Wow, this is my 500th post on here, well technically there were other posts that were super insignificant that have been deleted but I claim this is 500th!
Since I have opened this blog I have come a far ways indeed. January 30th 2010 was my first post and it feels so long ago but it has only been two years and a few months. Then I was finishing up my last semester at the community college and thinking about getting a internship with my field. Now I have finished all my college and also my internship and started to travel more.
Man not really what to say!
I have plans for the future, more travel on the way and perhaps work afar. I hope to bring more good stuff for my readers and I hope to write more then I do.
I changed the side a little bit around again on the site. Please accept me on Google + and I am getting my instagram going soon and I will post photos on there more often. I hope to get a smartphone so I can take those on the go shots and show you guys.
Oh my Instagram account is "SamShio" go figure haha
Well I don't have much to say for now but I will keep everyone in the loop. I currently am working full time as a contractor for a large company that will get my some good savings for my next adventure and to see someone special to me. ;)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Harajuku Station - Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Harajuku Station everyone!
That odd looking station in Toyko with the clock on the front.
It is called Harajuku Station because it's in Harajuku, and it is ran by JR East because the Yamanote Line which is a line that circles the Tokyo Metropolitan area. You will probably use that line at some point in your travels in Toyko! It has been there since 1906! I had no idea it was that old?!
Also this is where you would get off if you want to go to Yoyogi Park or the Meiji Jingu Shrine or if you want to go to the famous Takeshita street of Harajuku
That odd looking station in Toyko with the clock on the front.
It is called Harajuku Station because it's in Harajuku, and it is ran by JR East because the Yamanote Line which is a line that circles the Tokyo Metropolitan area. You will probably use that line at some point in your travels in Toyko! It has been there since 1906! I had no idea it was that old?!
Also this is where you would get off if you want to go to Yoyogi Park or the Meiji Jingu Shrine or if you want to go to the famous Takeshita street of Harajuku
Right across the street from the GAP
Yoyogi Park on Sunday. I hear that there are a lot of people that dress up and hang around the station and the park there but honestly there were two groups in like Poodle Skirt and Greaser fashion dancing and that was it!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Kyoto Tower - Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto Tower, by far the tallest structure in Kyoto. I recommend going up to get a great view of all of Kyoto! You can get a great idea of also had large Kyoto Station is and the city in general. It makes Kyoto look small but it is probably bigger in Richmond, Virginia my state capital. It is across the street from Kyoto Station so it is really helpful to know which side of Kyoto Station you are on when you see the tower. Also it helps get your bearings when you are in central Kyoto as to which was is north or south and so forth.
It is an observation deck tower built on a 9 floor building that has shops, restaurants, and a three star hotel. The spire stands 131 meters tall. It was modeled to look like a Japanese candle and was designed to withstand earth quakes and strong typhoon winds. The construction ended in 1964. You will find that many people like it but not a lot of people do. Being that Kyoto is a traditional hub in the country of Japan, this tower and the new glass Kyoto Station is a sore modern thumb sticking out in the city.
I enjoyed it and the station and between the two it is the most modernism you will find in the city and it is central south so there is still a lot of Kyoto out there for people to see.
It is an observation deck tower built on a 9 floor building that has shops, restaurants, and a three star hotel. The spire stands 131 meters tall. It was modeled to look like a Japanese candle and was designed to withstand earth quakes and strong typhoon winds. The construction ended in 1964. You will find that many people like it but not a lot of people do. Being that Kyoto is a traditional hub in the country of Japan, this tower and the new glass Kyoto Station is a sore modern thumb sticking out in the city.
I enjoyed it and the station and between the two it is the most modernism you will find in the city and it is central south so there is still a lot of Kyoto out there for people to see.
Kyoto Station across the street.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Tokyo Tower - Minato, Tokyo, Japan
The great looking Tokyo tower!
The tower was built to be a communications and observations tower in Minato, Toyko, Japan. It is 332.5 meters tall being the second tallest artificial structure in Japan behind Tokyo Sky Tree. It is so iconic with it's Eiffel Tower look in the white and orange to comply with aircraft safety. Finished in 1958.
A need for a broadcast tower in the area and now is used to broadcast many different networks. It supports analog and digital television, radio and digital radio stations now. Problem is that recently in the last year or so Japan is transiting over to all digital from analog much like the United States did recently. The Tokyo Tower is not tall enough to transmit the higher frequency needed for that and that is why Tokyo Sky Tree comes into plan to broad cast that signal now. It also happens to be just a little taller then the Eiffel Tower
The tower was built to be a communications and observations tower in Minato, Toyko, Japan. It is 332.5 meters tall being the second tallest artificial structure in Japan behind Tokyo Sky Tree. It is so iconic with it's Eiffel Tower look in the white and orange to comply with aircraft safety. Finished in 1958.
A need for a broadcast tower in the area and now is used to broadcast many different networks. It supports analog and digital television, radio and digital radio stations now. Problem is that recently in the last year or so Japan is transiting over to all digital from analog much like the United States did recently. The Tokyo Tower is not tall enough to transmit the higher frequency needed for that and that is why Tokyo Sky Tree comes into plan to broad cast that signal now. It also happens to be just a little taller then the Eiffel Tower
Sunday, July 1, 2012
So long beach, hello sun burn - Outer Banks Day 3
Hey, it was time for us to head back home! We just enjoy a nice day on the beach and I walked along the shore quiet a bit that day. I am not to sure the next time I will be able to come back to the Outer Banks. I intend to do more traveling in the coming years and I don't think I will be home much longer or at leat a long time. I have plans for what I expect in the future and I want to set them in motion. I can see my life more then what it is now and I want to start. More on that in a future post! Enjoy the picture of the day as I had enjoyed the day and soaking in more sun! Yes I got some sun burn but not a lot. It's mostly on my shoulders haha
Some parts of the beach has sand and a bunch of crushed up shells like this from the strong currents.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Strong wind from the Ocean - Outer Banks Day 2
Hey!
So had another great did doing some stuff around the area. We enjoyed out continental breakfast that is included with our stay there and it was alright I guess. Any who we headed south into the Cape Hatters Park where we drove over Oregon Inlet and onto Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge where we usually go to enjoy a walk and see what we can see. You should go for it if you are in the area! Also keep driving south =along the banks to Cape Hatteras where you will see the iconic Hatteras Lighthouse! I went there before they had to move it back from the ocean for the threat of the ocean moving to close and possibly taking it down and I have been to it since it's new relocation after the move. We also went over through Manteo on 64 to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the other side of the Croatan Sound. There you can drive through some of the dirt roads along canals and wetlands and see Alligators in North Carolina! Pretty cool, also if you are lucky you can see some Black Beers, deer and if you are really lucky the introduced the Red Wolf there but they are hard to see as there is a hundred there I guess. I was standing in my seat and out of the window was we were safari-ing through the refuge so I could spot an alligator, it was fun till the mosquitos started to eat us alive! We then went to the beach and chilled out with a beer. The wind was really strong and made some strong current and waves which was different from the previous day. Was great though. Dinner was great, look below for photos and description of how that was and also we did Putt-putt (miniature golf) after which was fun! Check out the photos of the day below everyone!
So had another great did doing some stuff around the area. We enjoyed out continental breakfast that is included with our stay there and it was alright I guess. Any who we headed south into the Cape Hatters Park where we drove over Oregon Inlet and onto Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge where we usually go to enjoy a walk and see what we can see. You should go for it if you are in the area! Also keep driving south =along the banks to Cape Hatteras where you will see the iconic Hatteras Lighthouse! I went there before they had to move it back from the ocean for the threat of the ocean moving to close and possibly taking it down and I have been to it since it's new relocation after the move. We also went over through Manteo on 64 to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the other side of the Croatan Sound. There you can drive through some of the dirt roads along canals and wetlands and see Alligators in North Carolina! Pretty cool, also if you are lucky you can see some Black Beers, deer and if you are really lucky the introduced the Red Wolf there but they are hard to see as there is a hundred there I guess. I was standing in my seat and out of the window was we were safari-ing through the refuge so I could spot an alligator, it was fun till the mosquitos started to eat us alive! We then went to the beach and chilled out with a beer. The wind was really strong and made some strong current and waves which was different from the previous day. Was great though. Dinner was great, look below for photos and description of how that was and also we did Putt-putt (miniature golf) after which was fun! Check out the photos of the day below everyone!
The sun rise in the morning was great, love it every time...
Friday, June 29, 2012
Ryōan-ji (Temple of the Dragon at Peace) - Kyoto, Japan
The famous rock gardens of the Ryoan-ji temple in the Northwest part of Kyoto Japan.
The rock gardens are revered as one of the finest examples of a stone rock garden, a Zen garden, other know as kare-sanui. It is also on the list of World Heritage Sites.
It's a pleasure to look at and just relaxing and stare at it for periods of time.
The secret of the rock garden is that there really ins't a secret as to what it is. The original creator is still a debate and what it represents can be interpreted in so many ways it's insane. the gardens have even been in a small study from Nature journal and have been analyzed to see what it meaning is. There really might not be a mean but something that is suppose to draw the viewer into deeper thought and stimulate creativity in the mind possibly.
Need to take off your shoes before you enter the building and go to the gardens...
The rock gardens are revered as one of the finest examples of a stone rock garden, a Zen garden, other know as kare-sanui. It is also on the list of World Heritage Sites.
It's a pleasure to look at and just relaxing and stare at it for periods of time.
The secret of the rock garden is that there really ins't a secret as to what it is. The original creator is still a debate and what it represents can be interpreted in so many ways it's insane. the gardens have even been in a small study from Nature journal and have been analyzed to see what it meaning is. There really might not be a mean but something that is suppose to draw the viewer into deeper thought and stimulate creativity in the mind possibly.
The Japanese and few foreigners sat there for long periods gazing at the gardens of Ryoan-ji.
Need to take off your shoes before you enter the building and go to the gardens...
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Storm is Brewing- Outer Banks, North Carolina Day 1
Hey everyone!
So a small little break from the posts from Japan, I had just gotten back from a two night trip down to Nags Head, a town on the Outer Banks, that my family and I go just about every year for the past...well for a long time I guess haha. We have done pretty much everything that you can do down there so that is why we don't really go for a week but for like two nights. Going for a week with someone that hasn't really been there is fun though, especially if you rent a house for the week or a small condo and do some cooking!
Anyways the first day of our trip we drove down there and the sun and temperature was really hot but the wind was like non-existent and the ocean had like no waves. It was really weird because the Outer Banks usually has some rough waters with a strong undertow but for some reason it wasn't there when we got there. Plus the water had a great feel to it and wasn't really cold, and there was nothing in the water! No seaweed, jelly fish or anything floating in it, very surprising.
We did though find out when we left home, Richmond, that there was some really bad weather and when I mean bad I mean like a tornado went through the areas there and did a lot of destroying. Lots of damage and the power was out for a lot of people for a while. I had a friend in my neighborhood to check out my house to see if there was damage because I had heard that someone else had a tree get struck by lightening. Luckily he said that our property looked to be in good shape. We live in the woods, if you have noticed from my photos of home, so the trees really buffer strong winds from knocking them over. Thats the secret!
Anyways enjoy some of the photographs from day 1. I started to use a mix of cameras, my T3i, my old Fujifilm Finepix S1800 and our old Nikn coolpix L3 which is really bad but I think it did ok haha.
So a small little break from the posts from Japan, I had just gotten back from a two night trip down to Nags Head, a town on the Outer Banks, that my family and I go just about every year for the past...well for a long time I guess haha. We have done pretty much everything that you can do down there so that is why we don't really go for a week but for like two nights. Going for a week with someone that hasn't really been there is fun though, especially if you rent a house for the week or a small condo and do some cooking!
Anyways the first day of our trip we drove down there and the sun and temperature was really hot but the wind was like non-existent and the ocean had like no waves. It was really weird because the Outer Banks usually has some rough waters with a strong undertow but for some reason it wasn't there when we got there. Plus the water had a great feel to it and wasn't really cold, and there was nothing in the water! No seaweed, jelly fish or anything floating in it, very surprising.
We did though find out when we left home, Richmond, that there was some really bad weather and when I mean bad I mean like a tornado went through the areas there and did a lot of destroying. Lots of damage and the power was out for a lot of people for a while. I had a friend in my neighborhood to check out my house to see if there was damage because I had heard that someone else had a tree get struck by lightening. Luckily he said that our property looked to be in good shape. We live in the woods, if you have noticed from my photos of home, so the trees really buffer strong winds from knocking them over. Thats the secret!
Anyways enjoy some of the photographs from day 1. I started to use a mix of cameras, my T3i, my old Fujifilm Finepix S1800 and our old Nikn coolpix L3 which is really bad but I think it did ok haha.
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