Kurehayama Run

I was back in Toyama over the three-day weekend.  This morning, I could go for a run - started at 7:30 and it was already very hot!

I ran towards Kurehayama which is a hill on the west side of the city about 3 km from the station.

A local Shinto shrine.

Toyama Ohashi Bridge over Jinzu River.

A cyclist on Toyama Ohashi.

A view from the bridge downstream.

A monument for Manyoshu Poems by the old peak of Kurehayama.

A monument for Bato Kannon.

A view from the hill towards the west.

A manhole that depicts the old boat bridge that used to cross Jinzu River.

A Japanese pear orchard.

The mountain road.

TV and radio antennas at the peak.

Looking at Toyama (to the east) from an observatory.  The faraway mountains are Tateyama.

JR Nishi (West) Toyama Station.

The view from my hotel window.

Asakusa Stroll

Last Friday - early in the evening, I had a nice walk in Asakusa.  This is a very popular tourist spot in Tokyo, but I found it was unusually crowded.

Nakamise-dori Street leading to Sensoji Temple.

Side streets were not as bad.  Dressed up ladies were going towards the temple.

Hanayashiki Amusement Park.

Entrance to Nishi-sando (Western Approach to the Temple).

Inside the Nishi-sando shopping area - stores were closed already at 6:20 pm.

Little walkway towards the main temple building.

Looking towards the main gate from the side of the main temple building.

I learned that it was very crowded because of  Hozuki Ichi.

Many people were lined up to pray at Sensoji.

Looking at the Five-storey Pagoda from the east side of the temple.

A sign welcoming tourists to Taito Ward.

Asakusa Station.

Looking at Tokyo Skytree from a little park by Azuma Bashi Bridge.

I had a very nice stroll.

Prachinburi Morning Run

I spent a night in Prachinburi Thursday.  In the morning of Friday, I could go for a quick run around my hotel.

The main road has many stores on both sides.

A bridge demolition/reconstruction was ongoing.

People eating breakfast on their motor bikes in front of a convenience store.

Cosmetics and furniture stores.

An electronic appliances store.

A hardware store.

A billboard with Thai King's photo.  He is very well respected in Thailand.

A Japanese restaurant that has the name of a very popular TV show.

A massage places are everywhere.

The Expo 2015 must be a fun event!

A typical of a residential area.

Palm trees.

A playground of the residential area.

A big new residential development.

A little spirit house in a field near the new housing development.

Here are ones for the new residential housing development.

A lady selling fruits - she's got rambutan.

With industrial development of the area, people's life style must be rapidly changing.

Benjakiti Park Run in Bangkok

Yesterday morning, I had a nice run around Benjakiti Park in Bangkok.

The entrance to the park.

A nice monument.

It has a nice lake in the middle.

The lake has a nice trail around it - there were many runners.

Bougainvillea flowers are abundant.

There were also cyclists on a separate trail.

A nice fountain.

A beautiful statue of Lord Buddha.

Merlion statue - a gift from Singapore.

Coming back to the hotel - morning traffic.

Bangkok Skytrain.

Asok Station entrance.

Bangkok power lines are very messy.

I understand that the economy of Thailand is not at its best, but Sukhumvit area was bustling.