa.  Just after Harajuku, the train came to an abrupt sudden stop.  It was triggered by an earthquake alert.  Though we didnt feel anything there was some additional major shaking going on as the day wore on.  There was also an alert broadcast on my tablet.  Possted to the blog and ent to bed.  I may have to review photos nd videos to see if I actualy did anything else that day.  Uneventfful

Japan 2024 - Day 5 Ringo Koen and Goshogawara

 I was not aware that Thurs was a Sat, Sun, or holiday.  There was supposed to be a schedule bus around 10am to go to Hirosaki Apple Park. 

Japan 2024 - Day 4 Aomori again

 Came back to Aomori.  On their last day, they flip the script and do it in the daytime as opposed to the evening.  That leaves the eveining free for fireworks while some of the Nebuta are floated around the bay.  Paid seats line the shore which had the best unobrtructed close view.  I overindulged in the street food before realizing this would be my last chance for nokkedon.  In 2011, I ran into this market, primarily selling seafood, and observed people walking around with bowls of rice and getting select items from the vendors.  The items were exchanged for x amount of tickets.  The line to get in was unfortunately long and they only had the 1 sheet of 10 tickets.  They used to sell a smaller sheet.  You get a bowl of rice, an extra ticket if you want a large serving.Typically everyone likes to customize their kaisendon.  I went down a different aisle.  I got 2 cooked shrimp, fried fishcake, a piece of grilled whitefish, and a slice of wagyu .  The wagyu was so much better than the meal from the other day.  Wolfed it down so I could get some pics of the parade during the day.  By the time I got to where it all happens, I was pretty muc too late and it was over.

4 hours before the fireworks show and I was prepared.  There was a stepped cirular area where there was a patchwork of tarps and coverings of areas that had been reserved.  I looked for the highest point with the most unobstructed view and put down my towel on a small sliver of ground to let people now this spot was no longer open.  With that, I went to get some drinks, yakisoba, ebi katsu, and a sausage.  Not sure why the sausage.  I had not taken in a good show in quite a while.  I always skip the shows back home because of the congestion afterwards.  Everything seems different when you are on vacation.  There were maybe 4 spots around the wharf where they were being fired from.  The largest, biggest, and loudest were always coming from the right.  Beautiful displays of colors and streamers and the concussive force of the larger explosives.  Smaller shots helped filled the sky closer to the water.  Although enjoyable, my pet peeve was the pauses in between times when they shot them off.  I am used to one pretty continuous display with a few small pauses to change the mood or song the fireworks were choreographed to.  There was no music so it would just stop then a few minutes later, start up again.  At least we knew when the end was happening because they saved the best for last.  A massive firework that filled the visible sky.  It was really impressive. We were really too far from the shore and blocked by trees to make out any of the floating floats.  

Japan 2024 - Day 3 Aomori

 Its Friday night and Im sittig in my room in Kabukicho recalling events from a few days ago instead of dippingmy toes into the swirling pool of energy that is Shinjuku nght life.  It is as cold as the hottest days in Aomori.  The direct train on th eOu ilne takes about 45 minutes.  I have wanted to come back since that visit in 2011 to revisit the Nebuta Museum and to experience the parade.  This is the second to last day but the last time they will march about the streets at night  Inexpensive admission to the displays.  Many of which I remember like the create your own nebuta face near the entry.  Afterwards it opens up to a black room with a few floats and exhibits of partials to demonstrate how they are built up from a wire frame structure.  The black room helps to simulate the atmosphere s they are pulled around the route at nightfall.  For the longest time, I kept a picture of a head as it develops from, left to right, fully contrusted and painted to the wire structure with the wired lights.  It always made me think of how its pahsing from nothingness to coming to life.  Aother row of heads adorn above the pathway to the exit.  I didnt have the patience to take a picture of each and everyone as I did when I was younger.

Japan 2024 - Day 2 Hirosaki

 I fly in and out of Haneda a majority of times through he International Terminal.  The last time I came through Terminal 1(domestic) was way back in

Japan 2024 - Day 1 Tokyo

First full day in Japan during the summer month of August.  For the first few

Meeting at the airport gate, no more

 There is a generation of people who do not know the joy of waiting for someone as people deplane at the airport.  A long time ago, visitors to the airport could freely walk up to the gates without a ticket or screening.  This included the international and domestic terminals.

Due to 9/11, security measures were put into place that have cause long wait and headaches for the flying public.  Unless, you are willing to pay for the privilege of avoiding the masses.  Its added hours to the margin for arrivals especially during the heavy travel times.

At some point, the world will be a better place and we can arrive at the airport 30mins before boarding and make it on time

No Charisma No Charm

 Char  m

        is   a

Charisma

Yosemite

 The last time that I can recall going to Yosemite was during an early spring where snow was still on the ground.  Fast forward a few decades to another early spring in 2024.  Curious to re experience one of our great national parks, I stayed a few nights to enjoy the valley

In good traffic during the morning commute, I drove the approx 4+ hrs to get to the northern entrance of the park via 120

One of the most iconic scenic outlooks is located at the eastern end of Wawona Tunnel.  Simply called Tunnel View, you gaze upon the entirety of the valley with is prominent landmarks in the panoramic view 

I was not planning on grilling or cooking anything while I stayed there.  There are plenty of convenience store/grocery store available to buy fresh meats and produce for campside cooking.  However there are just as many places to get pre-cooked and made to order items.  Below are some of the items that I sampled.

The only thing I regret was that I went too early in the season.  whenever Im at Yosemite I love to take in the view from Glacier Point.  The road was still closed for winter at this time.  Maybe plan another shorter trip in late summer?

New equipment/software in Yosemite

 The time has come to upgrade some of my hardware and software.  A while back I replaced my Samsung Galaxy Tab A tablet with a Samsung A7.  There are some major differences but the pros made the A7 a better choice.  The size makes the tablet much more portable and easier to stow away.  It can practically fit in the pocket of some my pants.  The screen is smaller and lower resolution but its not as bad as I thought it would be when viewing videos or trying to work on it.  I got the one with a cellular option.  This makes it much more useful because I could put a data sim and use the hotspot.  This would have a much better battery life than my cell phone or the portable wifi.

Wings Over Solano Air Show @ Travis AFB

 I got a new action camera to video this event.  The video editor that I was using before did not like the format of the video so I had to change to a different more powerful editor with so many more options.  Enjoy the videos while I learn about the camera and the editing software.  I will also be replacing my digital camera for use on the next set of posts

Marufuku Ramen-Cupertino and San Francisco

I was in Cupertino near Marukai market one day.  It was right around lunch time after I had run some errands in the complex.  Choose to have ramen at Marufuku nearby.  I first latched on to Hakata Tonkotsu ramen after trying ichiran in Tokyo.  The white pot had chili powder for  extra spice.  I ordered mild for my ramen.  I added some chili half way through the bowl.  It was way too bitter and had very little heat.  As I find out later, their heat levels are very reduced.

Random Thought

 In Godzilla movies, how does Godzilla stand in water thats deeper than he is tall?

Random Thought

 For showers where the shower head is installed on a wall and not the ceiling.  Some people shower facing the showerhead.  Others face away from it.  Which camp are you in?   If guess for a few, a very small few, they face sideways with a shoulder towards it?

Departure from Germany