54 Floors



Jason in the sun, originally uploaded by courtney johnston.

It’s nice that I’m on this adventure with someone who understands my need to go to every tower and observation deck around.

Buddha at Senso-ji



Buddha at Senso-ji, originally uploaded by courtney johnston.

As with all of Tokyo, there are a mass of people screaming and eating and buying China produced goods less than 100 yards away but in the presence of Buddha in temple gardens the madness always feels miles away.

Shinjuku at night

If I have a second home it’s wandering Shinjuku at night.

West of this you get lost in bar after karaoke bar and bright lights so deep that you lose all sense of direction. Listen for the train. The Yamanote line runs between that chaos and the station and when you cross under the elevated tracks the Jumbo pachinko sign will be your guide home.

(Taken with NightCamera iPhone app)

2009 Travels

Las Vegas, NV February 12-15
Denver, CO April 25-26
Ocean Shores, WA May 3
Portland, OR May 22-24
San Francisco, CA May 29-31 (Maker Faire!)
Little Rock, AR October 2-3
Tulsa, OK October 3-4
Denver, CO October 23-25
Tokyo, Japan November 21-29

I really stretched those 10 vacation days this year into something.