Although Takamatsu is a small city, it is unique in the sense that it is a place where tourists would not go. Thanks to 14th IGAC Meeting, I was able to come and visit this small and interesting city of Japan. With my favourite cuisine and beautiful gardens, my first experience in Japan was lovely.
I woke up very early in the morning and travelled to the airport to catch my flight to Takamatsu. Since the time in Japan is an hour faster, the time today is only 23 hours. After a smooth four hour flight, I found myself in Japan, for the first time. I was able to figure out the transport and arrived in my hotel fast and smooth. After checking in and placing down my luggage, I began to explore the immediate surroundings around my hotel. I found a ramen shop (which also turned out to be the favourite ramen in my trip) nearby. Although they use chicken bones to make the broth, it was still very delicious and I enjoyed my first dinner here. After dinner, I walked around the area to find a large supermarket. I spent about an hour walking around because the supermarket is filled with very interesting Japanese goods. It was nightfall when I am done.
24 September 2018, Takamatsu, Cloudy
I began my day with a western breakfast. I then ventured into the unknown. I took the JR train to Yashima. I relied on google maps and walked towards Shikoku Mura. It was a refreshing walk because the Japanese streets are quite unique. Soon, I found myself at the bottom of the Yashima mountain. There is also a shrine at the side, so I decided to go to the shrine first. The shrine requires us to climb some stairs. I climbed up to the top, and when I looked back, the view of Takamatsu was not bad. I was supposed to wash myself with the well water to cleanse myself before going near the shrine, but I did not know that at that time. After that, I entered Shikoku Mura. Shikoku Mura features the old style Japanese architecture. After entering the paid area, you'll be greeted with a vine bridge, which you can walk around if you are a faint-heart. Crossing the vine bridge is quite scary since the gaps between the logs are quite big, and the centre of it brings you dangerously close to the surface of the water. I spent about two hours wandering around, discovering ancient Japanese methods of making paper, soy sauce, fishing, etc. I was pretty hungry by the time I am done, so I ate at the udon shop nearby. I got the cold udon with soy sauce dip. It is very refreshing. After lunch, I took the bus to the top of Yashima mountain. There, I explored the flat top peak. I entered the Yashima temple area first. Although the weather is bad, it was still beautiful. I can't help but notice that there is a paid entry museum, but nobody is going in. I left the compound and passed by some souvenir shops before reaching the viewing area of the Yashima mountain. Here, there is a tradition of throwing clay discs off the mountain for good luck. It represents the victory of the Minamoto warriors after they defeat the Taira. I did not throw any clay discs, but the view of Takamatsu from here is quite spectacular. I moved on, walking past an aquarium, and finally back to the bus bay. I began walking another round, when I realized I did not take raw pictures of the view of Takamatsu. This time, I walked a different route and discovered something that I did not find previously, the ruins of Yashima castle, so I decided to look for it. It was pretty okay. I then walked back and get my picture of Takamatsu from Yashima mountain. Majestic. It is one of the must see views of Japan. Cloudy day kinda makes it less impressive though.
I then took the bus back down and headed towards Kawaramachi, where I found a sushi place for dinner. The sushi from Japan is simply delicious. I ate it the correct way, because the sushi chef pressed it well and the fish really would not come off when you invert it. This ended my day and made me really happy.
25 September 2018, Takamatsu, Cloudy
Today is the beginning of the ICACGP and IGAC meeting. I began my day with a traditional Japanese breakfast. They have such a big meal for breakfast, complete with rice. Being a good early career scientist, I basically sit through all the talks. The lunch was disappointing because there was none left for us. People from my department just ended up walking to the supermarket nearby to buy our own lunch. My previous supervisor's student gave a talk in the afternoon, and I talked to him after his talk. Our dinner was at a more expensive sushi place. The uni here is really very nice.
26 September 2018, Takamatsu, Cloudy
Today was a full day at the conference. Breakfast was the full Japanese breakfast again. The professor from my department have a talk today. Lunch was better. I managed to get some food despite staying back to attend the soft skill course for early career scientists. The poster session was very good. I walked around and talked to many people, asking about their project and also learning about some knowledge that actually helps my research. Poster sessions is always a favourite activity of mine in a conference. There is a wealth of knowledge to be learnt by talking to the presenters. We went out with a Japanese professor and his student from Taiwan for dinner. They are actually from Earth Observatory Singapore. I had a good time getting to know them and talking to them over dinner. We had some drinks too.
27 September 2018, Takamatsu, Partly Cloudy
I had breakfast at the same place again. Today was really productive at the conference although it was a half day. Some of the talks were really interesting and beneficial to my research. Talks include biogenic emissions and biomass burning emissions. I managed to talk to Alex Guenther. We went to a very local udon shop for lunch, and it was perhaps the nicest udon I ever had. We then walked to Ritsurin garden, the tourist attraction that Takamatsu is most well known for. We began the tour by taking the boat. It was a small boat that only had four passengers. The guide spoke Japanese with the Japanese passenger, teaching him things about the garden. We however did not understand a thing. It was really a lovely boat ride though.
After the boat ride, we began exploring the garden on foot. It was really a refreshing walk in the park. We repeatedly ran into scientists from the conference. There were a few small buildings which had exhibits in them. There was a house that was showing the history of udon making. There was also one with wood handicrafting. There is a small garden where they actually use a broom to sweep the little stones into linear patterns. It was really unique and pretty. I went back and got the iconic picture of Ritsurin garden, which is also the cover photo of this post. This cover photo is appropriate given that Takamatsu is the most famous of this garden. In fact, if you google Takamatsu, this is the picture that you will see. Dinner was banquet style at Clement hotel. Unfortunately, I was late and missed the performance by one of the local school. I had difficulty trying to get a seat since most people were already seated with people they are comfortable with. I got a seat with people I have never met before. I talked with them, which was nice. The food was decent, the fish course was really good. Our table was not seated fully, but the waitresses still continued to serve food. They must have been ordered to do so in case anyone joins in late, they would still have all the courses. Japanese hospitality at its finest. After the meal, as I was walking around the area, the principal of the school approached me and gave me his name card. I felt strange, but I accepted his name card graciously and tried to talk to him politely. I was even pulled into the performing group's group photo. It was strange, but people were slightly drunk (maybe) and I just played along. I later found out that the Japanese treats their name card like an extension of oneself, so we have to treat the card with respect. Luckily I did! I just found it interesting as to why an important person such as this principal would give me an item so important to him. The banquet was really generous with the whiskey. When my friend and I asked for whiskey, the bartender gave us a glass with about 3 shots in it! I drank it slowly. When people started dancing, I left the place and went back to my hotel to rest.
28 September 2018, Takamatsu, Clear
It was a big day today as I have my presentation. I was nervous for the entire morning and noon. I skipped the talks in the morning so that I could rehearse for my talk in my room. The weather was lovely.
The two tallest buildings in Takamatsu, with the clear blue sky, greeted me as I left my hotel and walked towards the convention centre. There was a lunch with established scientists session, and I was assigned to table 24. When I got to the lunch tent, there was no table label and I had no idea which was table 24. I had no appetite anyway, so I decided to go to the auditorium early and rehearse for my talk one last time. At about three, it was finally my turn to speak. I was glad that I delivered all the content slowly and nicely, in a very calm manner. My nervousness somehow did not get the better of me. It was a nice talk and many people liked it. Some people came and talk to me after the session ended, telling me how they liked the style of my presentation. I was glad that I was able to speak in a way that made many people understand my work. Poster session 2 began shortly. As I was walking around the posters, random people will come along and say 'hey, you're the one that spoke just now, nice talk!'. These comments are really reassuring to hear. Poster session 2 turned out to be really nice and helpful as well. I met my lecturer from NUS. She did not recognize me, but from my expression, she knew I recognized her. We caught up a little bit about my undergraduate department. Finally, the day ended, and I was so relieved and tired at the end of today's conference. We had dinner at a random shop. I had some alcohol to relax after a stressful day.
29 September 2018, Takamatsu, Rain
As Typhoon Trami comes closer and closer, the weather deteriorated. Winds started picking up even today. The morning session of the conference went by fast, and the closing ceremony followed. I did not win the early career scientist award, but it was still good because I still got the chance to speak to an international audience about my work, and now, many people know me. This is perhaps the greatest takeaway for me attending this conference. I had ramen for lunch and began stocking up food for the typhoon that will arrive tomorrow. I spent my afternoon in the hotel since it was already raining slightly. Dinner was at the same sushi restaurant that I had after the day I explored Yashima mountain. This time, I did not try to save money. I ordered all the sushi that I liked and enjoyed one of the best meals that I had in Japan, with the benefit of being alone. The sushi chef made all the sushi in front of me.
Although there was no words exchanged, there was some eye contact and interaction. He was happy that I liked the sushi. The person sitting next to me ordered the soy pepper wings, which tempted me to do the same. It was quite good too. I was so full after this meal, but it was really satisfying.
30 September 2018, Takamatsu, Typhoon
For the first time ever in my travel blogs, I have this weather, haha. I had to extend my hotel stay by 1 day since the flight back to Hong Kong has been rescheduled. I basically spent the entire day in the hotel, and it was really quite sad. The only time I went out was in the morning, for my breakfast. Lunch and dinner was instant noodles. I also ate a few snacks then and now. I tried to do some work, but the internet was not good. Totally unproductive day, both in terms of work and travel. The typhoon winds continued throughout the night although the rain has stopped.
1 October 2018, Takamatsu > Hong Kong, Clear
After the storm has passed, it is time to head back to Hong Kong. Weather turned surprisingly good and Takamatsu appears to be barely scratched by the typhoon. The bus to get to the airport has a very strange schedule and I had to wait for two hours for the next bus after I check out from my hotel. Determined not to waste time sitting at the bus stop, I decided to make good use of the nice weather to explore and take good pictures of Tamamo Park, a small park right next to the CBD. I had to carry my luggage while walking around the park, but nevertheless, I made quick work of the park. The park contains ruins of Takamatsu castle. From the main ruins, the view is not bad. At one of the corners of the park, a watch tower still stands.
I really like this picture. I then went back to the bus stop and the bus arrived on schedule, bringing me to the airport to catch my rescheduled flight back to Hong Kong. I felt a little sad as I left Japan. The food and the culture here made me really like this country. I guess I would be back in Japan at some point later in my life, with my dearie, to another region of Japan. Till next time, I guess.
