Version 2.0 - Tokyo is coming soon. Please excuse the construction and let me know if you have any problems.

Picture of the Day - Fireworks with Friends

Friday, January 09, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Taxi Cost

Thursday, January 08, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)

So let's say you are in Tokyo in the evening and want to take a taxi back to your hotel. How much would it cost?

When you step in the taxi the meter starts at 900 yen. I hope you are on an expense count! If not you might want to remember the trains stop running about midnight. If you want to stay out all night which is actually great fun in Tokyo the trains start again at 5 or 5 30.

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Personal Note - To My Fans

Thursday, January 08, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Hello Everyone and Welcome! I am happy you took time to come and see me. Please look around and enjoy yourself. If you have any comments, suggestions or think I need more or less of something please share with me. Feedback is always appreciated and helpful.

If you enjoy this blog please click on the right hand side of the screen and Follow me. You are most welcome to Follow anonymously if you feel more comfortable.

Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you.

Peace,
-Z

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Picture of the Day - Kyoto

Thursday, January 08, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)



Yes, I realize this picture could be better. I got to this temple in Kyoto right after they closed the gates for the night. It was a lovely clear night and I had hope for some good pictures. Looking at the temple in the still of the night it was breathtakingly beautiful. Sadly, the gate was too far from the temple to use a flash and the beautiful night was just too dark. Out of forty pictures this is the only one I could touch up enough to share.

I will go back during the day and hopefully get some great shots. For now imagine a moment of silence in a very busy world. And a temple that is more than simply a tourist destination with another chance to buy a cellphone strap.

Peace,
-Z

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Food - Article on Asian food

Thursday, January 08, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

The Japanese love noodles, curry and in Tokyo especially experimenting with food. So in that spirit I share this New York Times article with you. Enjoy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/dining/07laksa.html?pagewanted=2

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Japanese Culture - Suicide

Wednesday, January 07, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

There are so many great things about the Japanese but on their dark side is the high number of suicides. As the economy continues to go down more people think jumping in front of a train is a good idea. The Japanese have the most sophisticated trains in the world but even they can't stop a train with twenty cars on a dime.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=29&ContentID=116552


http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jeqs9XPaVVArD-X2GnfakZvtWTIA

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/3707937/Blue-lamps-to-cut-Japanese-suicides.html

http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2009/01/suicide_watch.php


Life is hard. Tell someone you care about you love them. The economy is going to get worse before it gets better say all the experts. Maybe it will stay bad for years, we just don't know. We still have each and that's a lot.

Peace,
+Z

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Picture of the Day

Wednesday, January 07, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (2)

Personal Note - 2 a.m. in Tokyo

Tuesday, January 06, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)



After spending four hours talking with the police about my stolen items I was dazed. At least the girl that finally translated and wrote the report was cute. They stressed that I needed a report number to follow up and for insurance purposes. The only insurance I had was on the phone but it doesn't get me a new phone. When I got my special number it was #8. n my semi-conscious state I thought it was pretty funny. I expected it to be like 1q59439204HYT or something. As the girl was sweet and I had no urge to offend the police I kept my amusement to myself.

A half block from the station was the Love sculpture that is a few posts below. Wondering around as my fingers started to tingle from the cold there weren't many streets lights I decided to give my overly enthusiastic flash some time to shine. Trying to take the trees with the flash was somewhat boring at this particular area. For some reason I am fascinated with getting the trees and the buildings together. Maybe this is because I took some pictures that way in Nagoya and thought they were cool. Everyday taking pictures I am looking for something cool. Given the number of pictures I take most people could get a good classic shot. I want more. Always more. So if you ever run into me taking pictures the chances are good I will be muttering to myself and spinning my camera. Probably singing too but hopefully you won't have to hear that! Can someone please get Elton John singing about Daniel out of my head please?

Anyway, I was singing about Daniel and leaning my head all the way back into a bush as I took pictures of this building through the tree. I took a great deal of these types of pictures and most of them were crap. It was not a big surprise that my little flash did not light up a skyscraper. For my purposes I was happy that it lighted up the tree enough that you could still see some of the building. Yes, I did have to cheat a bit and touch up the lighting a bit. That is why you get that annoying green tint. So I won't win any contests with this picture. I like it and I wanted to share it with you my loyal followers. And no, I don't want to spin it around! My neck paid the price for me to get this picture exactly the way I wanted it.

After this picture I realized having my hair deep in the bushes while my fingers were freezing was not the best idea. So I found a pleasant Internet cafe with free DVD's and watched a movie.

Peace to all,
--Z
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Picture of the Day 3

Monday, January 05, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)


I took this picture in the Ginza area in Tokyo a few nights ago. After fifteen minutes of pictures this is the only one I liked. This picture is not touched up or altered.

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Picture of the Day 2

Monday, January 05, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)




What is this advertising? I have no idea. Sorry for the bad resolution, I took this at night.

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Picture of the Day 1

Monday, January 05, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Music - New U2 album in March

Sunday, January 04, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)

I love U2 (minus that last album, ugh) and am excited about the new album.

Some thoughts from the band:

http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=2282

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