Meeting Ram and Krish Kulkarni in Tokyo

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 32mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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Old Friends

“old” as in “since a long time ago”, and “old” as in “old farts”

I made a weekend trip to Tokyo to visit two old friends also visiting Tokyo, brothers Ram and Krish Kulkarni. (“Ram”, short for
“Ramchandera”, rhymes with “prom”)

Ram has been my best friend for 30 years, since grad school at the University of New Hampshire. When I then moved to Japan, his twin brother Krish, who was at the time a graduate
student at the University of Tokyo, picked me up at the airport.

When I got married almost 20 years ago, Ram was living near Mt. Fuji and came down to Kyoto to be my
best man. Fumie and I were at his wedding in Ahmedabad, India, the previous year.

I hadn't seen Ram since a visit to his house three years ago. I hadn't
seen Krish since a visit at Kyoto Station as he was passing through the year prior to that.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/800 sec, f/5, ISO 100 —
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Snowy Mountains of Shiga

from the window of the bullet train

I never tire of looking out the window of a bullet train to watch
the countryside pass at 300kph (185mph). I thought I'd done various “out the window of a bullet train” posts in the past,
but at the moment the only ones I can find are
this and this.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/320 sec, f/6.3, ISO 160 —
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Inviting Temple

nestled near the top of the mountain

taken while moving at 258 kph (160 mph)

These kind of scenes catch my eye as I think of the lovely road that must lead up to it. In the case of this temple,
it turns out that there are three routes up, including this Strava segment. The location is a ways beyond where the cycling races were held the other day... I should be able to get there in about two hours. (It had taken the train 12 minutes.)

I didn't do much in Tokyo except hang out with Ram, Krish, and Akemi, Krish's friend of 30 years who kindly let us crash at her
place for the duration. But we did go out for a walk one day.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/8, ISO 280 —
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Little Inari Shrine

not quite a dazzling as its Kyoto parent shrine








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 28mm — 1/125 sec, f/8, ISO 110 —
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Out-of-Focus Tokyo Tower

rushing during the red light, I screwed up what could have been a nice photo opportunity








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 2000 —
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Ginza Dusk








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/3.5, ISO 4500 —
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Food Arrives

at the Raj Mahal Restaurant, Ginza Tokyo

Ram got along famously with the waiter, or so it seemed from their happy animated banter in Hindi. Thankfully for me, the
waiter also spoke Japanese and English.

I know little about Indian food, so I was happy to let Ram and Krish order, and was not disappointed. We all agreed that it was
very, very good.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/3.5, ISO 5600 —
map & image data — nearby photos








Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 44mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 4000 —
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Sweet Chai

a most splendid end to the meal

Krish currently lives in India, while Ram is currently on long-term assignment in Europe, so we never know when we'll be able
to meet, but with both of them, the years melt away when we get together, so whenever it is, this meeting will feel like
yesterday.