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Home 2721
- Jorenji Temple, Tokyo Daibutsu
Intercept with @motohasi at third largest cast bronze Great Buddha in Japan. Temple is on high ground amongst residential housing, in a northwest Tokyo industrial neighbourhood. He lives in the ward, and had never visited this temple. Multiple trains, local bus and then long walk with GPS misdirections are likely to discourage tourists from coming. (Jorenji Temple, Tokyo Daibutsu, Akatsuka neighbourhood, Itabashi ward, Tokyo, Japan) 20170327 - Sony Building, Ginza
Last days before Sony closes building, and creates a temporary Ginza Sony Park. Multi-level floors spiralling up are mostly vacant, with visitors encouraged to post leaf-shaped stickers on top of wall drawings. Architectural heritage of 1966 concrete brutalist style will be lost, with even denser structures in one of the world's most urban neighbourhoods. (Sony Building, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan) 20170327 - Koenji High
Tear down for next band to start within 10 minutes, in Total Feedback show featuring shoegazing style. Saw four of six 30-minute sets. Most enjoyed edy two arc band, also saw スプール spool, Al Van She's Coming and Magic Love in basement hall with high ceilings. Upstairs, a quieter duo in the lounge. Reminded of the power of well-engineered live music, a stark contrast to the earbud generation. (Koenji High, Suganami ward, Tokyo, Japan) 20170326 - Shibuya Station Block
From Shibuya Hikarie 8th floor, view of redevelopment east of rail tracks in progress for completion by 2020 Olympics. New East Building will have 7 floors underground, and 46 above grade. Crosswalk may eventually look like the scatter crossing on the other side of the tracks, as pedestrians can move to another other corner while traffic lights count down a short period for priority. (Shibuya Station Block East Building under construction, Tokyo, Japan) 20170326 - Ueno Park
Bloom of Cherry Blossoms attracts many Japanese to Ueno Park. so space is measured off with tarpaulins underneath, to allow visiting groups to socialize, picnic (and drink alcohol). Tradition of removing shoes is preserved even outdoors. Large garbage bins have been placed nearby, with signs to reduce confusion about sorting. (Ueno Park, Taito, Tokyo, Japan) 20170325 - Nippori Zakuro
Uzbeki food expected from online reviews, sitting on the floor and eating from dishes served on low table was not. Well prepared food was enjoyed, unlimited quantity lunch wasn't tested. Waitress accommodated requests to avoid dairy ingredients. Welcome surprise of Oriental, not Asian cuisine, in Tokyo. (Zakuro. Nippori Village, Tokyo, Japan) 20170325 - Daikokuten Kyoo-ji Temple
Nichiren Buddhist temple built on land donated in 1655. Shogotai troops took refuge within walls in 1868 Battle of Ueno, Imperial Army left bullet holes in the gate. (Daikokuten Kyoo-ji Temple, Nippori Village, Tokyo, Japan) 20170325 - Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport line
Short ride from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho wends north across artificial islands, along canals crossed by a few roadway bridges. Air Canada flight landing in late afternoon, so public transportation has commuters riding into dusk. Connection to JR Yamanote Line, one stop to Tamachi, where local pubs are being replaced by a skyscraper. (Tokyo Monorail Haneda Airport line, Japan) 20170324 - Pearson Terminal 1
Six from dozens of welcome posters on way to departure gates. Closer examination shows each represents a different country, created for the 2015 PanAm Games. I guess travellers could find the western hemisphere destination, but I am headed for Asia. (Terminal 1, Toronto Pearson Airport) 20170323 - SFO Gate G91
Clare Rojas (2008) Blue Deer, oil and ink on wood, over a usual Air Canada Gate G91 . Flying San Fran to Toronto direct today, originally alongside DY on free ticket via Montreal. Delay to YUL of 25 minutes with a 53 minute connection including immigration would probably miss, so she's on a high probability standby direct, too. Her luggage is checked with me, so it's easy for her to just walk on. (San Francisco International Airport, International Terminal) 20170322 - Pigeon Point Light Station
Day trip, no wedding, no funeral. (Pigeon Point Light Station, Pescadero, California) 20170321 - Pigeon Point Light Station
Maybe a whale blowing offshore. Light station closed since 2001. (Pigeon Point Light Station, Pescadero, California) 20170321 - Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay
Noon is too late to buy fish right off the boat, but signs indicate that regulars must come to the harbor earlier for ultra freshness. (Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay, California) 20170321 - Googleplex
In 1988, I worked at 1965 Charleston Road, in a partnership between IBM and Metaphor Computer Systems (a spin-off from Xerox PARC). This led to the partnership between IBM and Apple, called Taligent. The building didn't have the current landscaping, and was surrounded by Sun Microsystems. (Googleplex, Charleston Road, Mountain View, California) 20170320 - Intel Museum
Archive of technologies getting smaller and smaller. My career was associated with the advances of microprocessors, so I lived through much of the history described at this venue. (Intel Museum, Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, California) 20170320