Christmas in Tokyo

During every Christmas season, many spectators gather at the "Zerosuta Hiroba," located on the B2 floor of the Nittele Plaza in Shiodome, to view a gorgeous candle tree. The tree, which has become one of the favorite seasonal sights in the area, is designed according to the year's theme color, which was yellow last year and is still unknown for this year until the candles are lit. A romantic illumination throughout the building of the Nittele Plaza also fills the space with gentle brightness. Visitors who participate in lighting candles will receive a commemorative gift. (source: Tokyo Toursim)
Tags: Nittele Plaza, Shiodome, Zerosuta Hiroba, Tokyo, Christmas, Christmas Tree, Tokyo Tourism

Giant Squid @ Japan

In this photo released by Tsunemi Kubodera, a researcher with Japan's National Science Museum ("NSM"), showed a rare 26-feet long giant squid attacking a bait squid being pulled up by his research team off the Ogasawara Islands, south of Tokyo, on 4 Dec 2006. The research team, led by Kubodera who is the Chief Of Division Of Invertebrate Zoology of NSM, has succeeded in filming the giant squid live, possibly for the first time, at the surface as they captured it off the remote island of Chichijima, which is about 960 kilometers (600 miles) southeast of Tokyo. (source: AP Photo/Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum of Japan, HO) Tags: Giant Squid, Japan, National Science Museum, Tsunemi Kubodera, Ogasawara Islands, Chichijima

NORAD Tracks Santa

A website has been launched to track down Santa's movement from North Pole to any part of the world. Strategic placements of powerful radar system and ultra hi-tech Santa cams have been properly linked to the NORAD system.

How NORAD tracks Santa? You can read it here and here. The Ironton Tribune has also written a similar article. Not only that, it seems that Santa has obtained a NGA Toy Delivery System X-100. This specialized geospatial-intelligence product was specifically formatted to let Santa create quick and easy routes around the globe using this new navigation system.

Click here to track Santa LIVE!

Tags: NORAD, Santa, North Pole, Ironton Tribune, NGA, Christmas, Technology

Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun

Looks like the world may see the world's biggest pyramid ever built. This time it's not in Egypt anymore but found in Visoko, Bosnia. Further studies / exploration / research will be conducted to determine its built-up. Passsageways, ground composition, tunnels and ancient artefacts will be main targets. Indications via satellite have shown that there could be 4 pyramids there. Wow!!!

This pyramid is at least one-third taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt (this could spell real history for Egpyt's pyramids when Bosnia's pyramids have been fully established).

International fund are coming in from World Heritage Sites, UNESCO, the European Commission for Culture and others (governmental/private). Meantime, the Bosnian authorities has put in place a 5 Yrs Plan of Reseach 2006 to 2010. More details are found in the website dedicated to this Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun.

If you are the adventurous type and keen to find out on your own fast, travel arrangements could be made with Sol Azur Travel, Sarajevo. Truly, Bosnia is a nice/beautiful country.
Tags: Bosnia Pyramid of the Sun, Bosnia, Visoki, Visoko, Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt, UNESCO, European Commission for Culture, Sol Azur, Sarajevo

Trip Down South IV

When we see this 4 hills, the project site is about 15 mins away.

The cows just crossed the road before us. Generally, the locals here will rare cows, goats & lambs coupled with some simple plantation to be sold.

Arrival at the site.

My room and toilet. Comparison to my room in Khartoum. This are just basic amenities to survive.

Along the corridor of custom made containers turned into containers.

Met our colleague, Muzaffar (with cap), who has been at site since beginning of the project.


This is the office cabin. Practically empty as it's nearing the end of the project and those who are still around would be at the project site during office hours.

To be continued

Tags: Journal, Diary, Life, Sudan, Travel

Christmas in Vietnam

Vietnamese women sell roast dog at a streetcorner market in Hanoi. Dogs, bats, Kentucky Fried Chicken and barramundi will be served on tables, much contrast to turkeys being served in developed/western countries (source: Claro Cortes IV/Reuters)

Five-Star Luxury Loo

A new five-star, ladies' toilet is about to open with a £5 entry fee. The luxury powder room, called WC 1, aims to offer the most glamorous comfort break imaginable for time-poor, cash-rich shoppers and busy career women. There's a reception area; relaxing music plays in each of the 19 cubicles and, with the thoughtful installation of "considerate lighting".

The 4,000 sq ft central London sanctuary will have a bouncer on the door to prevent overcrowding and will provide hair dryers, straightening irons, high-end toiletries and cubicles vast enough for patrons to change into a ball gown, if necessary. Beyond the cubicles, there is a sumptuous marble-floored powder room with huge mirrors and super-comfortable vanity stools. Every possible toilette emergency has been considered in the £1 million fit and everything from spare tights to toothbrushes to make-up kits and aromatherapy oils will be on sale.

Visitors with more than a few moments and a little more cash to spare can also have a mini-makeover or a restorative hand or foot massage. At WC 1, each loo is air-conditioned and is sterilised after every use so that it is pristine for every visitor. (source: Telegraph UK)
Tags: Luxury, Lifestyle, Toilet, Washroom, Loo, London, Entry Fee, Telegraph