On The Run - Yokohama

After my Autumn Reminiscence series, I thought I'd start on another. And it's something that I love doing and that's running, folks. Combine running and venturing out in a strange city = seeing things I probably won't be seeing otherwise.

On this "On The Run" Series, I'm just sharing photos I took while out running in a few places in Japan. ^^

My first running experience  in Japan was in Yokohama. We stayed in a hotel just a few steps away from Shin-Yokohama Station and also quite near to Nissan Stadium.

We were going to take a train at 9.00am to Yufuin that morning so I needed to do my run early, to make time for rest, shower and breakfast. I woke up at 5.30am and got ready by 6.00am. Hubby had kindly accompanied me walking to the nearby park located in front of Nissan Stadium but he didn't linger for long. For good reason because it was drizzling when we made our way there. Since I am already up and alert, I decided to do a short run rather than going back to our hotel. Zaini on the other hand, after deciding that it was probably safe to leave me there alone, went back to the warmth of our hotel room.

If I'm not mistaken,  I was running alongside the riverbank park of the Toriyama River. I wish the sun had risen much earlier but it was still dark after I finished my run at 7.00am.

Nissan Stadium in an almost darkness state. While doing my run there, saw a few runners doing their morning run too. See, I wasn't the only one who would do this on a cold, rainy morning. ^^

And this, the West Gate Bridge from Nissan Stadium for those heading to Shin-Yokohama Station. I made a few stop while doing a couple of laps there, to try take a good photo of the area with my compact camera. As you can see, didn't do much of a job at it. Ah well. C'est la vie.

and the last lap, on the gravelly path by the river back to our hotel. Next time, if we come back to this part of the world, I am going to take day photos of the area (and of course, do a bit of running again).

Still, if not for my running shoes, I would not have seen and experience this view of Japan during my trip. And I'm so happy I did! :)

A Perfect Arch

On a train ride one wet morning in Japan, I saw a perfectly arched rainbow through the window of my train. I tried to capture it. Well, the keyword here is "tried".

I know I didn't make a good job nonetheless I tried and I'm sharing. （￣ー￣）

 

It was my first time seeing such a perfect arched rainbow. It was a wet, cold day that day but I consider myself lucky to experience a wet day because I got to see this! 

Anyway, can you actually see the rainbow that I tried to capture in those two photos?  (#^.^#)

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow"

Gilbert K Chesterton

Winter Bites

and we saw snow fall in Hakodate. Such a novelty for us and despite getting our frozen ears to feel like they can fall off, it was a blast being on the south tip of Hokkaido in December 2011. ^^

 I saw snowflakes! Through the train window...

It was sunny. It was snowing. It was cold. Brrr.... especially when you  were totally unprepared, dressed for the autumn and not for the winter. But well, it was a spontaneous trip for us and we didn't regret it. A spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment decision to travel 2,000km. heh

The road leading to Hakodate's morning market - at 3pm. Obviously, the market is pretty quiet at at that time of the day. xD

Can't wait for 2014 and we can jump into some (A LOT) of outdoor onsens there! We have this romantic image of soaking in hot spring baths while being surrounded by total whiteness.

"Winter must be cold, for those with no warm memories"

Autumn Reminiscence - A Place That Feels Like Home

OK, so I lied. Again. This "Autumn Reminiscence" series was supposed to be a 7-part posts, and I  got 8 posts up already. I told you in the previous post that's the last post on autumn. Yeah yeah... I have no  integrity. heh

I just think that it would remiss of me to not post about a place that we keep returning to. It's a place that I wouldn't mind living if or when I get the chance to one day, make Japan my home. 

The street of Asakusa, on one fine Autum day...  I do miss "my" Asakusa. ^^

psstt... there'll be a Sky Tree special one of these days. Wait for it.

 

As firmly cemented clam-shells
Fall apart in Autumn
So, I must take to the road again
Farewell, my friends
                                Matsuo Basho 

Kiri jalan, kanan pun jalan
Sama tengah pokok mengkudu
Kirim jangan, pesan pun jangan
Sama-sama menahan rindu

translation:
Right and left, a path is broken
Round a small morinda tree
Give no message, send no token
Let our longing, dormant be!
and I guess that pretty much sum up my feelings for Japan.

While you are visiting, do read the previous Autumn Reminiscence posts that was put up earlier.
Autumn Reminiscence - Lake Kinrinko
Autumn Reminiscence - Shikoku Mura
Autumn Reminiscence - Nara
Autumn Reminiscence - Ritsurin Koen
Autumn Reminiscence - Ueno Park
Autumn Reminiscence - Yanaka Cemetery
Autumn Reminiscence - Yokohama
Autumn Reminiscence - In A Foreign Country