I woke up this morning to my alarm inconsiderately announcing to the world that it was time to wake the fork up. I stumbled around my room throwing items in a bag in preparation for the trip I’d be leaving for in, five minutes ago, according to the clock. So, stumbling through the door shoes untied and chronically under prepared I barely managed to catch up to the group before being abandoned. Despite the shaky start to the day, I was off. My destination? The one and only Kobe.
Kobe, Japan – A gorgeous city that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation. While riding the subway into the city and simultaneously chasing away the last remnants of sleep with a hot cup of coffee. I couldn’t help but marvel out the window at my surroundings. Ancient temples standing alongside futuristic skyscrapers, it was as if every new city block was another thread in an incomprehensively large tapestry woven over centuries of human creation.
The first stop we made along our journey was to the Fugaku super computer. Fugaku is one of the worlds biggest and best super computers boasting an impressive 442 PFLOPS. When compared to its predecessor the K computer at 10 PFLOPS it becomes clear that Fugaku represents a massive leap in computing technology. As I explored the atrium at the base of the recearch building I had a chance to consider the structure of the building as well as examine an individual CPU rack whose siblings are currently hard at work inside the heart of Fugaku. It was interesting to note the actual super computer only took up a single floor. The other 3 floors as well as the surrounding buildings were all support and cooling systems for Fugaku. This is necessary because Fugaku produces a lot of heat due to its thousands of CPU cores all working at peak capacity.
Eventually we were welcomed into the facility by two enthusiastic recearchers who were eager to share their groundbreaking work with our class. Through the pre-prepared presentation I was able to learn about the interesting projects underway. Fugaku’s immense computational ability is harnessed for several different applications including Biomedical research, product design, particle simulation, and many, many more. Witnessing the colossal device come into view as the curtain was pulled back left me in awe at the immense potential technology holds in shaping the future.
Our next and final stop on this trip was the serene mountainside botanical garden. Scarcely visible from the streets of Kobe this tranquil garden is firmly nestled into the mountainous backdrop of the city. Taking the ropeway up the side I was able to absorb the sights infront of me, I never knew trees could be so green! When our trolly eventually landed the first thing I did was eat some honey comb ice cream. A cold sugary treat was the perfect way to beat the heat. While wandering through the garden path I stumbled upon hidden streams and enchanting waterfalls. I was able to let the ambiance wash over me and just relax after what was so far a busy day.
After departing I made my way back to the hotel room, ate a sandwich and went to sleep while reflecting on the day before.
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