The document is a travelogue by Jennifer Berk about her fall vacation visiting Tokyo, Japan; Beijing and Xi'an, China from October 17th to November 1st, 2008. Over the course of her trip, she learned that art belongs everywhere, from bathroom chickens to ice cream cones; that choosing words carefully is important when visiting different places; and that learning requires patience such as when restoring cultural artifacts or doing pottery research. She also found that technology solves changing problems, everything can be measured in various ways, and that enjoying simple pleasures like colors, quiet moments, and local cuisine are valuable aspects of travel.

1. What I Learned on My
Fall Vacation
by Jennifer Berk
Tokyo, Japan; Beijing and Xi’an, China
October 17 to November 1, 2008

2. Start with structure
Tokyo International Forum building, Toyko

3. Start with structure
17-Arch Bridge, Summer Palace, Beijing

4. Start with structure
Ceiling, Water Cube, Beijing

5. Art belongs everywhere
Bathroom chicken, Maruzen, Tokyo

6. Art belongs everywhere
Vanilla ice cream as delivered by the Emperor Hotel, Beijing

7. Choose your words
Visitops Rules [sic], toboggan down from Great Wall, Mutianyu

8. Choose your words
Made in China restaurant napkin, Beijing

9. Detail counts at any size
Gold dragon, Forbidden City, Beijing

10. Detail counts at any size
Dragon statue, Summer Palace, Beijing

11. Learning requires patience
Restoration area, Terracotta Warriors pit 1, Xi'an

12. Learning requires patience
Pottery research gallery, Forbidden City, Beijing

13. Technology solves changing problems
Antique machines, curio market, Beijing

14. Technology solves changing problems
Watching the game on the tiny screen, Tokyo Dome stadium, Tokyo

15. Everything can be measured
Four-star toilet, Forbidden City, Beijing

16. Enjoy the quiet
Tokyo International Forum building, Toyko

17. Enjoy the quiet
Along the canal north of the Forbidden City, Beijing

18. Enjoy the quiet
Concert in park outside city wall, Xi'an

19. Enjoy the colors
Ramen, Tokyo

20. Enjoy the colors
Mascot dolls on rim of stadium, Bird's Nest (Olympic stadium), Beijing

21. Enjoy the colors
Dried fruit, Muslim street, Xi'an

22. Credits
Jennifer Berk
jcberk@gmail.com
@jcberk
All images from http://www.flickr.com/
photos/jcberk/sets/72157611798247069/