Monthly Archives: April 2025

Me and Magdalena

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Me and Magdalena

verse

Me and Magdalena

We′re driving south through Monterey

As the sun is slowly sinking

Into a distant ocean wave

chorus

And I don’t know if I′ve ever loved any other

Half as much as I do in this light she’s under

verse

Tell me, Magdalena

What do you see in the depths of your night?

Do you see a long-lost father?

Does he hold you with the hands you remember as a child?

chorus

But know everything lost will be recovered

When you drift into the arms of the undiscovered

And I don’t know if I′ve ever loved any other

Half as much as I do in this light she′s under

bridge

Me and Magdalena

Always leaving early and sleeping late

Secluded in the canyon

Lost within a turn of fate

chorus

But know everything lost will be recovered

When you drift into the arms of the undiscovered

And I don’t know if I′ve ever loved any other

Half as much as I do in this light she’s under

Writer: Benjamin Gibbard, Performed by The Monkees

The Story Behind “Me & Magdalena” by The Monkees and Why Ben Gibbard Called Writing It “the Greatest Honor of My Career”

One to practice, learn and play

Music

Penguin Walk

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The Penguin Walk at Asahiyama Zoo occurs twice daily during the Winter months. It’s a popular event. Since the entrance fee oisonly 1,000JPY (approx $7USD/€7) I can see why.

The Penguins process slowly along a route around the zoo allowing visitors to get very close to them. As you can see from my video:

Asahiyama Zoo, Hokkaido, Japan

Video not loading/playing? try this link.

The penguin walk event usually starts in December depending on snow cover and is held twice daily: at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. It is usually only held once at day at 11am in March until around mid-March when the snow melts. The penguins can only do the parade if there is snow.

Getting there: Take bus numbers 41, 42 or 47 from Asahikawa Station. The journey takes about 40 minutes and costs 700 yen (about $3.50USD). Normally, there are 2 buses per hour. To take the bus, board via the door in the middle of the bus, take a ticket from the yellow machine and pay on exit by presenting the ticket to the driver.

Alternatively, driving takes about half an hour, the taxi fare is approximately 7,000 yen (just under $50USD).

Handy websites:

Asahiyama Zoo @ Asahikawa City web site https://www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/index.html

also:

https://hokkaido.a4jp.com/asahiyama-zoo

Location:

Tags: Travel, Travel-pics