I photographed this Australian Darter (sometimes called snakebird) drying its wings in the sun on the bank of Perth’s Swan River. I moved in close at ground level to the Darter and from a few feet away managed to get this shot. I was totally focused on slowly getting in close without disturbing the bird […]
Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall ‘Te Tautea o Hinekakai’
Since buying my Nikon D700 camera I have always wanted to try out one of those classic flowing waterfall pictures, but living in Perth Australia, which surely must be one of the flattest cities on the planet, the opportunity for grand flowing waterfalls is not there. There is the nearby Darling Ranges but they are […]
Philosopher’s Walk Traffic Mirror
This orange traffic mirror stands at one of the many small intersections crossing the Philosopher’s Walk in Kyoto, Japan. I quite like this photo as it contains a variety of elements. Filling the background you have Kyoto’s springtime cherry blossoms which line the small Biwako Canal along the Philosopher’s Walk, the orange traffic mirror gives […]
Renmin Park Pottery Markets
On an afternoon walk from my hotel I stopped by Renmin Park and was lucky to arrive at a time when a pottery market was on, the variety, patterns and colours of the pottery was quite remarkable and I hadn’t seen such large and sometimes unusually shaped vases before. I’m not a pottery buff so […]
Namdaemun Market Mandu (King Dumplings)
While wandering around the Namdaemun Market in Seoul looking for interesting market pictures to take I noticed steam rising from the centre of a small crowd. I was outside the popular king dumpling shop known as Kame Yeanal Son Wang Mandu (가메 엣날 손 왕 만두) and roughly translated means old fashioned handmade king dumplings.Namdaemun […]
Japan Rail Pass
Unlimited Travel on JR Railways “Don’t leave home without one” If there is one thing I would highly recommend for your travels around Japan, it’s the Japan Rail Pass. While the initial cost may seem high, you will more than save big dollars if your Japan plan is to have a good look around the […]
The Difference between a Hotel and a Ryokan (Traditional Japanese Inn)
A ryokan contrasts a typical hotel in many ways. These traditional Japanese inns were first constructed around the 15th century, alongside the country’s highways. The hotel saw its beginnings in the early 20th century. A ryokan is usually located in the midst of scenic landscapes, contrary to the setting of any typical hotel which favors […]
Western Hotel or Japanese Ryokan Experience?
Most cities in Japan have a mix of typical hotels and ryokan. To experience as much as possible of their traditional culture, you could book into a ryokan. That’s if you can afford it, as they tend to appear more expensive than the hotels. Bear in mind though, that a ryokan room booking will normally […]
Experience True Japanese Accommodation, Stay at a Traditional Ryokan
A trip to Japan should be more than just another vacation – it should be an exciting and authentic adventure. One of the chief advantages of traveling is the ability to immerse oneself in the local culture and meet people from many different walks of life. Travel is as much of a learning experience as […]
Is Japan still Innovative?
By Philippe Huysveld “Innovate” means “Introducing something new or different,” which is not an easy thing to do. This can only be achieved by entrepreneurs willing to develop and promote something that does not exist yet. Therefore, Innovation is a key component of growth and economic development of a country. With 18.8 billions JPY spent […]
No Looting in Japan
My older brother has been a missionary to Japan for 30 years. Presently he is living in Kentucky. When I called to ask about the tragedy in Japan he assured me that if any people could survive a disaster of this magnitude surely the Japanese people could. He has a great admiration for them as […]
Comfort Women and my Two Missing Aunts
I have two missing aunts. The only thing I knew was that my two aunts were taken somewhere by Japanese. But they never came back home. My grandma went to the police station to search for the whereabouts of two missing daughters. Japanese police men kicked her in the face, head, stomach, back and leg […]
Japan, the Persian Gulf and Energy
By George Friedman March 15 2011 Over the past week, everything seemed to converge on energy. The unrest in the Persian Gulf raised the specter of the disruption of oil supplies to the rest of the world, and an earthquake in Japan knocked out a string of nuclear reactors with potentially devastating effect. Japan depends […]
Understanding the China-Japan Island Conflict
By Rodger Baker Vice President of East Asia Analysis Sep 25, 2012 Sept. 29 will mark 40 years of normalized diplomatic relations between China and Japan, two countries that spent much of the 20th century in mutual enmity if not at outright war. The anniversary comes at a low point in Sino-Japanese relations amid a […]
China Tests Japanese and U.S. Patience
By Rodger Baker Vice President of East Asia Analysis Feb 26, 2013 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has warned Beijing that Tokyo is losing patience with China’s assertive maritime behavior in the East and South China seas, suggesting China consider the economic and military consequences of its actions. His warning followed similar statements from Washington […]
Ferocious, Weak and Crazy: The North Korean Strategy
By George Friedman Founder and Chairman Apr 9, 2013 Editor’s Note: George Friedman originally wrote this Geopolitical Weekly on North Korea’s nuclear strategy on Jan. 29. More than two months later, the geopolitical contours of the still-evolving crisis have become more clear, so we believe it important to once again share with readers the fundamentals […]
China and North Korea: A Tangled Partnership
By Rodger Baker Vice President of East Asia Analysis Apr 16, 2013 China appears to be growing frustrated with North Korea’s behavior, perhaps to the point of changing its long-standing support for Pyongyang. As North Korea’s largest economic sponsor, Beijing has provided the North Korean regime with crucial aid for years and offered it diplomatic […]
Things to Consider While Living in Tokyo
Tokyo, one of the 47 prefectures, is the largest city and the capital of Japan. It is better called a metropolis rather than a prefecture and is the largest in the world with more than 30 million inhabitants. Having Useful Addresses: One important aspect of living in Tokyo is finding addresses. It is important to […]
Devil’s Tongue Kills 17 in Japan
In September 2008, a 1-year-old Japanese boy choked to death on devil’s tongue jelly. Glucomannan, the Latin name for devil’s tongue, is also called konjac, konjac mannan, konjaku, voodoo lily, snake palm, and elephant yam. The Japanese word is konnyaku. This was the 17th death from devil’s tongue since 1995, starting the frequently seen pattern […]
Explore a True Japanese Phenomenon when Cherry Blossoms Bloom in Kyoto
Come the hallowed season of spring all off Japan waits with bated breath as one of the country’s most stunning natural transformations takes place in plain sight. Beloved and revered for its breathtaking beauty cherry blossoms are no ordinary flowering plants in Japan. In fact since time immemorial, these trees and their delicate pink shaded […]