22 January - 5 February and 8 February - 20 February.
JAKARTA: 'Biasa' they say here - as usual. This is one of the places where I wage my personal intellectual war against the market-fundamentalism - system which already consumed this unlucky country from head to toe. What happened during one month that I lived here? Traffic jams got even worse, pollution unbearable. There were floods despite inauguration of (badly designed) Eastern Flood canal. City Planning Agency opened new City Planning Gallery which nobody can find and which is not offering any solution to the imminent collapse of the city, anyway. Biasa. Corruption got worse. Statue of Obama who spent some time as a child here was removed (not because his outrageous foreign policy, but because
he is not really Indonesian, it seems). Chinese people were at least allowed to celebrate Chinese New Year/Spring Festival - great progress considering that under Suharto everything Chinese was banned, including language, dragons and cakes. But don't count on tolerance (only western mass media speaks about Indonesian tolerance, anyway) - Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf is now available everywhere - in Bahasa Indonesia and in English. And mosques are broadcasting all that is happening inside, in some neighborhoods well over 6 hours a day. You better be like the majority, or else. Biasa.

It seems that if turbo-capitalist territory will continue like this, there will soon be no water left between Hong Kong
Island and Kowloon - developers have apparently only profit on their mind. There are rumors that even old magnificent Star Ferry may  eventually disappear. Hong Kong could probably learn one or two things about city planning from the mainland Communist China.

11-18 January
I had to work on my documentary film, to film my French publisher (who is also my friend and outstanding philosopher), to discuss my book, to go to London and discuss other book projects... and naturally eat well, walk at east 20 kilometers a day and visit several exhibitions.

Collecting images to illustrate causes and results of climate change all over the world, I couldn't avoid Shiohama in Mie
Prefecture, known for its truly outrageous industrial landscape."

TOKYO. I had a chance to cover incredible artistic event: old French embassy was closing down, moving down the street to the new building. French know how to throw party and again they didn't disappoint anybody this time: the old compound was transformed for several months to enormous art gallery for funky graffiti artists, mainly from France and Japan. Even ladies toilets, Ambassador's office and communication center were not spared.

HIROSHIMA is synonymous with the nuclear devastation, horror of war and brutality of the victorious empire. But Hiroshima recovered and has much to offer: from its vibrant art scene, to historic sites in its vicinity (including Miajima) and excellent cuisine.

KOBE: 6th largest city in Japan with 1.5 million inhabitants. Known for its cosmopolitan flair, tender beef and hot springs.