LIVING Tokyo’s Skytree tower, simply awesome TOKYO, Japan: ROM THE outside, the Tokyo Skytree tower in FJapan stands almost iso- lated. At 634 -metres, it is the world’s tallest radio transmission tower dwarfing some of its contempo- raries – the 600-metre tower in Canton, China, the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada (553 metres), and even the world-famous Eiffel Tower (324 metres) in Paris, France. At its highest point, the outside air temperature is 5 degrees Celsius. The tower was built after high-rise construction negatively affected the transmission of radio and television waves across the city, and opened in 2012. On the day I visited as a part of a group of journalists, wide sheets of slow moving wispy clouds seemed to hug the area around the tower. Regardless, by the time we had got to the 450 meter mark up the tower, the view below was still spectacular. Tokyo lay below us like tiny pieces of a jigsaw puzzle or a miniature toy town set and we were in awe. To make up for the grey out- look, we were given a treat; fitted with 3-D visors, we were given a Photo by Amitabh Sharma virtual tour - a chance to experi- View of Tokyo from Tembo Deck on 350th floor of Tokyo Sky Tree. ence being ‘outside’ alongside a professional window cleaner as he to stay inside instead of evacuat- triangular beams attached to its worked on the large windows, ing should there be an earth- concrete walls. connected by safety pulleys and quake. The triangular beams and cen- cables. “If there is an earthquake, it tre column absorb the energy of The oohs and aahs kept coming could be one of the safest places in the force during a quake, and as the our ‘partner’, washed and the world to be when that hap- while it will sway, the measure wiped his way across the large pens,” Megumi Onuma, the chief prevents the building from crum- windows, and yes, we all gripped publications officer of the Tobu bling under its own weight. our seats, holding on for dear life. Corporation, which built the struc- Onuma says the technology allows But safety is literally at the ture at a cost of more than 1.4 bil- Skytree to reduce the effects of a heart of the Skytree design. lion yen. quake by almost 50 per cent. Representatives say the tower was Skytree was designed incorporat- Today, it remains one of the coun- built to withstand even a large ing a special thick steel column try’s premier tourist attractions, earthquake measuring over 5.0 which runs through the centre of drawing more than four million magnitude on the Richter scale, to the structure up to 400 metres all visitors annually for what is truly the extent that persons are asked connected to specially designed an awesome experience. What’s your view? Let us hear from you. Email: [email protected] Photo Courtesy JTB Media Creation A panoramic view of the metropolis of Tokyo with the Tokyo Skytree standing tall over the city THE WEEKLY GLEANER NOVEMBER 16 - 22, 2017 • 9 living Glenda Anderson Gleaner Reporter KYOTO, Japan: DDiissccoovveerriinngg Photo by Floyd K. ERHAPS IF I hadn’t Takeuchi/Waka Photos stumbled into Tokyo, Japan, a little after Miso soup with wakame P (seaweed) and diced tofu 4:00 p.m. bleary-eyed and tthhee ssiimmppllee and vegetables; and green dazed from a 13-hour journey from Dallas, Texas tea. USA, I would have never discovered one of the joys of country’s delightful little joys of powerhouse of a meal. Yes, I had eaten my way across the Pacific Ocean (you know things are going to be mmiissoo ssoouupp special when you are given hot towels midair to clean up before a meal). But still over, filled her up, settled when I landed at Narita and was pleasantly International, I needed two surprised. things; a warm beverage and Miso soup, a thin, mild a bed to fall into. flavored broth is very I found the bed first, a popular as a breakfast item, wide flat number looking and its ingredients I’m told something like a double and are staples of Japanese single pushed together, just kitchens. Miso itself is a high enough from the floor paste made from fermented not to hurt yourself should soy beans, rice koji (cooked you fall off. Perfect. rice mixed with a mold to The warm I found last, speed up the fermentation), literally, at the end of my salt, rice and barley. meal. I spotted the cauldron It varies from a whitish first and thought, oh great! color to dark brown, Soup. I love soups. I charged depending on how long it has been aged. A cook can Miso soup will vary as you under one ton of rocks, convenient formats. And in consumed by royalty, but add a variety of ingredients, work your way across which folklore says not even either case, just add hot later as persons learnt about and most often it will Japan. In Tokyo, miso soup hurricanes can shift. water. its energy-giving, and health include cubed tofu (a firm, tends to be a darker variety. Today, though, you don’t Although miso is central benefits, it was used by the mild soybean product) and Here in historic Kyoto, need to have access to a ton to Japanese life and is wider society. It is said that seaweed. Japan’s ancient capital, of rocks to enjoy miso soup. served as a daily item no the samurai – traditional Delicate, almost like a tea. culinary tradition dictates It’s available as a freeze- matter the meal, its history Japanese warriors – even But it also has a nuanced that miso is of the whitish dried product, or in a is that is of Chinese, adopted it as a staple part of richness, savory from the variety. packet in powdered form. brought to Japan by their diet. Today, miso is a miso paste and the If done the traditional way, Add-ons such as seaweed, Buddhist monks. simple way to get a traditional Japanese dashi, a miso paste is made in a two- freeze-dried tofu squares, Since it is made from rice, nutritious, economically complex flavored broth. And ton handmade cedar barrel and others ingredients are it was originally considered priced, and easy ‘go-to meal’ yes, you may drink straight with the cooked ingredients also included in these a luxury item and only meal or comfort food. from the bowl. left to ferment and cure What’s your view? Let us hear from you. Email: [email protected] Enjoy Trelawny’s Bunkers Hill Xperience DESPITE A myriad challenges, culture and history remain an integral part of life in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, thanks to the Bunkers Hill Cultural Xperience, an entity devoted to keeping the history alive and exploiting its tourism potential. The five-acre property, which houses the Bunkers Hill Cultural Xperience, is a peaceful, lush green surrounding, which is enhanced by the colourful trees and shrubbery, near the Tangle River. The property, which is jointly managed by the husband and wife team of O’Brian and Clover Gordon, was opened in July. “We are here to uplift the community, and Kadeem Petgrave (forefront) and Simier Lansend (far we want everybody to see the vision so they right) at Bunker’s Hill, Trelawny, with Boston College can jump on board,” said Clover. “We students. strongly believe that Bunkers Hill can be one of the best community tourist attractions in Jamaica.” The history on display comprises several bamboo and thatched structures, similar to the dwellings of the Taino natives, who lived in the area centuries ago. There are also several small caves at the site, which were used by the Tainos and later by the Maroons. Part of the experience is a guided tour to the neighbouring ruins of the former Dromilly Great House. Despite challenges such as the bad roads leading into the community, the Gordons are completely focused on making the attraction, which offer Jamaica food and drinks, a The Falls at Two Hills is situated a few minutes from beautiful waterfall, wedding facilities, and a Bunkers Hill, Trellawny. botanical garden, among other attractions, a success. products that we use on the property come One of the objectives of the operators is to from the community,” said Gordon. forge a partnership with the residents of “We see this as a social enterprise, and we Bunkers Hill and the surrounding want the community to have a say in what communities to ensure that they, too, can we do here. All the staff members that we enjoy some of the benefits. employ are from Bunkers Hill, Dromilly, and “Ninety per cent of the food and other surrounding areas.” 10 • NOVEMBER 16 - 22, 2017 THE WEEKLY GLEANER.