Forgotten Shots

In the Winter the weight of snow on the branches of these trees would break them. So they plant a tall pole and tie the extremity of each branch to the top of it. Everything they do looks pretty.



This is Aussie Hill, where they keep kangaroos in the snow all Winter. It's at a zoo somewhere.

Pollution

Today there was a pollution warning broadcast in Japanese and English from a loudspeaker somewhere outside our apartment just now. It was spoken in really slow, stilted English, but I think it said the warning was coming from some government office or other, and it was in effect. Of course not knowing what this entailed I didn't know what to do. I just shut the windows. However, I think it was Jerry Seinfeld who said "doesn't the air in your apartment come from the air outside your apartment?" The warning was in effect too long to hold my breath though.

Hokkaido

This is at the top of one of the many active volcanoes in Japan. I think Bek is tickling Kunugi-san to make him laugh.


We went to lake Toya in Hokkaido, which is a volcanic lake. In the middle is a reserve filled with deer. So we took a stroll, as we haven't been into the Japanese wilderness much yet.



There is a famous zoo in Asahikawa, where the animals are kept in quite interesting and stimulating environments. I thought these monkeys looked pretty cool trying to catch the eye of the zoo keepers inside.


Here is the second volcanic lake we visited. This was the best day for weather, as we were driving to the hotel. After this there was heavy mist and rain and we could barely see anything going over the hills.



Japanese hotels think of everything, even a handy place to store your children.

Obligatory Cherry Blossom Post

We went to Inokashira park to do some cherry blossom viewing. Most of the park is actually taken up by a lake.




As you can see, it's quite crowded, pretty much every area was covered in blue tarp and sat upon.



Kunugi-san found this park for us, it's one of the less popular places, so we thought we'd have less people to contend with.




This bridge seems to be sagging in the middle with all the people on it.



Of course, less popular is a relative term.

Spring

Snow

It snowed quite a bit last week, the first this year, but it's been relentlessly sunny (though cold) since then.

Arboreal Clothes

It's so cold in Korea in the winter time that they have to insulate some trees to keep them warm, or they will die.

Looks like a neuron.

Bek suggested these resemble coral.



Handle-less mops and brooms.

No Time For Flowers

Decorative cabbages are all the rage in the Winter months.