worldstallestpygmy: January 2012

Snow in January

Winter finally arrived with most areas north of where we are living being covered in snow it was only a matter of time before some arrived in Tokyo. The freezing level was forecast to drop from around 800 metres to below sea level.

The snow started just after dark and got heavy around bed time.

It must have rained sometime during the night because when I went out for a ride in the morning the ground was covered in snow that had frozen into sheets of ice, the trees were covered in ice and I decided that the black ice wasn’t going to suit my riding style (that is, staying upright) so I went for a walk instead just as the sun started to come up.

8:52 PM | Category: Living in Japan | 0 comments

Christmas in Canberra

Christmas in Canberra was a nice break and the weather was spectacular.

3:32 PM | Category: visiting Australia | 0 comments

Panda’s at Ueno zoo

The most obvious sign at the entrance to Ueno zoo used to notify visitors that the zoo didn't have panda’s in residence following the death of the last giant panda in 2008. In spite of this there were still posters, stuffed toys, models and statues of pandas throughout the zoo.

In 2011 things changed with the arrival of 2 pandas, just in time to experience the earthquake of 11 March. The 2 pandas were named following a public poll and given the names Rili and Shinshin. The panda display was delayed as a result of damage to the enclosure but the zoo has had the pandas on display for a number of months now and, judging by the infrastructure put in place to control the crowds, they have been very popular. On the day we visited we arrived early and when combine with the wet weather the crowds had not started to assemble.

On this visit it was also the one time that we got to see the tiger (rather than seeing him hidden away), a playful new addition to the gorilla family and a homeless gorilla.

5:07 AM | Category: Living in Japan, Out and about | 0 comments

Autumn in Shinjuku gyoen

As summer disappeared and autumn came to an end the days in Tokyo were clear, bright and warm. There was nothing better than a long walk. On this weekend I decided to head to Shinjuku gyoen to take in some of the changing season colours.

I was obviously not the only one with the same idea but it was a truly spectacular day. I don’t know if it was warm enough to sunbake but one guy did seem to think so. Video can be found on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgiiNHn1xWI&feature=related).