Everything In Its Proper Place

Namba, Osaka, Japan

When you live in the Philippines and travel to a country like Japan, you will realize how stark the differences are between the two countries. In Japan everything is in its proper place and everything is done with method and order. There are many things in that country that I wish the Philippines also has – things like umbrellas in individual umbrella stands, heated toilet seats, bathrooms that also work as clothes driers, ICOCA, bagging your own groceries, house slippers, bathroom slippers, trains that are never late, TV in the bath, unlimited green tea at every meal, push button crosswalk signals, spotlessly clean sidewalks devoid of vendors, beggars, and street urchins, shops without security guards, bicycles for rent, vending machines that can be found everywhere, bento boxes, bus drivers wearing pristine white gloves, the absence of chatter and unnecessary noise in buses and trains.