Photographs from a small group of islands
After producing another Tokyo Times post positively peppered with puns and liberally laden with laughable alliteration, there’s arguably nothing better than getting some good head to relieve the rigours of writing.
Leaving one refreshed, relieved,
and looking just a little bit ludicrous.
For the management team left in charge of somehow steering the doomed Sports World holiday complex away from disaster, the final few years can’t have been much fun, and, as highlighted in Part 1, they didn’t exactly hang around when it all inevitably ended in disappointment.
There again, the rest of the staff it would seem were similarly swift to say sayonara, leaving rooms for the taking to anybody that now turns up.
Although those that do will have to nestle down with nature,
with a few of the balconies now offering far more greenery than guests may feel is good for them.
Still, the view, while a little wild, is still welcoming.
Even if it is a far cry from its much more pristine past.
And, as far as indoor amenities go, it’s a similarly sorry story, with the pool not even passable for paddling.
However, that’s not to say it hasn’t managed to retain a certain ambience of sorts, making it a nice place to sit — albeit silently — in the sun.
The restaurant on the other hand is really just a wreck,
and meals of any kind are completely off the menu.
That said, those of a considerably more cleanly nature are surprisingly still catered for,
although the showers which, as well as being in a state of disarray, are also decidedly disquieting.
As is the gym, which now arguably resembles a medieval torture chamber,
rather than a modern-ish amenity.
In the third and final part, there are images of Sports World’s huge outdoor facilities, with more ‘now and then’ pictures, including a few salvaged snaps of some of the former, and foreign, staff. Plus, for anyone who missed it and may be interested, part 1 is here.
With its noise, neon and never-ending parade of people, Tokyo can be a very tiring city to say the least.
Then add the almost unnerving nearness of (possibly noisy) neighbours into the mix, and sleep can become a particularly precious prize indeed, meaning that regardless of how uncomfortable or cramped the conditions may be, practically any possibility of a power nap can’t be easily passed up.
Ever.
After hours of painstaking research involving a loiter and a leisurely look around, it seems fair to say that there are now far more carefully clothed canines than kimonos in the Japanese capital.
A finding that appears to prove that the so-called pet boom is now officially far more than a fleeting fad, meaning maybe ‘movement’ would be a much better moniker. A word that not only describes Japan’s new found devotion to diminutive dogs, but also the fear non-fans have of their faeces.
Although that said, the new plan of putting plasters over their posteriors in public to stop them from pooing may prove to be perfect.
As the vast majority of Japanese have decidedly less than bulbous and almost button-like beaks, those of us with more noticeable (although I prefer noble) noses are often treated to comments concerning our sensationally ‘tall’ snouts.
However, while being endlessly entertaining, this fascination with facial features may also stem from envy, as supersizing one’s nose is seemingly sought after in some circles, with this painful looking product supposedly offering the hope of some height.
Along with a somewhat heightened sense of humiliation.