Masking up? Again? Uhm...

 

It appears that a Covid variant is rather rampant again. We have been asked to use facemasks in order to spread the virus. 

Fine! BUT! Since the pandemic, many (I wish I could confirm all, but I am not malling enough) shopping malls have opted to dismantle their motion sensors for the doors and to use these buttons instead. Yeah, great! Now everyone dashing out of the toilet not washing their hands will fumble around with this. There is no sanitiser in sight, never ever have I seen anyone giving these buttons a wipe. Great news for viruses I guess. I am applying a different tactic: I wait for someone else to manage this so I don't have to touch these petri dishes.

Meanwhile, the hand sanitiser is also a rare appearance at the immigration counters of the airport. There I would have to place my fingers on a scanner to have my finger prints taken. Needless to say that there would at any given time been hundreds of others placing their fingers there....

Here I was, remembering two year's worth of articles telling me not to touch surfaces as that is where the Covid lurks. 

I Know Where it is!

 

Trying something different, we headed to a Mexicans place near the office on Friday after work. Despite being called an Undisclosed Location, it is easy to find and to our surprise, there is even ample parking space. Food is somewhat of a different take on the traditional dishes. 

The Brontaco was a bit of a surprise that had us giggling for a bit. First time we tried Mezcal, which is similar to Tequila, but very different altogether. Recommended as a long drink. 

Visiting ISUZU Plaza

Opened in 2017 as part of the celebrations of the 80^th anniversary of the establishment of ISUZU Motors, ISUZU Plaza opened next to the Fujisawa plant as a museum and showcase of the brand’s philosophy and future plans. It is obviously a must-visit for any truck enthusiast visiting Tokyo.

History
To understand the current philosophy of the brand, one would need to understand the heritage of the product and the surrounding area. Having left an imprint on the vehicles, the history of the city of Fujisawa is equally important. The entrance area of the ISUZU Plaza offers educational exhibits to provide the background to the brand behind the trucks and buses.

ISUZU Vintage Collection
Stepping back in time, visitors will be able to get up close to the iconic trucks that ISUZU has produced in the past. Among the collection of vintage vehicles is a Wolseley CP, the first ever truck manufactured by ISUZU. Scattered throughout the museum are other vintage vehicles, engines and other artefacts telling the story of the brand.

Truck Manufacturing
A strong emphasis is placed on the production capability of ISUZU. A highlight is a miniature model of the production line, which allows visitors to see what an assembly line for commercial vehicles looks like. Together with the miniature diorama and interactive booths, like the spray paint station, let the visitor gain an understanding of how the parts come together and make transportation work.

Take-away
Besides knowledge and understanding gained from the visit to the ISUZU Plaza, one can take home souvenirs and practical items from the merchandise shop. An assortment of toys, tools and quirky items can be obtained. Collectors may find interesting model trucks and buses to add to their inventory.

THE highlights of the visit could well be the miniature diorama and the fact that guides speaking impeccable English make the visit a memorable one.

Getting there

IMPORTANT: A reservation two days in advance may be required. Check website https://www.isuzu.co.jp/world/plaza/ before you go.

You can get to the ISUZU Plaza by train. Get off at the Shonandai station on Odakyu Enoshima Line, Sotetsu Izumino Line or Yokohama Munincipal Subway Blue Line. A free shuttle bus is available from Shonandai station. On foot, it is an easy walk of about 900 meters.

Godzilla Minus One: Upping the Game in Filmmaking

Galivanting around Tokyo, I found myself wondering about Shinjuku. With a bit of time on my hands, I headed to the Toho Cinema where Godzilla Minus One was playing in a variety of versions. With versions, I am referring to audio-visual experiences. For the first time, I got to experience a movie in 4D. Means, you sit on a bench, similar like a fun fair ride, strobes and air vents in arm rests. With the visuals, the bench moves, pitches and jerks, in sync with what is happening on the screen. Air or little sprays of water being pumped your way make for an "immersive" experience. 

As for the movie. Well, it is Godzilla. As a fan of the King of Monsters, one kinda knows what will go down. I ended up with the enhanced audio and visual, but sans English subtitles. The entire movie was in Japanese. 

However.

This must have been one of only a handful movies you can watch without understanding a word and still know what is going on. It is also a movie that engrosses you from the first to the last of 122 minutes. There isn't a boring moment. Slow, yes. But never boring. And the slow bits are needed to build tension and they simply make sense. There isn't much bombast as one might find in the Hollywood interpretations. This Godzilla movie is labelled as the scariest of the series and half way through, one will know why. Oh yeah! Gojira is BACK! 

As widely reported, the movie was made with a relatively small budget. It has since grossed a lot of money. I am only afraid that it will not get the recognition it deserves internationally. Yes, it is a Japanese setting, but it is very much like any movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor would be set in the US. 

Going to see it again when it shows here in Malaysia. 

Walking in Shanghai

We hit the ground running in Shanghai. It was perfect weather for explorations. A bit of research told us that the French Concession is THE place to check out. With beautifully restored heritage buildings, tree-lined roads and lots to see, this was a perfect day out. 

Jacqueline had her first ever mulled wine. I could not have been happier with the concoction that https://www.instagram.com/boxingcatbrewery/?hl=en put out. That cinnamon and orange was the perfect addition to the drink and it tasted just right for a second. And third. 

I skip the pictures from the Bund (at night). There are plenty out there. Instead, I offer the view from the club lounge of The Westin. On a whim, we changed the hotel to be closer to the Bund and this was the perfect location and hotel. They added a promo for the club lounge and that was totally worth it. Rooms were moderately sized, but extra cozy and also very smartly designed. Bathtub! Yah!

How Did They do It?

We went back to Mudtrekkers for a round of Paintball. This is me after only 2 sessions. Each one lasting max 7 mins, but typically, a game is over much faster. This got me thinking: how did soldiers manage during WWII out here. We had fans and this was just a fun outing. Soaked through and panting, I could not help but admire what it might have taken to fight in jungle settings back then. Also, them paint balls HURT (don't look to closely where I got hit). 

Day Trip to Hakone

 

Just 2 hours out of Tokio one will find Hakone, a rather picturesque part of Japan where there is a lot to see and do. Historically, this part of Japan used to be a thoroughfare for trade and along the old routes one will find a lot of infrastructure that would have supported businesses back in the days. Tour guides will typically explain all that, including the issue with stations being set up to control the movement of weapons into Tokyo (Should have paid more attention to the details I guess). 

A must-see is the Lake Ashi, which is a caldera lake and resort area with boat tours, hot springs, accommodation and with a bit of luck views of Mt Fuji. Around the lake one will find a number of interesting activities: cable cars, hot springs, shopping, local food stuffs and shrines. If your everyday ferry is too boring, you can try a swan-shaped pedal boat or you join Jack Sparrow over there.

A quick ride on a cable car will deposit holidaymakers and scientists at the visitors center perched on the rim of the still "active" volcano. Sulphur smoke is billowing out from the soil and one can only hope for strong winds to blow the stinky clouds away. A surreal landscape, invites creativity with your toys you bring along...

Then you have an egg-flavoured soft ice cream and head back to Tokyo for some more delicious food!