Asia | Photographer By Night | Behind the scenes with Tomasz Wagner

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January10th

Asia 2008 | Day 21 | Hakone

Posted in: Hakone, Japan

The wake up was rough this morning! The alarm was set for 7:30, but as I rolled over I smashed on the snooze! I managed to somehow wake to check the clock only to see itilluminate 8:25! I jumped out of bed faster than a couple of the days I was late for work. Reason being breakfast closed at 8:30! Quickly slip into some pants, pull a shirt over my head and bolt it downstairs! Who cares about brushing your teeth or washing my face, even having the shirt on backwards; breakfast was calling! The shock on the servers face was priceless as she runs back into the kitchen to bring out the food she had already packing away from the breakfast floor. It was really nice of her to bring the rest of it back me, they could have just said no.

Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than 100 kilometers from Tokyo. Famous for hot springs, outdoor activities, natural beauty and the view of nearby Mt. Fuji.Hakone close popular destinations among Japanese looking for a break from Tokyo. No trip to Hakone would be complete without a dip at a Japanese hot springs though. If you’re planning to stay overnight, your lodgings may include bathing facilities, but if not many hotels open up their baths to visitors for around ¥500 or so. The volcanically active Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, centered around Lake Ashinoko is an all day event which takes you on a trip across the park via train, trolley, gondola and a Disney decked out pirate ship across the lake itself. Beware though, the JR pass will not provide free access to these attractions without extra cost. The first leg consists of a lot of tram transfers as they all work together to get you to the top of the mountain. Each stop has it’s own small detour consisting of food/beverage stands and a couple souvenirs shops families can look around through. As you ride the gondola up and over the final peak you will find yourself over a volcanic hot spring full of sulfur springs called the Great Boiling Valley (Owakudani). The valley is open for public viewing and if your like me traveling during the winter, the 80 degree pools make for a warm up stop. Careful though the paths are narrow and constantly filled with tours; falling into one will burn your senors before your brain gets a chance to respond in pain. Owakudani also serves up it’s own delicacy known locally as kurotamago or black-egg. The name is derived from the color of the eggshell which is black from boiling in the thermal hot spring. It is worth mentioning that while the shell is blackened, the content remains the same like in any other egg. Myth says eating one of these eggs can add seven years to your lifespan. Priced at 6 for 500 yen that’s one hell of a deal to extend life!

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January9th

Asia 2008 | Day 20 | Kyoto

Posted in: Japan, Kyoto, Travel

On my second leg in Kyoto I’ll be visiting Toji Temple, Nijo Castle, Tenruji Temple with it’s magnificent bamboo forest and finally the beautiful Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). There were a couple places I would have liked to squeeze into the schedule but my time restriction wouldn’t allow me to see it all. Just a couple minutes away from Kyoto station was the Toji Temple which clenches japans tallest wooden pagoda at five stories high.

Dated back to 768, this is one of the oldest still standing structures which I came across in Japan; and might I add the oldest and most run down unkempt structure too. Maybe if I had looked past the ugly rainy weather it could have swayed my vote, but I just found the pagoda and temple neglected . I wouldn’t recommend coming here unless you wanted to see what nature can do to a wooden building over the centuries, then you’ve came to the right place.

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January8th

Asia 2008 | Day 19 | Kyoto

Posted in: Japan, Kyoto

Kyoto, one of the most beloved places to visit in Japan. If you ask any local or tourist they would agree. Just last year the city government announced a record amount of tourists visited Kyoto for the sixth year in a row, and rated Kyoto second most beautiful city in Japan. Kyoto is rich with heritage, culture and traditional architecture; even the Japanese escape to Kyoto for their holidays.

During the night you could hear the rain pouring off the side of the roof. It was a cold morning and an even more miserable experience to wake up to. The weather had other plans though, at about 10:00am the sun started peaking in through the Shoji blinds to warm my space. I peaked out from under the blankets to feel the ray warming my skin. There’s something about the it’s energy; it happens to all of us but the feeling I get turns me into a new person. Within minutes, the energy of 10 men flows through me and I’m ready to take on the day – no matter what! I get myself ready, throw on my trusty runners and head back to the Kyoto JR station, where the Kyoto’s tourist center is located. If you’re having a hard time planning the day, just ask the staff! They will help structure your day trip(s) to fit in the attraction you’d like to see with the time you have.

The first stop was to Sanjusangendo Temple, only 15 minutes by bus from the JR station. “Sanjusangendo” means a hall with 33 bays, the number is sacred in Buddhism, for it is believed that Buddha saves mankind by disguising himself in 33 different forms. Also not to forget the most important part is the 1001 statues of Kannon-Bosatsu which are placed within it! Each as big as 5 1/2 feet tall, carved out of wood and leafed in gold. In the center, the principal image of Kannon is 11 feet tall. In front of the Kannon statues are 28 different guardian disciples of Buddha with intense expressions and impressive detail. No photography was prohibited within the temple, so I captured a couple outside to compensate. If you ran from one end of the hall to the other it would be equivalent to a 200m sprint. Took a few photos outside by the garden and set off to the next destination.

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January7th

Asia 2008 | Day 18 | Nara Park

Posted in: Japan, Nara

Today’s day trip destination was Nara Park. I was compelled to visit Nara was because of the huge population of tame deer that populate the 660 hectare park. The myth behind this city says that as the sun broke through the clouds, clearing a path that shon down on earth, a god rode down from the sky on a white deer. Ok, so I might have exaggerated a part or two, but if the story didn’t make you lift an eyebrow then I don’t know what would. The city of Nara greets and takes care of the deer, and for this reason alone it deserves a look around.

Every morning I made myself quick instant oats again, but the bland taste didn’t appeal to my taste buds today. I decided to leave a little early this morning to find a place to sit down and enjoy something other than oats and granola bars on the go. On the way to the park my eyes caught a glimpse of a Mister Donut tucked away in a shopping district across the street. My eyes instantly glazed over and my mind was forced to make an emergency detour. Having been so health-conscious throughout the trip I decided to treat myself to something nice. The selection inside was spectacular, with donuts that I’ve never seen before. The meal I ordered included chicken noodle soup, warm tea and a donut of my choice. I knew the mind was a couple steps behind the stomach because when the meal arrived so did an extra donut. The prices were right anyway, no returns were going to be made today.

Spotting a deer became as common as seeing a person when I got closer to the park. There were fences put in place for their safety, but for the most part they were accustomed to graze anywhere they felt was in their best interest. The deer were very tame and human’s attention didn’t bother them one bit. If you had the need to pet or hug them you might get away with it; although a treat might have to be sacrificed to do so. I found that if you’re going to buy food, be prepared to for a bunch of deer heads invade your personal bubble. These deer have a specialty and it’s to scare you. Don’t expect them to just roll over and say please just because you’re carrying food. From some of the pictures below, you can see the individual holding food will get chased down; even stalked! Makes for great photos!

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January6th

Asia 2008 | Day 17 | Floating Garden and Himeji

Posted in: Japan, Osaka

The Floating Garden Observatory is situated in Osaka and offers a full 360 view of the city. Because the subway was just minutes away from my hotel, I decided to make this my first stop of the morning. At Osaka’s main terminal (which is in conjunction with the JR line) I loaded up a locker with all my luggage and took only what was essential for my quick trip.

The futuristic observatory located 557ft above Osaka floated seamlessly between two towers of the Umeda Sky Building. A super fast glass elevator separated you and the outside by a thin layer of glass and transported any individual from the 3rd floor to the 32nd within seconds. You then take a enclosed escalator which bridges the two buildings before reaching a restaurant look-out and then finally the extravagant 360 open view of Osaka. The city was covered by a dense layer of cloud, making any landscape photos boring and washed out. I think it was my timing, but just as I was taking photos I got a lucky moment where the sun made it’s way from behind the cloud and showered the city with some colour and contrast. This gave my shooting subject some more colour and light to play with. From the picture below you can see how the patches of light affected the overall image.

For more about the Observatory I leave you with this link: http://www.skybldg.co.jp/garden/index.html

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January5th

Asia 2008 | Day 16 | Osaka

Posted in: Japan, Osaka

It was time to say good bye to Beijing and in a few short hours say hello to Osaka, Japan. Today’s departure was a bit of a sluggish one; rolling out of bed was the first obstacle to overcome. I missed the airport shuttle bus by a matter of only a few seconds. I was running low on time and if I were to catch the next bus I would never have made my flight in time. Cabbing was the only other alternative and I was fortunate to split my costs with another worried traveler who by luck was on the same flight as me. Now I won’t bore you with all the flight time, but I can still remember that exact moment when I first stepped into Kansai Airport. The airport was quiet; there were little other traffic besides our arrival. In the background, the ambient solo of the Shamisen (Japanese 3-stringed banjo) filled the silence. It was like a dash of salt to make the whole experience that much better.

Throughout the entire trip nowhere was I hassled by security, except today in Japan. I admit though, they made it as relaxing and friendly as possible. They were wondering what I was doing travelling through so many Asian countries over such a short period of time. Anyways, I finally actually got to try out Japan’s imfamous washlets. The heated seat by the way – BRILLIANT! I won’t get into the details but it was hard to part ways! I packed my entire luggage into a locker and took a side trip to Ruiku Pleasure Town. Back home I found out that this was where an awesome Plaza Capcom arcade was located. I tried getting myself a tour with Capcom Japan Inc, but after much searching, emails and phone calls, I was out of luck! The mall was my first taste of what Japan had to offer in terms of food and merchandise. From the pictures below you can see there was no shortage of toys. It also couldn’t have been called Pleasure Town without a huge ferris wheel spouting from the center. I was very happy to visit Capcom because they are one of my favorite video game developers. They have treated me to some of the best games ever to come out in my childhood. I hereby thank Capcom for releasing all those phenomenal games which I totally ignored my homework for and scrounged up any bits of time to build the bread and butter of the happiest memories from my childhood! I would also like to thank Plaza Capcom for not selling any souvenirs because I would’ve wiped them clean and simulatenously emptied my wallet!

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January4th

Asia 2008 | Day 15 | Great Wall and Summer Palace

Posted in: Beijing, China, Travel

Before I start, I would like to say that the Great Wall has been a place I have wanted to visit for many years! Ever since I found out about its existence in elementary school, I just had to go see it for myself. The Great Wall was the foremost reason why I even booked by Beijing ticket. You read about it in a book, drool over the photos from national geographic, and you shake your head and wonder how such a collosol structure even exists. You read about how many years it took to build it, the distance it covers, and all the people who lost their lives slaving to build it, will leave you appreciating it even more!

I read the best way to travel in Beijing was by having your own private driver. It costs more, but you get to places much faster and thus are able to accomplish a lot more in a day. Someone on Revscene.net (a board I visit periodically) left me a contact of a Beijing driver named John. I emailed John and was able book a whole day to visit the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. The morning started at 8am, and the drive out was 2hours, which of course I slept the whole way there. The Great Wall has a couple entrances; two are located very close to each other, only a couple towers away from one another. The other is hours out from the main entrances and is better suited for hikers who want trek the 4 hour journey and experience more than just a beautiful view. I did not notice until I took the trip out, but in the winter Beijing gets very dry. In the summer the Great Wall is surrounded by lushious green trees and an abundance of life, but in the winter the place looks like a desert. Trees weren’t getting any water, flowers or plant life looked non-existent and the mountains resembled piles of sand. It would have been nice to at least have some snow, but nontheless the Great Wall was everything I had ever hoped and imagined plus so much more. John had dropped me at Mutianyu entrance (one of the 3 entrances) where you can apparently buy a tobogganing ride back down (YAY!). John told me to head right because from there you can get a better view of the whole wall, but 30 minutes in you come to a stone which tells you to turn around because the rest of the way is out of bounds. I disregarded the warning and just walked around it.

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January3rd

Asia 2008 | Day 14 | Tiananmen and Forbidden City

Posted in: Beijing, China, Travel

I only reserved two days in Beijing, but I found that it was an adequate amount of time to see all the main attractions like Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, Summer Palace, and the Birds Nest. It was much too cold to stay longer anyways! The morning called for a stroll over to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City as the hotel was only a 5 minutes’ walk. The day couldn’t have gotten any better; the sun layered itself behind the misty clouds to create a nice even light. I decide to fit them both into the day as I knew photo ops were going to present themselves throughout the day.

When I arrived, for a while I just slowly paced around the guards at Tiananmen Square hoping to catch one of them yawning. I will give them this: I definetly don’t have the discipline to stand in the cold in the same spot for hours! After managing to snap a couple of shots, the guards started noticing the real reason why I was hanging around the area for so long, and concentrated even harder to stay composed and not yawn.

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