Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Krister, Janne and Jarkko at Charles de Gaulles airport waiting for the connecting flight to Kansai Airport.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Jarkko and me waiting for the next portliner to Sannomiya. The extreme temperatures lead to consumption of big amount of fluid as shown in the picture.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
The portliner is quite similar to the metro in Helsinki although it is moving around above streetlevel. The portliner gets you all around Port Island and to downtown Kobe.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Portopia hotel on Port Island, a very nice hotel of 30 floors, my room was located on the 20th floor.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
The view from my hotelroom window (south direction), in this picture you can see that Port Island is not yet fully developed and out on the sea they are still expanding the island.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Side view of the hotel, it was quite straight although it seems tilted in this photo (for some strange reason).
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Next to Portopia hotel there were some quite nice examples of japanese architecture, the building on the left is an art exhibition hall and the building on the right is sports centre.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Between Portopia hotel and the conference centre there was a pyramid-like monument.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
The central shopping street in Kobe, this street is several kilometers long and crammed with stores of varying pricelevel.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
The japanese have really understood the concept of lots of beer.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Jarkko is trying to chew his final piece of sushi bought at the supermarket.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Kai later showed up and we sat in my room drinking beer and discussing irrelevant things.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Whats up with the toilet in the hotelroom ? There is some weird kind of controlpanel on the toiletbowl.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
And theres a telephone next to the toiletbowl with a note saying In emergency If you need help from outside, lift up phone and an operator will answer in thirty seconds.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Janne, Jarkko me and Krister at the conference reception at sunday evening.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
and much later after the reception at a bar in downtown Kobe.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
And so the conference starts...
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
One evening we visited a sushi restaurant with a rotating belt on which plates with different kind of sushi moves around on. You can see the plates on the left side on this picture, the chefs where surrounded by the belt so you could observe them making sushi while eating.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Another picture from the same restaurant. What is Jarkko doing ?
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
A Pachinko hall, the japanese seem quite crazy about this game. It mostly reminds you of a flipper game although it is vertical. Appearently you can make a living out of playing this game although it is illegal.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Kobe in the evening. In the background you can see the mountains rising behind the city.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Kobe at night.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
More Kobe at night.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
On friday after the conference had ended, me and Kai went up with a ropeway to the top of the mountains behind Kobe and then we walked down. On the mountainside there was a herbal garden with all kinds of herbs and plants.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
View down from the mountains of Kobe downtown and Port Island.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Another view of Kobe downtown.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
On the way down from the mountains we stumbled upon a Shrine of some kind.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
We also found some quite nice waterfalls and thought about going for a swim (as we were quite sweaty from the walk down), but we figured it might not be a good idea since there was a shrine right next to the waterfall (the japanese might not like to have two naked finnish guys swimming next to their holy shrine).
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Another view of the same waterfall.
Kobe, 31 August - 7 September 2002
Later the same day we went back to the same sushi restaurant, the lady at the counter cheered when we arrived, appearently she remembered our consumption of sushi and beer from the previous evening. Left to right, Inga Gerhards, Stephen Donnelly and Kai.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Himeji castle as seen from the entrance to the gardens.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Himeji castle as seen on the way to the main entrance.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Himeji castle as seen from the main gates at the inner walls.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
The main gates at the inner walls.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
This stone contained all the symbols of the rulers of Himeji castle.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
View from the top floor of Himeji castle over Himeji city.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
The Seppuku wall on the backside of Himeji castle.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Janne and Jarkko coming out of the back entrance.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
A view of the main entrance once again.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
On the way back to Kobe we visited the worlds longest suspension bridge, the Akashi Kaikyo bridge, which is almost 5 kilometers long.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Hanging from underneat the bridge there was a tourist outpost where you could see along the whole bridge.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Awaji island to which the bridge leads to.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
The organising committe is thanked for organising the conference and gets some diplomas.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Some important people are brought up to dring Sake from traditional Sake mugs, small wooden boxes. The big barrel in the middle is filled with Sake.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Entertainment during the conference dinner consisted of Taiku, a sort of entertainment where one guy and two women drum and scream (!). Very impressive.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
More Taiku.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
Even more Taiku.
IBMM 2002 Conference excursion and dinner, 5 September 2002
After some barhopping we ended up in Jannes hotelroom drinking beer and Cognac.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
I went with the Shinkansen from Kobe to Kyoto, it takes about 40 minutes to cover that distance with this train (travelling at 300 km/h).
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The Kyoto railway station is quite impressive, you can go up 11 floors with escalators inside this impressive building.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
This photo is showing the view in the opposite direction from the previous photo.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Kyoto tower as seen from the railway station.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The entrace to Higashihonganji, an old Buddhist temple.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The main bulding at Higashihonganji which also is the worlds largest wooden building.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The shrine inside Higashihonganji
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
And once again.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The second building at Higashihonganji is smaller but just as impressive on the inside.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
View of the yard at Higashihonganji
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Me with the worlds largest wooden building in the background.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The yard from another angle.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The second entrance to Higashihonganji.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The entrace to the Heian shrine, a Shinto temple.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The main building at Heian shrine.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
In one end of the Heian shrine there was a beautiful garden, which featured among other things, step stones in one of the lakes (some dumbass tried to go in the wrong direction despite the signs showing the correct direction).
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
A covered bridge in the same garden.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The entrance to Nijo castle.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The main entrance to the inner yard of the castle.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The living quarters of the Shoguns during their time of ruling (-> 1868).
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Same living quarters from another angle.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The Shoguns garden behind living quarters.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The golden paviljon, Kinkakuji. This paviljon is actually covered in pure gold, about 40 kg is used.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The golden paviljon.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The bonsai of one general was planted several hundred years ago near the golden paviljon. It is suppose to be a sailingboat.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The garden behind the golden paviljon.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
View at the way out of the golden paviljon garden.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The Sanju-Sangen-Do temple which is the worlds longest wooden building. The inside of this building was filled with 1001 human-sized Buddha statues (all made by the one man) and several statues of religous deities. Among others you can find the statues of the gods of thunder and wind in here, which are considered to be one of the best japanese handicraft throughout times. Unfortunately photographing inside was prohibited.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The streets leading up to Kiyomizu mountain is covered with shops selling different kind of souveniers.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
View at Kiyomizu mountain.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The stairs leading up to the main shrine at Kiyomizu mountain.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Pathway at the top of Kiyomizu mountain.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
View over Kyoto from Kiyomizu shrine.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The Kiyomizu shrine.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The main Pagoda at Kiyomizu mountain.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Three streams leading down from Kiyomizu mountian, according to the legend you can choose to drink out of one of the three. The stream are from right to left beauty, wisdom and health. Drinking from more than one of the springs nullifies all benefits.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The entrance to Nishiki market.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Inside the Nishiki market, here you can find everything from fresh fish to knives meant for cooking purposes priced several hundreds of euros.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The Shosei-en garden.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Tea house in the Shosei-en garden.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Various house in the Shosei-en garden.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Another view in the same garden.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Temple at the Tooji shrine.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Inside the same shrine.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
The Pagoda at Tooji shrine, this Pagoda is known as a symbol of Kyoto to all japanese people.
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Me with Prof. Chu (USA) and X.B. Tian (Hongkong).
Kyoto, 7 - 13 September 2002
Prof. Yamada (chairman at CIB 2002), his wife, several of his students (and former students) and me went out to eat some noodles at a local noodle restaurant after the conference get-together.