Bali

I had a nice vacation in Bali, Indonesia - stayed at Club Med.

Beautiful beach - seen from my lounging chair.

Kayak and wind surfing are some of many activities that were available at the resort.

Agung volcano seen from the bar by the swimming pool.

Resident Salvator Monitors and a heron at a pond.

Bali dance show.

A temple in the resort.

Singapore visit

I was in Singapore last week - 30+ degrees Celsius weather. It was very different from Tokyo where everyone wears jackets at this time of the year.

I could take a walk to the famous statue of Marlion.

The view of the new Sands casino towers seen from the top of the tallest building in Singapore.

Here's the Skypark deck of the Sands.

The new supreme court building with a circular top - seen from the Skypark.

Singapore's business district - it is now one of the largest financial centers in the world.

The riverfront has many restaurants - Chinese, Indian, Malay, etc.

Singapore has definitely become a great island nation - clean, safe, and vibrant!

Autumn Colors 2010

Last weekend, I took a bike ride in western Tokyo. Autumn colors were beautiful.

Right by Inokashira Koen, Mitaka-shi.

Gingko trees in Seibi Koen, Suginami-ku.

A stream at the mouth of Kandagawa, Mitaka-shi.

A pond in Wadabori Koen Park, Suginami-ku.

A nice little park by Zempukuji River, Suginami-ku.

My shadow on fallen cherry leaves.

Beautifully colored leaves were found at Musashino Park, Koganei-shi.

Another picture of different trees in Musashino Park.

Susuki grass in Nogawa Park, Chofu-shi.

Boat ride to Lamma Island

When I visited Hong Kong last weekend, I had an opportunity to take a boat ride to Lamma Island.

Leaving Hong Kong from the Kowloon side.

Many boats were at a harbor on the way there.

Lamma Island port.

This is not an aquarium, but the fish to choose to be cooked at the Rainbow Restaurant.

People enjoying the nice food at the Rainbow Restaurant.

Tokyo Station construction update

I was at Tokyo Station on Thursday and again on Friday.

The b/w picture is what the original station looked like when it was finished in 1914. The below, the picture shows the station after the construction is finished by March 2012.

The current status of the station - all covered up.

The new Japan Post building is being built right next to Tokyo Station.

Commuters were coming out of the station.

Sugamo to Oji

I've been taking walks around my work these days.

Shin-Koshinzuka Station of Toden Arakawa Line.

Solar panels are installed at the shopping area close from JR Sugamo Station.

Elementary school students walking in line to their school in Takinogawa district of Kita Ward.

Tanizu Daikannon, a statue of Bodhisattva of Jutokuji Temple.　　

Commuters walk under Otonashi Bridge by Oji Station.

Kichijoji Evening Walk

Last night, I had a very pleasant walk around Kichijoji.

Suehiro Dori - looking towards the station.

An antique store was closing up. This old man is always there on Suehiro Dori.

One of my wife's favorite restaurants.

Walking towards the station westward toward JR Kichijoji Station.

Kichijoji Station building is going through a major facelift. This is the north side.

Inokashira Dori Street - on the south side of the station.

Tokyo Skytree Light-up test

This evening, Tokyo Skytree (still under construction at 488 meters) had testing of its LED lights.

I could watch it from a hotel in Kinshicho, Tokyo. Unfortunately, the lighted side was not facing us, but we could see some of it. The little whitish line below the observation deck is it.The event happened between about 6:30 to 9:00 pm. The lights will not be lit again until it is all done with construction (later next year).


There were many people that came to see the event. This is very close from the steel tower, Narihira Bridge.

Morning walks

I had trips to Niigata, Fukushima, and Iwate last week. Everywhere I went, I could take a nice morning walks.

Hokuriku Shinkansen, a new high speed rail elevated railway is in construction close from Naoetsu.

Miscanthus sirensis, or "Susuki" grow by freshly harvested ricefields.

A windmill shaped scarecrow/mole scarer.

Ducks roam in Kaiseiyama Park, Koriyama.

Callicarpa japonica, or "Murasasakishikibu" in a pot.

Eboshi (Noble's hat) Rock by Sakurayama Shrine in Morioka.

Mountains seen from Morioka Castle.