Inokashira Benten Pond Being Dried

This weekend, the pond around the Benten Shrine of Inokashira Park was being dried up.  The organizer did a larger scale one with the main part of the pond about two years ago.  I reported about it in this blog.

The Shrine and the walking bridge of the pond - can see water level is low.

Fish catchers.

Caught fish.

Looking at the pond from the bridge to the middle island to the east.

A heron likes the reduced water level.

Hoses to pump the water out.

People looking at the 

Water being pumped out to the main pond.

There was a booth to explain about the caught fish.

Types of fish caught at the pond - blue are foreign fish.

Beautiful colors are around the park at this season of the year.

Run + Walk by My Hotel in Hanoi

Last Monday, my run was cut very short and walked around my hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.  Although it was early in the morning, it was warm and pleasant.

People were exercising in the central divider area of a major road.

 Here are more people exercising at an athletic field.

Trees roots on a wall - amazing!

Hanoi now has very tall buildings.

It even seemed to have Christmas shopping sales.

A beautiful sunrise.

Economic progress comes with a mess of electricity lines.

The zoo entrance - of course it was not yet open at 7 am.

The cage for an interesting leopard.

The zoo has children's entertainment area.

The beautiful lake by the zoo.

The view of the lake from the hotel - many tall buildings being constructed.

The street traffic seen from my hotel window.

Jindai Botanical Garden

My wife and I had a nice run to Jindai Botanical Gardens yesterday.  It is about 7 km from our home.

The entrance of the Botanical Gardens.

The rose garden is famous, but of course at this time of the year - not fully blossomed.

Yet flowers were lovely.

Very thorny branches of one bush.

Pretty dahlias were bright and nice.

Chrysanthemum exhibition.

Bonsai display.

This bush is called "Ichigo-no-ki" - "strawberry tree".

Dogwood trees that were given to Japan in return for cherry trees.

Very interesting looking plum tree.

A Run to Victoria Peak

This morning, I managed to run to and back from my hotel in Wan Chai to Victoria Peak in Hong Kong.

The entrance gate of Hong Kong Botanical Garden - also a memorial for the two World Wars.

There are many hills.

The sign says - "30 minute walk" to the Peak - very tough walk!

The end of the road and the highest stop of my run today - the barricaded gate of the radio station.

 The entrance to the former summer residence of Hong Kong Governor.

The nice garden of the former residence - now called the Peak Garden.

The view from the end of Mount Austin Road - Lamma Island is seen.

A circular plate that shows directions to points of interest at the end of the road.

The view from the end of the road - the big island should be Lantau.

Coming back down - it is very woody around the trail.

Austin Road Playground - right below the Peak Garden.

The Peak Galleria.

The view of Hong Kong and harbor.

Very interesting tree.

As I was running down, more and more people were climbing.  Actually, it was tough coming down, also, for trails were so steep.

The Peak Tram path.

Looking up from the same spot as above.

Back on a city street - commuting time and very busy.

The total distance was about 14 km, I think.  The humidity was so high, my shirt and shorts were drenched from heat.