Alaska Day 2: Misty Fjords Kayaking
After leaving Ketchikan, the feeling of being far away from civilization came upon us fast. To our surprise, we were heading south, making a detour to the “Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness Area”. The place is as great as its name. After a few hours of sailing and unsuccessful bear spotting, Captain Eric Fulton anchored and set kayaks, a SUP, and a dinghy afloat… Read More
Alaska Day 1: Ketchikan – Homeport
Yasuko, Mom and I arrived at Ketchikan, a town which feels quite isolated despite being the 4th largest town in the State of Alaska. No road leads to Ketchikan. The only way to get here is by boat or by plane. Read More
Berninapass – Val Minor Hike
Berninapass (2307m) – Fuorcula Minor (2435m) – Val Minor – Bernina Lagalb & Morteratsch Glacier / 7.5h / 7km / 200m up, 400 down / Relive
It still amazes me that in Switzerland one can hop out of a train or bus and directly witness staggering glaciers or imposing 3000m-high mountains. Today we admired several Engadin peaks and the spectacular Morteratsch Glacier just in front of the train station and the bus stop. Read More
Caroline & Marius’ visit in Pany
Our friends Caroline & Marius came to see us in Pany for a couple of days.
Eating, drinking, bathing, and walking was the program. And one day we also went up to Philippe’s favorite flying place Gafäll with its spectacular view of the majestic Rätikon mountain range. All great photos in this post are shot by Marius. Read More
Mashiko Pottery Village
This is our second visit to the pottery village of Mashiko in the Tochigi prefecture. We have such fond memories of our first visit several years ago that we wanted to come back again. Read More
Gyoza Town Utsunomiya
Our second time in Gyoza Capital. A city with a total of 350 gyoza dumplings restaurants. I have long dreamed of coming back to this town and of doing a proper “gyoza crawl”. Read More
Hiking up to the Kinunuma Marshland
Kaniyu Onsen (1320m) to Kinu-numa (2030m) // 8 km, 5 hours, 715 m altitude up and down
After a complete, typical Japanese Ryokan breakfast with fish, natto and pickles (a bit too much for Philippe) and a quick morning dip in one of the hotel’s many hot tubs, we headed for a hike to the Kinu Marshland at 2000m altitude. Read More
Mt. Hangetsu Panorama
This morning, before taking the train and bus to the next onsen destination, we decided to go up Mt. Hangetsu. On the way we met a fellow tourist, a Colombian working in Abu Dhabi, and we went up to the viewpoint together. Read More
Chūzenji Lake Morning Walk
We had a pleasant, short afternoon walk along the shore of Lake Chuzenji to the Tachiki Kannon Shrine Read More
Chūzenji Lake Afternoon Hike
Yugawa onsen to Senjyogahara marshland to Ryuzu waterfall
10km, 3h30min
Hunting for a lunch spot, we found a queue in front of a non-descriptive shop. It was a butcher turned into Tonkatsu restaurant, rated as No.1 lunch place in Chuzenji Lake. Read More
Fly, Hike & Travel. 