Month: October 2011

My brother, John, Ito and I came from applying for our Japanese visas this morning, which got me thinking about the unprecedented number of disasters that have struck Japan recently, from earthquakes, to tsunamis, to typhoons, to nuclear crises.  What’s admirable about the Japanese people is the way they have conducted themselves through all these calamities, truly exhibiting almost superhuman grace under extreme pressure.  Looting was unheard of, and millions of dollars worth were in fact found and returned to disaster victims and their families.  I guess this is one of the reasons why, despite all the tragedies, there are people (like us!) who still want to visit Japan. I took this photo of a tsunami warning sign last year when a tsunami seemed highly improbable Beautiful, deserted stretch of beach in Japan Just one of the whimsical tiled images found around the pretty seaside town in Japan These past few weeks, the Philippines has been struck with one typhoon after another leaving a long, flooded trail of destruction in the storms’ wake.  From Navotas to Bulacan, thousands of families were displaced and evacuated from their homes as floodwater levels rose, sometimes chest-deep or more.  Thankfully, there were many who were willing and able to extend helping hands, from the coastguards who rescued families stranded in their homes in Bulacan, to the volunteers of Angel Brigade who tirelessly packed...