Flo's World - mfgab

Classy

White wine and Manhattan at Edelweiss Austrian Pub and Restaurant, Lower Bagacay, Dumaguete City

Yummy

American Breakfast at Gabby's Bistro, Bantayan, Dumaguete City

Tacos

The ultimate taco experience! A must-try!

 

Beef tacos at Coco Amigos, Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City.

So Fab

Edelweiss Austrian Pub and Restaurant, Lower Bagacay, Dumaguete City.

Bling Bling
The Christmas Tree at Dr. Rico Absin's Christmas House, Piapi, Dumaguete City.

Menu
Edelweiss Austrian Pub and Restaurant, Lower Bagacay, Dumaguete City.

Cozy
Gabby's Bistro, Bantayan, Dumaguete City

Silliman Portals
Silliman University is a Protestant institution of higher education located in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines. It was the first Protestant school founded in the Philippines. The university holds the distinction of being one of the 30 private higher education institutions in the Philippines that have been granted autonomy by the Commission on Higher Education.

Gate
Thalatta Beach Resort, Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental

Pool
Thalatta Beach Resort, Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental

Boats
Apo Island, Negros Oriental

Looking Out
Apo Island, Negros Oriental

SM Mall of Asia
The 'SM Mall of Asia' is currently the 2nd largest shopping mall in the Philippines after SM City North Edsa and the 4th largest shopping mall in the world. It has a land area of 14-Hectares and has a gross floor area of an approximate 410,000 m². The mall is located at Bay City, Pasay City, Philippines just near the SM Central Business Park and the Manila Bay. The mall attracts a daily foot traffic of 200,000 people.

SM Mall of Asia Parking Lot
The 'SM Mall of Asia' is currently the 2nd largest shopping mall in the Philippines after SM City North Edsa and the 4th largest shopping mall in the world. It has a land area of 14-Hectares and has a gross floor area of an approximate 410,000 m². The mall is located at Bay City, Pasay City, Philippines just near the SM Central Business Park and the Manila Bay. The mall attracts a daily foot traffic of 200,000 people.

Antulang Beach Resort
Siaton, Negros Oriental

Infinity Pool
Antulang Beach Resort, Siaton, Negros Oriental

Amlan Paradise Resort
Amlan, Negros Oriental

Antulang Beach Resort
Siaton, Negros Oriental

Atlantis Dive Resorts
Dauin, Negros Oriental

Bahura Resort and Spa
Dauin, Negros Oriental

Beach
Dauin, Negros Oriental

Beach
Dauin, Negros Oriental

Cathedral
Carcar, Cebu

Frangipani
Dauin, Negros Oriental

Forest Camp
Valencia, Negros Oriental

Magellan's Cross

Magellan's Cross is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on April 21, 1521.

This cross is housed in a small chapel next to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño on Magallanes Street (Magallanes being the Spanish name of Magellan), just in front of the city hall of Cebu City. A sign below the cross claims that the original cross is encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of this chapel. This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for souvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers. Some people, however, believe that the original cross had been destroyed or had disappeared after Magellan's death, and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines.

Magellan's Cross is a symbol of Cebu City and the chapel's image can be found in its city seal. It is also seen as the symbol of Roman Catholicism and a tourist attraction in the Philippines.

Lapu-Lapu
Lapu-Lapu was the king of Mactan, an island in the Visayas, Philippines, who is known as the first native of the archipelago to have resisted Spanish colonization. He is now regarded as the first Filipino hero.

On the morning of April 27, 1521, Lapu-Lapu and the men of Mactan, armed with spears, and kampilan, faced Spanish soldiers led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. In what would later be known as the Battle of Mactan, Magellan and several of his men were killed.

According to Sulu oral tradition, Lapu-Lapu was a Muslim chieftain, and was also known as "Kaliph Pulaka". The people of Bangsamoro, the Islamic homeland in the southern Philippine Islands, consider him to be a Muslim and a member of the Tausug ethnic group. A variant of the name, as written by Carlos Calao, a 17th century Chinese-Spanish poet in his poem "Que Dios Le Perdone" (Spanish, "That God May Forgive Him") is "Cali Pulacu".

Beach
Dauin, Negros Oriental

Beach
Salagdo-ong, Siquijor

Cebu Taoist Temple

Built in 1972, the Cebu Taoist Temple is located in Beverly Hills Subdivision in Cebu City. The temple was built by Cebu's substantial Chinese community. With an elevation of 300 meters above sea level, the temple is a towering, multi-tiered, multi-hued attraction accessible by three separate winding routes.

Unlike the neighboring Phu Sian Temple, the Taoist temple is open to the worshipers and non-worshipers alike. A ritual among devotees is where one prays to the gods to grant one's wish. The ritual includes washing of hands, going inside the chapel barefoot and dropping two blocks of wood. If the blocks of wood are both face up then one could make a wish. If not then it is not yet the time for one's wish to be granted and one has to come to the temple some other time.

Sunrise
San Jose, Negros Oriental

Road
Going to Salagdoong, Siquijor.

Wuthering Heights Beach Resort
San Jose, Negros Oriental

Antulang Beach Resort
Siaton, Negros Oriental

Zakimi Castle Marker

Zakimi Castle (座喜味城, Zakimi Gusuku^?) is a gusuku in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is currently in ruins, but the walls and foundations have been restored. Built between 1416 and 1422 by the renowned Ryukyuan militarist Gosamaru, Zakimi Castle oversaw the northern portion of the Okinawan mainland. The gusuku fortress has two inner courts, each with an arched gate. This is Okinawa's first stone arch gate featuring the unique keystone masonry of the Ryukyus.

Before and during World War II, the castle was used as a gun emplacement by the Japanese, and after the war it was used as a radar station by the US forces. Some of the walls were destroyed in order to install the radar equipment, but they have since been restored.

Zakimi Castle, along with Okinawa's other castles, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in November 2000.

Zakimi Castle Ruins

Zakimi Castle (座喜味城, Zakimi Gusuku^?) is a gusuku in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is currently in ruins, but the walls and foundations have been restored. Built between 1416 and 1422 by the renowned Ryukyuan militarist Gosamaru, Zakimi Castle oversaw the northern portion of the Okinawan mainland. The gusuku fortress has two inner courts, each with an arched gate. This is Okinawa's first stone arch gate featuring the unique keystone masonry of the Ryukyus.

Before and during World War II, the castle was used as a gun emplacement by the Japanese, and after the war it was used as a radar station by the US forces. Some of the walls were destroyed in order to install the radar equipment, but they have since been restored.

Zakimi Castle, along with Okinawa's other castles, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in November 2000.

Museum
Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum (沖縄県平和祈念資料館, Okinawa Kenritsu Heiwa Kinen Shiryōkan^?) is a museum in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan. It contains information regarding the history of Okinawa during WWII.

Cliff
A cliff in Itoman, Okinawa where the Japanese supposedly jumped to commit suicide in fear (due to brainwashing) of being captured by the Americans.

Fountain
The Fountain of Peace situation at the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa.

Cornerstone of Peace
Cornerstone of Peace (Heiwa no Ishiji,平和の礎) in Okinawa Honto is a secular war memorial for the victims of the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. It is one of monuments in Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park (沖縄戦跡国定公園). It was erected in 1995 in memory of the 50th anniversary of the battle. It is located in Mabuni, the area of the last fighting in the battle. Similar to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC the memorial focuses on the names of those that died in the battle. However, it takes the unique approach of trying to list all the names, military and civilian from all countries involved. As of June 2008 it contains 240,734 names.

Cornerstone of Peace
Names of the people who died during WWII.

---

Cornerstone of Peace (Heiwa no Ishiji,平和の礎) in Okinawa Honto is a secular war memorial for the victims of the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. It is one of monuments in Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park (沖縄戦跡国定公園). It was erected in 1995 in memory of the 50th anniversary of the battle. It is located in Mabuni, the area of the last fighting in the battle. Similar to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC the memorial focuses on the names of those that died in the battle. However, it takes the unique approach of trying to list all the names, military and civilian from all countries involved. As of June 2008 it contains 240,734 names.

Steps
Leading up to the Shuri Castle in Okinawa.

Pointy
Decor on one of the restaurants in Okinawa.

Peeking
One of the hideouts used during WWII--Okinawa, Japan.

Golden
A Golden Retriever that probably just got neutered. He passed by us in Okinawa and we erupted into laughter because of how funny/cute he looked.

Choppers
Ready to land at one of the US air bases in Okinawa.

Hotel
Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel, Yomitan, Okinawa.

Cove
A beach cove in Yomitan, Okinawa, near the Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel.

Beach
Yomitan, Okinawa, near the Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel.

Flowers
At the Shuri Castle in Shuri, Okinawa.

Shuri-Jo
Shuri-Jo or Shuri Castle, Shuri, Okinawa.

---

Shuri Castle (Okinawan: sui ugusiku, Japanese: 首里城 Shurijō) is a gusuku (Ryūkyūan castle) in Shuri, Okinawa. It was the palace of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. In 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, it was almost completely destroyed, with only a few walls standing as high as a few decimeters. In 1992, it was reconstructed on the original site based on photographs, historical records, and memory.

Throne
The throne at the Shuri Castle.

Mini
Miniature version of the Shuri Castle compound.

Moat
A moat at the Shuri Castle.

Foreign Students
Shuri Castle, Shuri, Okinawa

View
A view of Okinawa City.

Flowers
Pink Cherry Blossoms in Okinawa.

Performers
Performers at the Gyokusendo Kingdom Village, a theme park in Okinawa.

Beach
View from our hotel window; Yomitan, Okinawa.

Stairs
Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel, Yomitan, Okinawa.

Lounge
The lounge of Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel, Yomitan, Okinawa.

BBQ
A Korean BBQ at the restaurant of our hotel, the Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel, Yomitan, Okinawa. This grill is located in the middle of the table.

Room
Our hotel room at the Zanpa Misaki Royal Hotel, Yomitan, Okinawa.

Pink
Bougainvillea flowers in Okinawa.

Elephant Cage
An AN/FLR-9 antenna array, also called Elephant Cage, at Torii Station, Okinawa.

---

Torii Station (Japanese: トリイステーション) is located in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Home to the United States Forces Japan, 10th Support Group, and 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group and other units and activities. It is the only United States Army controlled garrison in the Okinawa prefecture of Japan. The Army on Okinawa is responsible for the critical function for all US services on Okinawa. The major functions include receiving and distributing cargo, distributing the island's military fuel supply, and port operations. A medical clinic is located on Torii Station which addresses the needs of the active duty personnel assigned to Torii. A Dental Clinic is located on Torii Station, which provides complete and qualified care for active duty personnel.

The Torii Communication site 'Torii Station' is so named for the torii (鳥居), or Japanese Shinto gates, at its front gate. The site is located in the level area of southwestern Yomitan village and is a very significant strategic communication network. Also, a large portion of the area is used for tactic farming.

Exchange Students
Posing near the ruins of the Zakimi Castle, Okinawa.

Steps
Leading up to the ruins of Zakimi Castle, one of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

---

The Ryūkyū Kingdom (Ryukyuan: 琉球國 rūchū-kuku, Japanese: 琉球王国 ryūkyū-ō-koku, traditional Chinese: 琉球國 liúqiúguó) was an independent kingdom which ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Kings of Ryūkyū unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture, and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan.

Cave
One of the caves that was used as an underground base and hospital by the Japanese during WWII in Okinawa. The colored paper in the picture are folded paper cranes (Thousand origami cranes) strung together.

---

Thousand Origami Cranes (千羽鶴, Senbazuru or Zenbazuru^?) is a group of one thousand origami paper cranes held together by strings.

An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy beasts (others include the dragon and tortoise), and is said to live for a thousand years.

The Thousand Origami Cranes has become a symbol of world peace through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who contracted leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Her story is told in the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Several temples, including some in Tokyo and Hiroshima, have eternal flames for World Peace. At these temples, school groups or individuals often donate Senbazuru to add to the prayer for peace. The cranes are left exposed to the elements, slowly dissolving and becoming tattered as the wish is released.

Kadena
Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.

---

Kadena Air Base is a United States Air Force base located in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.

Kadena
Outskirts of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.

Airplane
Air Nippon Airways Boeing 747 at Naha International Airport.

Tired
After our Tokyo to Naha flight.

Airport
Naha International Airport, Okinawa.

HANEDA Airport
On the way to our Field Trip in Okinawa.

Exchange Students
Hanging out at the dorm.

Parrot
A parrot that we tried to annoy outside one of the shops in downtown Okinawa.

Street
A view of a street in downtown Okinawa.

Streets
Streets in Okinawa.

Check-In
Check-In area at Naha International Airport, Okinawa.

Awesome
A foot spa with a fabulous mountain view at an onsen in Hakone City.

Foot Spa
At an onsen in Hakone, Japan.

---

An onsen (温泉, onsen^?) is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. A volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth. Onsen were traditionally used as public bathing places and today play a central role in directing Japanese domestic tourism.

Onsen come in many types and shapes, including outdoor (露天風呂 or 野天風呂, rotenburo or notenburo^?) and indoor baths. Baths may be either public run by a municipality or private (内湯, uchiyu^?) often run as part of a hotel, ryokan or Bed and Breakfast (民宿, minshuku^?).

Ryokan
A ryokan in Hakone that featured an onsen.

---

A ryokan (旅館, ryokan^?) is a type of traditional Japanese inn dating from the Edo period (1603–1868), when they served travelers along Japan's highways. They typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner.

Ryokan are difficult to find in Tokyo and other large cities because many are expensive compared to hotels, and Japanese people increasingly use hotels for urban tourism, with a notable exception being Kyoto, a city people visit for its ryokan. Nonetheless, some major cities do have reasonably priced ryokan, with some as little as $40 a night. However, ryokan are more typically located in scenic areas—in the mountains or by the sea—and can charge upwards of $400 per night.

Woods
Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan.

Town
Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan

Coasters
Making wooden coasters at a traditional crafts-making place in Hakone.

Trees
Winter foliage in Hakone.

Sakura Matsuri
A cherry blossom festival at the Kamiseya US Naval Support Facility.

---

NSF Kamiseya (UIC 0557A) is a detachment of U.S. Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan. The facility is located on the Kantō Plain, approximately three miles (5 km) northeast of NAF Atsugi, and 7.55 miles (12.15 km) WNW of Yokohama. The base consists of 587 acres (2.4 km²) with 110 acres (0.4 km²) within the fence line. It has 184 buildings (including three bachelor quarters and 68 housing units) and a plant property value of $100 million. Base population consists of 300 sailors, their families and personnel who work on the facility.
The western gate is open during the day to public. It follows into a field o about 400 meters long, with a helipad in the Northern part. The activity rules are specified on close by signs. This place is an excellent kite flying place although remote controlled devices are prohibited.

Bite
A demonstration by a US serviceman at the Kamiseya Naval Support Facility.

---

NSF Kamiseya (UIC 0557A) is a detachment of U.S. Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan. The facility is located on the Kantō Plain, approximately three miles (5 km) northeast of NAF Atsugi, and 7.55 miles (12.15 km) WNW of Yokohama. The base consists of 587 acres (2.4 km²) with 110 acres (0.4 km²) within the fence line. It has 184 buildings (including three bachelor quarters and 68 housing units) and a plant property value of $100 million. Base population consists of 300 sailors, their families and personnel who work on the facility.
The western gate is open during the day to public. It follows into a field o about 400 meters long, with a helipad in the Northern part. The activity rules are specified on close by signs. This place is an excellent kite flying place although remote controlled devices are prohibited.

Fun
During the Sakura Matsuri at NSF Kamiseya.

---

NSF Kamiseya (UIC 0557A) is a detachment of U.S. Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan. The facility is located on the Kantō Plain, approximately three miles (5 km) northeast of NAF Atsugi, and 7.55 miles (12.15 km) WNW of Yokohama. The base consists of 587 acres (2.4 km²) with 110 acres (0.4 km²) within the fence line. It has 184 buildings (including three bachelor quarters and 68 housing units) and a plant property value of $100 million. Base population consists of 300 sailors, their families and personnel who work on the facility.
The western gate is open during the day to public. It follows into a field o about 400 meters long, with a helipad in the Northern part. The activity rules are specified on close by signs. This place is an excellent kite flying place although remote controlled devices are prohibited.

Sakura
Sakura or cherry blossoms lining the streets in the outskirts of Yokohama.

Sakura
Sakura up close.

Shiba Inu
A Shiba Inu at one of the houses in Seya, Yokohama--complete with umbrella!

---

The Shiba Inu (柴犬, Shiba Inu^? also called the Shiba Ken) is the smallest of the six original and distinct breeds of dog from Japan.

A small, agile dog that copes very well with mountainous terrain, the Shiba Inu was originally bred for hunting. It is similar in appearance to the Akita, though much smaller in stature.

Inu is the Japanese word for dog, but the origin of the prefix "Shiba" is less clear. The word shiba usually refers to a type of red shrub. This leads some to believe that the Shiba was named with this in mind, either because the dogs were used to hunt in wild shrubs, or because the most common color of the Shiba Inu is a red color similar to that of the shrubs. However, in old Japanese, the word shiba also had the meaning of "small", thus this might be a reference to the dog's small size. Therefore, the Shiba Inu is sometimes translated as "Little Brushwood Dog".

Beautiful
Big, beautiful flowers by the street in Seya, Yokohama.

Dorm
Ferris University's International Student Hall in Seya, Yokohama.

Door
The door to our dorm, Ferris University's International Student Hall in Seya, Yokohama.

Cabinets
My cabinets in the dorm.

Train
A train of the Sotetsu Line making at stop at Kibogaoka Station in Asahi Ward, Yokohama.

Japanese Meal
A yummy Japanese meal including tempura on top of rice and miso soup.

Drummers
Annie and April playing a taiko game at one of the department stores in Futamatagawa, Yokohama.

---

Taiko (太鼓, Taiko^?) means "drum" in Japanese (etymologically "great" or "wide drum"). Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums (和太鼓, 'wa-daiko', "Japanese drum", in Japanese) and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming (sometimes called more specifically, "kumi-daiko" (組太鼓).

Grocery
Yutakaraya grocery store in Seya, Yokohama.

Bikes
My friend Annie on a bike, after grocery shopping.

Flowers
Pretty pink flowers in Seya, Yokohama.

The Y Road
On the way to our dorm in Seya, Yokohama.

Dorm
The foyer of our dorm.

Sensō-ji
Sensō-ji (金龍山浅草寺, Kinryū-zan Sensō-ji^?) is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Taitō, Tokyo. It is Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of its most significant. Formerly associated with the Tendai sect, it became independent after World War II. Adjacent to the temple is a Shinto shrine, the Asakusa Shrine.

Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
The Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (横浜赤レンガ倉庫, Yokohama Akarenga Sōko^?) is a historical building that is currently used as a complex that includes a shopping mall, banquet hall, and event venues. The complex, officially known as the Newport Pier Tax Keeping Warehouse (新港埠頭保税倉庫, Shinkō Futō Hozei Sōko^?), was originally used as customs buildings, and has two sections: Warehouse No.1 and No.2. It is operated by Yokohama Akarenga Co. Ltd., and located at the Port of Yokohama in Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

Desk
My desk at the dorm.

Bed
My bed at the dorm.

Room
My room at the dorm.

Street
A street in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Jamaica Day at Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park (代々木公園, Yoyogi kōen^?) is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.

Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park (代々木公園, Yoyogi kōen^?) is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.

Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū^?), located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. When Emperor Meiji died in 1912 and Empress Shōken in 1914, the Japanese people wished to pay their respects to the two influential Japanese figures. It was for this reason that Meiji Shrine was constructed and their souls enshrined on November 1, 1920.

Barrels of Sake
Barrels of sake on the way to the Meiji Shrine.

---

Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice.

This article uses the word sake as it is used in English, as the name for this specific Japanese beverage made from rice. In Japanese, the word sake (Japanese: 酒; often preceded by the honorific prefix o-) refers to alcoholic drinks in general, not this one exclusively; instead, the word Nihonshu (日本酒, , "Japanese alcoholic beverage"^?) is used to distinguish it from other alcoholic drinks. However, in English, the word "sake" always refers to Nihonshu.

White
A bride taking picture before her wedding at the Meiji Shrine.

Omotesando Street

Omotesandō (表参道, Omotesandō^?) is an avenue, subway station and neighborhood in the Minato and Shibuya wards in Tokyo stretching from Harajuku station, the foot of the famous Takeshita Street, to Aoyama-dori where Omotesandō station can be found. Zelkova trees line both sides of the avenue. Around 100,000 cars drive down the main street daily which serves as the main approach to Meiji Shrine.

It is known as an upscale shopping area featuring several international brand outlets, ranging from Louis Vuitton and Gucci to the more affordable Gap, The Body Shop, Zara, and others. Omotesandō is also home to the famous Japanese toy store Kiddyland, a well known and extremely trendy shopping center geared primarily toward young women Laforet, Oriental Bazaar, and Gold's Gym. It is sometimes referred to as "Tokyo's Champs-Élysées." Its latest development, Omotesandō Hills, opened in 2006. Omotesandō's side streets feature a range of trendy cafes, bars, and restaurants, as well as boutique stores specialising in everything from handbags to postcards to vintage glass bottles.

Harajuku Station
Harajuku Station (原宿駅, harajuku-eki^?) is a railway station on the Yamanote Line of East Japan Railway Company (JR East) located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, adjacent to Yoyogi Park. The station was opened on October 30, 1906. The station takes its name from the area on its eastern side, Harajuku.

United Nations University
The United Nations University (国際連合大学, Kokusai Rengō Daigaku^?) (UNU) a United Nations agency, is a think tank for the United Nations and the member states established in Tokyo in 1973 to "research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations and its agencies". Its creation was set in motion by the Secretary-General U Thant in 1969.

Street
A view of Aoyama-Dōri from an overpass.

Friends


Friends


Get-together
A get-together of Undernet #japan/#tokyochat chatters at an izakaya or Japanese pub in Higashi-Jūjō, Tokyo.


Friends
Morigen and me.

Moshi-Moshi
Annie and me posing at phone booths in Tokyo.

Okinawans
Annie and me wearing traditional Okinawan costumes at a Theme Park in Okinawa.

Networld+Interop 2004
Networld+Interop 2004, an IT expo held in Chiba, Japan.


Ling Ling

Ling Ling (陵陵, Ling Ling^? September 1985 – April 30, 2008) was a male Chinese-born, giant panda who resided at the Ueno Zoo, the largest zoo in Tokyo, Japan. At the time of his death at the age of 22, Ling Ling was the only giant panda at the Ueno Zoo and the oldest panda in Japan. He served as an important symbol of the Ueno Zoo and of friendship between Japan and China. Ling Ling, who was given to Japan in 1992, was the only giant panda in the country who was directly owned by Japan. There are eight other giant pandas in Japan as of April 2008, but they are all on loan to Japan from China. Despite being a male panda, Ling Ling's name meant "darling little girl" in Chinese.

Polar Bear
One of the polar bears at the Tokyo Ueno Zoo.

Tiger
A sleeping tiger at the Ueno Zoo.

Ueno Zoo
Me, my friend Sachiko, and a random little boy at Ueno Zoo.

Ueno Zoo
The Ueno Zoo (恩賜上野動物園, Onshi Ueno Dōbutsuen^?) is a zoo, managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and located in Taito, Tokyo, Japan. It is Japan's oldest and most famous zoo, opened on March 20, 1882. It is a five-minute walk from the Park Exit of Ueno Station, with convenient access from Tokyo's public-transportation network. The Ueno Zoo Monorail, the first monorail in the country, connects the eastern and western parts of the grounds.

Gaijins
Me and Annie dressed up in yukata, the Japanese summer kimono, for the Hanabi Matsuri (Fireworks Festival) in Yokohama.



Friends
With friends Nica and Carol.

The Landmark Tower

The Yokohama Landmark Tower (横浜ランドマークタワー, Yokohama Randomāku Tawā^?) is the tallest building in Japan, standing 295.8 m (970 ft) high. It is located in the futuristic Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama city, right next to Yokohama Museum of Art. Work on the building was finished in 1993.

The building contains a five star hotel which occupies floors 49-70. The lower 48 floors contain shops, restaurants, clinics, and offices. The building contains two tuned mass dampers on the (hidden) 71st floor on opposite corners of the buildings.

On the 69th floor there is an observatory, Sky Garden, from which one can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city, and on clear days Mount Fuji.

The tower contains the world's second fastest elevator, which reaches speeds of 12.5 m (41 ft) per second (45.0 km/h, 28.0 mi/h). This speed allows the elevator to reach the 69th floor in approximately 40 seconds. The world's fastest elevator is housed in the Taipei 101.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amitābha Buddha in the Kōtoku-in Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

It is believed that the statue was originally cast in 1252, following an idea by the priest Joko, who also collected donations to build it. The sculptors were One-Goroemon and Tanji-Hisatomo.

The statue is approximately 13.35m tall and weighs approximately 93 tons. The statue is hollow, and visitors can view the interior for 20 Yen a person.

The Great Buddha was originally housed in a temple, but this was washed away by a tsunami in 1498. Since then the statue has stood in the open air. Repairs were carried out in 1960-1961, when the neck was strengthened and measures were taken to protect it from earthquakes.

Inside the Great Buddha
The inside view of the neck of the Great Buddha of Kamakura.

Me and the Buddha
Kamakura, Japan.

Entrance
The gate to the Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera.

Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera

Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera (海光山慈照院長谷寺, Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera^?) is one of the great Buddhist temples in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, famous for housing a massive wooden statue of Kannon. The temple is the fourth of the 33 stations of the Bandō Sanjūsankasho pilgrimage circuit dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten.

The temple originally belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but eventually became an independent temple of Pure Land sect.

Wishes
A wall where wishes of visitors are hung at the in Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera Kamakura, Japan.

---

Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera (海光山慈照院長谷寺, Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera^?) is one of the great Buddhist temples in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, famous for housing a massive wooden statue of Kannon. The temple is the fourth of the 33 stations of the Bandō Sanjūsankasho pilgrimage circuit dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten.

The temple originally belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but eventually became an independent temple of Pure Land sect.

Lotus
A giant lotus at the Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera.

---

Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera (海光山慈照院長谷寺, Kaikōzan Jishōin Hase-dera^?) is one of the great Buddhist temples in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, famous for housing a massive wooden statue of Kannon. The temple is the fourth of the 33 stations of the Bandō Sanjūsankasho pilgrimage circuit dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten.

The temple originally belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but eventually became an independent temple of Pure Land sect.

Bridge to Enoshima
Enoshima (江の島) is a small island, about 4 km in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River, which flows into Sagami Bay in Japan. Part of the city of Fujisawa, it is linked to the Katase section of the same city on the mainland by a 600 meter-long bridge. Adjacent to the closest beach to Tokyo and Yokohama, the island and the nearby coast are the hub of a popular resort area.

View
A view of Fujisawa in the Japanese mainland from the island of Enoshima.

Sunset
Taken from the Enoshima Observation Lighthouse on Enoshima island.

Farewell Party for Exchange Students


Exchange Students
During the Farewell Party.

Bear
Me at Hard Rock Cafe Yokohama.

Yokohama Marine Tower

Yokohama Marine Tower (横浜マリンタワー, Yokohama Marin Tawā^?) is a 106 metre high (324 ft) lattice tower with an observation deck at a height of 100 metres in Naka Ward, Yokohama, Japan.

The light characteristic is marked by a flash every ten seconds, whereby the light's colour is alternating red and green. At night, the tower shaft itself is lit green and red according to its markings.

Yokohama Marine Tower was inaugurated in 1961. The Marine Tower is the tallest lighthouse in the world. Visitors can see Mount Fuji from the 100-metre high observation deck.

Yokohama Doll Museum


Yamashita Park
Yokohama, Japan

Hikawa Maru

Hikawa Maru (named after the Hikawa Jinja shrine) is a Japanese ocean liner that was built for the Nippon Yusen KK line by the Yokohama Dock Company. She was launched on 30 September 1929, and made her maiden voyage from Kobe to Seattle on 13 May 1930. She is one of three sister ships. The other two, both lost in the war, were Heian Maru and Hie Maru.

The service provided on the ship was famous for combining splendid food and beautiful art deco interiors. She was often referred to as the Queen of the Pacific. Charlie Chaplin is amongst the ship's more notable former passengers.

In 1941, before Japan's entry to the World War II the Hikawa Maru was used by Jewish refugees escaping the Nazis via Japan. Reuben Goossens reports Zorach Warhaftig's experience about the ship. Zorach together with his family left from Yokohama on the Hikawa Maru on 5 June 1941 for Vancouver, Canada. He describes the trip as "a summer vacation and with the war seeming to be so far away" although, he said "I didn't have a peaceful mind because of the strong responsibility I had to help the Jewish refugees with the troubles they faced."

After Japan's entry to the war Hikawa Maru became a hospital ship, and as a result, she ultimately survived the Allied campaign against the Japanese merchant fleet. After the end of the war she was used by the U.S. for troop repatriation until 1947. Afterwards the Hikawa Maru was returned to Japan and carried cargo between Japan and the US.

In 1954 she was taken out of service, but following a refit she returned to carrying passengers across the Pacific. Falling passenger numbers due to the growth of air travel led to the eventual termination of the service in 1960.

In 1961 Hikawa Maru became a floating youth hostel and museum permanently berthed at Yokohama.

In December 2006 the Hikawa Maru museum was closed and doubts about her future were raised. Happily, NYK Line began the restoration of the Hikawa Maru in August 2007, and the ship was reopened to the public on April 25, 2008, the vessel's 78th birthday.

Hiroko Sensei's Wedding


Ferris University
Ferris University (フェリス女学院大学, Feriesu jogakuin daigaku^?) is a private women's college in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1870. It was chartered as a junior college in 1950 and became a four-year college in 1965.

Birthday
My 20th birthday at TGI Friday's in Yokohama.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Hiroshima Peace Memorial, commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome (Japanese: 原爆ドーム Genbaku Dome), in Hiroshima, Japan, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The building was originally designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel. It was completed in April 1915, and the new building was named the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition (HMI). It was formally opened to the public in August that year. In 1921 the name was changed to the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall, and again in 1933 to the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall.

The original target chosen for the bomb was the distinctive "T"-shaped Aioi Bridge and at 8:15 on August 6^th, 1945 the first nuclear bomb to be used against mankind detonated almost directly above the building (the actual hypocenter was 160 meters / 490 feet away and 580 meters / 1,968 feet above ground).

The Genbaku dome, being the closest structure to withstand the explosion, has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing, now serving as a reminder of nuclear devastation, a symbol of hope for world peace and elimination of all nuclear weapons.

China had reservations regarding the confirmation of the memorial as a World Heritage Site and the delegate of the United States to the World Heritage Committee dissociated himself from the decision. China cited the possibility that the monument could be used to downplay the fact that the enemies of Japan suffered the greatest losses of life during the war, while the United States claimed that the memorial as such would omit the necessary historical context.

Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい21, Minato Mirai 21^?), often shortened to Minato Mirai, is a large urban development in Yokohama, Japan.

The name, which means "Harbor Future 21," was selected in a public competition. Construction of the area started in 1983. Built largely on reclaimed land, the area now features the Landmark Tower, Japan's tallest skyscraper, the Queen's Square shopping mall, the Pacifico convention center, Intercontinental Hotel, and more. Next to Landmark Tower is Yokohama Museum of Art.

As of 2004, 20 years after the start of development and despite a 50 percent asset tax discount, half the 88-acre (356,000 m²) area remained unoccupied. The February 1, 2004 completion of the Minatomirai Line, which connects the area directly to both central Yokohama and Shibuya in Tokyo, is expected to revitalize construction in the area. Planned new tenants include the United Nations University.

The area is a popular tourist spot together with nearby Yokohama Chinatown. Minato Mirai is one of the few places in the Tokyo-Yokohama area where the seashore is accessible, and not blocked by industry and harbour areas.

Twirl
A metal structure between The Landmark Tower and Queen's Square buildings in Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama.

Torii
A torii or gate of the Itsukushima Shrine.

---

Itsukushima Shrine (Japanese: 厳島神社, Itsukushima Jinja) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima) in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as national treasures.

The first shrine buildings were probably erected in the 6th century, but the present shrine dates from the 12th century

The current shrine has been in its present state since 1168 when funds were provided by the warlord Taira no Kiyomori. The shrine's construction, consisting of pier-like structures built over the bay, is due to the holy status that the island once commanded. Commoners were historically not allowed to set foot on the island, and had to approach by boat, entering through the gate that appears to float. Beside the shrine is a noh stage.

The dramatic gate (torii) of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions, and the view of the gate in front of the island's Mount Misen is classified as one of the Three Views of Japan (along with the sand bar Amanohashidate, and Matsushima Bay). The gate has existed since 1168, though the current gate dates back to 1875. The gate, built of camphor wood, is about 16 metres high and was built in a four-legged style to provide additional stability.

The gate only appears to be floating at high tide; when the tide is low, the gate is surrounded by mud and can be accessed by foot from the island. It is common practice for visitors to place coins in the cracks of the legs of the gate and make a wish. Gathering shellfish near the gate is also popular at low tide. At night, powerful lights on the shore illuminate the gate.

Retaining the purity of the shrine is so important that since 1878, no deaths or births were permitted at the shrine. To this day, burials on the island are still forbidden.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎, Tōkyō Tochōsha^?), also referred to as Tokyo City Hall or Tochō (都庁) for short, houses the headquarters of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government; this comprises not only the 23 wards, but also the cities, towns and villages that make up Tokyo as a whole.

Located in Shinjuku, it held title of the tallest building (by roof height) in Tokyo, at 243 meters (799 feet), from 1991 until late 2006, when it surrendered its title upon the completion of Midtown Tower. The two top-floor panoramic observation decks are free of charge to the public and contain many gift shops. They are open till 11 pm on weekdays. Use of cameras is permitted, but tripods are forbidden.

The building consists of a complex of three structures each taking up a city block. The tallest and most prominent of the three is Tokyo Metropolitan Main building No.1, a tower 48 stories tall that splits into two sections at the 33rd floor. The building also has three levels below ground. The design of the building (which was supposed to look like a computer chip), by architect Kenzo Tange (and associates), has many symbolic touches, most notably the aforementioned split which re-creates the look of a Gothic cathedral.

Finished in 1991 at the expense of 157 billion yen (about US$ 1 billion) of public money, a popular nickname for Tochō is "Tax Tower".

Colors
A maple tree in the garden of the Imperial Palace.