Cherried Away

What is better than Hanami?



Hanami with a Rainbow!!

Typhooned Akihabara Vampire

Yeah, we're all going to die because of typhoon-strength winds. NOT! At least not in Tokyo. I had a really good time taking pictures of the empty streets of Akihabara. Thank you, mass-media (for proving my point to not trust you)! And next time, if there is a nuclear meltdown, please cause at least the same amount of panic as today. Way to keep things in perspective...



And here is some advice for the umbrella-destroyers in Tokyo: If it's raining and the wind is too strong to keep your umbrella open without damaging it, you're supposed to close it. Otherwise you'll be the proud owner of a damaged umbrella, a very unique item, offering no protection against rain or wind at all. I know, i know. "What good is an umbrella if I can't open it when it rains?" That's the wrong question. The right question is: "Would I rather use my umbrella when it doesn't get damaged, or would I use a damaged umbrella?"

Gundamned in Odaiba

Finally Some Useful Information!!!

A Status Report of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant (Please click to enlarge);
Data taken from IAEA:

Panic Is NOT The Answer!!

From my point of view, the information concerning the Fukushima nuclear-plant is handled carelessly.

What little information got out was either downplayed by Japanese officials or instantanuosly picked up by western news organizations and compared to Three Miles Island or Chernobyl (Fear gets people glued to their TV's). The truth is, that the situation at the Fukushima power-plant has to be analysed differently because the circumstances are different. Also the officials have to verify informations and prevent panic, not an easy task... And since the western media acts like it might be necessary to evacuate Tokyo, it just reveals they don't know Tokyo!

If there are informations about higher levels of radiation (Even IF there are apparently no SHORT- term health risks: Who guarantees there are no long term health risks?) , people should minimize their exposure to radioactive substances (Taken from NHK http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/15_30.html):

How to minimize exposure to radioactive substances
Here are some points to be careful of in radiation leaks.

Radioactive substances emitted from nuclear power plants contain iodine and rare gases.

In order to prevent exposure indoors, windows and doors should be closed and air conditioners and other forms of ventilation turned off.

When outdoors, people are advised to wear masks or cover their mouths and noses with wet towels or handkerchiefs to prevent inhalation of radioactive substances.

Skin should be exposed as little as possible.

Measures should also be taken to prevent internal exposure through inhalation and consumption of food.

If radio active substances accumulate, the human body could be affected over the long term.

Upon returning home from outdoors, people should change their clothes and wash their hands and faces.

They should also avoid drinking well water and eating food that has been left outdoors.



There is a difference between sheer panic and reasonable caution.
So please my friends be cautios, because there is every reason to be!

Rejoining the Jetlag Club

For the last day in Japan we stayed in Narita. The chocolate-fondue at the hotel was delicious (so much for "How was the Sushi?") and the Narita-San temple was impressive. 

All good things come to an end, but at least I left through Dubai...

Another Great Weekend

Just when I thought it couldn't get any colder, she arranged a trip to Hida-Takayama and Shirakawago. Although it was quite cold, it was awesome to see the old part of the town and the tour through the Sake brewery was a nice addition. As for the old village of Shirakawa-Go: simply amazing! Thanks!

Hida-Takayama:



Shirakawago:

Afternoon in Hibya Koen

I started the day with a brunch at Espressamente Illy where I met with a friend. Then we continued to Hibya Koen near Ginza. It was such a great view, I just had to take some pictures.

Weekend in the snow

Hi guys!

I spent the weekend with a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very nice girl (I told her I'd do that). We went to Karuizawa and stayed in a part of the town that was very quiet. it was the first time I saw an empty vending machine in Japan. After our arrival in Tokyo, we concluded our trip with a Hello Kitty-tour through Ginza. Somehow I failed to understand the deep philosophy behind it, but at least I didn't have to venture into the heart of pinkness all by myself...

Akihabara, my one weakness

When I'm in Tokyo, I always end up in Akihabara one way or the other. But while the rest of the crowd goes crazy for arcade games, ufo-catchers and illustrations of girls, whose epic frontal dimensions are waging an eternal war with common sense, I simply eat some shabu-shabu, play a game of border-break and enjoy a gunpla at the Gundam-Cafe.

Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku

Normally I try to avoid the usual tourist-spots, but since I decided to post unique Tokyo-impressions, I had a hard time avoiding these places. I started in Shibuya, took a walk to Harajuku and finished in Shinjuku where I had a coffee with a very good friend of mine. Thanks again! ;-)

Enjoying Tokyo Decks

I spent a nice afternoon at Tokyo Decks and wanted to share the bayside-feeling with you. So I took a break at Aqua City's Cafe Monsoon (http://www.monsoon-cafe.jp/en/odaiba/home/location) and took some pix.

Tokyo gets blogged

Hi guys!

Since I found out yesterday during my transit in Dubai that my blog isn't compliable with the internet protection-laws of the UAE, I thought I should update it at least for the people who have access (You know who you are ;-), spread around the world in Tokyo, Vienna, India, Amsterdam, etc.).

So here is what follows: caffeine, lots of caffeine!

(Before Tokyo gets blogged, I got jetlagged )

After that you can expect some skyline-pics.

Just don't expect to much!

After all I'm here on vaccation and I'm a pretty lazy guy...

Now, back to the caffeine-routine.