#47 - Seems like another planet

Yesterday after work, I went biking around our neighborhood. That is, if you can even call it a "neighborhood." I live in the countryside and our house is surrounded by vegetable farms like these. The houses are so far apart from each other. Well, OK, not all the houses. But for the most part, the scenery is like this. Not that I'm complaining. Living here has made it extremely easy for me to social distance. I hardly ever encounter anyone except when I'm at work or in the convenience store.

Anyway, the weather was nice yesterday and that's why I decided to bike around. This I guess, was just before sunset.

And re: the title, I sent this picture to my friends. And they all live in the city, so they encounter a lot of people everywhere they go. So when they saw this, one of them said, "It's like you're in an another planet."

It feels that way sometimes, to be honest. Because everyone I know and love is living so far away from me and are living lives so different from mine. And now that the entire world is on lock down, visiting another country may as well be like visiting another planet in that, it's nearly impossible.

Like most everyone, I'm just waiting for things to go back to normal. Or at least, resembling the normal we once knew. I don't think we can ever go back to the way things were. Nothing will ever be the same after this.

#44 - Spring in Japan

Cherry blossoms!

I actually took this picture two years ago, when I'd only been living in this country for five days. I arrived on March 25th and it was the peak of spring. When we went to this park in Saitama, it was my first time to see cherry blossoms. This is also the first photo I ever took with the phone I got in Japan. I'd had it for only three days then. But it remained in its box until the day I took this picture.

Anyway, because of the virus, most cherry blossom viewing festivals (if not all) have been cancelled. People aren't supposed to be gathering in large groups, you see. So I think that this year, I'll have to be content with just looking at pictures of these flowers. Not that they won't be blooming in a few weeks. They'll of course bloom, regardless. So I'd still probably see them around during my daily commute and whatnot. But I'm not expecting anyone to suggest having a picnic at a public park soon.

#43 - Mt. Fuji from Tokyo

We were just taking pictures of the buildings when the restaurant manager pointed out that from one of the windows, you could see Mt. Fuji.

There is a conversation in my Japanese book that goes:

A: Can you see Mt. Fuji from Tokyo?
B: In the old days, you could. But nowadays, it's difficult.

I think it's because the atmosphere's changed, there are too many buildings now, etc. etc. But I guess, if the building is high enough and the sky is clear enough, you still can. :) Anyway, I'm really happy that we got treated to this now-rare occurrence.

This photo was taken around 5:45 pm at a MORI Tower in Tokyo last February 23rd. (And by the way, I didn't use a filter.)