Day 9 - April 9, 2010

Love lives on
A wedding was underway in a small shrine overlooking the Kobe harbour. I've always been fascinated by how cutting edge yet traditional the Japanese are, particularly the young. This couple was no exception.

Then I noticed a woman, whom I assume is the mother of the bride, waiting by the side to have a family portrait taken. She was holding a photo frame containing two photos, which I believe must be of her late father and husband. A more senior woman was with her, probably her mother.

So this was the photo they took - three generations of women on the day they welcome a new man into the family, with two of the most important men in their lives watching over them in spirit.


On the menu: baked chicken meatballs with cucumber yogurt.

Day 8 - April 8, 2010

So this is how it ends
Due to a last-minute change in plans, I ended up in Kyoto three days ahead of schedule - and as a result caught the blossoms at their final moments of glory.

I spent more than two hours strolling along the Path of Philosophy, watching in awed silence as pink petals snowed and floated away. It was the beginning of the end.

I revisited two days later and, sure enough, the trees had changed into a greenish brown colour as new leaves sprouted. I found that pleasing to look at too. The wonderful thing about nature is, unlike human relationships, there is always beauty even when everything is over.

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So this is how it ends Day 8 of Project 365 - April 8, 2010 Due to a last-minute change in plans, I ended up in Kyoto three days ahead of schedule - and as a result caught the blossoms at their final moments of glory. I spent more than two hours strolling along the Path of Philosophy, watching in awed silence as pink petals snowed and floated away. It was the beginning of the end. I revisited two days later and, sure enough, the trees had changed into a greenish brown colour as new leaves sprouted. I found that pleasing to look at too. The wonderful thing about nature is, unlike human relationships, there is always beauty even when everything is over.

April was supposed to be No Shopping Month, but I only managed to hold out for a grand total of seven days.

Day 7 - April 7, 2010

Back to school
Went to my soulmate J's alma mater Sophia University today as it is beautiful during the sakura season. My first visit was in the autumn of 2001. Was very lucky to run into the freshmen orientation - all the clubs and societies were out in full force trying to recruit new members. It's been a long while since I was surrounded by so many young people.

This guy caught my eye obviously - it looked like the kind of club for me and I think I stand a pretty good chance of ending up as president.

Btw, no one approached me during the hour I was there snapping photos - not even the Photo Club.


I order books online for the cheap thrill of receiving packages in the mail.

Day 6 - April 6, 2010

Touched
I met this elderly gentleman at a cemetery in Nippori which has a beautiful yet little-known sakura tunnel (not the one pictured). I was walking behind him and noticed that he would stop at every tree, touch the trunk gently, gaze up for a moment as if he was talking to it, then move on to the next one. Maybe he has a loved one buried there and he was thanking them for watching over the person. Maybe these trees hold special memories for him. Whatever it is, he touched me.


Doing yoga weekly in what appears to be a store room teaches one to be zen.

Day 5 - April 5, 2010

Solitude
It was a wet day, so no sakura chasing or sightseeing. I went to Ginza to walk around, stealing shots whenever the rain took a break. Realised that as much as I enjoyed good company, I'd never feel bored by myself in a foreign land as long as I have my camera with me.


We call these booties "the hoofs" because they resemble lamb hoofs. Sorry, Pukesome Mummy at work again.


I rewarded myself near the end of a 12-hour work day with a double cheeseburger, upsized fries, large Coke and hot fudge sundae.

Day 4 - April 4, 2010

I will be beautiful
Bet you thought I was going to post a sakura photo. Well, I thought so too, but this was actually my favourite shot from Day 4. Sakura blossoms are no doubt the star attraction of the moment and these gingko trees look particularly lonely and sad with their empty branches. Ah, but just you wait till autumn.


View from the tower at Lower Seletar Reservoir. There's something primeval about this scene that reminds me of Jurassic Park.


No sakura for me this year, but what I do have are pink pom poms that will never wilt.

Day 3 - April 3, 2010

Tree No.1
This was the first sakura tree I saw on this trip (not counting the ones I spotted on the train into Tokyo). I just had dinner and was strolling back to the hotel when I ran into this humble tree standing next to a river.

It was not spectacular by any means - compared to the truly awesome ones I would see the next day - but it was enough to make me go crazy. It was blooming at its peak, I was right there to see it, and that was all that mattered to me.

Disclaimer: Uploaded this on the road using a public PC, so not really sure if this is nice bokeh or plain blur!

I love food so much that when I go travelling, I take photos of the menus of the restaurants I eat at. I'm so glad Project 365 is giving me an excuse to take menus of restaurants in Singapore too.


I wanted to marry a fishball seller when I was young, that was how much I loved them fishballs.

Day 2 - April 2, 2010

Taking off 离开是为了回来
This bamboo plant (文竹）has been with me since 2002, when I joined ST. For someone who doesn't have green fingers, it is an extraordinarily long time to keep a plant alive and I'm very fond of this low-maintenance pal. I picked up the windmill toy plane for just $2 at Daiso.

Shot this at the office after a long day working on some impossibly boring stuff. Leaving next morning for Japan - and I haven't packed my bags. I'm too zen for my own good sometimes.


I was not supposed to use photos of the Babycrat but how is a Pukesome Mummy supposed to resist doing that?


I hope I'm not turning into one of those exercise freaks at the Botanic Gardens at 7am on a Saturday.

Day 1 - April 1, 2010

For WF
When I got my new camera a few weeks ago, my colleague S commented that I should do a Project 365. She did it last year and completed the marathon without a day of cheating. I laughed at her suggestion because my principle in life is one should never do something for the sake of it.

Well, let's just say I'm not the most principled person around. Yesterday, S and I, along with another colleague KY, decided to go crazy together, starting today (yes, April Fool's Day, of all days).

Throughout the day, I shot a few concepts in honour of the first day, none of which I was pleased with. Time was ticking away but I decided to forget about it for a while and enjoy my dinner with a dear old friend. The conversation was great, as always, and it was only when we moved on to drinks around 9pm that I remembered I better try shooting something else. I took some photos of our beer against the street lights but still it didn't feel right. Then my friend pointed to a wall behind me - and I instinctively knew that was what I had been waiting for all day long.

Sometimes in life, we need that one friend to point us in the right direction, and everything will be just fine.

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This roof belongs to a heritage building in Little India but what caught my eye was not the name of the building but how colourful it was.


The fortune teller said to wait, just sit and wait.