Drainspotting anyone?
I read a blog post by Jamaipanese titled Drainspotting: Japan’s Artistic Manhole Covers and thought that finding and photographing these cool and artistic manhole covers would be a cool project while vacationing in Japan. I first took notice of these artistic manhole covers in Himeji. I saw them while walking towards Himeji Castle from the train station.
Zaini has his stamp rally project and he'll happily hop on trains and stop at every s.i.n.g.l.e train station in Japan for a stamp and I should have my own project too. Other than trying to photograph everything and anything for posts in this blog, that is.
I'm always fascinated by the manhole covers I saw there, but I didn't take any photo of them because I felt cheesy & weird doing it. Chancing upon the post by Jamaipanese make me raring to go on a drainspotting mission.
Even this photo on the left, I asked Raimie to act cute for the camera although I actually wanted to take photo of the cute paws (or something) on the cover. Raimie said it looked like paws on Blues Clues. LOL. Photo taken in Ikebukuro way back in 2007.
Jamaipanese, coming? :)
glad I could inspire your mission!
ReplyDeleteI'll be in Japan (for the first time) in just about a year and drainspotting is one of the things I will have to do! You are so lucky to be able to visit Japan so often, have fun!
@Jamaipanese,
ReplyDeleteYour first trip next year! Cool! Have fun planning!
What month (or do you have the exact date planned already?) is your trip next year?
Who knows, we might be going at the same time in 2011? ;)
Wow...didn't know Japan has gone creative with manhole covers! Look at what people are doing versus over here...sigh.
ReplyDeleteWhy not? Would make a nice photo project..documenting those manhole covers.
@Mei Teng,
ReplyDeleteThose manhole covers won't last long, that I can say!
Yeah, I think it'll be a great project too. :)
planning my trip for Mid July to Mid August 2011
ReplyDeleteThere are probably so many unique photo opportunities in Japan that your work will never been done. How fun, I hope Zaini gets all the stamps. I would do the same. ;P
ReplyDelete@Jamaipanese,
ReplyDeleteAahhh... a trip during the summer holiday.
I think for us, we have to change season for next year's trip. Autumn maybe? :)
@AVCr8ter,
ReplyDeleteIf we stayed on for a couple of months, the stamp project can be finished, I think. ;)
Good luck attempting to finish those stamp rallies. Even the local kids give up after a while, your little monster must have some kind of super energy.
ReplyDelete@Contamination,
ReplyDeleteit's not the little one whose into it, its the big monster who is obsessed!
This entry really made me smile. I love taking pleasure out of the little things that I encounter on my travels.
ReplyDeleteI'll be moving to Japan this Saturday in fact, so I'll let you know if Joetsu, Niigata (where I'll be living) has any Manholes worth getting excted about! :D
@Luke,
ReplyDeleteWill look forward to your report. :D
Happy moving!
I am so envious.....
Japan, Japan...never seizes to amaze me!!!
ReplyDeleteDrainspotting? First time hearing this! Haha!
ReplyDeleteHaha! Using Raimie as an excuse to secretly shoot the drain cover? LOL!!
ReplyDeleteYes!! Please take as many manhole covers photos as possible when you go to Japan! I want to see them!!! : )
ReplyDeleteThere is art anywhere we look if we bother to stop and admire it. More please.
ReplyDelete@Ayie,
ReplyDeleteFor me too. There's always something new and fun for me to look out for in Japan
@foong,
ReplyDeleteI was glad I wasn't the onl one noticing the manhole cover. At least now, I won't be so shy taking photos of them. ;)
1 reason why it is good to travel with children. Use them to cover for any cheesy activities you want to do but shy to do it alone.
@VanillaSeven,
ReplyDeleteI can't agree with you more. :)
Big Monster? What Godzilla? LOL
ReplyDeleteGood luck none the less.
everything takes on an artistic impression in Japan and looks like manhole covers are no exception.
ReplyDelete@Contamination,
ReplyDeleteLOL
No doing the stamp rally thingy this year. If and when we get our 2 weeks/3 weeks' JR Pass, then my "Godzilla" will probably subject us to relentless train trips for the stamps. o.O
@Life Ramblings,
ReplyDeleteThere are also many awesomely "square and boring" things in Japan as there are many unnoticed interesting stuff here in our country. ;)
That sounds like a very cool project and I think you would have a great time doing it. The photo you've posted is adorable :)
ReplyDelete@Poetic Shutterbug,
ReplyDeleteI joked to my son that we never see him act like that in front of the camera anymore. ;)