Take time to stop and smell the flowers

We weren't able to get out and go today so here are some reruns and some not previously viewed photos from Tokyo.  By the way, I learned what Tokyo means today.  To means east and kyo means capital so there you have it!
  Here's Elder Chandler (Gary) in winter attire in front of a very skinny building.  This isn't unusual; there are many skinny buildings which are fit in small spaces here. It might be nice to have some of that cool weather again as it is very hot and humid outside today.  (Think cool!)  
Actually, yesterday, we were supposed to get some of the huge typhoon but, fortunately, it died before it got to Tokyo.  This morning there was an earthquake which we must have kind of felt as we both woke up around 4:20. right after the earthquake.  Then at 4:30, Gary's phone started yelling an alert as did loudspeakers outside of our apartment for a Tsunami warning that is automatically set off by sensors in the ocean when there is could be a Tsunami after an earthquake. You may be interested to know that Japan has the most advanced warning system of any country.  Fortunately, the tsunami also didn't happen except for a few inches near the seashore.  It was kind of exciting in a bad way, though, wondering what the warning was about as sometimes these warnings go off just before a big earthquake, too.

Here is more of this and that: Someone worshiping at a shrine.

These are single plants that are shaped as they are grown.  So beautiful!

The flowers here are amazing.  Japanese gardeners are the best in the world both for flowers and vegetables!.

Thinking of buying a new car?  Not!

Two little boys that we saw on their way to school as we were walking one morning.  Most of the children wear uniforms to school.

This is how I feel some days.

The temples and shrines are so beautiful and intricate.

A family posing in kimonos.

Bonsai trees

Here's a closeup of a tiny village in the Bonzai trees. (See photo above)

Here's a very wonderful person, Mieko, who is also a great Japanese teacher.  Unfortunately, some of us can't remember what we are taught.

The ceiling in one of the shrines was painted so beautifully.

I really liked this sweet little boy in traditional Japanese clothing.

Everywhere you go there are water and  pop machines, cigarette machines, etc. (There is a terrible smoking problem here and they really should get rid of the cigarette machines. )
If there is a small space, there is a machine. We figure that we should keep change around and if there is ever a disaster, there will be plenty of liquid we can buy.

Here is a store that only sells plastic food like you see in front of restaurants here.  (I'm wondering if they are buying plastic food for their homes? This wouldn't make for good food storage, though.)

Here are some murals on the Chinese embassy wall not far from our apartment.

More murals.  They have lots and lots of guards around their embassy. All guards are Japanese but most embassies don't have any guards here.  The Japanese really don't seem to like the Chinese much.  They will go down the street with loudspeakers protesting something about the Chinese.

Here's a good view of the Tokyo tower.

Here we are in front of the Tokyo temple; this is one of our very favorite places to go and we attend a session each week.

The temple has some beautiful flowers, too.  Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers.
Also, it's fun to post links; see another beautiful (LDS) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Washington DC.          

A drone flew over the temple and a video was made from the flights.  See this by clicking on the link below.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865606575/Drone-flies-over-LDS-Washington-DCTemple-captures-a-unique-view.html?pg=all