32: A Cherry Blosson By Any Other Name

こんにちは, gentle readers![*]

As you may recall, my journal entry from Tuesday featured three pictures of the sakura that were taken on my Toyama outing that morning. The post ended with a promise of more, if there was interest. That interest has been expressed, so here I am to make good on that promise! Please to be enjoying!

Sakura, sakura everywhere!

(click on any picture in this post to see the full-sized version)

( Five more pictures beneath the cut! Click here -- you know you want to! )

Now then, tis off to bed for this Nomad! The T2K collaboration meeting -- latest in a popular series -- begins in the morning!

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[*] That's simply "konnichiwa", or "hello", written in hiragana characters.

33: All Structures Great And Tall

Today's entry is for people like acelightning; that is to say, people who share my love for very tall buildings! Fear not, gentle readers, after the surfeit of cherry blossoms in recent posts, no pictures of sakura await you herein!

On Wednesday, I flew from Toyama to Tokyo, then took a coach from Tokyo to Tokai. En route, I was treated to some delightful views of the city skyline... views like the one that I captured on [digital] film, below:


(click on the picture to see the full-sized version)

The building that towers over the rest[*] is the newly constructed Tokyo Sky Tree. When I say "newly constructed", I mean it -- construction of this 634 meter colossus was only completed seven weeks ago, on February 29^th.

Small wonder, then, that Wednesday was the first time that I have ever seen this giant, which currently ranks as the second tallest structure in the world... and the third tallest ever built by humans. Only the mind-boggling Burj Khalifa (830 meters) and the now-collapsed Warsaw Radio Mast (646 meters) have ever been taller.

( Some musings on tall buildings, suitable only for fellow aficionados. )

I would love to ascend the Sky Tree and look out over Tokyo. Apparently, there are observatories at 350 and 450 meters. I have been to a number of tall observation desks, such as the SkyPod of the CN Tower (342 meters), the dirigible terminal of the Empire State Building (369 meters), and the Skydeck of the Sears Tower (412 meters). I believe that the tallest height to which I have ever ascended whilst still being directly connected to the ground[**] was the roof of the World Trade Center (420 meters). Going to the Sky Tree's 450 meter observatory would set a new personal record for me!

Alas, tis not to happen... yet! The Sky Tree is so new that it has not actually opened to the public! The official opening will take place next month, on May 22^nd. Ah, well. Something to do on another trip. I will return to Japan in June, for the Neutrino 2012 conference -- and likely some sightseeing after -- but that is taking place in Kyoto. I am back in Tokai in September, which will involve passing through Tokyo again. I believe that I shall have to make a little space in my schedule for a day in Tokyo... and a trip up the Sky Tree, of course!

In the meantime, I am visiting Taipei 101 next week -- tallest building in the world from 2004 until 2010. And next year? Well, I am beginning to think rather seriously about a trip to Dubai. Burj Khalifa awaits!

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[*] Pun intended, I'm afraid.

[**] In other words, flying in planes does not count here.