Minor Detail: Vienna in Early 2017, Pt. 1
Fragments captured while walking the city on the short days of late winter and early spring.
Tokyo 2
The inherent beauty of Japan is how it first seems to contradict itself constantly, but the more you get to know the country and its people, the more it shapes into a whole and harmonious picture. Why are the streets so clean, you may wonder, yet there is no concept of public bins. Well, people don’t produce waste on the go, and if they do, they take it with them because it ain’t the public’s business. There is a firm idea of the collective, yet there is enough place for individuality and creative expression. Most and foremost, Japanese culture is firmly rooted in the past and very forward-looking. This may seem like the biggest contradiction, but it all makes sense when traveling to this intriguing and fascinating country and getting to know its many inhabitants.
The Far East
The most astounding thing about the Far East, as I experienced it in Japan, is that it is a busy place with people and cars everywhere you look, but still, it is impossibly quiet and calm at the same time. There is hardly any shouting on the sidewalks and beeping on the streets. Even cyclists won’t beep when passing by closely but will somewhat slow down. There is an essential sense of courtesy and carefulness in play here that can seem very foreign to a Westerner. Of course, the culture is closely linked to the religions of the region, mainly Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan. So, the feeling of quietness and serenity can be best understood in and around religious temples and shrines, which also tend to be beautiful.
Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the largest cities on earth. It is a megacity in every sense of the word, where you can get easily lost in the masses of people, where motorways pile level upon level, and the skyscrapers seem to touch the sky. It is a marveling sculpture of steel, concrete, and glass. Also, it is where you get fantastic sushi, buy robots, and visit cat cafes. Last but not least, Tokyo is the home of fourteen million humans. Faces you merely pass by tell stories of lives in this strange but enchanting megacity.
Bicycles of Japan
Sure, in terms of bicycles, there are far more crazy places worldwide, like Amsterdam, Kopenhagen, and some other Asian spots. But still, Japanese people seem to love their bikes; you see businessmen, older people, and teenagers alike riding the streets with style and grace (although they are tired sometimes). A collage.
Europe in Monochrome
Pictures taken in Austria, Albania and Hungary.
Michael Hoffman Photography 