Tower

It's been a year since the Tokyo Skytree was opened to the public. I think I've been around the area 4-5 times already but never got the chance to be at the top of the tower. For everyone's information, Tokyo Skytree is tallest tower / structure in Japan.

What a luscious structure in the heart of Tokyo! 

Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー Tōkyō Sukaitsurī) is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010[2] and reached its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower, and the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (829.8 m/2,722 ft). more here

 

Shibazakura

One of the popular destinations in Japan this springtime is shibazakura (cherry lawn in English). Shibazakura is all over Japan but one of the most visited places is at Motosuko, near Mt. Fuji. I always see posters about it and when my friends planned to go on a trip, I confirmed my attendance without really knowing the details. 

 

shaking off the rust 

unmasked once again, alive 

passion rekindled 

Siren

I'd like to think that my battle against influenza A is finally over. During my business trip in Taiwan, I started coughing. I thought it was just a normal cough but it continued even after I returned to Japan. And when I started to have a fever of 38.2 deg C, I went to the hospital right away. The first clinic rejected me though since I cannot speak Japanese. After series of tests, I was diagnosed with Influenza A and the doctor advised me to stay at home for six days. 

The prescribed medicine made my head hurts like no other. I complained to the doctor and he gave me a painkiller. But the hurting continued. I informed my friends from different city about my condition and right away they went to my place. They wasted no time in calling an ambulance and brought me to the hospital again. I was given IV but was asked to return home as the hospital didn't have isolation facility for influenza cases. I'll be forever grateful to you 'Tay and 'Nay. Shout out to all my friends who helped me during my "house arrest".

 

Soundless

At the dark end of the street , I found my new bestfriend – silence.

Since returning back to Japan last January, I decided to take a walk from the station to my apartment instead of taking a bus every evening after coming back from work This routine gives me a 10-15 minute break from the chaos brought by the pressures and demands of office deadlines and responsibilities. And yes, I’ll include business trips too. Walking along these streets, free of sounds, is like being in another world. Like you are in a Japanese novel. Like a haiku. It’s my energy drink to keep going.

 

Petals

The sakura exhibition is finally over. Its petals, drizzling in the city, were the confetti. Mother Earth knows how to put up a show, a seasoned conductor. For the past two weeks, pink canopies covered the city to the delight of tourists and locals. Their arrival was earlier than what was forecasted but the audience did not mind at all.

 

spring curtain closes 

pink canopies and carpets 

a seasoned artist