Autumn In the City

It's actually winter here already (it feels like it). And it's been weeks since the declared best days for foliage viewing. But since I've been quite busy attending to some office duties the past weeks, it's just lately that I had time to roam the city.

Good thing I still got a glimpse of the koyo or autumn leaves that colored metro Tokyo. Armed with my trusty point-and-shoot, I walked about 5 miles from Tokyo Central Station to various tree-lined roads sorrounding the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park. I felt disappointed that much of the leaves have actually fallen and dried, but it was good to note that the persistent ones still gave the cold urban backdrop a romantic feel. In the end I was still glad that I now have in my photo collection pictures of autumn in the rural and urban sides of Japan.

Liberal Party Platform

To these I hold them accountable for, when our support catapults them to the seat of power.

Noynoy Aquino Platform of Government

Tobu World Square: Tour of the World in 3 Hrs

I had visitors I needed to tour. But I don't want to bring them to places I've been to. I too should enjoy the trip just as much, right?

So I decided to check Tobu World Square - the park which houses miniatures replicas of world heritage sites. Built in 1993, the park boasts of 102 reproductions built to 1/25th of the original sizes.

Here are the reconstructions of some of the places I would love to visit for my future travels.


Plus of course those I featured in the previous post. :-)

Quickie

One hurried tour that was!



More pics and details in the next post.

Irony Philippines

I am currently handling an international project, the completion of which has long been overdue. Why? Because every time we approach the end, a new bureaucratic requisite sprouts which consequently throws the finish line farther away.

This confounds our foreign partners since the same initiative has been implemented in many other countries and so far, it is the Philippines that has asked for the most number of documents/ requirements.

Actually, there's really nothing wrong with that. It is simply exasperating when one gets to think that while we belabor ourselves with so many formal traps for possible shenanigans, our country is still tops in corruption. Hayz...

Extreme Make-Over at the Trains

Tokyo Metro trains have for some time been running a campaign featuring a series of posters encouraging proper decorum at the trains. With the slogan "Please do it at Home" the subway management admonishes people not to do things that are best done at home like eating, drinking, being rowdy, playing, etc. Using cartoons as medium, some exaggeration is understandably employed.


But the most recent installment I guess, beats all the previous posters in attracting attention. It asks the ladies to refrain from putting on make-up at the trains - something that really is being done (and may I add that it is indeed fascinating to see just how skillful these women are in grooming themselves despite the sudden movements of the trains).

Admittedly, the poster makes me laugh everytime I see just how extreme the make-over was.

Hokkaido Pics: Recovered

Allow me to share some of the few good pics recovered from my busted memory card. These were the ones I took during my visit to Hokkaido, an island north of Japan. Regularly, the place is covered in snow, but summertime converts it into one vast grassland (cultured). The place is known as Japan's milkland, where there are more cows than people.


The farmers in the area are rich, living in European-inspired mansions. I was told they are a pampered lot, receiving hefty subsidies just so they would continue farming.

But the place, devoid of human hustle and bustle could become so lonely. One's nearest neighbor is at least a few kilometers away and the people are just so engrossed with work that there really is not much time for fun and bonding. Definitely, not the place for someone like me, who finds busy Tokyo melancholic.