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Fireworks Event of Jingu-Gaien 2014

Hiro — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 10:20:15 +0000

I’ve been to see the fireworks event of Jingu-Gaien.

This is a view from the Canada embassy Japan.

My friends prepared yummy big meals!

The design of the table is this.

Cherry blossom viewing party at Kinuta Park 2014

Hiro — Sat, 05 Apr 2014 14:12:30 +0000

I have been to the cherry blossom viewing party sponsored by my friends at Kinuta Park together with Kojiro following last year.
At dusk, it was very beautiful that the pink of cherry blossoms was gradually being dyed light orange.

When Kojiro was sniffing the ground, it became such a thing by chance! (the petal of cherry blossoms was under his tip of the nose!)

He didn’t notice that though.
In addition, all the photos were taken using “Fine Camera”.

Tokyo Sky Tree

Hiro — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 11:40:06 +0000

I’ve been to Tokyo Sky Tree opened in May, 2012 with my friend from USA.
This is the photo which I looked up at and took from the SKYTREE entrance of the fourth floor of Tokyo Solamachi.
The top can’t be seen.

This is the photo I took from the smoking space where is just off the SKYTREE entrance.

Although we reached there before 2:30PM., there were many entrance candidates and we couldn’t purchase a ticket until 6PM.
So, we decided to get a numbered ticket, and to see and turn around other places till 6PM.
My friend said, “Is this Disneyland??”.
Because we found the planetarium the “Tenku” when we looked for the place where we could be interested in inside Tokyo Solamachi, we reserved the tickets from 5:00, and went out of Tokyo Solamachi.
However, we couldn’t find out any other nice place to see, we went to an Italy restaurant Palazzo SAN GUSTO and we ate the pizza (small) instead of a snack, and returned to Solamachi.

Then, we loitered the inside in Solamachi and looked at the planetarium from 5:00. (I might have slept about 1/4 of the show.)
We could rank with the long line which purchases a ticket at last at 6PM, stood in a line for about 1 hour, and purchased the ticket.
Then we reached “TEMBO Deck” 350-m-above ground a little ago 7PM.
We purchased immediately the admission ticket of “TEMBO Galleria” which is on 100m from there further, and, 10 minutes afterward, were able to arrive at “TEMBO Galleria.”
The view from there is this.

Although outside was pitch-black and it was beautiful as it was, I wanted to see the scene of daylight time.
At least, the night scene of “TEMBO Galleria”doesn’t look great on us, two old guys!

With this photo, Tokyo Tower looks small to in the distance.

We returned to “TEMBO DECK”, after inspecting briefly. And we did the coffee break by SKYTREE CAFE on the floor 340.
Then, this is the photo at “glass floor” of the same floor. Although it had a tremendous impact in reality, because there were many people and we had to went through quickly, we couldn’t take in a scenic overlook of there very well.

This is the photo from the smoking area again.
The tower was lit up brightly.
It is said that it is the Christmas limited writing a “white tree.”

When I looked at the side of the tower suddenly, the beautiful moon appeared.
Fortunately, I was able to put them into one photo somehow.

Phuket Trip, Day 5.

Hiro — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 14:14:52 +0000

It rained from the morning, and because of intermediate traffic congestion, the Phuket airport arrival was late for the schedule, and got impatient just for a moment today.
I returned the rental car safely somehow and headed to Bangkok from Phuket airport.
Because I have about 6-hour lay-over in Bangkok, I went to Siam and a J.W.Marriot hotel (a schedule did not suit but I had to cancel this time) using an airport rail link and BTS.
Although there was no place which I wanted to take photos not much, I was able to feel the developing power of Thailand strongly.
Because in Phuket, I was able to meet many kind and polite Thais and I appreciate truly, I became to love Phuket.
Someday, I’ll be back!

These were exhibited at the Bangkok airport.

Phuket Trip, Day 4.

Hiro — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:05:52 +0000

Last night, I woke up two times because of the pain of leg cramps.
But, it was getting better.

I had a breakfast at SAILS RESTAURANT and had a coffee at ANDAMAN LOUNGE as well as yesterday.
Then, suddenly I heard a bird screaming nearby and found this invader!!

We didn’t give anything and finally he/she went back somewhere silently.
Because he/she was walking, the photos were jiggled though, I was so happy to see a peacock at an extremely close range!!

Because it’s windy than yesterday, I saw waves at Karon Beach.
But, I really fear the rip current and I went to Kata Yai Beach again!

When I stopped to smoke at a balcony in my room, a same bird?/kind of bird? at ANDAMAN LOUNGE yesterday appeared.
So, I gave some snacks I had brought from Japan and he/she ate them up and went away.

When I went to the rental beach bed store I had rent a beach bed yesterday, MYU (15 or 16 years old boy) remembered me because I told him yesterday I would be back.
So, he prepared a beach bed at a similar location where I used yesterday and asked me if I was Okay?

Around 4:30PM, cloud in the offing of Kata Yai Beach was becoming dark and underneath the cloud was also becoming foggy.
I thought it might be a squall and I came back to the beach bed.
Then MYU stabbed a finger toward the cloud saying “Look!”.
I asked him “A squall is coming?” and he said “It comes in 10 minutes and continues about one hour. Will you stay here?”.
So, I said “I’ll go back. Thank you for everything!” and shook his hands because I had to return a surfboard to “Tokonatsuya” around 6PM.
Though the squall didn’t hit Karon Beach and my hotel, dark cloud flowed to Kata Yai Beach.

I joined Happy Hour at ANDAMAN LOUNGE as well as yesterday after washing and shower.
MAT(So cute!! Looks like AKB girls) , a staff at the lounge was kind enough to become friendly and allowed me to take photos and upload them to this blog.
She is so caring good lady and if you want to see her, go ANDAMAN LOUNGE at HILTON PHUKET ARCADIA RESORT & SPA immediately!!!

I had a dinner at THAI THAI RESTAURANT in the hotel.

This is tom yan kun with no fresh coriander. It was very delicious at the flavor of marine products, and moderate hardness!

This is pad thai. This was also very delicious at seasoning seemingly the puffy thin noodles of rice are [ seasoning ] soy sauce of just right sweetness!

The most delicious thing is this Poo Phad Pong Ka Hri! The crab was cut into chunks, and it stir-fried in curry sauce, and entwined beaten egg fluffy to finish. Because it was really very delicious, I would like to eat again absolutely!!!

Phuket Trip, Day 3.

Hiro — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 13:05:52 +0000

Because two and half years to the day since I stopped enjoying surfing, all of the muscles made outcries.
So, I woke up three times last night due to the pain of various leg cramps.
Everytime I woke up, I had to massage by myself more than thirty minutes to allay the pain.
What a poor body I had!!

I had a breakfast at SAILS RESTAURANT and after that I had a coffee at ANDAMAN LOUNGE.
At the lounge, suddenly a bird appeared and he/she wanted to cookies served with a coffee.

Secretly I gave some crumbs of the cooky. Then he/she gazed at me like saying give me more.
So, I said “No more!” in a small voice and he/she seemed to give up.

Well then I enjoy surfing at Kata Yai Beach today too!
So, I made a phone call to Natsumi at “Tokonatsuya” and asked her how to handle my car key.
She gave me a useful information most people seemed to prepare a small bag in order to put into small change and the key of the car and then rend a beach bed at a rental beach bed store on the beach and placed the bag under the towel on the beach bed.
I tried it and it was really nice because I was able to have a break using the beach bed between surfings and replaced lost water from seaside store easily.
ขอบคุณครับ, Natsumi!!
BTW, 100 Baht for a beach bed whole day and 30 Baht for a canned juice.

When some stopped motorbikes were obstructive in the parking lot of Kata Yai Beach and I was in difficulty on parking my car, a local surfer moved those motorbikes for me though those were not his own motorbike, and also he taught his friend had said today that waves at Kata Noi Beach were better. ขอบคุณครับ, the local surfer!!

Phuket Trip, Day 2.

Hiro — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 10:59:33 +0000

Because my flight to Bangkok was before noon on 28th, I stayed at Hilton Narita on 27th.
Afternoon on 28th, I changed planes at Bangkok and arrived at Phuket sometime after 6PM (8PM JST).
Then, I rent a car at Hertz and arrived at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa sometime after 8PM.
So, blog of this trip starts from Day 2.

These are sights from my room. I can see Karon Beach over a pool.

Because I had made a reservation of rental surf board at “Tokonatsuya”（http://www.tokonatsuya.com/） from Japan, I visited “Tokonatsuya” to bring the board and collect information for surfing.
At there, Natsumi, staff of “Tokonatsuya”(beautiful lady!) taught me that the rip current of Kata Yai Beach is weaker than that of Karon Beach.
So, she suggested to take a look at Kata Yai Beach on my way to the hotel and showed me the way to go.
Then I took these photos at Kata Yai Beach.

Yeah, the wave size seems from chest to knee and it is preferable to me! What’s more, there are many parking places for free!

I came back to the hotel and had a late lunch at CAFFE CINO in the hotel.

Sandwich and frozen coffee. Frozen coffee was yummy!

Outside of my room.

Because hotel staff told me I could get to Karon Beach from here, I checked out wave of the beach.

Karon Beach is so beautiful and less people. This must be perfect for sea bathing of couples.
But, this is solo trip and unfortunately waves are small and I really fear the rip current.
So, then I decided to go to Kata Yai Beach!

When I visited Kata Yai Beach, I couldn’t find out any place for storing car key.
So, I asked various people around the beach and finally I stored the key at the reception of Kata Beach Resort and Spa close to the seashore though I didn’t stay the hotel.
ขอบคุณครับ, elderly woman at the reception! ขอบคุณครับ,everybody who helped me!

Because two and half years to the day since I stopped enjoying surfing, I didn’t have enough physical capacity.
So, I came back to hotel around 6PM, washed towel and wears, took a shower to remove sands and joined Happy Hour at ANDAMAN LOUNGE located at the lobby of the hotel.
I was interested in the name of “Phuket ?something? Island” and ordered the drink.
Then, a cocktail using a whole pineapple was served as a glass and I was so amazed!

The atmosphere of ANDAMAN LOUNGE is like this.
It was pity for me I did know I was able to use Wi-FI for free at the lounge.

BBQ at Hinohara Village in Tokyo.

Hiro — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:36:43 +0000

I was allowed to participate in this chance that the member of the cheery blossom viewing of Kinuta Park takes the lead and gives BBQ every year to the Campbell lodge at Hinohara-mura in Tokyo.
Cooking was not only BBQ, there were many handmade things, and those were Oyhee. ( Oyhee is the superlative word of delicious in Japanese.) A hill at the back was a forest under development, and was plenty of anion.
Many people talked to Kojiro and treated him kindly, so he was in high-tensioned. As for me, it was an unlimited delightful as his father, I’m not a dog though.
Although it was a day’s trip this time, I thought that I would look for a vicinity pet hotel next year.

Cherry blossom viewing at Kinuta Park

Hiro — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:18:52 +0000

Because my friend for thirty years suggested me join cherry blossom viewing at Kinuta Park, I’ve taken Kojiro to the park.
She had us join her friends group and we were so happy!!!
Recently, Kojiro seemed to be shy around strangers, but today they treated him kindly and I was relieved to see that.
When I went for a walk with Kojiro, we met a lot of dogs.
But, unfortunately I hesitated to ask them to take photos of them, because I would say we might not be able to meet them again.
Anyway, cherry blossom was beautiful and a little bit of cherry blossoms falling in the evening and a bamboo forest which I haven’t seen nowadays make a more attractive atmosphere.

Minato Mirai Walk

Hiro — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 14:18:03 +0000

After a three-month lull, I’ve gone for a walk to Minato-mirai with Kojiro.
From Yokohama station, we strolled to Minato-mirai.
At Yokohama Museum of Art （Minato-mirai）, we took a little rest and I took photos of Yokohama Landmark Tower and back of Kojiro (he wore NY T-shirt and jeans).
After that, we moved to Dog Garden Cafe at Landmark Plaza.
Kojiro ate boiled dumpling for dog in several tens of seconds and I had lip-smacking chocolate rum latte.
Then, I took a photo of the back of Yokohama Grand InterContinental Hotel on the way to a park behind Pachifico Yokohama (a Convention Center).
At the park, I took photos of Landmark Tower again and Yokohama Bay Bridge.
Including two rests, it was three and half hours walk and we got worn out.