Stay curious

Thursday, October 15, 2026

Train/bus travel in JP

Train - Essential rules of thumb

* Try to always hold on strap/bar due to possible train abrupt trembling

* Aware of stepping on others' skirt as walking on stairs

* Avoid walking on escalators as much as possible, if you must, always go on the right side (except Osaka/Kansai maybe, where folks stand on the right, walk on the left)

* Wear bag on your chest, not your back inside the train Or Holding it by hands

-> To minimize consumed space

* (On the platform) DO NOT stand, walk too close to the rail, especially when trains arrive or pass by!

* Same line, NOT all trains stop at the same stations (during the day vs late night) + NOT all trains reach the same final station!

* Normally go on the left, either on flat paths, or stairs BUT some can give inverse instructions, for which always keep looking out!

Get on trains

* Which train line

* Which platform

* Which direction, final destination

* Which gosha, car train for optimal exit or transit between lines

Get off trains

* Left or right

* Which gate

* Which exit

To be updated...

Night train

https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/night-trains-sunrise-express

https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/sunrise-seto.html

Shinkansen

https://www.japan-bullettrain.com

Bus

* とまる / とまります button (Stop)

Inside the bus, notice the red button (on poles) named とまる / とまります (Tomarimasu, meaning Stop) in case you want to get off at the very next stop (so the driver will open the door, otherwise, it may not like just stop shortly then go on)

Cards

SUICA, ICOCA, SUGOCA, etc. cards can be purchased at any station.

Note: Only Suica cards having name printed on the card can be registered to Mobile Suica app.

Mobile Apps

* JR

https://www.jreast-app.jp

* JRE Point

https://www.jrepoint.jp/point/app

* Mobile Suica

Android: https://www.jreast.co.jp/mobilesuica

iOS: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/welcomesuicamobile

* Others

https://www.jreast.co.jp/en/smtapps

Refs

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2230.html

https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/japan-train-etiquette

https://japan-bullettrain.com

https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/traveling-by-rail

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html

https://japanrailpass.net/en

https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/japanese-trains

Japan - Travel gdoc

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Universe

1:46:54 What's the Biggest Advice You Have for Me?

To Seek vs to Create meanings

To Seek Questions vs Solutions

Favors are meant to be, more importantly, paid forward then spread, not always back.

True education encourages/sparks/intrigues and sustains curiosity!

To the youngsters: Living life itself!

Quotes

"At no time should you overvalue your own thoughts!"

“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.

The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.

If your personal beliefs deny what's objectively true about the world, then they're more accurately called personal delusions."

"The power and beauty of physical laws is that they apply everywhere, whether or not you choose to believe in them."

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Jar of Life

Inspired by: "First Things First", Stephen Covey, co-authored with A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca R. Merrill

Source: https://real-rich.org/1982/01

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full.. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions – Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained. Your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else — The small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So…
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

The same goes for life.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first — The things that really matter.Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked’.😄

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’