The Wayfarer Blog

When I checked this site on Internet Explorer, I was surprised to see that the last three posts didn’t include pictures. They showed up on my computer at home (Firefox, Safari, Camino, and Flock on Mac). But for some reason, they height and width attributes were missing when I checked just now (Internet Expolorer 6 on Windows XP)…(so the picture was 0×0…invisible!)

I don’t know what happened, but it should be fixed. If you somehow don’t see pictures in the last three posts, please let me know.

Update: Wow, I really shouldn’t blog when I am in a rush and starting to feel the effects of a head cold! That last paragraph there was not very clear. I was starting to say that I had seen the pics displayed properly on my computer at home. (I test my posts on all of the Mac-based web browsers at home). But when I got on Internet Explorer, it didn’t work. I don’t think it had anything to do with Internet Explorer. Somehow, the links to my pictures were missing the attributes for height and width (in other words, the instructions for the browser to display the pictures as a certain size). Without that information, they obviously can’t be displayed.

I will keep my eyes on this to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I have no idea how it happened.

I’m not sure who this Daisen guy is, but he really wants you to visit his MySpace page. This was on a pole near Shibuya station, near the flower that I posted last night

Sorry, dude. I don’t plan on visiting your site.

Well, I didn’t end up going to Shinagawa again today, but I did have to run a quick errand in Shibuya. Not my favorite area of Tokyo, to be honest. But it has some interesting things to see. Like this flower. In the midst of so much hustle and bustle, it was reaching for the sky.

I sometimes pass through Shinagawa Station, as it is one of the biggest stations in Tokyo, but I rarely exit the station. Yesterday, I had to, because that is where the Immigration office is.

I love this building. It is right outside the Central Exit. Luckily, I’ll see it again tomorrow!

Whoops. I can’t believe I went more than a week without posting. I was pretty busy. Today, I went to Shinagawa to renew my work visa. I transferred at Osaki Station. That’s where I met…

The Osaki Station Scarecrow!!!

(I hate to say it, but it doesn’t look like he’s doing a very good job!)

This is cool. If you’ve never been to the Forbidden City (The Palace Museum), they just launched a really nice website. I went in 2006, and it is…beyond words. The size, the majesty, and the history…

Check it out. You can see examples of artwork and exhibits from the former home of the Chinese Imperial Family, complete with explanations.

Here is the link again: http://www.dpm.org.cn/English/default.asp

(Via Macworld UK.)

One thing that has really changed in the five years since I first came to Japan is the sharp decrease in smoking areas. While Japan still trails behind other the U.S. or Canada on this issue, more and more places are beginning to prohibit smoking.

When I first came here, it was more of an ashtray. But restaurants, coffee shops, and other establishments have become increasingly smoke-free. Many stations are, too. Some stations, like Ichigaya Station, have designated smoking areas, and are smoke-free for a couple hours a day.

This sign is posted in the non-smoking area of the station platform. It says, “No Smoking (here). Furthermore, smoking is prohibited on the entire platform, including the smoking area, on weekdays, from 7:30am – 9:30am. Please refrain from smoking during that time.”

Obviously, this is a good thing. But let’s be honest. If we really want to improve public health, we need to do more than simply rid ourselves of smoke. Why are we not so adamant about the pollution in the air or water? And why don’t we target junk food providers, or soda companies? I know people who look down on smokers, while they chug down Coke and McDonald’s all day. Do they really think that that is healthy?

Here’s another one I took the other day, when I was looking for things that other people walked right past. Someone mistook the top of this vending machine for a trash can. Seriously, would it have been any more trouble to take this a little farther to the trash can?

Nishi-Oi Station, Tokyo, Japan. (Click on the image for a larger view)
Canon Ixy 800IS

I’m really busy at work, because my high school is having tests. But I was able to take a few shots with my Canon Ixy while I was walking around today. I focused on things that weren’t beautiful, for the most part. I had fun looking for things that most people just walked right past. As I have mentioned before, photography can make you more observant of your surroundings, and that is a good thing. I’ll post more of the pics later, but here is one to whet your appetite. This is a railing in front of Ichigaya Station with some graffiti. You don’t see a huge amount of graffiti in Japan, but there is some.

Graffiti on the railing along the road, in front of Ichigaya Station, Tokyo, Japan.
(Click on the image for a larger view.)

From the Beijing Capital Museum (????????.