another self driving trip to Japan 再次冲刺

再过几天，我与家人将会飞往日本熊野游玩。这次的行程，由靖捷安排，婧怡也会从澳大利亚飞回新加坡陪同我们一起出行。因为是一家四口，安排了11天的自驾游。

熊野县的高野山，是类似西班牙之朝圣的心灵之旅；虽说在欧洲是属于基督教形式，在日本则是佛教色彩较浓，但净化心灵的方式，应该没有宗教之分；非信徒都可以登山步行。

我们没有那么大的野心，预期只会到整个心灵之旅的起点与终点“到此一游，打卡留恋”点到为止。

from Google's official tourism website of Wakayama Prefecture

Planning for another family trip oversea next week.

This time round, we will be flying to Wakayama, south of Osaka, for sightseeing.

Cheng Yee was able to fly in from Melbourne to join us for the trip.

Cheng Jie is the one doing the planning and booking of hotel.

It will be an 11 days self driving trip round Wakayama.

Koyasan in Wakayama is famed for its pilgrimage trail (akin to Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trip in Spain) - but of course, it will be a Buddhist style in Japan.

buildings 建筑物

Evening is supposedly a good time for photography; it is called the "golden hours" because the lights are gentle, and tend to create beautiful shadows and different shades of yellow/orange hues to the surroundings.

Took snapshots of some photos - from handphone and/or camera - while walking the dog, or while driving.

傍晚时分，在遛狗或驾车时，捉拍了几张关于建筑物的照片。

没有背带纤绳的束缚 No dog harness

在新加坡遛狗时，规定需给狗狗配上背带，以防狗狗突然狂性大发，攻击旁人。我家的狗狗虽然胆怯，绝对不会干扰路人；但毕竟它的体格有点大，旁人（尤其是对惧怕狗者）难免有些疑虑，通常遛狗时，我都会替我的狗狗配上背带。

最近，在“人烟”稀少的小道，我会把那背带的纤绳取掉，鼓励狗狗在没有被牵引下，自个儿迈步前行。

有一次，碰巧那条小巷的一个角落有人在那里闲坐着，刚好与狗狗形成了一个蛮有趣的对称形象。

It is a general understanding that all dogs should be put on harnesses when roaming in the public space, lest the dogs turned wild and attack passersby.

Even though our pet dog Mantis is rather timid, and will never cause any harm to any strangers, I will still put him on harness when walking him in our neighbourhood. He is a medium size dog. Strangers who do not know him may still harbour some fear because of his mere size.

I have let him loose on several occasions, particularly when walking pass empty alley. 

Sometimes, he just sat there, refusing to move despite my coaxing.

国庆 National Day

每年的8月9日，是新加坡的国庆日。

租屋走廊围墙外一般上会挂上国旗，连河道的围栏，人行道的两旁也不能避免。

每年的国庆表演，都会来一场大型的烟花秀；据说今年的比较逊色。

往来好几年我都可以从住家的阳台远眺夜间的烟花表演，已经见怪不怪，不再去“追捧”。 （毕竟国庆前几周都会有烟花表演彩排，偶尔会因为被烟花表演的轰隆声吸引而走到阳台去观赏几回。）

除了国庆庆典及烟花表演, 最让人兴奋的莫过于四天的长假。据说新柔长堤也因为这长假而堵车（这也是见怪不怪的现象了）。

Singapore's National Day falls on 9th August.

There will be National Day Parade, followed by firework display.

In the month of August, Singapore flags are put up everywhere - in housing estates, along the road/exercise paths etc.

When we were staying in CCK, we used to drive our car to Benjamin Shears Bridge, to catch a glimpse of firework display around 8pm. Inevitably, there would be traffic police along the bridge, guiding cars away!

Since we moved to our new place of residents in Old Airport area, we could easily catch a glimpse of the firework display from our balcony. Hence, firework is not a novelty anymore.

雾霾 Haze

 

感觉上雾霾已经开始铺天盖地的慢慢侵蚀周遭的环境 （前方的高楼大厦，有点模糊）。在逐渐加剧的尔尼诺现象的双向打击下，还有即将到来的农历七月烧金银纸的惯例，看来那阴霾的气象会变本加厉。

The high rise building in the Central Business District (CBD) in front seemed to be shrouded with a layer of haze.

Looks like haze is approaching. This year, many countries are hit by El Nino heat waves - fatalities have been reported in South Korea. People in Europe are buying air- conditioning devices to cool down their homes.

With the approaching Lunar Ghost month (7th month), where many people will be burning joss sticks/papers to provide offering to their ancestors, the haze will most likely get worse before it gets better. This will be tough for people with respiratory problems/sensitive airways.

财富喷泉 Fountain of Wealth

财富喷泉，据说曾经在1998入选为吉尼斯世界纪录最大喷泉。让我印象最深的是它也被誉名为财气极旺的聚宝地带，绕着它走一圈，能把一切好运财气都聚收起来。

晚上在鲜艳夺目的七彩灯光照耀，一闪一闪的，虽说金光闪闪，但灯光照射不到之处，有点阴暗，若不是人多，倒有点阴森的感觉。

白天在阳光的照耀下，那从金黄色的青铜圆环的各个角落喷出清澈的泉水，所呈现的景象，犹如刚出浴的素颜佳人，另有一番滋味。

The iconic Fountain of Wealth, located in Suntec City, was a favourite spot in Singapore for "sampling" of ambience of wealth. However, after the arrival of Marina Bay with its iconic Rain Oculus, it kind of lost its shine.

分界线 Partition

区区一条橡胶带，便把河水的湍流分割成上下游两端。

上游水面荡漾，波光粼粼；下流则出奇的平淡，丝毫没有波动的痕迹。

皆是同一性质的事项，一旦受到外来的约束，呈现的风度景象，就会有所改变，绝然不同。就好比社会风气，往往需要法律的介入，才能稳定下来。

是湍流澎拜，朝气勃勃, 富有挑战的环境比较好，还是平淡无奇，安安稳稳的环境比较强，也许要看当局者的年龄及经历而定。

A simple partition, can create an entirely different atmosphere/environment.

Chaos cannot be controlled. But effort must be in place to keep chaos under control.

Choppy water that is full of adventure or deadpan water without any excitement - which is a better place to stay? I think as one mellowed with age, a calm place without much surprises is most likely a preferred place to stay.