Cleaning a pond＠ Inokashira Park: Jan. 26, 2014

Cleaning up of a big pond is, of course, a hectic job. It is now under way in Inokashira Park in western Tokyo. I visited there.

The pond was about to dry up. The bottom had appeared for the most part of the pond.

Hundreds of boats were on the pond when it had water (see the picture taken in May, 2010). 

Duck boats were placed in lines on the dry-up pond bottom today. Other boats were on the land. 

Bicycles, chairs and other junks were found (oh my god!). It was difficult to refrain from making any comment on the moral of people (^^).

Fish, turtle and other water creatures were captured. They are sorted and some of them were displayed to public.

Some creatures are Japanese origin whereas others are foreign origin. Aliens, such as black bass and snapping turtles, have become dominant in the pond, which would jeopardize the lives of Japanese-origin fish and other water creatures.

The administration plans to return only Japanese-origin creatures to the pond after cleaning. It is to keep original ecological system.

The pond was clean and people took drinking water through aqueduct from Inokashira pond in the Edo era. It was still clean and people could see the bottle 50 years ago. It became dirty after 1960s.

The cleaning was planned to recover the clean water and original eco system.

A cold winter day @ Hanegi Park: Jan. 19, 2014

This winter is colder than usual this year. The temperature usually goes down under zero degree even in Tokyo. TV reports news of heavy snow and big chills from northern part of Japan.

I had walk in the cold weather. The north wind was strong.

There are gingko trees, tulip trees and other tall trees in Hanegi Park. All such trees have no leaves in this season. The branches moved in the cold wind.

Some Japanese apricot (Ume) started to open its flowers. The sign of spring appeared in the midst of cold winter.

A Walk of an hour was enough as it was so cold.

Must-visit places in Taipai and surrounding areas (off off Tokyo): Dec 30, 2013- Jan. 2, 2014

I saw the life of Taiwanese people and the faces of towns during my walks in Taipei (see Life and Town of Taipei). I also visited must-visit places for tourists.

Presidential Office and other government buildings gather in the center of the city. 228 Peace Park locates in the same district.

Taiwan’s complicated history lies behind such facilities. They include the conflict with mainland China (under Communist Party), the Chinese Nationalist Party's takeover of the island in 1949, and  the Party's suppression against local Taiwanese in 1947.

The National Palace Museum, north from central Taipei, shows ceramics, writings, art crafts and other collections from the Forbidden City in Beijing. They were originally the collected by the emperors of Qing dynasty. The Nationalist Party brought them from Beijing to Taipei when they fled from the mainland.

Maokong in the southeasten Taipei is a nature-rich mountain. A ropeway links the bottom and top of the mountain. 

Hiking footways run around the mountain.

Taipei Zoo has collections of butterflies along with many other animals and birds.

Jiufen is about 30 kilometers east from Taipei. It is one of the most famous tourism spot in the suburb of Taipei. It was an old mining town flourished in the early 20^th century, and became a deserted town when the gold was exhausted. It became famous after a famous movie “A City of Sadness” was taken here in 1989.

The village’s small street was over crowded with tourist.

Taipei: Life and town (off off Tokyo): Dec 30, 2013- Jan. 2, 2014

I spent my year-end and new-year holidays in Taiwan. It was my first visit there in about 20 years.

Taipei’s development in the last two decades is remarkable (just like other major cities in East Asia).

Skyscrapers and modern buildings have been built. The towns have been cleaner. Taiwan’s national flags are displayed in Songjian Street and many main streets.

Ximen district, which used to be an old commercial district, has converted into modern fashion town.

Nearly 10 subways have been open after 1996. Operation information of the trains is provided properly in the displays in the platform. People’s manner is good.

I found various goods from Japan, Korea, China and other Asian countries in convenience stores (Seven Eleven, Family Mart, Hi Life and other stores). It showed the integration of regional economy.

The city is spreading outward. New residential areas are being developed in Muzha district, south east outskirt of Taipei.

Old and traditional life remains. Motorbikes are everywhere. Roadsides of Zhongxiao Streets, Zhongshan Street, both locate in the very center of the city, and many other streets are used for parking spaces of bikes.

There are hundreds of open air markets. Some of them, including central Taipei’s Zhongzheng market, remain old atmosphere. Some markets have been renovated.

Several markets are open in the night and attract not only local people but also foreign tourists.

I visited Shilin’s night market in the northwest district of the city. It is Taipei’s largest night market. Hundreds of shops and restaurants were there. The streets and buildings were very crowded. I enjoyed teppanyaki, a grill made on an iron plate.

People in shops and restaurants were working very hard.

People mainly celebrate a lunar new year (in February this year) in Taiwan. But some small celebrations were made on January 1^st.

Many people were gathering in Longshan Temple and Xingtian Temple. New-tear lanterns are decorated over Siping market.