一期一会

If there's one thing I can describe cherry blossoms with, that's gonna be:

一期一会   

one time, one meeting

I mean, cherry blossoms are so short-lived, probably a week or two, but people still look forward to it every year. Well maybe, that's probably partly why. It's limited edition, if you miss it, you'll have to wait another year.

Not wanting to miss it and also probably my last cherry blossom hurrah this spring, the beau and I went to a new park in my list last weekend. I don't often go to Kita-ku but went out of my way there to visit  Asukayama Park, a few minutes walk from JR Oji Station. 

Why that park, you'd ask. For one, it's not that big like Showa Kinen Park (aka my favorite park in Japan) but it's not too small that I can still roam around and stay for a few hours. Second, the park houses museums, three museums, if I'm not mistaken. Third, it is famous for cherry blossoms. Lastly, the big playground (my mental age is showing hahahaha)!

So yeah, look on~

Girls girls girls

On the way to Asukayama Park

One can enter the park in three ways: one using the stairs, one going up the slope along the road, and through this cable car elevator. We chose the first.

Cherry blossoms~

We were lucky we were able to witness a traditional Japanese dance practice for a matsuri/festival, I believe~

Lovely, lovely sight~ 

The beau and I watched them for a pretty while.

Ichiyo x kanzan maybe


My favorite: yaezakura (this is the kanzan variety, if I'm not mistaken heh~)

Child: What is this human doing?

At some point I wanted to try this giant sand castle slide out but I was too shy to mix in with the kids haha! Next time, maybe!

There were lots of animal chairs like this squirrel! There were two trains as well but at this point I was too full of train thingies already so I didn't take any photos lol!


Another yaezakura

lol 
This is me during mid-week, tired af

So dreamy~

Ending this post with a compilation of clips I impulsively took that day at the park. May the cherry blossoms remind you to seize the day and grab every opportunity coming your way!

Asukayama Park (飛鳥山公園)

1-1-3 Oji, Kita-ku, Tokyo

Oji Station South Exit, 1min on foot

Free entrance

Another side

Kanina, sinabi ni Sir-nakalimutan-ko-ang-pangalan (isang forester), 2% na lang daw ang forests dito sa Pilipinas. Wala na daw forests dito na “virgin”, meaning, unexplored at hindi pa natatapakan ng kahit sino. Sinabi din niya na nung 1989 daw nung pumasok siya sa UPLB ay walang mga puno sa Freedom Park at sa may paakyat ng Forestry. Ang “buntis” trees malapit sa may Never-ending Bridge ay noong 1993 lang itinanim. Mabilis lang naman daw ang regeneration rate. So sabi naman ni Dr. Cardenas (prof namin sa Economic Botany) yung 2% na forest cover sa bansa ay kaya pang palakihin. Kaya naman daw palang mabawi kung tataniman.

Umiling si Sir-nakalimutan-ko-ang-pangalan at sabay sabing nagtrabaho siya dati sa ****, at doon, ang ginagawa nilang reforestation ay sa pamamagitan ng tulong ng community malapit sa target area. For 5 years, yung community na yun ang kinontrata na mag-aalaga sa area: magtatanim at kung anu-anu pa. Pero dahil nga pag naging successful na yung regeneration sa area na yun at kailangan nang i-turn over sa gobyerno, mawawalan ang mga tao sa community na yun ng trabaho, kaya bilang solusyon, sinusunog ulit nila yung area na inalagaan nila. Back to scratch.

Nakakalungkot lang isipin na ganon. Oo, naiintindihan kong salat tayo sa yaman kung pera at pera lang din ang usapan, salat tayo sa matitino at high-paying na trabaho. Pero bakit hanggang sa extent na yun? Wala akong masumbat dahil ako sa sarili ko, ay hindi naman isang self-confessed nature advocate. Pero nalulungkot ako na ganyan yung mentalidad. Sa halip na ilang porsyento na ng Philippine forests ang na-regain natin, na-hi-hinder pa ang full recovery dahil sa mga ganoong aksyon, na sorry pero para sa akin ay medyo makasarili.

Kung gusto natin ng maayos na mundo, unahin nating ayusin ang tingin natin sa mundo. Wala tayong mararating lahat kung patuloy na maghihilahan pababa.

First glance at Angat Dam. Oh, the blue waters.

The floating house where we had lunch.

A fish ornament adorning the floating house

My room mates during the whole Bio159 trip
L-R: Leine, Nalie, yours truly, Yna, Abbie and Hannah

My Bio 159 case study groupmates, our backs on the Angat Dam
L-R: Kaye, Abbie, yours truly and Josiah