Quarantine

My blog turns 13 though I feel like I should take a year off of it due to its inactivity last year. I have broken the one-post per month (at least) streak that I held for 11 years. If not for the mandatory work from home set-up, and a reminder to renew the domain, I have totally forgotten about this blog.

Tokyo

Funny thing is — I worked in Tokyo for 10 years but I have never blogged about it. Well, I made a few Tokyo-related posts such as the Asakusa Samba Festival, Odaiba, and the Lolitas.

Macaque

It is rainy season right now in the Philippines but it still feels like summer. I kind of miss the Japan weather and made me remember one of the the last trips I had - a date with the Japanese macaque or popularly known as snow monkeys.

Mata

The time has finally come to leave Japan. I always thought that I will stay here forever but sometimes fate pulls some unexpected tricks along the way. I will be flying back to the Philippines carrying the memories of Japan, a place where I worked and lived for ten years.

Chiba-koen

I have mentioned before in one of my posts that Chiba-koen is my favorite hanami (flower viewing) spot in Japan. Not much have been written about this park since most locals and tourists prefer Tokyo area during spring, but I and my friends usually visit this place every year.

pink cherry blossoms 

falling faster than my hair 

i am growing old 

~ totomai 

Fireflies

I bought the book, Kamikaze: A Japanese Pilot's Own Spectacular Story of the Famous Suicide Squadron, in 2013 but did not have the time to read it until recently. The book opened with an explanation from one of the authors, Gordon T. Allred, after he was informed that the story of Yasuo Kuwahara may be a fabricated one. He maintained that he still believes Kuwahara, and let the readers decide afterwards. 

Decade

Today, my blog turns 10 - that is a decade of blogging, shooting, and distilling thoughts. For the past ten years, I always see to it that I have at least one blog entry per month. Checking the number of posts, I have a total of 354 including this one - an average of 3 blogs per month.

Photo by: Noli / Dave 

Bodypaint by: Tokyo Bodypaint 

Bodypaint

Today, I am a year older and there’s no stopping it. Most of you are aware of my yearly birthday tradition - photo shoot in birthday suit. I was running out of idea and then I met Ai-san, a body painter in Yokohama, in one of photography meet-ups.

Diet

Last December, I posted my first “before and after” photo on Facebook. That was three months after I started my low-carb diet. Since then, I have posted 4 more times to show the progress. Don’t worry, this is the last “before and after” photo since I already reached my goal. I will just try to maintain it.

Watching Winter 

 I watch...

the sun paints 

the roofs 

in shades of orange,
why not blue or green?

the last two 

maple leaves 

finally let go -
can they survive the cold
like Hansel and Gretel?

 the Christmas twinkles

fill in 

 for the fireflies
to bring back
the warmth of summer 
nights

 myself melts

in front of the mirror 

naked

a reflection stare back at me 

 without blinking

 was I a snowman 

or a scarecrow 
or a human

 /totomai

Salaryman

This morning I was awakened by a strong earthquake, two minutes ahead of my daily alarm setting. I immediately sat on the edge of the bed. While waiting for the shakings to stop, the ghost of the March 11 earthquake flashed back. As soon as the earth stabilized, I switched on the lights and proceeded with the routine of a salaryman. Shower. Eat. Travel. Work. Eat. Shower. Sleep. Pretty exciting life, right?

photo by Noemi

Underworld

In the Philippines, November 1 and 2 are public holidays. We usually take this chance to go and visit the cemeteries, and pray for the departed. Of course, we also look forward in meeting our relatives during these days. It was always a sort of mini-reunion. When we were kids, I and my cousins would collect the molten candles and shape them into balls while our parents prepared some sticky rice and other traditional Filipino food. We would end the night with ghost stories and spirit games.

Firebush

Often listed as one of the most surreal places in the world, Hitachi Seaside Park is a must visit destination in Japan. The park is very popular in Ibaraki Prefecture just days before the peak of autumn. The red-colored firebushes / kochia flooding the park is a sight to behold especially to photo enthusiasts like me. One would want to stay there forever.

Auction

Five years ago, we went to the Tsukiji Fish Market to experience the tuna auction. However, we made a huge mistake of not checking the schedule. The auction was canceled because of the March 11 earthquake. The tuna auction is often listed as one of the must-do things in Tokyo. And with the news of the market’s possible relocation at the end of the year, we again decided to give it a go.

a giant tuna 

from wasabi-green sea to

a pool of soy sauce 

/totomai

Pond

Last year, I visited the Fuji Five Lakes. Between those lakes are villages turning to be tourist attractions as well. One of them is Oshino Hakkai (忍野八海). I haven't heard about it until a friend invited to join the bus tour.

Turquoise

Somewhere in Shizuoka Prefecture, there's a not-so-hidden place for some sort of adventure. A three-hour drive from Tokyo will lead you to a turquoise paradise. Or emerald. But perhaps, because of its accessibility, I haven't seen many tourists during our trip to Sumatakyo.

songs of cicadas

 outside my window, I dance

 chance of summer rain

/totomai

Yamathon

In 2008, I paraglided. Climbed Japan’s tallest mountain, Mt. Fuji, in 2012. Skydived in 2013. I thought I am done with these crazy adventures, then came the Tokyo Yamathon Urban Challenge. I once applied for Tokyo Marathon but was rejected. This is the closest thing in experiencing long-distance running / walking activity.

Mankai

After three years of attempting to capture the cherry blossoms aka sakura at Nakameguro, Tokyo, Japan, I finally did it last weekend. My previous experiences had been too early or too late. This year, it was the perfect timing and the elusive bloom missed its chance to escape from my camera.

Nine

Nine years. 

Yes, my blog turns nine today. For almost a decade, I have written 335 posts, an average of 3 blogs per month. I always see to it that at least, no matter how busy my schedule is, I have one entry per month. That would mean, I have been continuously blogging without skipping a month! But I guess if not for photography, I would have not been able to maintain this blog.

Quito

My first business trip for this year was in Ecuador, a 2-week assignment in one of the refineries in Esmeraldas. It was my first time in South America. Prior to my flight, I searched for information on what to do in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador and the point of disembarkation. I have few hours to go around the city before flying to Esmeraldas.

Fit

DISCLAIMER : I am no health expert. I am sharing below experience because of the positive results. It may be effective to your body or may not. At least, it is worth a try. And don’t be surprised by the accompanying photos, it is my tradition to be in my birthday suit every year. 

I reached 91 kgs last June. I ignored the gain thinking that it was a part of getting older. However, that particular mindset changed after I completed one of my supervisory works. I was assigned in the field and it was getting difficult for me to climb and inspect the vessels. I got tired so easily. Back in Japan, my office mates would always say ohayo goizamasu to my belly instead of saying it to my face. Talk about adding insult to injury. Friendly banters.

curl like a fetus

in a cold-hearted city

thirty eighth birthday