The Freedom Bridge linking Afganistan to Uzbekistan

When it was Communist is common in this region, Soviet Army entered and evacuated to and from Afghanistan through this bridges. Now US military goods has hauled by train trough this bridge. In general this bridge is protected by US an Uzbek army, and the access road is also blocked at the intersection near Termez.

The hotel in Paris intoroduced by an Armenian

I met an Armenia French at Club restaurant located at Tumniyan Street, Yerevan. Indeed he is owner of Europe Hotel in Yerevan and also owns a hotel in Paris. He described hotel name and address in Paris on a paper and gave it to me.

Hotel name is Hotel Pavillion Monceau in 17th Arrondissement (district) and I should try it.

Hotel Pavillion Monceau
43 rue Jouffroy d'Abbans, 17. Palais des Congrès, 75017
 
http://www.pavillon-monceau.com/

Where is Lufthansa office in Asuncison, Paraguay?

It is long story to find Lufthansa in Asuncion, Paraguay. I requested to my assistant to find Lufthansa office  a few month ago, because I came to Asuncion by Lufthansa and TAM. It is common sense to keep an information of Lufthansa office in Asuncion. But nothing happened for a while and replied there is no Lufthansa office in Asuncion and TAM is taking care of Lufthansa ticket. This repeated twice and a little progress was seen that Lufthansa is now dealing with cargo only.

How can I relay on this. There is a representative of Lufthansa called Lufthansa City Center as follows:

Lufthansa City Center (viajesdelsol)
Ave. Gral. Santos y Concordia Complejo Santos
Tel. 021-205 009
http://www.viajesdelsollcc.com/

Lufthansa Reservierungsbüros:  Argentinien
Name    Lufthansa Reservierung
Stadt    Buenos Aires
Telefon    (+54) 11 5354 2333
Telefax    (+54) 11 4313 1092
Öffnungszeiten    
Öffnungszeiten: Montag - Freitag 9:00 Uhr - 18:00 Uhr

MetroBus (diesel) or Electric Rail, Asuncion

It is hot topic in Asuncion, it was argued at congress whether the government should blow the fund for introduction of trunk bus system called MetroBus.  Consequently the suite was passed and Asuncion's MetroBus stepped ahead.

The point of argument is why it is diesel bus introduction instead of electric rail or bus system, or Light Rail. Taking in consideration of Paraguay's conditions to access to energy source, electricity is chosen reasonably. Because of Itaip HPP and Yacyreta HPP.

If natural gas, it is also reasonable, but this is no resource near by. Both diesel and natural gas have to be imported.

If natural gas or electricity, it is much more clean than diesel engine bus.
http://www.abc.com.py/nota/el-metrobus-no-resolvera-el-caotico-trafico-asunceno/

The total project cost is USD160 million,  of this total, USD115 million for a loan from the IDB and USD18 million from OFID (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries for International Development). The rest, USD35 mil. is provided by the Government of Paraguay.

The loan are divided by two part;
1) USD62.4 million loan for a 30-year term with a six-year grace period and a LIBOR-based interest rate;
2) USD15.6 million loan for a 40-year term, with a 40-year grace period and 0.25% interest, and

3) USD47 million loan for a 25-year term, with a five-year grace period and a LIBOR-based interest rate.

OFID's loan condition would be non-concessional.


IDB has approved credit line for this transport project
http://www.iadb.org/en/news/news-releases/2010-09-30/paraguay-to-improve-urban-infrastructure-and-public-transportation-idb,8092.html

Fukuoka Ryokan in Yguaz, Paraguay

There is no sign, but everybody knows there is an accommodation here. This is so-called Ryokan, which means pensione in Spanish, located at the heart of Yguaz Japanese Colony in Paraguay. Fukuoka Ryokan serves Bed and Breakfast with Japanese style. You can not imagine that you will be serve as Japanese style in the mid south American continent. This Ryokan is run bu Mr. and Mrs Fukuoka with very at home hospitality. 

They serve also Goemon-buro, which is old jananese style bath upon a request. It is very important facility for this accommodation even it is rather samll bath tab.

Dinner is also served by request and it is Japanese normally. Fish dish, Tofu, some vegetable, Japanese pickles, miso soup and steam rice are served. Breakfast is also similar Japanese style.

The room that assigned to me was twin room with TV, NHK was showing, refrigerator, shower and toilet, clean towels. My iPhone detected Wi-Fi, but I did not ask that it is for guests or not.

There is a super market run by Iguaz Agricultural Cooperative near by. You can find some Japanese foods, for example rice cultivated in Igazu Colonial. Before the supermarket you will pass by a park with red color shrine gate, Torii.

Fukuoka Ryokan

Ruta 7 Km41, Yguazu – Alto Parana

Tel: +595-632-20214

(PYG 148,000 /night)

Inc. breakfast and internet.

Boeing 767 touches down without wheels in Warsaw

Poland crash landing: Boeing 767 touches down without wheels in Warsaw

A Boeing 767 from Newark, New Jersey with 230 passengers onboard made an emergency landing in Warsaw after its landing gear failed to open. The plane landed on its belly without its wheels. None of the passengers was injured. The pilots circled above the airport for about an hour before crash landing after they discovered a problem with landing gear. A fire brigade laid out special material with fire-fighting substances for the plane to land on. Passengers rushed out of the plane.

東日本震災地支援 豆腐１００万丁 Support for the Earthquake Victems in Japan by Japansese Paraguyan

1 million Tofu project for the earthquake victims in Japan by Japanese immigrants in Paraguay. The immigrants donated soy beans which equivalent for 1 million Toufu and USD 120,000, the cost of Tofu producing fee. 

Gialinks based in Gifu prefecture has supported this project and arranging producing Tofu, currentlly number of Tofu produced is arround half million.

 

http://www.gialinks.jp/tofu100mancho.html

"ICON" Asuncion's Tallest Building アスンシオンで最も高いビル

Why pencil building in Asuncion?

http://www.icono.com.py/

It is a very symbolic building in Asunción, in other word, it is one of the strange or mysterious thing in Asunción.The tower called Icon is 136 meters with 37 floors. 32 houses and 5 other purpose room are included.

http://www.skyscraperlife.com/paraguay/13681-edificio-icono-en-asuncion.html

ジャカランダの花弁とスペイン通り Jakaranda's Petals at Avenida Espana, Asuncion

Avenida Espana near by ANDE, there are some Jakaranda trees and these light violet petals were scattered on the pedestrian way after some rain.

At a Cafe, Asuncion 大統領府前のカフェ

There is a cafe in front of Presidential Office in Centro. The cafe is a part of city's building and there are some public facilities including museum, library, and exhibition space, etc. The cafe serves Paraguayan light meals.

Rainy Day, Asuncion アスンシオンは雨

This is 1st of October, Saturday and it is raining. I just finished my breakfast here.

A Church on the Hill of Aregua, Paraguay 丘の上のアレグアの教会

Former my boss invited to go some where else near by Asuncion after my arrival in Asuncion. The first stop was on a top of the hill. There was a church there and a lake was seen further from the hill.

I entered to the church and petals were spread on the red carpet. Perhaps wedding was done that morning I believed. I did not know that where I am and I asked his assistant Nadia. Then I got it that we were in Aregua, famous in pottery industry.

petal

Japanese War Prisoner of WW2 in USSR

This maps show concentration camps where Japanese War prisoners of WW2 were forced to serve for former Soviet Union (USSR) just right after the ending war. In total 650,000 solders were sent to almost entire USSR territory, 65,000 died, 10% of total. They had been kept more than five year as longer case.

In this regard, Japanese War Prisoners' cemeteries are scattered in former Soviet Union. I visited some of them in Uzbekistan. Main cemetery is located in Yakkasaray Cemetery of Tashkent. Perhaps know one knows that Japanese War Prisoners had been sent to Kutaishi, Georgia. Now an arterial road project financed by Japanese Government is on-going.

羽田-インチョンが毎日運航開始 Asiana Airline launched Haneda-Incheon daily flight

This sign was at JR Shibuya Station that Asiana is going to serve direct flight from Haneda to Incheon Airport. It is pretty good service.

JR渋谷駅ホームにあった広告、2011年7月23日より羽田-インチョンが毎日運航という案内でした。

Wedding colors by Henna

Henna (Lawsonia inermis, also called mignonette tree) is a flowering plant used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather and wool.

http://dailynewsagency.com/2011/07/16/beautiful_indian_brides/

Henna, body painting color.