Author Archives: Bri Duncan

The Library of the Park Hyatt Tokyo

Posted on November 25th, 2013 by

Lost in Translation

I love the film Lost in Translation with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Part of the wonderfulness of the setting is that so much of it takes place at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. It truly is a special hotel that made my stay in Tokyo all the more punctuated. In many ways it was a microcosm of my feelings towards the city of Tokyo itself. I was constantly surprised by how gracious the Japanese people are and here I am not talking specifically about the hotel, but rather ordinary people on the street. Perhaps it was my ignorance of protocol, I take a when in doubt bow attitude which I think confused many people. Despite my constant barrage of flubs, everyone remained simply gracious.

The Library

When you go to a hotel they have a library…right? Of course, all hotels have a library! I knew about this feature of the hotel going in, but I recall being utterly surprised on hearing that in the space poor and constantly moving city of Tokyo, the Park Hyatt decided to dedicate a considerable amount of space to books. I was particularly fascinated with one tome that I passed every day entitled, Ces arbres qui font la France. C’est magnifique à Tokyo!

The Library of the Park Hyatt Tokyo
The Library of the Park Hyatt Tokyo by W. Brian Duncan

Tokyo International Forum

Posted on November 21st, 2013 by

Simply Wonderful

When I visit a new city, I go online and do a search for the best photographic opportunities. I can generally fill my days to the brim with interesting places and it’s always a challenge to decide which locations get sunrise and sunset. Sometimes this is eased by weather, for if it will be cloudy, there will be no sunrise. In my search for Tokyo, one place kept coming up over and over…The Tokyo International Forum. This center is a multipurpose meeting space of sorts on a grand scale. I stopped by one night and was immediately in love with the space. There is just so much going on, such simplicity, but yet such wonderful attention to detail. I don’t know many of the particulars of Rafael Viñoly design, but the nautical influence is impossible to miss. The building looks as though it was constructed from pieces of what should have been a massive ship, but rather, these by some twist of fate simply ended up being affixed to the island of Japan.

Tokyo International Forum
Tokyo International Forum by W. Brian Duncan

Barrels of Sake

Posted on November 18th, 2013 by

Sake In Strange Places

Honestly sake isn’t really my thing. I have had it numerous times before and perhaps I just haven’t found the right kind, but it seems very much like vodka to me…I am not sure why anyone would drink it straight. These barrels are at the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Yes shrine…these are an offering to the deities of the shrine. It is a tradition that has gone on for generations.

Barrels of Sake
Barrels of Sake by W. Brian Duncan

Pudong at Night

Posted on November 14th, 2013 by

Night Walking

Walking at night is easy in Asia since we Westerner’s land with a 12 hour out-of-whackness built in to our circadian rhythms. Today’s photo is of Pudong, a very new area of Shanghai. So new there is a gif created about the last 26 years of development … it is stunning. I particularly liked the raided pedestrian walkway above the street that went all over by my hotel, the mall, by Oriental-Pearl-Tower, etc.

Pudong Gif
Pudong at Night
Pudong at Night by W. Brian Duncan

Yuyuan Garden

Posted on November 11th, 2013 by

Yu Garden

This is just one of the endless scenic little areas in Yuyuan Garden. Don’t get me wrong this place is a tourist trap! It’s not so much that it is expensive or people are trying to sell you something (well there is the tea house), but it’s the throngs of tourists. SO MANY TOURISTS. I luckily got there very early in the day and they were really starting to arrive just as I was preparing to leave.

It Confuses Ghosts

In ancient Chinese mythology, evil spirits can only travel in a straight line. As such much of the design of this Ming Dynasty era temple winds around in some crazy ways. I literally got lost multiple times trying to find one of the more popular areas! I walked by the Grand Rockery with the intent to come back, but after wandering around for 40 minutes I was never able to find it again. I briefly considered I might be myself an evil spirit, but then discounted that notion since I am so sweet!

Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden by W. Brian Duncan

Hotel Greeters

Posted on November 7th, 2013 by

Ni Hao!

A quick photo for today, but I just loved these guys. The greeted me every time I entered the elevator area of the Park Hyatt in Shanghai, China. It’s probably a silly little thing, but this little art piece somehow made me feel welcome and made me smile every time I saw them.

Hotel Greeters
Hotel Greeters by W. Brian Duncan

Monument to the People’s Heroes

Posted on November 4th, 2013 by

China

My first night in Shanghai was spent wandering The Bund’s promenade with tons of other people. It’s a wonderful space to walk and take in a spectacular view of Pudong (where I was staying). You see the subject of today’s photo walking up and down the length of The Bund. It sits on a point which aids in its visibility. I had no idea at the time what it was for, but I got the idea walking around. The circular wall surrounding the tower is sunk below the Earth and its quite a wonderful experience because the sounds of Shanghai fade abruptly away. I really loved Shanghai…for many reasons, it wasn’t at all what I expected which is one of the things I love most about travel.

Monument to the People's Heroes
Monument to the People’s Heroes by W. Brian Duncan

Hiding from a Monster

Posted on October 31st, 2013 by

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has a spooktacular Halloween…are you dressing up or handing out candy? I don’t think I will be doing either this year.

The Monster

I could only imagine what it must have been like to hide from one of these beasts. This relic can be found in the Natural History Museum in Paris. They have a wonderful collection of bones, but if you have dust allergies be forewarned this place smells as old as the bones it contains. Somehow that seemed really fitting when I was there.

Hiding from a Monster
Hiding from a Monster by W. Brian Duncan

Lanai Lookout Oahu

Posted on October 28th, 2013 by

Pulling off the Highway

I kept thinking…don’t make me stop this car…while driving around Ohau. The problem isn’t screaming kids in the back, but rather gorgeous views that are ALL over the island. Driving around the coast (or anywhere really) there always seems to be a new terrain, some new rock formation, a different type of beach to take in. It takes me FOREVER to get anywhere, but them again, on island time I don’t much care!

Lookout

This particular location is called Lanai Lookout. If you hop over the fence (normal in Hawaii for me) you are presented with a really wonderful rock formation where you can see the ocean eating away a layers of ancient, now cooled but once molten rock. Someone had spent a good deal of time in this spot and took the time to carve some sort of sun sigil in the stone formation.

Lanai Lookout Oahu
Lanai Lookout Oahu by W. Brian Duncan

Gritty Times Square

Posted on October 24th, 2013 by

Bright Lights, Big City

Oh Times Square. I visited in the early 90’s with my Mother and a friend…it was a much different place then. Mayor Giuliani in the mid-90’s decided to clean up all the adult novelty shops and strip clubs. When walked through we had previously visited Saks Fifth Avenue. We each had purchased something from the iconic store to say we had. A man in Time Square started yelling and following us.

“Ain’t nobody sleeping up on Fifth Avenue is they ladies!”

The whole time I was thinking…hey I’m not a lady! Anyway, Times Square is a very nice place to go at night these days as it’s almost as bright as day with all the signs. I tried to get some grit into the scene though as NYC seems like it should be a bit gritty.

Gritty Times Square
Gritty Times Square by W. Brian Duncan