TOKYODV Video Log

Skin, skirts, boots. Gawkers, hawkers, iPods, and telephoto lenses.. Gull-wing doors, independently-wheeled steering, and non-stick gas pedals (maybe)..

“The latest in Toyota’s family of ‘Fine’ fuel cell show cars, the Fine-X is a small, four-seat minivan concept with massive gullwing doors. It features a compact fuel-cell hybrid powertrain, which drives electric motors in each of the four wheels.

Besides the exotic propulsion system, the Fine-X is also unusual in that each wheel can steer independently, through as much as 90 degrees, for extraordinary maneuverability.

But the Fine-X’s biggest party trick is that it can rotate on its own axis a full 360 degrees…” from here.
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Scenes from a robot expo in Yokohama, Japan. Celebrating Astro Boy’s 50th anniversary, this expo focused on cute, entertaining robots. Featuring Honda Asimo, Sony Qrio, and the cyclops Neon.
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Fuel-cell, yoke controller, swivel chairs, high boots, short shorts.. Toyota-roulette accelerator not included.. (hopefully)

“… The Fine-N’s overall package consist of a low-flat floor with the length of a Corolla, but with a cabin even more spacious than the luxurious sedan Lexus LS430. The vehicle employs four in-wheel motors in an innovative “cabin on wheels” configuration. Key to the fresh proportions of this ground-hugging, long-wheelbase-to-length design is Toyota’s fuel cell hybrid technology, which allows freedom from conventional power train layout constraints so that individually electric-powered wheels can be positioned nearly at the vehicle’s four corners. With a spacious interior cabin, a cockpit fit for your driving environment, interactive controls and gauges, and a large multi-information display, and a video camera, the Fine-N is truly designed with focus on driving requirements.

As a pioneer in making practical fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHV), Toyota now shows the way to an even more advanced fuel cell hybrid system… Electric power from the Toyota FC Stack and a lithium ion battery drives a motor to power the vehicle, delivering acceleration on a par with a gasoline engine vehicle.” from here.
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One of the shows at Baan Boran in Koh Samui, Thailand. The Baan Boran serves fancy Thai dishes while you watch traditional Thai dances.

This particular routine is called Khon (Thai Classical Masked Play):

“This scene has been picked from the episode of Nang Loi (The Floating Lady); the demon-king Ravana needs to end the battle (Yuddha Kanda). He demands Nang Benjakaya transform into Princess Sita’s dead corpse floating before the royal pavilion of Prince Rama.

But Hanuman is curious and beseeches to test the corpse with fire. Nang Benjakaya cannot stand the heat and attempts to flee, but Hanuman captures her to present before Rama.

This scene is reputed for courting, apprehending, poetry, music, and dance; the entertainment of entrapment between the two characters.”.
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One of the many dance routines at the Baan Boran in Koh Samui, Thailand. An evening of fancy Thai cuisine with traditional Thai dances.

This is clip from the Sri Chai Singha Dance:

“An archaic dance created and modified from the imagination of the Bayon Apsara Dance on Khmer murals; the Cambodian Ancient Era. The women’s style and steps with the music display the grace and elegance of the heavenly damsels (apsaras).”
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Related – baanboran-thaicuisine.com

A good friend had seats three rows from the Dohyo. A great view looking up at the wrestlers. Aside from my aching knees, it was a perfect day. Here’s a video nugget from the event.
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Some sights and sounds at one of the many Samba Festivals in Japan. Why Samba in Japan? Actually, it’s probably a case of cultural backflow from Japanese emigrants; there are more than 1.4 million Japanese descendants living in Brazil..

Feathers, beads, and booties.. Dancing? I guess you could call it that..
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