Catwalker

Here is the very new in the background
behind the very old. The 634 meter Tokyo
SkyTree over the Senso-ji Temple complex,
which was originally founded in 628, with
the first temple having been built in 645.













The temple complex is in Asakusa.
The tower was physically completed early
this year, and opened May of this year (2012)

[Update:] the other edit of the picture I
had on here looked fine when viewed
on my laptop, but everywhere else the
colours looked hideously overdone.
So, yes, I did replace it with a re-edited
version.

This is in Asakusa, this woman is partaking in
a service which allows one to dress up as a Geisha,
in full costume, makeup and all. Her little one is
dressed as a little Samurai. Geisha normally remain
single while Geisha, if they marry, they are
required to retire. Contrary to legends and
rumors, pretty much originating from the
post WWII era, Geisha are not prostitutes.
















I might add, this little one was not thrilled,
he wasn't happy with the shoes, the costume,
or the attention. They had just stepped out
of a Ricksha ride when I rounded the corner.

Sometimes, you see things here which
just look out of place:














This is the Holy Resurrection Cathedral,
a Russian Orthodox church. Known locally as
"Nikorai-do" after its founder, St Nicholas
of Japan.

It was founded on 2 July 1861.

It is pouring with rain here in Tokyo today.
I managed to get out for a few minutes in
order to buy some books. There is a bookstore
in the Ueno train station now. There is also
a big one near the station in Ikebukuro.






The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. C.S. Lewis
新選組を旅する - in essence - "Explore the Shinsengumi" 
             Published by Ikkojin

Went to Harajuku today with a friend,
wow, not many Cos-players that I could see
but wow, was there ever a lot of people there.
Out of the 32 million population
(give or take) of the metropolis of
Tokyo, I think 15 million of them were
there.






Small portion of the crowd streaming through
the streets.

Old and new co-existing together, literally.











Hard to tell from this photo, but the old
brick building has a skyscraper built around it.
The far corner of the brick building has a
Citibank branch in it.
If this is not an old brick building, then
the design is.... interesting.

Whenever I go somewhere, doesn't matter if it
is 5 minutes from home, or as in this case,
10 hours from home, I tend to think outside
the box. Yes, I enjoy the scenery, the tourism
stuff and the views, but to me, a trip is about
the people I meet, or see.









Such as these artists, sitting on a Tokyo sidewalk
drawing and painting.








My mother would have been in there with pen and paper
in hand, I would have too, if I had more time.
They were drawing this:








Tokyo station.

These artists were pretty darn decent as well, the
works I saw showed years of practice, and the
skilled eyes of artists.

In front of the station was this scene:










The man in black seated with slippers on
(supplied by the man on the ground) was
having his shoes repaired while he waited.
Where do you see that these days?

I love the water, especially the ocean, but
if there is no ocean handy, a courtyard area
with fountains and pools will do. They cool
the air, they make an area seem clean somehow.






These are across from the Imperial palace
in Tokyo. They are well maintained.







While I was there, a gent with a modified broom
was wading around the water courses sweeping
the bottom.

He was taking his time, in Japanese fashion, getting
the job done correctly.









The water courses were very clean.








Yes, I did some magic to put the water in motion,
but it was done with the camera, not with software.








If you look carefully in this shot, you can just make
out a building in the background which is on the
Imperial Palace grounds.

OK, This one is for you Damion,
Drool dude. ;)

This is just the tiniest portion of Akihabara, there
is a LOT MORE!

Can't identify it? Just pick up,
close eyes, open mouth, insert,
chew, swallow, wash down
with strong liquid like Green
tea, black coffee, coke, etc.

Repeat. :)

Of course this doesn't mean you won't like it, it just means it is
a completely different and unusual taste and texture sensation...

Especially the following:

Now imagine (if you can)

One of these.







Topped with two baby sized
copies of this , tentacles and
all staring up at you.



Had one for lunch two days ago.


Read above eating procedure.


A little on the chewy side. 


Eating these with a straight face is beyond good missionary
and pastoral training, it is an exceptional part of missionary
and pastoral  training. ;)

Did I mention this is Sushi?
You know what that means, right?
Yes, the ocean denizens are mostly raw... :)
Marinated and properly prepared to deal with
critters, but still, more or less, raw.

No idea where these photos came from, had them on my
hard drive, if they are yours, let me know, I will add
attributions, or remove at your request.

Lets see if this works. Here is 38
seconds of video, taken on the
Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka
Station to Tokyo, on my way to
Takasaki and Shibukawa.

Something I have wanted to see in
person for many years.

Mount Fuji

Taken on the first leg of my
Shinkansen train ride from
Shin-Osaka station to Takasaki
in Gunma-Ken.

This is the tram station accross
from the south (Shinkansen) exit
of Hiroshima station, this will take
you right to the station across from
the atomic bomb dome.



In my case, it took me to and from
Dobashi station, which is just
5 minutes walk (even with
heavy luggage) from the J-Hoppers hostel where I stayed.

A departing Bullet train.






An arriving Shinkansen (mine
came in just after this one)




The Japan Rail Pass really is the way to go. You can't
use some trains (such as the Nozomi) but it doesn't
matter, plenty of perks, reserve seats (or not - you
can take your chances with an unreserved seat car).
And use a number of other JR lines, such as the
Tokyo and Osaka loop lines - for free. These tickets
do pay for themselves quickly if you are doing
a lot of traveling.

The sea from the Shinkansen.
(bullet train)
On my way to Hiroshima.



A door opened briefly, and the
world had a quick glimpse into
hell.


One war ended a few days later.
When the same door briefly
re-opened.



80,000 died in the blink
of an eye, a couple of days
later the process was repeated,
and World War II ended.




But....

 Another war began, one which
is still being fought to one extent
or another, no shots fired, but
lots of money spent, lots of people
horribly frightened.


What came to be known as the cold war, which included
approximately 2050 nuclear test detonations, still frightens us today, and
we can now eradicate every man, woman child, cat, dog,
bird etc. in just a manner of minutes.....

What is worse?

The lunatics of the world now have this technology.

It's official (to me) I have too much coin,
I was sure I had it under control... :)

Anyone who knows me, knows I can
have some pretty weird tastes in food,
just ask Penny about my childhood
choices in sandwich ingredients. ;)

When I saw this, I just had to try it.

Yes, it is Pizza flavored potato chips.

Grossed out yet? :)

Pay 100 Yen (about $1.00 Canadian)
and get your fortune (mikuji)
You drop your coin in a slot, shake
a can full of numbered sticks, you
shake out the stick, which has a
symbol on it corresponding to
a drawer,


you open the drawer
and pull out a piece of paper

which has your mikuji on it
either for good or bad, if it is not good, you tie it to the rack on

the left and the wind and rain will blow it away. These school
kids are probably hoping for good grades or a decent spouse...

This man is baking goodies, this store is
located in the market which
leads into Sensoji, in Asakusa.

He is baking a cookie type
of treat filled with chocolate.
The cookies are in various shapes, birds,
fish, etc.

Had to stop and see my favorite,
the "Ogon no unko" as the locals
like to call it.

The Asahi brewing company
with a new neighbour.

Fugu, anyone?

Puffer fish on the fin

Need a taxi?
Not the fastest thing on wheels,
but I bet she has strong legs after
towing that thing around full
of overweight north Americans.

A Ricksha...

Near Asakusa.

So I finally forced myself to start dealing
with this today - my pocket full of
change (queue ZZ Top ;))

My pocket must've weighed in at close
to 10 pounds this morning.

Wound up on the Metro at late rush hour.
Oops. Won't do that again.

This is not my photo, not sure
where it came from, but it gives
you an idea of how much fun
a subway ride at this time of
day can be. ;)

Walking from the Skyliner station
in Ueno was like doing the Time warp,
except a few things had changed, a few
old buildings gone. :(

But when I came accross a familiar
sandwhich board sign and turned
left, I saw this - time warping
again. looks exactly as it did
five years ago, though it has
changed owners since.

A few monster towers up or on the
way up. Including this, the Tokyo
Sky Tree. Visit web site.

There goes the neighborhood. :(

Oh well, Godzilla has a new beacon
to find his way. ;)

Sort of like Where is Waldo, but not quite the same. :)


On my way to Japan. 

My ride from Vancouver to Narita.












Rice Paddies - taken from the Keisei
Skyliner on the way into Ueno (In
Tokyo Metropolis)






More later.