Autumn (Tokyo Studio)
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November 12th, 2008
We have visitors from Australia today. Keith and Ellen are on their way to Norway and have come to Tokyo for a one-day stopover. Arriving a Wednesday night and departing on Friday morning – we have one whole day to show them Tokyo.
November 16th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
What a great time we had in Tokyo with the guidance of the knowledgeable, well prepared and conscientious duo Jo and Redmond! We’re now in Norway, recovering from our confinement in the human mailing tubes (… it just ain’t natural …) and the depravity of the airline food compared to the refined, gastronomic excellence of the lunch we had in Ginza.
It was fascinating to see the contrast between the teeming humanity and the calm city gardens … And what about those chrysanthemum plants, with a hundred flowers and just one little stem into the ground? All the water and nutrients that had to be sucked up through that little straw of cellulose – the internal pressure must have been similar to that in the human jugular (… that ain’t natural either …).
Here in Norway, the air is crisp, and the sky just lightening in the East. It looks like it will be a nice day to take a ferry trip on Oslo Fjord. It’s beautiful here … but we will return someday to Japan to get another dose of concentrated and ingenious humanity.
Scurrying scurrying scurrying
But the sky was so blue
Anyway, this is our haiku
To you
(This is Keith’s effort at poetry – Ellen denies any involvement).
November 21st, 2008 at 7:59 am
Keith and Ellen,
So pleased to know that you arrived in Norway safely. Sounds like the winter in Norway is well under way. We returned to a winter Tokyo after having travelled to (south) Western Japan for 6 days. In addition to the cold snap, the cake fariyland window display you saw at Isetan has now been replaced by Christmas diaoramas. Speaking of travel, if you detest plane travel (and/or think it’s unnatural), you would love the Shinkansen (aka bullet train). It’s fast, frequent, efficient. If you miss one, there is another in 10 minutes (or less)! There is no check-in, no baggage drop-off or reclaim (you travel with your lugguage), no security screening. Lots of leg room and unceasing passing scenery. Walk around if you like, or smoke in car no. 3. What’s more: there is the bento! There is simply no better way to combine love of travel with love of food! Hope you can experience this delight when you drop by Japan next time!