Personal, Travel, Photoshop, Photos
Asakusa and Yokohama
I shared with you stories of living in Japan in my previous post, let me now take you back on the ‘tourist’ course.
I won’t be doing much writing because I’m super tired right now, and I know you’re more interested in my photos than my text anyway :p
That’s the giant lantern in Sensoji Temple, a famous Buddhist temple in Asakusa. You’ve probably seen this lantern in postcards or promo pics of Tokyo before.
Outside the Sensoji Temple is a shopping street, where you can find a lotta food stalls and souvenir shops. It’s one of the must-visit places for tourists in Japan.
That’s the main altar inside, viewable through a steel cage. Visitors can offer some money as a donation, before praying for good luck and/or health and stuff like that.
A visitor clasping her hands and praying in the Sensoji Temple. It was a totally random shot. Honest ;p Shot with the excellent 50mm, at f/1.8.
Taxis lining up to pick up passengers, a few blocks away from the Sensoji Temple. Taxis here pick up passengers only at designated spots, and people have to queue to take these taxis, one-by-one.
Here’s a man who was walking his dog in Asakusa. Like I said, dogs here are very much loved and pampered. They’re normally well trained, well groomed and often, well dressed too.
By nightfall I was in Yokohoma for more photoshoot because I knew the view there would be beautiful. And I was not disappointed at all!
That’s the famous Minato Mirai Landmark Tower, a major landmark in Yokohama, and the tallest building in Japan. Inside, there is even a 5-star hotel on floors 49-70.
This is s photoshopped version of a picture with the Landmark Tower in the background. The original photo (in original colours) is in my Facebook album, but it is a little boring.
On the ground, next to the Tower is a beautiful park (which, btw, reminds me of Vivo City in some ways), overseeing the sea and the Cosmo World amusement park, whose most notable structure is none other than the Big Ferris Wheel.
The spacious seaside park is very relaxing, with cool breeze and beautiful scenery for company. Like Odaiba, it’s a very popular place for dating too. It’s hard not to wish you’re with your loved one while walking in such a romantic environment!
That’s the Nippon Maru, fondly known as the ‘Swan of the Pacific’, in the Nippon-Maru Memorial Park, next to the Landmark Tower in Minato Mirai. The ship sailed between 1930 and 1984, and it’s interesting to note that the entire ship has been well-preserved til today.
This is a slow-shutter speed shot of Minato Mirai’s night view. The bridge you see is called the Minato Bridge. Believe me that place is more beautiful when viewed with your own eyes.
Can’t get enough of the Big Ferris Wheel. Similar to an earlier photo, but this one’s a little wider. Managed to capture an awesome spectrum of colours on the water too.
This was taken inside the Queen’s Tower, on my way to the Minato Mirai subway station. It is a photoshopped version of the original photo that you see in my FB album.
Next, I went to Chinatown, which was just 2 stations away from Minato Mirai station. (Yes I went to many places that day and to those of you who know, that’s why I missed my last train!)
The only other Tian Hou Gong I’ve been to is the one in PJ. This is another one, right here in Yokohama, Japan. Haha.
That’s one of the shops in Chinatown. Actually, in Japanese language it’s called ‘Chukagai’). The deco and appearance of the shops there are Chinese-influenced, but you won’t forget you’re still in Japan.
The Chinatown street, where you can see a train of taxis looking for passengers. As for the people in photo - I have no comment. Haha. It was just random.
As I was running late, I didn’t tour the entire Chinatown but from a distance, the stretches of road there looked pretty similar and besides, most shops were closed anyway. Thus I returned to Motomachi and hopped onto the subway.
This is another photoshop work. You’ve probably seen the original photo (without the motion-blur and high-contrast) in my FB. It was shot inside the Minato Mirai line, on my way back to Tokyo. The photo looked boring, so I spiced it up a little.
I am home :) Just arrived a couple of hours ago after a 7-hour flight. Damn sleepy now. Next week I’ll probably take several days off work to settle some stuff. Also, expect *more* blogging. Haha.
P/s. I am happy to say that Narrowband.org’s feed subscription has reached a new high few days ago, despite my erratic updates in recent weeks.
Thank you for shaping the graph above! It’s nice to know that you enjoy my stories.
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29 Jun 2008 narrowband
Awesome pictures. Speechless!
wheeee! welcome home!
i saw yr album on FB heeee… diam-diam tengok jer… :P
so, where’s yr next destination??
Magnificent night shots!
And OMG that doggy is sooo cute! :D
excellent shots :P did you use your wide angle lens for some of the pics ?
i wonder how much did the taxi cost >_
Very very impressive shots Dav. You know what, you’re right…get a digital SLR. I’m gonna hunt for one before I go London. I know I won’t regret it. Hehe
Wow.. and u are back~! u really are back?! Time to ahem ahem dy lorrrr.. :) and pls bro, u and ur ‘random’ness.. i strongly feel tat it is a bit bit bit bit bit bit fake lor..
As usual those pictures are just superb. Makes me want to get a high quality digital camera now instead of the old basic one I have. (you probably can tell that I don’t know much about digicams anyway other than for snapping pictures purposes). I like the edited ones, by the way, but the original photos are better with all the colorfulness intact.
Welcome home :D As always, your pictures look great… all shot with the 50mm?
hi there, welcome back to msia
i m a new reader of ur blog..so i guess i was one of the people out there that contributed to that boost of subscription =)
love ur blogpost abt japan..keep up the good work
I hate u, u made me wanted to go Japan so badly..!!!! keke!
Are you sure that the random shots of strangers are well… really random? *grin* A bit too coincidental la. Samore you draw *extra* attention to the pics with that random quote thingy. LOL.
*totally random comment bit not related to blogpost*
I really gotta learn how to use photoshop more than I currently do! I wanna do the miniatures photos - they’re so cute!
Really wonderful pixes you’ve got there. Would make anyone want to visit Japan A.S.A.P. - you make it look so beautiful, so visitable.
Awesome pictures.. This is really a good experience for you hor.. Visit so many places with different culture..
wow.. lovely.. JP is like so futuristic..
did you see any japanese dog that look like wolf? very adorable dogs they are..
*starts saving money to go Japan*
I really like the spectrum of color (like rainbow) captured on the water. Beautiful. :)
Hey Band, really love reading your blog more and more….with the awesome, awesome pictures…and not to mention the way you express your thoughts - its like you picked those thoughts outta my (the reader’s) mind!
Let’s meet up while you’re back :)
Have always wanted to go to Japan….and now, after seeing your posts and pictures, I must make that happen! hehe.. Like szetoo, will be saving up money as well ;-) Ganbatte des!
A little bit delay for the comment Desu Nehhhhh…
But wanna say good lighting you have on the Yokohama set…. Just wonder how long did it take for taking all those pics, haha….
Don’t say you spent just one day for all of these! Wow!
really like your pics … it is been like taking a virtual tour to Japan via your blog … like it so much =D
Thank you, Kim Huey. I look forward to your Yokohama pictures!
Angel - Oh rupa-rupanya you’ve already seen the original (pre-photoshop) photos! Next destination? Puchong. Haha. Dunno yet lar.
Day-dreamer - Thank you! Yeah the doggy was adorable. And please also check out Kim Huey’s post on dog-renting. That dog lagi cute!
Sat - Yeah wide-angle was used in most of the pics. Taxis there, if you travel a distance like Subang to Sunway, you probably kena around RM60-RM70.
Skay - You sure? You’ve been comtemplating since a long time ago. It’s telling ;)
Jian - Haha, yes bro. You still using same number? Wei really random one lah. Wahahhah~
Adz - Well SLR cameras are much cheaper now compared to say, 5 years ago. I think most people learn more AFTER they had bought an SLR camera.
Sue - Thanks. No, of course not all of them shot with 50mm. The blurry-background effects are usually taken with the 50mm. Because that’s what the lens is capable of doing, blurring out the background due to a much shallower depth of field (f/1.8).
quistine - Thank you very much. I’m happy you like my entries…
Steph - So geng? I have such persuasive power?!?
Rinnah - Why nobody believe me it was random wan. Haha.
Suertes - It is in fact very visitable. I’d recommend you to visit it anytime! Check it out and tell me if you like the place ;)
Keeyit - Thank you… yes it has indeed been a very good experience!
Drumsticks - Ya more advanced than Malaysia in many aspects. Haha. (That goes without saying, doesn’t it). No I didn’t notice any wolf-like dogs in Japan! A Malaysian friend recently got a husky in Malaysia though!
Szetoo - Yes pls do! And snap nice nice pics!
Che-cheh - I like it too… ;) I was surprised at how colourful it turned out, because as you can see, the doesn’t really show much on the Big Ferris Wheel itself. It’s only when the light’s reflected off the surface of water, you get to see the distinct difference.
Alicia - Aww. My blog always welcomes you. My thoughts - they’re also your thoughts? LOL… j/k ;p We should meet up!
Shen - You will, and I’m sure you’ll see alot of changes compared to whatever I have seen. Japan advances so quickly!
Mint - Well I spent like about 1 hour or so at Minato Mirai, before heading towards Chinatown. In the afternoon I was in Asakusa. Hehe.
Babelearner - Really? I’m very happy I made you feel that way! I didn’t expect it to have that kind of impact on anybody! You’re far too kind ;)
Great pictures! The sign above the shop in Chinatown says “Trick Art Gallery”. I’d love to take a look at the trick art.
Thanks! Unfortunately I didn’t go inside :(
Loved all the scenic shots bro! Damn nice…
And sure that was an honest shot? Ngahahhahaha..
Haha bro, I also dunno how come she suddenly appeared in my frame. LOL!