Japan 2006: April 7th - 17th

Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto

April 7. It was a culture shock for me when I first arrived in Tokyo. A huge metropolis, bursting with people (14 million strong), cars and trains, Tokyo is chaotic and yet paradoxically orderly. It is the capital of one of the most culturally homogenous country in the world, and conformity still holds sway over most activities. But sub-cultures thrive and there is ample room in this big city for anonymity as well as individuality.

Ryoan-ji, Kyoto

I visited Japan during the Spring season, where the 'Sakura' (cherry blossoms) were in bloom. Parks and roadsides were awashed in a sea of pinks and whites, and hanami (flower-viewing) parties were held everywhere where the trees were in bloom. Sakura is the national flower of Japan, though it bloom is very short-lived. This has made the name Sakura an unpopular choice for newborns. No doubt, the short-lived nature of the bloom have added to the excitement and fervour of celebrating their flowering.