Category Archives: Countries

Golden Gate

Physics, San Francisco, United States

It’s already the second week in San Francisco now. Lot’s of things to see and do, so I did not manage to write something earlier.

First thing that caused quite some excitement was the fact that I arrived last Monday, while my baggage did not. So I actually had to waste some time on shopping. Some might not call this a waste of time, but you know me.

Besides the shopping tour, I also did quite some sightseeing and walking in SF, including a walking tour over the Golden Gate Bridge and a night tour of Alcatraz. On Wednesday I went to the SF NerdNite at Rickshaw Stop to see a couple science/tech inspired talks given by more or less known figures in the bay area.

On Friday, my baggage finally made it to town. Just in time for a little hiking weekend in Yosemite.
After a four hour drive to the park on Saturday morning, we went on a very nice 15 km hike onto the Mono Pass and the Sardine/Mono Lakes overlook. Coming back to camping ground, some grilled sausages and corn we already waiting for us (greetz Alex, Tobias, Wilko). After a nice and rich breakfast by Tenaya Lake, we made another more relaxing 8km hike, took a dive in one of the small and very cold lakes just outside the park and made us on our way back to SF.

Back in town, I had to realise that not only my first option to print my poster had failed. Also the backup failed, so I had to call and run/cycle through town to get my poster printed on Monday. It was done an hour before the session started.

Talking about the session/conference. It was nice start yesterday, not only on the physics side. In fact, the non-physics part was even more exciting. Besides a few small technical difficulties, we had a power cut interrupting the session, that apparently affected about 300k people in SF. But thanks to the diesel generators in the building the show could go on.

Now I gotta go back to the conference …

And for those that always care, don’t be jealous about the weather … it’s raining; and I’ll be uploading some pictures soon.

Moshimoshi Japan

Japan, Kyoto

I am just about to finish my second day in Japan, still a bit jet-lagged and well fed from today’s welcoming reception at the University of Kyoto.

Yesterday we arrive at Osaka airport and made our way straight to Nara, where we checked in to Chiaki’s very nice guest house. After a little introduction to the house and the city, she offered us three bikes and we made quite a tour throw the Nara park, visited the Great Buddha Hall and some smaller temples and had some Japanese food at a food festival.

Today we started the day with a beautiful breakfast prepared by Chiaki and including everything from sausages, over egg, to soup, bread, jam and even a desert … hmm! The weather was slightly less optimal (rain all day), but we still made a little bike tour to see a few gardens and a bit more of the town. In the afternoon we took the train to Kyoto and moved into yet another traditional (though this time quite luxurious) Japanese house (we even had Champagne in the fridge).

After a long introduction to the house and all the features (yes, also here the toilet is capable of many things), we went for the reception.

More Beijing

Beijing, China, Physics

Today the SUSY2012 conference finally started! For me, once again with not being woken up by my alarm and without (my all incl.) breakfast. Anyways, I made it to the conference for the second talk … puh. The first one started already at 8:30 am.

But mainly I wanted to summarise my yesterday’s version of the Beijing marathon.
I started out with a long metro trip to the Temple of Heaven, took a big tour through the park and the various temples; made my way to the Lama Temple and the surrounding area; took a long walk in the Yuandadu Chengyuan Ruins Park (its the city wall remains park … in which I did not see any city wall remains); and finally made my way to – where else should it be for a marathon – the 2008 Olympic’s Park – the Olympic Green. Gosh … I was wasted after that day.

In terms of other stats: I seemed to have chosen the wrong path at some places which made the proud owner of 78 mosquito bites. And that’s only the ones I can see myself, I can feel more … In addition, it shows that I should have brought my hiking boots, since I got three very nice blisters walking around in my Sambas :(

Beijing

Beijing, China

It’s been two and a half days now in Beijing, so time for a first blog entry.

I am actually going to start even before Beijing, since for some reasons I ended up in the Premium Economy class on my flight from Istambul to Beijing. Nothing too special, maybe besides the wide sleeping seat and plenty of nice food (smile), but I felt like I had to share.

Anyways … Beijing! First impression: man it’s muggy! It’s been above 30 degrees and around 80% humidity. And of course Beijing has one of the nicest haze bells (thanks to smog) I ever experienced. But that all aside I found my way to the hotel, using the very nice and fairly cheap metro system, and started exploring the neighbourhood. I finished the day with a typical modern Chinese dish … chicken burger at KFC’s … I thought I gotta start easy on myself.

Yesterday, after being woken up by the cleaning staff (thanks to the apparently still present jet lag), I went into town to see the Tiananmen Square, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Forbidden City, the Jingshan Park and the Beihai Park. All quite nice and impressive sights, though especially in the Forbidden City it often seems to be quantity and not quality that counts … or better counted. In terms of food I went a little wilder and had some sort of peanut-chicken rice with a dumpling in the Forbidden City. After ordering it I noticed that it was re-heated ready-made food … anyways, we are getting there.

Today, again after being woken up by the cleaning staff, I went for the Summer Palace and the Yuan Ming Yuan Park (Old Summer Palace). Two huge parks with temples, shrines and pavilions or at least ruins of them. I certainly fulfilled my walking share today and … right, got yet again a bit more crazy on food … this time it was beef noodle soup (with thick noodles) with chopsticks, sausage on a stick (plain stick) and some fried-egg sandwhich (no stick).

Let’s see what tomorrow brings :)

Maybe one side comment on the metro system, as it has cost me some extra Yuan already: I have not been able to buy a multipass from any of the service employees so far. And I had to learn (the hard way) that it does not make sense buying multiple single tickets at once (to avoid the queues), since they are only valid on the day AND the station you buy them … luckily one ride is only 25 Euro cents.