Must-see places in Okinawa: Dec. 28-31, 2016

I stayed in Okinawa to enjoy my year-end holidays. There are several must-see places in the main island of Okinawa. I visited some of them. 

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the leading aquariums in the world. The largest tank is 7500 cubic-meter large (or 35m x 27m x 10m). Two whale sharks of 8 meters and 7 meters, respectively, live there with many other kinds of fish. (See also the top photo)

It attracts many tourists. I found many Chinese, Korean and other Asian families.

They have other 76 tanks. 

Kids were enjoying touching asteroids and watching huge lobsters. (See also the photo 2nd from the top)

Jerry fish were swimming slowly. 

They also offered dolphin shows. I felt people really enjoying.

The Shurijo Castle, in the eastern outskirt of Naha, was the capital of Okinawa’s medieval dynasty. The dynasty was established in the 15^th century, became under control of Japan’s Shimazu region (Kagoshima Prefecture now) in 1609 and was completely merged into Japan in 1879. (See also the 3rd photo from the top).

The castle was completely destroyed by the U.S. force in the second world war. Main buildings were rebuilt by the 1990s. The castle registered as a world heritage site in 2000.

Okinawa has been an intersection of trades, people’s moves and communications of the cultures. The displays in the castle show various examples of the facts.

I also visited the Nakagusuku Castle in the east coast of the island. It is one of the historic castles of the medieval dynasty era. The group of castles were registered as the sites of the World Heritage in 2000. The Pacific Ocean lies behind the castle.

Sefa Utaki in the southeast coast of the island is one of the holy places of the region. The goddess came down here and created Okinawa, according to the legend. 

A female was chosen as a communicator with the gods and goddesses in the old days. They communicated with the gods in holy places including Sefa Utaki. It is also registered as a world heritage site.

A small sacred “kudaka” island is seen from the place.

There are many small islands around the main island. One of them is Kori Island. 

Their lives have changed after a bridges was completed. Now, there are many tourists to Kori Island.

The scene from the observatory tower was wonderful.

So were the displays in the shell museum. 

Winter Scenes in Western Tokyo: Dec. 25, 2016

Tokyo had a snow on November 24^th for the first time of November snow in 54 year. The climate was milder in December. I had short walks in various places in western Tokyo almost every weekend.

The ground was covered with new fallen leaves in the Roka Park when I visited on Dec. 24.

Dogs were joyfully running around the yard in the park.

The Japanese zelkova trees were bald in the park in front of Baji (Equestrian) Park in the middle of December. Families enjoyed their walks.

The cherry trees were bald along the Kitazawa river walking path on Dec. 25.

The grass was dry around the pond in the temple near the path. However, I saw some flowers open.

With Christmas being over, Tokyo is entering into the new-year season.

Singapore: Nov. 21-26, 2016

I visited Singapore for the second time in a year. I reaffirmed that the city was modern and clean.

Many tourists gathered around Merlion in the Marina bay area. The huge Marina Bay Sands Hotel stands in the opposite side of the bay. (see also the 2nd photo from the top)

Skyscrapers such as the Marina Financial Center buildings are also around the bay.

You can enjoy the scene of the port as well as the marina bay from the higher floors of the skyscrapers.

Modern shopping mall is also built in the area.

The scene of Marina Bay Sands Garden is always impressive for me. It reminds me of the scene of Science fiction movies. (see also the top photo).

Singapore is a multicultural city. Chinese, Malay, Indian, Western and many other people live here.

There are temples of Islam, Hindu and Buddhism in the South Bridge street in the central area.

Monuments are made in the China town. They tell us the history of Chinese immigrants in the past.

I saw people enjoying drinks and talks after business hours at the restaurants along Singapore River. 

The statue of Sir Thomas Raffles, who contributed building the city as U.K.'s colony in the 19th century, stands at the side of the river.  

Kuala Lumpur: Nov 20, 2016

I visited KL for the first time.　

I saw many success and challenges for the development in the country. Diversity in culture, race and religion is another point I felt strongly.

The express from KL international airport, which locate about 50 km south of KL, to KL central station was excellent. It connected the two point in 28 minutes. The rout is straight. The airport as well as the railway are surrounded by the palm tree forests.

The transport infrastructure is good in KL. There are over railways as well as light rapid transit systems and a monorail. 

The roads and highways are well developed.

Comparing with Jakarta’s heavy traffic jam, I reaffirmed Malaysia’s development. The country’s GDP per person is more the 10,000 US dollar, the level of middle-income country

The twin tower of Petronas was massive and impressive as had expected. 

People enjoyed their holidays in Taman KLCC (KLCC park) just under the towers.

The towers are also seen over mosques-style building from Merdeka Square, near the birthplace of KL. (see the top photo)

There are many modern shopping malls in the Bukit Bintang area.

Old areas remain. Some buildings have already become old. I saw construction works to redevelop old areas and buildings in many places.

When we talk about the middle-income trap, Malaysia is often examined. I wondered how the scenes

There are many races – Malay, Chinese, Indian and so on – in Malaysia. There are Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hindu and other religions believed here. It is diverse in culture, too.

The shops at Bukit Bintang were decollated with Christmas trees. Moslem people took pictures in front of it.  (see the 2nd photo from the top)

The china town was crowded with Chinese, Moslem, foreign tourists and many other people.

I visited open-air restaurants in the Alor Street. I found they served Chinese, Malay, Thai and many other foods.

Jakarta: Indonesia's economy & infrastructure: Nov. 12-19, 2016

During my stay in Jakarta, I saw new developments of the economy.

You may find many motorbike drivers and pillion passengers with green helmets in Jakarta. They are drivers and riders of Go-jek, a new bike service expanding rapidly. (See also the top photo)

The operation company was established in 2010 by a young entrepreneur. It is like UBER’s service in Indonesian style. He developed a new application on the smart phone and successfully established a network which connected the bike drivers and the customers.

Now, more than 200 thousand Go-jek drivers are in operation in Jakarta and other cities. The company expanded its business into automobile service, delivery service and other related services. Conflicts with traditional taxi driver are occurring.

UBER and other firms followed Go-jek in providing bike service. It is an example of digitization as well as liberalization of the economy.

Developing infrastructure is one of the most important economic policies in Indonesia. The first MRT (massive Rapid Transport) system is under construction in Jakarta. The first stage is planned to link central Jakarta and southern Jakarta (about 15.7km) by the end of 2018.

The MRT will run underground in the central city. I have taken many photos at the Bunderan HI, the city center, since last year. I took it again.

I also visited southern part. I saw the consrtuction at Senayan, about four km south from Bunderan HI. (see the 2nd photo from the top)

The MRT will ran over the ground in the southern part. The construction of overhead railway is under way.

Only columns stand in the Bloc M area.

Still the infrastructure shortage is serious. The roads and highways are always jammed. (see the 3rd photo from the top)

I found the industrial parks were well developed when I visited Cikarang, in the east outskirt of Jakarta. The connections which connect the industrial parks and the highways as well as the ports are bad.

The situation in Sumatra and other islands are worse.

There are more than 100 shopping malls in Jakarta, according to a local journalist. In addition to the malls in Tamrin, central Jakarta (I wrote the information in my “the weekend in Thamrin” blog), I visited malls in the Bloc M areas, both are in the south of Jakarta. I saw rich and ordinary people enjoying shopping and foods.

I also visited a mall in Senayan.

Jakarta: weekend-walk @ Thamrin: Nov.12-13, 2016 (off off Tokyo)

I visited Jakarta for the second time in the past 12 months. The city is energetic and messy as it was a year ago.

The construction works of subway (MRT= Mass Rapid Transportation) was still under way. The traffic jam was heavy.

I walked around the crossing of Bundaran HI monument at Thamrin, central Jakarta. Modern shopping malls such as Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia are in the area. There also top-level hotels.

There are Christian Dior, Gucci and many other brand-name stores in the malls. The places are spacious. People need to have security checks when they enter the mall.

The visitors looked neat and rich for me. There were many foreign people.

People also enjoyed their dinners in the weekend evening.

I found the prices at the restaurants were as expensive as those in Japan. The situation is similar with many other goods sold here.

There are many open-air stalls outside of the modern shopping malls. The contrast was impressive. (See also the 2nd photo from the top).

The water drainage is bad as it was a year ago. The road was covered with water when they had a rain.

I also visited The Thamrin City mall, which locates a bloc from Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia. 

The mall attracted average local people. I did not have any security check when I entered.

There are many small stalls in the floors. They were crowded with people. I saw few foreign visitors. The prices were generally cheap.

There are hundreds of cloth shops in the huge six-floor commercial complex. Some of them sell Islamic fashions. (see the top photo)

They also have grocery shops and mobile phone shops.