Glover Garden and Dejima – Nagasaki, Japan (2015)

June 14, 2016June 14, 2016Jeff

After visiting the atomic bomb site in Nagasaki, we took a bus ride to Dejima. This was an interesting stop which highlighted the closed nature of Japan’s society for much of their history. The small island was established to house Portuguese traders to help Japan keep a “foot in the door” of international trade and still keep foreigners segregated to avoid the spread of Christianity and perhaps other undesirable customs. According to Japan Visitor, the literal translation of Dejima is Exit Island.

Dejima, Japan

Schematic Drawing of Dejima, Japan
Close to where the tour buses park, there is a small schematic of Dejima

This is the body of water on which the island was constructed. Dejima is pictured in the foreground on the right

A model replica of the village is on display to help visitors gain an overall understanding of the island’s geography.

The small opening was used for moving cargo and allowing passengers to enter the cloistered island.

As elsewhere throughout Japan, gardens were represented.

This man is wearing the traditional clothing of the day in Dejima

Glover Garden

As though Nagasaki and Dijema weren’t enough for one day, we had another very engaging attraction to visit. I was looking forward to this particular stop because I enjoy gardens and this one was somewhat special.

In contrast to the horror of the devastation of the atomic bomb hypercenter in Nagasaki, Glover Garden was a place of beauty and a celebration of nature.

Thomas Glover was a business-minded Scotsman who was instrumental in opening Nagasaki to foreign trade. He also is given credit, at least in part, for the development of the Mitsubishi steel works as well as the Kirin beer company. He has been dubbed “The Scottish Samurai” to underscore his contribution to the industrialization of Japan.

From the dock area, we took a short upward trek toward the hilltop garden.

The walk uphill to Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Near the crest of the hill, just outside of the garden, was Oura Catholic Church constructed around 1865. It is considered the oldest standing Christian church in Japan and was originally built for the foreign merchants who were moving to Nagasaki at the end of the era of seclusion to take advantage of trade.

Oura Catholic Church near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

The sides of the street leading up to the church and Glover Garden contained copious shops which catered to a wide variety of tourist and non-tourist interests. For those with a passion for Halloween or Dia de los Muertos …

Pirate skull in a shop near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Formal columned lamp posts support an ornamental metal sign signalling the entrance to the garden.

As one might expect, there were a number of well-groomed, smaller display gardens.

One of a number of smaller display gardens Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Also spectacular were the views from the top of the hill as the threatening clouds began to roll in.

Threatening clouds at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Below is a photograph of a group of houses alongside the hill with the top of the Oura Church jutting up between them and the garden.

Houses on a hill near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

More houses could also be seen near the garden from the opposite side of the overlook.

A panoramic view of he harbor shows our ship and a number of buildings in the foreground near the port.

Panoramic view of the harbor below Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Formal gardens often have sectioned off areas sometimes referred to as “rooms” which create a mood of their own. This alcove with a variety of shrubs and small trees, pays homage to a more classical Japanese style.

A classic garden room created with shrubs at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

There is an association of Glover Garden with the story of Madame Butterfly.

“Another claim to fame is that Glover’s Japanese wife Tsuru, whom he married in 1867, is said to have been the inspiration for “Madame Butterfly”, a story written by the American author John Luther Long, and later turned into the famous opera by Puccini and first performed at the Scala, Milan, in 1904. Tsuru had been obliged, at the age of 17, to divorce her first husband, a samurai, due to political differences between her family and his at the time of the overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and was thus separated from her baby daughter, Sen. However, there the resemblance between Tsuru and the fictional character ends, for although there may have been a suicide attempt, she lived to marry Thomas Glover, and to give birth to Hana and Tomisaburo (“Tommy” to his father). Tsuru’s nickname was “Och-san”, from the butterfly motif on her kimono, hence the name of the popular opera heroine.” Via Rampant Scotland

A statue of Puccini, with a small butterfly on his left shoulder, was placed in the garden to acknowledge this strong association.

A statue of Puccini, with a small butterfly on his shoulder at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Nearby, the likeness of diva Miura Tamaki as Madame Butterfly further underscores this relationship.

A statue of Madame Butterfly at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Water features provide a sedate aura to a garden and this wall of dripping water with cascading foliage achieved this goal.

Calming dripping water at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Another feature, similar in style, added flower boxes in front.

A calming floral display with dripping water at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

It would not be a garden in Japan without a koi pond …

A traditional koi pond at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

which even pleased the birds!

A bird enjoying the koi pond at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Heading back to the ship, a stone planter with lantana attracted a real butterfly.

A real butterfly at Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Descending the steep street on the way to the pier, this courtyard beckoned with the decorative path and neatly trimmed garden.

Enticing courtyard near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

Upon approaching the pier, I noticed a parking area that had a bright yellow wall with a dragon statue across the top.

Dragon statue on parking area wall near Glover Garden, Nagasaki

This did not appear to be the friendly dragon from a Disney film.

We were physically and perhaps a bit emotionally tired from the exploits of the day and were glad to board the ship and have a respite before dinner.

Read more about our trip to Japan in 2015:

A Very Different Pointe of View – Septuagenarian Style

May 9, 2016May 10, 2016Jeff

So what did you did you do this weekend? While this isn’t my actual birthday, life circumstances sometimes dictate the postponement of celebrations or, as in this case, the fast-forwarding to a special occasion.

It was with the greatest of ease that I slid from being a sexagenarian to that of a septuagenarian although the former did have a certain ring to it! It was almost painless and was less troublesome than I had thought a number years earlier.

My very best special friends of more than fifty years feted us in grand style. As a surprise, we were escorted to quite a dinner at the award winning Different Pointe of View restaurant nestled high into the hills overlooking downtown and north Phoenix.

This is the blurb from Hilton’s website:

“The award-winning Different Pointe of View offers modern American Cuisine and stunning views of the surrounding landscape.”

Sad to say I only had my iPhone, but I was able to gather a few representative pictures anyway and I hope they impart the beauty and elegance of the surroundings. The food was excellent as well and I will talk a bit about that too.

Here is the first photo I took looking north from the parking lot near the main entrance to the restaurant.

View looking North from The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix

This is another picture in the same basic direction; perhaps a bit more westerly. It had rained the day before and the clouds still maintained some of their drama.

View looking North westerly from The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix

Facing south, we can see the hills that surround the valley including South Mountain.

View looking South from The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix

As a frame of reference, I placed an oval around the downtown area of Phoenix.

View looking South from The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, with the city highlighted Phoenix

From the balcony of the restaurant, looking southeasterly, there were more mountains and houses off to the side of the hill. The sky was a beautiful color blue.

View looking South easterly from The Different Pointe of View Restaurant's balcony, Phoenix, AZ

Needless to say the food was superb as well. This is the entrée that I had:

The Pork Tenderloin entrée at The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

Picture courtesy of Hilton’s website.

The tenderloin was “spicy,” but not overly so. Those more gringo however, might want to focus on other offerings. Several of our friends had the short ribs which were reported to be outstanding. The bread service was unique in offering several toppings for the bread varieties. Everything was as it should have been; very good!

The view was equally stunning at night with the city lights, the lights of the cars and streetlamps adding to the romantic aura.

An evening view from The Different Pointe of View Restaurant's balcony, Phoenix, AZ

The patio was superbly landscape inviting diners to walk into the various outdoor “rooms” and nooks and crannies that abound.

The Different Pointe of View's beautifully landscaped balcony area, Phoenix, AZ

This picture shows the interior of the restaurant (left) with the door to the outside open (right) which melded the indoor and outdoor experience for total enjoyment.

An indoor/outdoor split view from The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

The hibiscus (below) and greenery were presented with dramatic flare!

A pretty, red hibiscus on the balcony at The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

Naturally one would not expect the ordinary outdoor lamps at a Different Pointe of View.

Decorative outdoor lamps at The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

Nice!

Decorative outdoor lamps (closeup) at The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

The base of the lamp, with the associated shadows, also served in their role as a catchy design element.

Decorative outdoor lamp base (closeup) at The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

While we had a lovely, well-paced birthday celebration, it was one those events that we would hope to prolong as much as possible, but alas the evening had to draw to a close. We made our way to the elevator where a spiraling staircase allowed some guests to descend at their own pace.

The spirial staircase at The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

As we awaited the arrival of the car, we enjoyed the serenity of the fountains and started to fashion the memories of the evening just passed.

The tranquil fountains at The Different Pointe of View Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ

Thank you to my best friend and college roommate and his lovely wife (L & M), as well as our other very good friends Terry & Lora for making this a most memorable evening. Every time I drive by, I will certainly have a different “pointe of view.”

JBRish.com originally published this post
See previous Life in the Desert entries HERE

Muster Stations Everyone – Off to Nagasaki, Japan

April 26, 2016April 28, 2016Jeff

After a bit more than three days in Tokyo, we boarded a cruise ship to head to other interesting Japanese ports. Whoever coined the phrase,“Getting there is half the fun”, must have had cruising in mind. We certainly enjoy the restful days and evenings at sea while reliving the novelties of the day and anticipating those to be next.

Here is a panorama from the deck of our ship soon after boarding. It was a very nice, sunny day at the pier.

Panorama from the deck of the Diamond Princess in Tokyo

As we strolled the deck to review the location of important ship venues, we found this beleaguered Noctuid moth (perhaps a positive omen of some sort!).

An interesting Noctuid moth resting on the deck of the ship

The first port of call was Nagasaki and the day was appropriately bleak for visiting this somber, historic site. The grayness and drizzle lent to the solemnity of the occasion. For those too young to know or remember, Nagasaki was the site of the second atomic bomb detonation by the US during WWII.

We were brought to the Nagasaki Peace Park and one of the very first things that grabbed my attention was this large statue known as The Prayer Monument for Peace created by Nishimo Kitamura.

The Prayer Monument for Peace, Nagasaki

Among the symbolism…

The right arm (pointing to the) sky means the threat of (an) A-bomb.
The left arm stretching horizontally means the peace.
And the closed eyes means praying for the victims of A-bomb.

The Prayer Monument for Peace, Nagasaki

As we continued to walk south, we noticed what appeared to be an old foundation which we later learned was the ruins of the Urakami Branch of Nagasaki Prison that was located at the site. All of the 134 prisoners reportedly remanded there at the time were killed.

ruins of the Urakami Branch of Nagasaki Prison

As one might expect, the peace theme predominates. The Peace Bell statue depicts small children holding up a bell similar to the bell of the Urakami Cathedral which was destroyed in the blast.

The Peace Bell<

The Peace Bell Closeup

Fortunate visitors can find Iinosuke Hayazaki, member of the Nagasaki Peace Movement Association, at the park explaining how he experienced the blast as a fourteen year old. His life was spared because his supervisor changed his working location at the weapons factory that day. (Read more here)

Iinosuke Hayazak atomic bomb survivor, Nagasaki

As part of a ritual “cleansing,” people can water flowers and plants that are near the peace bell where Iinosuke Hayazaki sometimes stands.
Watering flowers as a ritual cleansing

A distance away from this statue, at the south end of the park, is the circular Fountain of Peace.

Fountain of Peace, Nagasaki

The fountain was constructed for the souls of Atomic bomb victims who died searching for water.

Fountain of Peace, Nagasaki

Near the Fountain of Peace is a brick walled staircase which is an entryway and exit for those walking to the park. It was festooned with a beautifully juxtaposed wave of flowers.

Beautiful flower garden stairway, Nagasaki Peace Park

Part of the walkway near the fountain was constructed of red and grey bricks to symbolize flames, heat and explosion.

Symbolic walkway symbolizing explosion, Nagasaki

A Peace Symbols Zone was established in the park and other nations, states, etc., from around the world have contributed monuments in support of peace and against nuclear proliferation.

“‘Constellation Earth’ from St. Paul, Minnesota, USA (Nagasaki’s sister city), 1992; the plaque reads: ‘The seven human figures represent continents. The interdependence of the figures symbolizes global peace and solidarity.'”
Via Wikipedia

Peace Park Statue from Minnesota, USA

and Brasil

Peace Park Statue from Brasil

Yet another solemn memorial was a black cenotaph which marked the hypocenter of the explosion.

Cenotaph marking the hypocenter of the Nagasaki bomb explosion

There are signs and statistics detailing the explosion.

“More than 2.5 square miles of land were leveled. Tens of thousands of homes were either entirely burnt, reduced to rubble or partially destroyed. With an estimated population of 240,000 close to 74,000 perished and nearly 75,000 were injured.”
Via

Not wanting the world to forget, and perhaps to serve as a warning, there were other statues portraying the horror of the event.

Monument to mothers and children killed by the atomic bomb, Nagasaki

“The mother’s plea for peace and prayers as she shelters her child. This statue by Naoki Tominaga commemorated the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing at its hypocenter in Nagasaki.”
Via

A mother's prayer for peace statue by Naoki Tominaga, Nagasaki

As we made our way to the Atomic Bomb Museum we passed the decorative tower which, by special permission from Greece, temporarily held the Olympic flame.

“Received by the City of Nagasaki from Greece in 1983, the Flame of Commitment burns to symbolize the pledge that Nagasaki shall remain the last city on Earth to experience nuclear devastation, that nuclear war shall never again be waged, and that there shall be no more bomb victims. The construction of the monument was undertaken to promote this pledge and commitment, and the flame of peace continues to burn.”
Via

Flame

The Atomic Bomb Museum housed much of the history and artifacts related to the Nagasaki bombing.

Among the items was a replica of the A-bomb, code named Fat Man, which was dropped over Nagasaki.

Replica of the Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki

There was a display of glass bottles that melted from the heat of the blast.

Glass bottles melted by the heat of the Nagasaki A-Bomb

Shards of stained glass shown below were displayed and some were so strongly heated, they formed balls.

Shards of melted stained glass, Nagasaki

Perhaps most poignant was this metal helmet containing remains of a human skull.

Metal helmet with remains of a human skull, Nagasaki

On the way back to our tour bus, we passed the Gold Peace Statue constructed to commemorate the lives of students and teachers lost in the bomb blast.

Statue in Memory of School children & Teachers, in front of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

While this was a “heavy” visit, it was an interesting part of history. On the way out of town, I couldn’t help but notice all of the criss-crossed wires and cables along the side streets which reminded me of a long ago era.

Cables and wires across a street in Nagasaki, Japan

Read more about our trip to Japan in 2015:

Being Cunning Without a Brain via the BBC

April 15, 2016Jeff

The Venus Flytrap is one of nature’s cunning predators even if it doesn’t have a brain!

From the YouTube Video Page:

“Hungry Venus flytraps snap shut on a host of unfortunate flies. But, despite its name, flies arent the flytrap’s only meal. As long as its prey is roughly the right size and touches two of its hairs within twenty seconds, the plant will dine on any insect or spider that comes its way. Glands in the lobes then secrete enzymes that break the dinner down into a digestible soup. Ten days later, the trap pops open to reveal nothing but a dried out husk.”

Tokyo (2015) Day 3 – Part 2 – Hama-rikyu Gardens, Shibuya Station & Shopping

April 12, 2016April 13, 2016Jeff

Naturally, we were interested in seeing other sections of the city so once again, we made our way “downtown” to the Ginza area where some decorations from the Tanabata Star Festival were in evidence.

Our group remained intrigued by the large street crossing at Shibuya Station (reportedly the third busiest station in Tokyo and sometimes noted as the world’s busiest street crossing*) which hosts crowds waiting to cross in many different directions.

Shibuya Station Interesting Note

There is an underground river running under the station, to the east and parallel to the JR tracks. Unlike most other Japanese department stores, the east block of Tokyu department store (which constitutes the east exit of the station) does not have retail space in the basement because of this. An escalator in the east block built over the river stops a few steps above floor level to make space for machinery underneath without digging. Rivers are deemed public space by Japanese law, so building over one is normally illegal. It is not clear why this was allowed when it was first built in 1933. [emphasis mine ]

(Article based on Go Japan article/Wikipedia and used under the GNU Free Documentation License

As we watched the crowds, we saw that umbrellas were often used as parasols to shield the sun.

Below is an elevated view from inside Tokyu department store.

Also at the Shibuya Station is a park-like area where people can sit and rest in a relatively shaded area.

This park, however, is noted more for a famous statue of a dog. Hachi (Hachikō) was a very loyal Akita who so loved his owner that even after the death of his master, he remained vigilant for his return at this station each day. The people of Japan were so impressed with this display of loyalty, they erected a statue to honor his spirit.

You can read more about the story of Hachi at Wikipedia.

There is also a movie based loosely on the story, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)

Shortly after our stop at the crossing, we headed for the Shinbashi, district of Minato in Tokyo where we came across the curious Nippon TV Tower Building made so by the ornate sculpture(below) attached to its side. It may be difficult to determine what this is, but the Nittere Ohdokei is the world’s largest animated clock.

Below is a YouTube Video of the animation:

Another short walk brought us our third city area garden, the Hama-rikyu Gardens, but this one had a special treat in store!

The park was once an active duck hunting pond which is commemorated by this statue.

With this history one would expect interesting and beautiful water features.

As we strolled past the lawn and shrub areas…

we could see “the treat” (a quaint old-style building) in the distance.

It was a traditional Japanese Tea House. Yama, our guide, explained the rituals associated with having tea in this setting.

As you can see below, this was green tea, very green tea!

The tea was not bitter, but it was far from sweet. The cake served with it, however, was very sweet and when eaten with sips of the tea, proved palatable although our western tastes were not accustomed to the nuances.

Some patrons dressed in a more traditional garb.

A view from the outside deck of the tea house was a reminder of the city location of this tranquil venue.

A very intriguing feature of the garden is this pine tree which was planted in 1709 and thus more than 300 years old.

A short walk from the garden was a building I was very interested in examining, the Nakagin Capsule Tower designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa. This was a very innovative building for its time. (seen in the middle of the picture below with the stacks of cube-like blocks.)

The building was designed to enable the compartments to be detachable, replaceable and connectable to accommodate various needs.

The building has been quarantined as there are asbestos and other structural issues although it was my understanding that it is still used by a few people.

Tokyo has many new buildings that are beautiful as well as functional. The modern architecture provides a strong contrast to the older buildings and long history of the city.

Of course what would a visit to a special place be without a souvenir or two (or even three)? So off we went to another city area for some shopping. The scene pictured below was typical.

Many of the young girls appeared to be more “dressed up” for a trip to the city area and often wore hats. This is another example of a small umbrella serving as a parasol.

In preparation for our visit, we read that Japan had artistic sewer covers.

In America, we have so many commodities from Japan, that this sign advertising pork “raised from high quality grain from fertile American soils” appeared noteworthy.

After a rest at the hotel and dinner, there was some exploration of the area to be had this evening of our last day in Tokyo!

*http://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/tokyo-facts-40-trivia-tidbits-to-wow-your-mind

Read more about our trip to Japan in 2015:

JBRish.com originally published this post

The Presidential Photography of Pete Souza

April 9, 2016April 9, 2016Jeff

Pete Souza Photographs the President

This video showcases the photography of official White House Photographer Pete Souza and his work in capturing the day-to-day events and personal life of President Obama and his administration. Photography helps to preserve the history of the times and Pete Souza does it very well!

Tokyo (2015) Day 3 – Part 1 – Shinjuku Gyoen Garden and Harajuku St.

March 31, 2016March 31, 2016Jeff

For our third day in Tokyo, arrangements were made for a personal guide. Her name was Yama which she explained meant mountain in Japanese. She was delightful and very knowledgeable and it was much fun to share the day with her. The first stop on this day was the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and one of the first sightings was the old, quaint-looking Groundskeeper’s Cottage.

As we walked along the path, Yama related some of the history of the garden which originated in the Edo period and has undergone many revisions. One indication of the age of the garden was the size of the tree trunks.

As Better Homes and Gardens indicates, “Japanese gardens combine the basic elements of plants, water, and rocks with simple, clean lines to create a tranquil retreat.**”, and this garden had a number of water features. The turtles are also a cultural symbol of longevity and they were in evidence as we strolled along the ponds.

Strategically placed arched bridges allowing for reflections are also a common feature in Japanese gardens.

Another popular feature is the lantern or Tōrō that we described in our previous posts.

As we wandered along we were reminded from time-to-time that we were still within a large city.

This pagoda-like structure, a traditional tea house, provided a very nice stopping point and offered numerous photo opportunities.

As we were circling back to the area from which we entered, we came across a group of young girls seemingly preparing for a more formal event or celebration.

Before we left the garden, we stopped at the visitor’s center to cool off a bit and to use the amenities. I noticed a vending machine which appeared to be offering meals of many varieties which could be selected from the charts to the right!

We appreciated that we were on vacation while others needed to attend to their rituals of daily living as evidenced by this young girl presumably with her dad perhaps going to, or coming from school.

Next, it was off to the subway…

The subways had several unique features. The yellow squres are actually imprinted walkways with raised dots. The raised areas could be felt through shoes and are used to guide the visually impaired.

We also noted caretakers cleaning the various structures.

This young man was dutifully waiting in a designated line to enter a specific train car or area. Notice the blue and white lines which I understood indicated where different train sections/cars would align. Standing closer to the tracks than this area is discouraged.

Exiting the subway, we were only a short walk away from the famous Harajuki St. where the young and trendy congregate. (So what was I doing there?)

It was crowded.

This shop is indicative of the type of apparel that was for sale.

Of further appeal to the younger crowd were the popular Japanese anime style banners which has also attracted the appreciation of some of the older groups.

And what trendy area would be without a Starbucks?

To be continued…

** http://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/styles/elements-of-a-japanese-garden/

Read more about our trip to Japan in 2015:

JBRish.com originally published this post

Luna: Dog Lost at Sea for Five Weeks

March 20, 2016March 20, 2016Jeff

An almost unbelievable story of a blue-eyed, shepherd-type dog, Luna, who was lost at sea for five weeks and given up for dead. And then…

Read the Washington Post article about this remarkable story to get more details!

Tokyo (2015) Day 2 – Hakone, Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji

March 17, 2016Jeff

After our lunch stop and being a bit refreshed, we once again boarded the bus heading for the Hakone area of Kanagawa Prefecture in Honshū and Lake Ashinoko (Ashi). The lake apparently lies in a crater of a volcano that hasn’t erupted since approximately 1170 CE. More than just a boat ride on a lake, little did we know of the surprises that were in store for our band of travelers.

In preparation for our trip, some research disclosed that Japan is the number one, per capita vending machine country in the world and our experience seemed to prove this fact. We found many, many different commodities for sale via vending machines. Here is one bank of machines at the lake and there were others!

We boarded the ferry and began our cruise on the lake.

The mountain fingers jutted into the lake and were framed by the dramatic sky.

In the distance we could see a building on top of one of the peaks. We couldn’t immediately tell what it was.

As we continued in that direction, we passed a pirate ship. Who would have anticipated pirate ships like this in Japan?

The mountain top with the structure was looming larger as we approached and the clouds continued rolling in adding to the drama.

It now became obvious that this was a ropeway and there would be a ride to the top of the mountain in our immediate future!

The view from the top was awesome!

Behind the mechanical housing were two more traditional-looking structures

This was more akin to the tori we saw in the Meiji Shrine.

And of course, the pay off was the promise of a view of Mt. Fuji which was poking out from behind the mountains and clouds.

From time-to-time more of the clouds would give way to a glimpse of the majestic peak through the haze.

Mount Fuji proved mystical from this vantage point and these vistas left us satisfied.*

On the boat ride back to the dock. we passed a different pirate ship on lake Ashi.

The next stop was the anticipated ride on the bullet train. Our wonderful guide, Marie, escorted us to the platform to patiently await the arrival of our train.

The train was sleek…

and interestingly enough, while seated inside did not feel as speedy as it actually was.

Lastly, we navigated the crowded commuter trains back to our hotel and we were proud of our companions who were able to figure out the correct route with little difficulty.

This was one of the best ever travel days. We were tired, but content!

*For JBRish readers who would like to see a picture of Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji during a different season, the picture below from Japan-guide.com might be of interest.

Read more about our trip to Japan in 2015:

Tokyo (2015) Day 1 – Meiji Shrine

Tokyo (2015) Day 1 – Imperial Palace East Gardens

Tokyo (2015) Day 1 – Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon) Buddhist Temple

Tokyo (2015) Day 1 – Wrapping Up

Tokyo (2015) Day 2 – Off To Mount Fuji And…

JBRish.com originally published this post

STATUS QUOtes — 20160317

March 17, 2016Jeff

“My friends are my estate.” — Emily Dickinson

“Passion is what keeps you pushing on when the rewards of your effort are not that great or disappointing.” — Scott Robert Lim

“Just as a cautious businessman avoids tying up all his capital in one concern, so, perhaps, worldly wisdom will advise us not to look for the whole of our satisfaction from a single aspiration.” — Sigmund Freud

“There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.” — Frank Zappa

JBRish.com originally published this post
See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE

JBRish.com – quips & queries

A life of musings, queries, quips and quandaries

Stories

Glover Garden and Dejima – Nagasaki, Japan (2015)

Dejima, Japan

Glover Garden

A Very Different Pointe of View – Septuagenarian Style

Muster Stations Everyone – Off to Nagasaki, Japan

Being Cunning Without a Brain via the BBC

Tokyo (2015) Day 3 – Part 2 – Hama-rikyu Gardens, Shibuya Station & Shopping

The Presidential Photography of Pete Souza

Tokyo (2015) Day 3 – Part 1 – Shinjuku Gyoen Garden and Harajuku St.

Luna: Dog Lost at Sea for Five Weeks

Tokyo (2015) Day 2 – Hakone, Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji

STATUS QUOtes — 20160317