RFID noodle ordering in Tokyo – drop your ‘ticket’ on the sensor zone on the table, and the waiter knows where to come to drop your food. Japan is just so thoughtful about these things it makes me want to pack my stuff and move there.
Tag: Japan
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Suschi
I am feeling a little over-indulgent with my travel of late, with not so much a ‘Carbon Footprint’, as treading my big, muddy carbon boots across the carpet and into the living room. Indeed, checking my Dopplr record, I have clocked up 3200 kg of CO2 since June. Ouch.
Cute as a buttonAnyway, I popped over to Kyoto last weekend to meet up with one my best friends from my university days in Glasgow, Robbie, and his fiancé Imke. They were there at a Neuroscience conference – flying in from Germany – where Robbie was learning about some of the recent developments in the field. It’s not exactly brain surgery, as far as I can ascertain.
It’s my third trip to Kyoto, but it is not too much of a hardship to return. We focused on eating some good food, a wee little bit of hiking, and checking out some of the areas of the city that I had not been able to check out previously. I have a feeling that you could be there for a month and still not run out of interesting things to see.
Luverly textures and pillars and depth of field
Stairway to heaven
Reflecting.
Studying the largest bell in Kyoto. Or Japan. Probably.
Busman’s holiday
Hiking
Obligatory mirror shot
Kyoto from afar – good to get out of the city
Stumbled upon a rather nice little village of thatched houses
Reminds me of my local pub!
Sunshine of my life.
Political posters – Japan style.Kyoto is famous for its humid and hot summer weather, but we managed to mix in a little light rain, which cooled things down nicely. Still, the drinks vending machines took a pounding, and we had some kind of magnetic attraction to the Starbucks Frappuccinos, that seemed to line the routes of the streets. We did manage to pack in some temple action, interspersed with time spent in the Pachinko and video parlours, and some rather embarrassing results from the photo machines. One for the best man’s speech, perhaps.
The drumming game – after two nights of waiting for people to stop using it, we finally had our time!
Girls at play.
Adjusting the artwork
And a present for Nikki in Goettingen – we could not resist opening it, after one last bottle of Shochu.Cheers Robbie – hope to see you out this way again soon!
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Zamami Island
Local girl imitating the cat statues that pepper the island – it is said that they protect the island, but mainly they look crazy and cool, scattered as they are across the roof tops and other unlikely places.I took advantage of the long weekend last week to jump on an airplane for the Japan and the alarmingly close Okinawa, or specifically the Kerama group of islands off the West coast. It’s funny to think, that Japan starts within viewing distance of Taiwan, and estends its way all the way up to Russia; hop, skipping and jumping along the way.
Completing little more than the most cursory of research, I landed, stayed the night in Naha (the main city on Okinawa) and left the next morning for Zamami, which I was told was particularly chilled out. Remnants of the Jasmine Sake (excellent, by the way) did not mix too well with the heavy swell, but the salty air cooled me down by the time we reached the port, and the most chilled place I have found thus far in Japan.
Rock poolsZamami, around two hours from the main island, reminded me of Green Island and the other Taiwanese sub-islands. Indeed, the food was somewhere halfway between Japan and Taiwan, featuring heavier, oilier flavours and ingredients like Bitter Melon and fried eggs. Not bad at all.
The similarities did not stop with the food. I was lucky enough to stumble my way into surely the most charming place to stay in the islands: Akabana, which is a one hundred plus year old collection of buildings, complete with sliding screens and ghostly photos from the 1960s. Daytime was spent on the beach, riding round on a scooter, or hanging out outside the local shop watching the local elderly come to buy their supplies. I also sqeezed in a couple of dives, but my ears were not equalising quite as well as I wanted and it left me in a little bit of pain, sadly.
Stars of the weekend were Yokohama super stars, Yumi and Satomi. They didn’t speak English. I didn’t speak Japanese. So, we spent the time conversing in a series of sound effects, song, and dance. Three marvellous days hanging out … The sound of the ‘breakfast and coffee’ song still ringing in my ears.
Tomorrow … Forever!Zamami – fully recommended, and an area of the world I would not mind heading back to one bit. Just a shame that the ferry company that operated between Okinawa and Taipei has gone bankrupt. Dreams of jumping off the ferry in Japan have been with me since before I arrived in Taiwan – perhaps the government will step in some day.
At the Copa, Copa Akabana…
House cats
Hot line
Wall of the Shurijo castle in Naha – a World Heritage site … of which Japan seems to have a monopoly on.
The cats clean up after themselves here... goodbye Zamami! -
Kyoto Family Fun
Kyoto map – one of several we wore out on our trip round in the humidity!It’s been almost a week since I got back from Kyoto. I think Mum & Dad should have finished their amazing hiking expedition through the Japanese Alps, but in the meantime I have sorted out the photos from our trip to Japan’s old capital. It was strange in a way to meet them in such an alien place, but at the same time the most natural thing in the world. Where next time, folks? 🙂
I have this suspicion that many of the photos I took this time round are exact facsimiles of my previous trip … but it’s nice to know nothing too much changes!
Hi Mum & Dad!
Dad against an orange background
Concrete background against an orange sock foregroundOne of the great pleasures of the weekend was of course the food. I think the best meal of the weekend was in Pontocho – the old red light district. Door after door of intimidating, foreboding restaurants and clubs, menus with unrecognisable characters (or indeed no menus at all), and a sense that this place was ‘not for us’. How delightful it was then to penetrate the darkness, pop our head round the door, and be welcomed in, to the point of the head chef wanting his photo taken with us as we left? Marvellous.
Ingredients on display – and all through the restaurant too. Very nice idea.
He was tickled pink!Having been to Kyoto before and seen the major attractions, I fancied getting out north on the train on the second day. Recommendations of Kurama and Kibune from a friend had us hiking up into the hills in the sweaty heat, after a pleasant train ride up into the northern hills. While I didn’t get any mountain biking in this weekend I certainly managed to get a sweat up hiking instead.
Quite a narrow platform
Delightful controls … and an even more delightful train driver that was running up and down the platform in exactly the same way as British train drivers don’t.
Letting the world slide by
Goofy masks on sale
Dragons in the forest
Simple folded paper makes for a striking effect
Resting in one of the many small temples punctuating the hot path up the hills – and thankfully they all had little cool springs to splash water on the wrists and face.
Roots Manuva – reminds me of mountain biking in Taiwan
Now I just need to add Dad’s photo, and I think we achieve infinite regression!
A well-deserved lunch
Views through the trees on the way back to the train
Is everything in Japan personified? Am I the only one to see faces in everything?
Lost in Translation
Bird on a Wire
After an evening of showing the Pachinko halls and playing drumming games, a quite ice cream perched on a curb seemed just right.Day two in the city, and we went to check out one or two of the temples that I had not yet seen. The main one was ‘The Golden Pavilion’, and the name pretty much describes what it is. Mainly though, bus loads of tourists taking gigabytes and gigabytes of the same photos on a very managed tour of the grounds.
Although we didn’t know it when we booked, it was one of the major religious festivals of the year, so there was more activity in the temples and shrines than perhaps there usually was.
The Golden Pavilion. Imperial era ‘Bling’
Phoenix Rising
Fabric covering the doors of the ceremonies
Escape
WaitingThe major treat of the weekend was the annual ‘Gozan’ fire festival. Huge depictions of Chinese characters are burnt on the surrounding hills of Kyoto to help guide the spirits up to heaven (I think). It made for a really rather amazing evening, but something that cameras could not really capture, sitting on the roof of the hotel. Here is one of the ‘Daimonji’ being set up for the evening as we left the Golden pavilion.
Burn baby burn
Inevitable photos of vending machines
Reflecting on things before heading into one of the Zen temples
Mum & Dad!
Pooh Sticks
At the Zen temple – even the slippers are nicely arranged.
Some textures, just to keep Michael and Markus happy
Almost positive I took these photos last time
Scale model of the garden itself
Interesting to see them managing the trees for the amount of light coming through … everything is under control, even though it looks effortless and natural.
Dad looks pensive
Getting some ideas for our own garden?
I think these banisters were being repaired when I was here last time – picture below … what have I become?! Discussing banisters?!
Hard at work, a year and a half earlier
Grabbing some dinner (with an English menu, no less!) before heading up to the roof and the fire festival
It was like a Kimono parade – feast for the eyes and camera. I suppose it is like tourists going to Scotland and being fascinated by the Kilts. What seems normal for them (and the Scots) is rather exotic for us.
Shoes.
I did take a big pile of photos of the burning characters in the hills, but they were all small, shaky and rubbish – much better to check the link here for their photos of the Gozan fire festival.
The last day, and Mum goes off to buy a camera
Camera graveyard of junk outside one of the shops … some classics and almost new stuff in there!
And something for me – buying a knife from a shop that has been making them for 500 years. What a pleasure!
Taking the long route to the station, via the river …
Checking the time – it’s always difficult to say goodbye. Even thinking about it now makes me 🙁Great to see you guys – and looking forward to seeing the photos of your second leg!
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Osaka Return
Just sitting in the departure lounge for NW69 back to Taipei,after a
superb long weekend in Kyoto with the folks. Although I have been
there before, it’s nice to fill in a few blanks and see some things
from a different angle.Presently, tapping away on my iPod’s wifi, writing a few e-mails and
chatting with Steve on MSN. The future is slowly arriving. -
Kyoto Family Meet Up
Off to Japan for a long weekend to meet up with my folks who are walking in the Japanese Alps for a couple of weeks – how jealous am I?! They elected to not come to Taiwan this time, but I did not have to have my arm twisted too hard to meet them in Japan.It’s my second trip to Kyoto, and my fourth to Japan, but this time should be extra special, with the fire Gonzo (or something) festival igniting the hills, and from what I understand all the women running around in Kimonos.My word – it’s been a busy couple of weeks at work – but got some good results out and I am looking forward to seeing them develop in the coming months.But for now … time for boarding. -
2D Barcodes – QR Codes
QR codes are big in Japan – you’ll see them everywhere, from posters, to concert tickets and even the stamp for your passports. As a kind of 2D barcode, they are doing the thing that RFID tags were supposed to a few years ago, albeit in a rather lower tech form. Just point your QR code-enabled phone at the graphic, and you can grab a hyperlink, phone number or simple text string.
And my prediction? With the imminent Google phone, they will use this as a Trojan Horse to roll out QR codes in Europe.
Make you own: QR Codes
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Tokyo – Some Random Photos
Some pics, for you, loyal reader…
Commuting to work – these guys looked super cool as they cruised around, and seemed confused as to why I would find it strange or funny – is this the future of electric transport?
Meiji Shrine – wetter than last time!
Cool trains
I love the Tokyo Taxis – Toyota Crown Victoria, lifted straight from a retro kung-fu movie, and sporting automatic doors in the rear! -
Tokyo – 72 Hours
Well, here I am on the design roller coaster, sipping Kirin and staring out of my immaculately clean 30th floor window at the improbably Parisian Tokyo tower, and thinking things are rather nice. Kan pai!
View out to the rather camp Tokyo Tower
Some station, squeezed between the buildings -
Japan – A Nation of Textures
I came away feeling like Japan is an immediately accessible place, and yet one that is completely impenetrable. If the society has a simple, immediately recognisable silhouette, then its culture is an intricate texture of patterns and forms.
One of my mini personal projects was to look harder at these surfaces and textures. Just to force me to look up, down and sideways.
Osaka downtown – for those that have seen Black Rain, you might recognise this scene
Osakajo Icecream
Rivetting
Rusty nails
First of the inevitible bamboo
Yup
Bamboo with some sticks
Door
Lovers wishes for eachother
Some other type of wish thing
Temple roof from below
Characters in the rock
Sumptuous Fabric
Zen
Combinations
Different bamboo
Cute – a flower contemplates life
Hi
Shadowy wood
Light coming through wood – it’s not like you don’t get most of this anywhere else in the world, but it is nice to be forced to look for it!
Zen raking
Door
I love this photo – close up of the chip wood roof ’tiles’
Zen Zen Zen
I still can’t find the meaning here
Oh look at the light coming through the bamboo
Lamps in a market
The tasteful Kyoto tower refected in the thoughtful Kyoto station. Both fail to really capture the mood of Kyoto!
Plum blossom
The best shade of orange ever
Stairs
Stair close-up
Oxidised
Rather a nice wall
Oxidised 2.0
I had a beaming smile taking this photo – this is what I came to Japan for!
Some wood
This pole is worn by generations of people rubbing it
It all hinges on this
Fags
New kicks hit the streets of Tokyo
Bright lights of Shinjuku
Barrel of laughs
(and from the last trip…) Functional drinks
Blood of the city
Pachinko!