Tree - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park / Japan (Sun 16 Sep 2012)

Tree - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (*) / Japan (Sun 16 Sep 2012)
Maria Popova (*) writes (*):

I woke up this morning to discover a tiny birch tree rising amidst my city quasi-garden, having overcome unthinkable odds to float its seed over heaps of concrete and glass, and begin a life in a meager oasis of soil. And I thought, "my god", what a miracle. What magic. What a reminder that life does not await permission to be lived.

A beautiful tree grows just near the A-Bomb Dome (*), the Hypocenter (*) of the Nuclear Bomb (*). It was so peaceful in the canopy of this beautiful tree, which has grown out of the destruction of this incomprehendable event.

Car Park - Asakusa / Toyko (Thu 20 Sep 2012)

Car Park - Asakusa / Toyko (Thu 20 Sep 2012)
One of my favourites from the trip.

If this is it (Solo Acoutsic) - Newton Faulkner / YouTube (June 2009)

"If this is it" (*) by Newton Faulkner (*) [YouTube (*)]
Live at Cheltenham Town Hall - solo acoustic gig June 2009.

If this is it: Lyrics

No one move,
No one speak,
Please don't say that it's just me, it's not just me.
And even though I wont forget,
Just don't want this to end just yet, not just yet.

And if I had one chance to freeze time
And stand still and soak in everything,
I'd choose right now.
And if I had one night where sunshine could break through and show you everything,
I'd choose right now,

If this is it, all we have,
I know I've done all I can,
If this is it.
And we can't stop, and start again
We can't fast forward to the end
This is it.

And if I had one chance to freeze time
And stand still and soak in everything,
I'd choose right now.
And if I had one night where sunshine could break through and show you everything,
I'd choose right now,

I can take the slings and stones and fire,
Because I know you’ll make it all worth while,
Every time I fold, dissolve, I’m lying on the ground,
You drag me up again, and again,

Before the fears that I once had start coming back... again.
Oh please come back again... again,
Oh please come back again,
Oh please come back again.

And I'm so scared I might forget,
Just don't want this to end just yet,
Not just yet.

But if I had one chance to freeze time
And stand still and soak in everything,
I'd choose right now.
And if I had one night with sunshine to break through and show you everything,
I'd choose right now,
Before the fears that I once had start coming back... again.

Jenny - St George Private Hospital [11:48am (*) / Tue 23 Jun 2009 (*)]

Best of London 2012 - If this is it / Newton Faulkner (YouTube)

Best of London 2012 - If this is it / Newton Faulkner [YouTube (*)]
Amazing and inspirational footage. A beautiful song aptly applied - could be used for all aspects of our lives. I've got some ideas already.

Music: "If this is it" (*) by Newton Faulkner (*).

Fire Hydrant - Times Square / Shinjuku / Tokyo (Sat 21 Sep 2012)

Fire Hydrant - Times Square / Shinjuku / Tokyo (Sat 21 Sep 2012)
Drawn to this banal scene by the shadow of the chain and the little bit of red

Umbrella - Times Square / Shinjuku (Sat 22 Sep 2012)

Umbrella - Times Square / Shinjuku (Sat 22 Sep 2012)
The light was very nice here - soft and even.

Gangnam Style - PSY / Youtube

Gangnam Style (*) - PSY (*) / Youtube (*)
Was the tune while we were there in the first week of September.

Closing Medal Presentation - 10th Asian Dragon Boat Championships - YouTube (*) - Busan / Korea (Sun 09 Sep 2012)