tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post2778091975719671978..comments2023-09-06T05:48:05.398-06:00Comments on Terry's Place: ImagineTerry Odellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-60967951653418600492010-09-05T10:48:54.975-06:002010-09-05T10:48:54.975-06:00I've seen several tent/tarp cities in Osaka ci...I've seen several tent/tarp cities in Osaka city parks and they aren't inviting. They remind me of Robin Hood and his not so merry men camping out. I feel for them, but respect their privacy and situation. Unfortunately, there are problems like this everywhere in the world.Mark W. Danielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127689413680147200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-9215042915323547852010-09-02T04:03:02.131-06:002010-09-02T04:03:02.131-06:00Mark, it's interesting you should have mention...Mark, it's interesting you should have mentioned basement train stations and fires. Years ago, the subways linking stations were prime real estate and lined with shops. A terrible fire in an Osaka underground shopping mall forced the Japanese government to put a freeze on all new projects. It could be that, with improved technology, such malls are now relatively safe, and the ban may have been lifted, but I can't say I've noticed any new ones on the routes I normally use.<br /><br />Osaka is surely ultra-modern, but it also has a few notorious ghettos of untouchables and homeless day labourers. These areas are ruled by the mob and no-go for the police. There's a similar ghetto in Yokohama, my home town. On race days you can see the streets lined with bookies taking bets, and not a policeman in sight. Such areas have names familiar to locals, but not listed on official maps.<br /><br />A tourist walking through such an area would probably be be safe but highly unwelcome.Judhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06655631638867333878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-80327918443984491522010-09-01T08:14:18.394-06:002010-09-01T08:14:18.394-06:00Jud, Osaka, like so many Japanese cities, is ultra...Jud, Osaka, like so many Japanese cities, is ultra modern. I always feel safe walking in Japan. Its people are friendly. Everything is clean. Having said that, it's not easy finding your way out of a basement train station as no signs are in English. No arrows, either. None of the train station employees or security people spoke English. It took me fifteen minutes to find blue sky one day. I suppose if there was a fire, I could have followed the herd to safey:)Mark W. Danielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127689413680147200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-10054298838290773672010-08-31T20:36:37.935-06:002010-08-31T20:36:37.935-06:00Mark: I lived in Osaka in 1972 and haven't bee...Mark: I lived in Osaka in 1972 and haven't been back since (apart from zipping through it on the bullet train two or three times a year), so the photo of the skyscraper was a revelation. I had to spend about ten minutes online, looking at photos of dozens of skyscrapers until I found a match. <br /><br />Becoming a pilot was the first of my dream careers, soon abandoned because of my short-sightedness. One of my Japanese friends is a retired flight dispatcher who loves to talk about his experiences, so I haven't completely lost touch with my dream.Judhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06655631638867333878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-46502472331965849522010-08-31T20:10:39.613-06:002010-08-31T20:10:39.613-06:00Thank you all for your comments. I continue to be...Thank you all for your comments. I continue to be blessed with a loving wife, good health, and good friends. Flying, writing and painting will always be part of my life.Mark W. Danielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127689413680147200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-23463255159612831092010-08-31T19:01:57.888-06:002010-08-31T19:01:57.888-06:00Thanks to all for stopping by and leaving comments...Thanks to all for stopping by and leaving comments. Looks like Mark is flying off somewhere today, but I know he'll read and appreciate them.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-92175274765614282752010-08-31T15:41:37.199-06:002010-08-31T15:41:37.199-06:00Such a heartwarming post! I love the sky as Utopia...Such a heartwarming post! I love the sky as Utopia.<br /><br />And, yes, smiles are contagious:)Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-79990253484378067892010-08-31T15:13:18.143-06:002010-08-31T15:13:18.143-06:00What a beautiful post. "Imagine." Thank ...What a beautiful post. "Imagine." Thank you.Sheila Deethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13465615546936319164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-27417481018819536592010-08-31T10:17:34.789-06:002010-08-31T10:17:34.789-06:00Mark, this is a wonderful post with excellent phot...Mark, this is a wonderful post with excellent photos. Well done. And thanks to Terry for the feature. I'm getting the urge to go somewhere new...<br /><br /><a href="http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Patricia</a>Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-61907779415063057152010-08-31T07:41:21.477-06:002010-08-31T07:41:21.477-06:00Wow - what incredible experiences! Beautiful photo...Wow - what incredible experiences! Beautiful photos and stories. Thanks so much for sharing!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-28029357105678824962010-08-31T06:39:29.384-06:002010-08-31T06:39:29.384-06:00What an amazing life you've had. It's got...What an amazing life you've had. It's got to be an education in tolerance to travel as extensively as you have. Best of luck with your suspense novels...Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.com