Deceptive Appearances

from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on a cloudy day, Tokyo looks almost drab and lifeless.

but Tokyo is anything but.

The Wingtip

"Follow your instincts, fly off into the horizon. Chase the sun like you would your aspirations; a wondrous future lies ahead"

(inspirational words from hongwei, who was on his way to Genting)

A Glimpse of the Fireworks

the fireworks from Universal Studios, as glimpsed from our hotel's balcony through further windows.

after all the antics, chatting, junk food and monopoly deal, the four of us, from our blue-pinafore days, went into a satisfying 9-hour slumber.

An Artificial World

i have never been a fan of artificial worlds - never quite saw the appeal of the Disneylands. suffice to say, i wasn't quite entertained by our little red dot's newest tourist attraction, Universal Studios.

a picture taken from the window of one of the many shops within.

Wanderlust

admittedly, our trip to Japan in June was to attend a wedding, but we also made our way down to Kobe, from Osaka, to meet up with a university friend. the last time we visited Japan, he introduced us to a trendy, hole-in-the wall izakaya in Shibuya, Tokyo. this time, he zipped us around Kobe in his awesome Japanese sports car. this was taken during dinner at another izakaya in Kobe.

the trouble with browsing travel albums, however, is that wanderlust hits like a fist to the face.

(and i'm sorry for our reflections in the window)