~:[CH15 - Day 211]:~ In a Flash

 

~:[CH15 - Day 211]:~ In a Flash

I decided to get some work done in the morning as my time here in Japan winds down. I am wrapping up my projects and ready to get back into the swing of things. It is a little bittersweet as it will be nice to work from the comforts of home, still yet, I will miss being here as well. I will not miss the thirty minute minimum daily walks to and from the station, although my body probably benefited, and the humidity will be nice to escape from, however, there is a lot I'll be missing. A lot of lessons were learned on this trip, but overall, there were also a lot of great memories. As I headed out to the Tsukiji Matsuri, I could tell that a storm was going to arrive. The festival was weather watching and had a plan to break while the storm came through. We took cover inside the building, but I decided to continue to film from there as I captured a number of amazing lightning strikes. As predicted, the storm moved on and the festival went on, much like my life will continue on. While long, this time period felt like it went by in a flash, and I only wonder what life ahead will be like. I am not one to ponder on those things too much, but I do keep in mind, that much like today, storms will come and go and also that we should cherish each moment as they may be gone in a flash.

~:[CH15 - Day 210]:~ Mission Complete

 

~:[CH15 - Day 210]:~ Mission Complete

If you ever come to Tokyo during the Pokémon stamp rally, it's a fun way to go around to all parts of Tokyo. Of course, if you're playing  for efficiency, you may not to get to see much, but still yet, new discoveries can be made. There were multiple detours and side quests and honestly, it made me get up and go out a few more times than planned. Regardless, mission completed as I visited all of the station in Tokyo and collected the reward today. It would have been easy to settle for the six or nine station goals, but I went full out and hit all 36. I am always a little sad that this doesn't start earlier as the shinkansen station prizes has eluded me, even though I've visited those stations on this trip (earlier), however, it feels good to have put the last stamp down and complete this task, especially on the 30th anniversary!

~:[CH15 - Day 209]:~ Max or Chill

 
~:[CH15 - Day 209]:~ Max or Chill

My schedule today was already packed, however, I thought of trying to squeeze just one more thing in. I didn't. Do you take things to the max and cut it close or do you back off and Chill. With a schedule around bouncing around, I took a step back and did a little less and comfortably went to my next event. I would say it was the right decision as I had time to get a snack and relax, but looking at the time, I easily would have made it in time had I stayed a bit longer at my first event. Regardless, I was happy how things turned out except for the fact that a friend was DJing at a club not too far away and I was going to try and jet over, but with a second encore, I realized it wouldn't be possible. Since it wasn't plotted into the schedule, I wasn't too mad, but it would have been cool if I fit it in. In the end, the timing worked out and I felt like I chilled to the max, well at least however much was possible. What a wonderful feeling! Do you max or chill?

~:[CH15 - Day 208]:~ Quit Dragon Your Feet

 

~:[CH15 - Day 208]:~ Quit Dragon Your Feet

It's been lingering in my mind. One of the furthest stops on the Pokémon stamp rallyb eluded me. Everytime I tried to go there, I risked missing the last train so I avoided it, but it kept bothering me. Finally, after today's event, I ventured out and got the stamp. It was a day where I was dragging out decisions. I had been torn between two events for quite some time, but decided to cover a new event. It was a little sad as the setup at the other event was the best it's been for that group, however, I didn't regret my choice as the experience I had was quite memorable. If I made the decision earlier for both, the anxiety connected to both may have been a lot lower, however, I delayed. I think it's easy for us to be torn between things and in the end, we worry about FOMO, but if you make the most of what you decided and don't look back, there's nothing to worry about. Similarly, if you take care of business when you can, you'll save yourself a lot of stress. So quit dragging those feet and make a decision and take care of business today so you can take flight stress-free into tomorrow.

~:[CH15 - Day 207]:~ What Dreams Are Made Of

 

~:[CH15 - Day 207]:~ What Dreams Are Made Of

I've seen this scene in various dramas when they go visit the aquarium. Albeit, there aren't crowds of people blocking the view, but the people made thia shot even more amazing. It would be hard to describe how spectacular gigantic this aquarium tank is, but as you can see, it's massive and quite impressive. I was distracted with work so I almost didn't head out on time, but I made the few hour trek out and got to experience this. It's what dreams are made of. Yesterday, I talked about how this "trip" is not a grand adventure where I'm touring around, still yet, there are moments in between where I get a chance to go out and say, "wow!" I hope that the many things you've imagined become realized as when they do, you'll be left speechless and realize how incredible it is to experience something that is like a dream.

~:[CH15 - Day 206]:~ Work = Fun?

 

~:[CH15 - Day 206]:~ Work = Fun?

I always think of the meme, what people thing I do, what my parents thing I do, etc. I always get a, "have a nice trip" when I leave, but little do they know, it's often more work than anything else. Of course, work can be fun as you meet new people and see new things, but it doesn't mean I'm roaming around doing nothing. Tosay was especially difficult as without an elevated area or photo pit, I had to be in the crowd. Live house shooting is much more difficult than arenas and festivals in my opinion as you must do a better job of planning. I did my best to plan, but the same two people made my job challenging as they stood right in front of me and did some of the things that make it difficult. They stood right in front of me, one had a high hair do, they both raised their phones up recording nothing and had the other hand in the air with a drink. Regardless, they were energetic and enthusiastic fans and it's my job to work around them, so I found a way. After two wonderful sessions, we headed over to the after party and relaxed just a bit. It was a long day, but also a fun and memorable one and I wouldn't want it any other way. Whatever the meme may say, I stand by the fact that this is enjoyable and worth every ounce of energy spent. 

~:[CH15 - Day 205]:~ Home Turf

 

~:[CH15 - Day 205]:~ Home Turf

Home turf is often seen as comfortable and familiar, however, it was foreign to me. Okinawa is the homeland of my mother's side pd the family, but my familiarity with the area was anything but. I tried to figure out everything on the fly and it ended up being a fairly good experience as I got out and ventured out. I found some cool spots, but staying in Naha tonight, I knew I was in the Waikikk equivalent of Okinawa. It did have a Hawaiian feel as the leis and tropical print shirts were a plenty, however aside from that, it was all new to me. It was fun and a great memory, but I know that in the future, I'll need to venture around a bit more to truly experience Okinawa and maybe then it will feel a bit like home. 

~:[CH15 - Day 204]:~ Puzzling

 
~:[CH15 - Day 204]:~ Puzzling

Trying to fit everything into a day works, sometimes. As I tried to arrange a meeting with my friend from Japan (who currently resides in Austria), his timeframe overlapped with another meeting. We found a way, although, we had to cut it short a bit to make it work. It will be great to be able to be there for his perfomance again, this time in Tokyo. I got some insight into the schedule of a professional ballet dancer as he came from class and then headed to a body treatment after. I headed to my next meeting amd then found a way to trek to Ofuna (past Yokohama) then up to Tachikawa before routing home. All three of us tried to figure out the puzzle of timing and found a way to make it work. The right place at the right time truly matters. I wrapped up my day and went home to clean and pack, leaving just enough time to add that last piece to the day's puzzle.

~:[CH15 - Day 203]:~ Another 24 Hours

 

~:[CH15 - Day 203]:~ Another 24 Hours

We have 24 hours in a day, but we often don't use all 24 hours. I somehow found a way to do it again. I left just past midnight to Nagoya on a bus to save a bit of money. It worked out for my schedule and for my wallet. I arrived early in the morning as the temperatures soared over 40C. Ghibli Park was ready with shade, misters, and AC misting units. It's not a great place to be on a hot day, but I survived. I enjoyed the park and then ventured back on the train, cooling off as I did. With time remaining, I made a trek all the way from Shinagawa to Omiya and up to the Ibaraki, then back home. I even stopped off to pick up a few things, which meant I arrived back home 24 hours after I left. Amazing. Strangely, I wasn't tired, but I put myself to sleep so I could be ready for the next 24 hours. Let's make the most of our 24 hours we're given daily.

~:[CH15 - Day 202]:~ Guiding the Way

 

~:[CH15 - Day 202]:~ Guiding the Way

Today I had a meeting. The weather got so hot, after we finished, we decided to go somewhere cool. Often, shopping malls or cafes are the choices, but we decided to check out the aquarium since it was close by. It was a little underwhelming compared to Nagoya, however, it was a nice break from the heat. Other than the jellyfish, the penguins had a cool exhibit. I saw these two penguins and it reminded me of the Pokémon stamp rally, which I proceeded to continue after meeting my friend. In life, we often see aa caring for children and guiding them along. When watching all the children playing this stamp rally, I noticed how it taught them so much. I could hear them strategizing routes, looking at the train schedule, and feeling the accomplishment of reaching another goal. At such a young age, they are often guiding their parents around, rather than the other way around. It's cool and a reminder that often times, lightening control and oversight can often lead to greater independence and learning.

~:[CH15 - Day 201]:~ Easier Than Expected

 
~:[CH15 - Day 201]:~ Easier Than Expected

Isn't it great when you envision the worst, but it ends up not being too bad? Thinking my schedule would be rushed, I kept wondering if I would have enough time. I had more than enough. I arrived back home at a reasonable time, had time to shower, and then relaxed and grabbed lunch with my friend. I didn't think I would have time to rest, let alone chill and have lunch, but in the end, I got to chill. Afterwards, I even had time to venture out and start the Pokemon stamp rally. Sadly, the event began when I left and thus, everyone got a head start on me. I've been quite busy and so I didn't have time to get to all the stations, however, tonight, I ended up capturing a few stamps. I almost hit my goal, but realized I would be late to my meeting and thus I ventured off back to my meeting. I delayed a bit heading home, however, in the end, I think the timing worked out well and the day was much easier than expected. I always prepare for the worst, as I know that when I do, things will feel much more amazing when they work out just fine. Luckily today, things ended up as planned. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the same! Hope everyone is doing well and life is as or easier than expected.

~:[CH15 - Day 201]:~ Overcoming Discomfort

 

~:[CH15 - Day 202]:~ Overcoming Discomfort

I accidentally wrote a duplicate blog, however, I will keep this post here!

I met with a friend for lunch and we had malatang. She likes spicy food a lot, but the chili went down the wrong pipe and I could tell it bothered her the rest of the time. I arrived from Bangkok in the morning and had a little time to rest before my meeting. Luckily, my meeting earlier in the day was moved to tomorrow and so I had lunch with another friend before heading out. The fatigue of returning and dealing with the humidity is something that can be overcome, however, in life, there are some discomforts you can't necessarily overcome so easily or at all. The goal in life is being understanding and I did my best to do just that. I think it helped as the rest of the day went well. What may be easy for us, may not be so easy for others or vice versa. Let's not judge, but rather do our best to show compassion and understanding. It may just make life taste a little better.

~:[CH15 - Day 200]:~ Cleansing the Soul

 
~:[CH15 - Day 200]:~ Cleansing the Soul

My stomach often has some issues when I go to Bangkok. Is it the chilis or the cream? I'm not quite sure, but regardless, I'll accept it if it means enjoying the delicious food. My last day always seems to be a day to relax, take care of this and that, and then head back. I spent some of the day making new connections, while the remainder was taking time to clear my mind and my soul. I always relax in the room, kick back a bit and order room service. I tried something a little different and while it didn't taste what I thought it would taste like, I still enjoyed it. I made sure I was all good to go for the plane and then headed to the airport. The one stressor on this trip is that I took a budget airline both ways. Their weight limit for bags was 7kg and with a laptop and camera, I was already over. I slid by on the way out, as the lady let me slide, but on the way back, I thought there was no way I'd get through. I had my pockets stuffed ready for a check, yet luckily avoided it all. It was a relief for my mind as well, as I flew home in peace, knowing that I had a great trip and had a few fun moments ahead. 

~:[CH15 - Day 199]:~ Fun & Games

 
~:[CH15 - Day 199]:~ Fun & Games 

It was a nice and relaxing day. The event at night was canceled and so I wasn't stressed about the time at all! I had my annual meet up in Bangkok as we ventured around and hit up a few spots before parting ways. Every time we meet, I always wonder what her family has been up to. It's been years since I saw the whole family and realizing that the youngest that I knew has grown so much is incredible. The weather was much better today and thus, it ended up being a pretty fun day except for the fact that it was quite hot. Of course, strangely, the weather in Bangkok didn''t feel as bad as it did in Tokyo the past few days. It was nice to have a day to explore and have fun, especially knowing that I almost wrapped up my monter album that has been looming in the background. Soon enough, the stress level will drop and it truly will be time to enjoy the fun and games. 

~:[CH15 - Day 198]:~ Party of ...

 
~:[CH15 - Day 198]:~ Party of ...

Did you ever watch that show Party of Five? I used to watch it a long time ago and every time I go out and here, "party of ..." I think of it. Normally when we do our annual hang out, there are three or four of us, but today, we ended up with seven. It was great to get together in a larger group and meet more people. It's always fun no matter what we do. It's great when you find people who you can enjoy simple things with and our annual get together was a nice dinner and hang out, cool, but not too over complicated. I always feel bad as they have to jet off straight from work to hang out with me, but they do so with a smile and I truly appreciate having met them awhile back. So much has changed from the atmosphere around the restaurant to the family and more, but the one thing that stays the same is enjoying spending time with them. It was great to do homework with their youngest before heading off to play and we ended up coming home with a few prizes and a load of tickets, but most importantly, another set of memories. It's great that I've made it a point of emphasis to make this a yearly thing as it truly is a date I love to mark on my calendar. Until next year, we'll see how big our party becomes ...

~:[CH15 - Day 197]:~ Welcome to ...

 
~:[CH15 - Day 197]:~ Welcome to ...

I was welcomed to Bangkok with traffic and a torrential downpour that flooded the streets, but that was fine. A cheap, yet delicious meal, some good pickups for friends, and just being able to wander aimlessly without a schedule today was a nice break from the past few weeks. I did get some work done today, but for the most part, I went out and explored. Even when I was running away from the huge raindrops from the sky, it still was an adventure. I wandered around Terminal 21 and while I try not to depend on that spot too much since it's convenient, it always is a cool spot to stop at. With themed floors and always a pop up or two, there is always something new to look at. For the rest of the evening, I enjoyed the sounds of raindrops as I look at it from above, seeing the lights from the cars stuck in traffic that I was sitting in just a few hours before, but now that I am in the comfort of my room, I definitely feel even more welcomed than before. Enjoy the world around you even when it feels chaotic as later on you'll have a chance to look back and say, I experienced that. Don't miss out as often times, opportunities only come once in a lifetime.

~:[CH15 - Day 196]:~ Where Our Eyes Are Set

 
~:[CH15 - Day 196]:~ Where Our Eyes Are Set

"Did you see it?" Have you been every asked this questions and have no clue what the person is talking about. It's often the case that this thing you missed was something incredible. Sometimes, it remains so you can catch a glimpse as well while at other times, you miss it completely. Where you look often determines what you're able to see. When you have tunnel vision, you limit what great things are out there even though you may be laser focused on your goal. There's nothing wrong with it, but what more are we missing when we focus in on something. I always want to find a way to stay focused, while also keeping my eyes open to what else is out there. On a day where I was recovering and focusing on catching up on things, I was focused in on what I needed to accomplish on the day, missing out on other things I could have seen wandering about. At times, you don't have the time to spend wandering about, but if you can make the time, go out and explore and see what is beyond that view you've been limiting yourself to all this time.

~:[CH15 - Day 195]:~ Sweet Like Maple

~:[CH15 - Day 195]:~ Sweet Like Maple

It was about this time last year that I took photos with Yurimaru for the first time in Shibuya. I can often tell from a first encounter if I'll be able to work with someone again and she definitely gave off those vibes. She always shows her appreciation and is truly a genuine individual who works so hard to give a good performance every time. Since Shibuya, we've been able to work together a number of times and I've truly enjoyed each and every performance. As grueling as my schedule has been, I am appreciative of all the opportunities I've had to work with various artists. At times, I feel like it's bothersome working with a foreigner, but in the end, I think things end up working out. The performances at the Maple House were amazing and truly left the crowd with great memories. Although it was a small live house event, it still was another great performance that will be a sweet memory for all those who attended. This month alone, we sitll have two more performances we are working on together and there's no doubt that they both with be exceptional. She just released a cover of Mickey, so go check it out!

 

~:[CH15 - Day 194]:~ As Vast as an Ocean

 
~:[CH15 - Day 194]:~ As Vast as an Ocean

It's amazing to think how big this world is. Just being in Japan, I've explored places I've never been time after time and barely have time to see much. It makes me think of what I am missing. As I headed back to Tokyo, it was nice to see these places from overhead as while I cannot visit each spot, just seeing them and imagining what is there is good enough. I enjoyed some seafood before leaving Hokkaido and had some when I returned. I guess it paralleled the idea of how vast this world is. From the land to the air to the sea, there is way more out there to explore than we could ever imagine and I just wonder what it would be like to discover something never seen before. In my adventures, I always get to see many places and I look forward to the new adventures that await me. Today will be a recover day, which means laundry, cleaning and editing, and while it may seem sad, it is a much needed break from the chaos of these past couple of days before it all starts again. 

~:[CH15 - Day 193]:~ Golden

 
~:[CH15 - Day 193]:~ Golden

From watching them on TV to seeing them on stage, I've been so lucky to have met and worked with this group. As time has passed, I learned about the inner workings of the group and it makes it more obvious why they are so successful. Their attention to detail, their work ethic, and their joy in perfect their craft make them successful, but they also run a program. This weekend was a joy to see so many great performances, but it also opened my eyes as I saw how important it is to establish a program to find success. In cross country, I've always thought that you can't focus solely on the top athletes, as you must develop all your athletes so that you can continuously find success, as you set the stage for the future. Watching the performances this weekend, it solidified that thought. Seeing their juniors at VIBE, I already knew how incredible their performers were, but I got to see all of their dances from the youngest to their pros on stage. It was spectacular. Their transitions, their precision, and more importantly, their storytelling in their performances made it special. They are always thinking outside the box and it truly showed in their performances. Each of them is so gracious, as they all came up and thanked me for capturing these moments. I have collected a number of great and lasting memories form these two days, as I served as a guest judge on both days for their battle and also had so many wonderful interactions that I will cherish. I look back and still am so impressed by the jaw-dropping performances for all groups and am glad that I was able to experience it all. Who knows if I will ever be able to come back to this festival and enjoy these incredible moments, but if not, I am truly glad that I survived all the challenges to arrive here and got to enjoy the thrill of this wondrous event. Their performance may have earned them the golden buzzer on America's Got Talent three years ago, but in working with them over the years, it wasn't just their performance that was golden. They truly are a group of individuals who demonstrate the dedication, effort, and also the appreciation needed to find success. There's nothing I can really write to demonstrate how appreciative I am of them, but truly this matsuri fit it's name, The Matsuri of Love & Thanks! Thank you again for all those who welcomed me and showed me the most amazing hospitality ever. It truly showed me how golden you all truly are.