Tokyo Skytree

A few weeks ago, we had some family visiting so we took the train into the city for the day to visit the new-ish Tokyo Skytree.  The Skytree is a broadcasting and observation tower that when completed became the second tallest structure in the world--the tallest is some skyscraper in Dubai.  It is the tallest tower in the world, since there is a distinction between skyscrapers and towers.  If you're wondering why it's called the Skytree, it was chosen in a nationwide vote from a selection of names that were suggested by the public. The one I like that didn't get chosen is "Dream Lookout".  Catchy, huh?

The place has been open a year and a half and the lines on a weekday still looked like this:

We waited in line for forty minutes to buy tickets and get in (you can reserve tickets in advance and walk in but we weren't that smart) . Anyway, we can say we went and the views were spectacular.  First though, the tower itself:

tall, right?

I can't take credit for this cool pic, Chad took it

When we finally got our tickets we rode some pretty snazzy elevators up to the observation decks.

usually when you take these pics, you see the Skytree looming over everything because it's just that tall

wait, there it is!!

another Chad shot, him looking down through the floor windows

and it wouldn't be Japanese if it didn't have a pastry
made in it's likeness (this thing looked disgusting)

 So if you're in Tokyo check it out---there's lots of restaurants and shopping nearby and inside the tower.  And they constructed a brand new train station that dumps you right out at it so getting to it is easy!

Flowers, Arrows and Falling Leaves

No, I've not taken to writing poetry.  Believe it or not, I'm talking about car decals.  We noticed that there were many cars with the same decals so eventually we asked someone what they all meant. 

Come to find out they are required by law and are an indication of the age and/or experience of the driver. 

The arrow you see below indicates that the driver has been driving for less than a year.

"child/baby in car" stickers are also really popular here

And the stylized flower you see in the upper left corner of the van below indicates that the driver is over....70 years old, I think?  How's that for age discrimination?

Funny story....in the photo below you'll also notice some stickers that look like pink and yellow raindrops (turned sideways on this car).  You see those a lot too.  Those used to be the decal for the elderly and it was supposed to be a stylized falling leaf.  But the old folks got upset that they were being called dead leaves so they changed it to the flower.

this dude doesn't seem to mind though, and  he's
covering all his bases

Our Backyard Project

Hi there, remember me?  My lame excuse for not blogging is that I've been sweating outside all summer.  Chad and I decided to tackle the most challenging aspect of our yard....the backside of it.  Off of our living room we have a small raised, fenced-area with a lovely view over the rice paddies.  Unfortunately, unlike our front yard, which came with nice landscaping, the back was a dirt and weed pit.  And by weeds, I mean dandelions which would literally reach 5' tall in the spring.  By May it was truly frightening to behold.  And if you'll recall from previous posts, the company sends some guys twice a year to beat back the worst of it but that still left a large portion of the year when it was a hot mess.

This year we waited until the yard guys showed up and pulled up the weeds, leaving a bare dirt pit.

And then we attacked.

Our plan was to cover in in Bermuda grass except for a small flower bed by the house foundation.  This led to some discussion about how to identify grass seed in the home improvement store. 

Now, I've spent my fair share of time in the local home improvement stores and I knew that I had always seen squares of sod in the summer.  And I knew that when a new house went up in the neighborhood they always laid the tiny little yard with sod squares.  I mentioned to Chad that grass seed might not be an option here but he took off to the home improvement store determined to buy bags of seed.

He came home defeated (he doesn't shop here much, bless him) and made me go back with him.  Here's where it gets interesting.....I ended up asking someone in the garden department for "grass seed".  I looked up the kanji on my phone to show him.  Long story short, it ended up with two workers scratching their heads, looking at us like we were crazy and leading us over to the sod squares.

So, the moral of the story is, if you want to create a lawn in Japan, you're probably going to have to sod it.

AND.....it's best to get in done as early as you can because we ended up having to order ten stacks of sod to finish the yard because when we went back for seconds they were out and told us they didn't carry it past May.  Chad had to get a co-worker to help him order it.

But, in the end it worked out....ta-da!

 

 

and during