a post-typhoon Postcard from Yatsugatake
Hello friend,
I’m listening to the wild twists and turns of the furin (lit. wind bell) hanging on our balcony as Typhoon No 7 passes over Japan’s main island. It’s the sound of summers past, with a chorus of cicadas in the background. (Usually a gentle twinkling sound, though!)
I’m back from some morning cycling, having tried my luck with the weather. The hourly forecast has been accurate this week — it just changes very quickly — and there was to be a 3hr window between rainfalls. On a clear day, this area offers panoramic views of the Southern Japanese Alps and Mt Fuji. Today, I was glad to be out testing the roads with our brand new eBike and to come home dry. There was 500m of elevation but this is a snap with an electric assist. A 20km loop calls for the exertion level of a morning stroll... which will be a different story once I figure out how to get a road bike up here!
This was a step towards re-writing my mental map of the area, to get a sense of geography beyond fuzzy impressions from the back of a car. I'm hoping to get in three more rides this week. Clearer skies ahead.
I'm savoring my time here, in this little corner of the country where AQ is slowly putting down roots, type-to-be-determined. I like being able to leave, too. Leaving, so that I can come back again. The act of coming back, again and again, is what will make a place home for me.
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Cool projects by friends
Greg has released Quiche Browser, a minimal, customizable web browser for iOS. I do like a tool with a point of view.
Tamas and co. have relaunched the WhoCards website with a new design and 14 languages. My team at AQ contributed to the Japanese version.
Kathleen, who's been running 'connect and grow' events for UXR leaders, has set up a Luma page so people can sign up for the latest news.
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If you're in a holiday mood, what's on your mind? Curious about what you're doing or not doing...
Talk soon,
Tomomi
Higashizawa Bridge aka The Red Bridge in the mist.
Previous installment, posted end of August: a Postcard from Malaysia Truly Asia.