Flower power

IMG_0930
Originally uploaded by bagelfire

Finally, the event I've been waiting for the whole year, the epitome of Japan-ness: Cherry Blossom viewing.

I didn't know that the representative sakura (桜) blooms for only about a week before disappearing. Nor how passionate people are about grabbing the best possible spot for a day of singing, drinking, eating under the sakura trees. The trees themselves seemed cognizant of their brief time on stage and did their utmost to explode into giant bouquets of dazzling white flowers. 満開 or full-bloom is apparently the term to describe a sakura tree in its blazing glory. To maximize the experience, people also gather at night to do 花見 (hanami, "flower viewing"). The sakura at night (yozakura, 夜桜) is apparently prettier than in the day.

Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/gp/15392340@N00/397E9h

Perhaps part of the appeal of hanami is that it is so fleeting; the sakura blooms, struts its stuff proudly for a few days and then vanishes seemingly overnight. Especially after a strong gust of wind or some rain.

別問

Melancholy strikes from time to time, especially after hearing of sad things happening to good friends. Do I rant about it or should I take it as a rite of passage that everyone has to go through? Dammit I just hate to see loved ones unhappy. Perhaps it's the full moon, perhaps it's fatigue, perhaps it's a sliver of suppressed emotion bubbling to the surface, but I just want to quote:

Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I musn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Are there no right or wrong choices in life but merely paths with different outcomes? Happiness and sadness are all relative; one can always extricate the positive from the negative. Be at peace, my friends and trust in what the future brings.

Enough nonsense, I'm going to bed.

Gasping for air

Just got out of a conference call with a customer and found myself gasping for air... first time alone with a Japanese customer and was relieved to come out relatively unscathed. There were a few "Huh?!" moments (on my end) followed by hastily-crafted "To humbly confirm, is XXX what you mean?"-type questions but I think we were able to get most of our points through.

Credit must go to the onsen trip last night, soaking in various pools in this huge facility about 15 mins away in Toshimaen (豊島園) called Niwa no Yu (庭の湯). It's about 1260 yen after 9pm and has indoor as well as outdoor pools, saunas, jacuzzis, etc. Very relaxing to go to after a day of work / sports / vegetating. Last night was particularly nice because there was a moon out and admiring it while soaking in an outdoor onsen was pretty special I must say.

Am really loving onsens nowadays and will invite more and more friends to come along. An unexpected benefit of living in an earthquake-prone country. Prerequisite: Must be comfortable around naked people of your own gender. Don't even think about things like "Ewww, I'm going to sit on a rock on which many other naked butts have rested." or even dingleberries on the bathstools.

Hello world

It has been a very busy few weeks and I just wanted to say I miss all of you. Recently I bought my first pair of five-toed socks and they have been very comfortable indeed. I also learned that there are socks for wearing sandals too--kind of like mittens versus gloves. Those I have yet to try.

Cherry blossoms are due on Mar 27. Tomorrow is a Monday which means another Friday is approaching. This week will be special because H is coming to visit! Life feels like a surreal Merry-go-round, always revolving round a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and memories that leave lasting imprints on the consciousness. Every day brings something new and unexpected. For example, the other day I met a Japanese friend who can speak English, Chinese and Japanese and who travels round the world working as an event planner and a waitress. Then there's this 30-something guy who dresses up as Elvis and dances with a group of similarly-clad guys every Sunday at Yoyogi Park. I witnessed one of their performances and it was... intense.

Truly, there are many different types of people in the world.