In Japan this week, I'm back to my happy spot - would be perfect if Greg and three crazy boys were here, too, but I'll take (and thoroughly enjoy!) the solo trip.
Coming back to Tokyo is always full of reminders of Japan's unique-ness. In the first hour I was in the airport, I saw: (1) the lady pushing the extra carts diligently hang a flashing red light on every third cart (as if passengers in the terminal couldn't already see the 15 foot train of carts!), (2) a group of 20-something young men open their suitcases that just came out of baggage claim, change their shirts - and then change their pants, in the middle of the arrival hall (!!), and (3) the ticket taker at the airport bus bow not only when the bus door closed, but stay bowed as the bus pulled away and we could no longer see him. Then, of course, there's the contrast of the urban bustle of Shibuya with the quiet of small gardens tucked inside tiny spaces.
What I enjoy most, though, is the small reminders of seasons. Food changes, decor changes, clothing changes - in India and the Philippines, seasons vary between dry and wet. In the U.S., I have to make a conscious effort to buy fruits and veggies in season, since we have everything available all the time.
A simple reminder of the changing season is right outside my hotel room door. With apologies for the cell phone quality of the photo, hopefully you can see the tiny tree bud about to flower in the base of the pine springs. A simple way of saying spring is about to come! (and if anyone knows how to rotate a photo in Blogspot, please send me a note!)
Coming back to Tokyo is always full of reminders of Japan's unique-ness. In the first hour I was in the airport, I saw: (1) the lady pushing the extra carts diligently hang a flashing red light on every third cart (as if passengers in the terminal couldn't already see the 15 foot train of carts!), (2) a group of 20-something young men open their suitcases that just came out of baggage claim, change their shirts - and then change their pants, in the middle of the arrival hall (!!), and (3) the ticket taker at the airport bus bow not only when the bus door closed, but stay bowed as the bus pulled away and we could no longer see him. Then, of course, there's the contrast of the urban bustle of Shibuya with the quiet of small gardens tucked inside tiny spaces.
What I enjoy most, though, is the small reminders of seasons. Food changes, decor changes, clothing changes - in India and the Philippines, seasons vary between dry and wet. In the U.S., I have to make a conscious effort to buy fruits and veggies in season, since we have everything available all the time.
A simple reminder of the changing season is right outside my hotel room door. With apologies for the cell phone quality of the photo, hopefully you can see the tiny tree bud about to flower in the base of the pine springs. A simple way of saying spring is about to come! (and if anyone knows how to rotate a photo in Blogspot, please send me a note!)
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