I leave Japan specifically and Asia genrally tomorrow (April 12) at 620PM. I land in Vancouver tomorrow (April 12) at 11AM or thereabouts.
FUN! Bonus day for me. I'd better make the most of it. One of my April 12s will be spent sitting around at an airport unfortunately because Giuliana has to work and I'd rather sit at an airport than carry my bag around all day. Hopefully the other one will be spent on something constructive like struggling desperately to stay awake.
No last big proclamations for my literally hundreds of readers. Just if you're thinking about it, do it. SE Asia is pretty darned cheap and a lot of fun. The worst thing that can happen is you hate everything and just want to go home. But really that's pretty good because then you can tell yourself without a doubt that SE Asia (or at least certain parts because everywhere is very very different) is just not for you, and you can gain a better appreciation of whatever part of this rock you came from. If you don't like that place either?
Eat a lot of condensed milk and buy my book!!!! (whenever it gets written/published)
Monday, April 11, 2005
my one complaint
I'm going to try avoiding any grand assesments of Jaoan or the Japanese, as there are lots of those stereotypes of the culture and people floating around, and I don't need to reiterate. I will say though that if you ever some here be aware of the theiry that Japanese people are aware of teh stereotypes that the rest of the world holds and on soe level encourages a lot of them to seem more different. Just something I've read, and been looking for, but interesting to think about.
Anyway...my one complaint. When I was walking to the wrestling show the roads immediately surrounding teh Imperial palace were all closed (4-6 lanes so lots of empty tarmac.) Very good idea I thought, nice pedestrian Sunday. The only problem was if anyone went to walk across the road at a place that wasn't a normal pedestrian crossing or began to cross without the walking green man showing they were bellowed at by men with orange "staff" vests and megaphones. I'm sure it sounded worse than it was because of an apparent J perpensity to have to say a lot to express a little, but still.
Why close down the roads if people still have to cluster around lights and wait patiently, while staring at an empty road. Was it the cyclists tjat seemed to be spaced about 100m apart (not many in other words)? I don't know. But that kind of senseless "You must follow the rules" business can bug me, and I was tempted to walk across the road just for the heck of it. When he started yelling I wouldn't understand, but I could fake that so to realy make my point I should have run around in a circle with my arms out making airplane noises. Darn it!!!! Why didn't I do that.
Oh well we can't live our lives in the past can we?
Anyway...my one complaint. When I was walking to the wrestling show the roads immediately surrounding teh Imperial palace were all closed (4-6 lanes so lots of empty tarmac.) Very good idea I thought, nice pedestrian Sunday. The only problem was if anyone went to walk across the road at a place that wasn't a normal pedestrian crossing or began to cross without the walking green man showing they were bellowed at by men with orange "staff" vests and megaphones. I'm sure it sounded worse than it was because of an apparent J perpensity to have to say a lot to express a little, but still.
Why close down the roads if people still have to cluster around lights and wait patiently, while staring at an empty road. Was it the cyclists tjat seemed to be spaced about 100m apart (not many in other words)? I don't know. But that kind of senseless "You must follow the rules" business can bug me, and I was tempted to walk across the road just for the heck of it. When he started yelling I wouldn't understand, but I could fake that so to realy make my point I should have run around in a circle with my arms out making airplane noises. Darn it!!!! Why didn't I do that.
Oh well we can't live our lives in the past can we?
Japan
Well I'm here, and stuff.
I'm not in the mood for a lot of detail right now (aren't I a grump?) so I'm going to just remember whatever I remember from the past week. If you have the good fortune to know or be related to Giuliana I think it'd be better to go with her accounts. She is a Japan veteran afterall.
First off, I have been staying with Giuliana, in her apartment, all oh I'd say 9 feet by 5 feet of it! And at 55000 yen per month (about $550 US) well, real estate isn't cheap, especially in this neighbourhood. She has to pay 100yen for 15 minutes of hot shower too, but everything else (including internet) is included. It's not so bad if you can get used to the size, but any great creations in the kitchen require patience and possibly lots of prep work in the bedroom.
While Giuliana's been working, I've done a lot of walking. Good time of year to do it as it is cherry blossom time and everywhere is just lovely. The weather has been really great, until today when it started to be cold and rainy so no complaints there either. I've seen the Sony store with all its fangled gadgets, including one TV that is constantly tuned to Canadian programming to demonstrate streaming over the internet from anywhere in the world. I was watching some shows being broadcast on the New VR (something Ontarians should be familiar with) and then the CBC feed was showing some curling. I watched, no one else seemed to care. Heh, whatever.
The Emperor's palace, it's big...and often closed, but I like the outer fortifications so that's okay.
I really like their various parking garage strategies, the giant narrow ferris wheel of cars inside a tall metal building is definitely a favourite and I just wish they would put a plexi-glasss front on the thing so I could watch them go round. Also they have lots of turntables in front of garages so you can drive in straight then rather than back onto the road you get spun around the right way when it's time to leave.
Tokyo keeps reminding me of 50s and 60s NYC. Well, at least pictures and video of the era, I wasn't really around at the time. After thinking about this I realized that the perception is a good one. I mean there was no Tokyo after WW2 and it was rebuilt in the 50s and 60s with I would assume a great deal of US influence. Buildings, subways etc. And every once in a while I see some fashions that make me think, "wait a minute, isn't that 50 years old?"
And yesterday!!!! I went to a wrestling show. Good times! Now most people won't know what I'm jabbering about with workrate or heels or faces or snap suplexes...so....I'll limit the nitty gritty. I will say that the whole event was treated in a much more ceremonial fashion than a North American show would be. They had teh drummers and conch shell blowers to open things along with torches and firepots at the ring's four corners that burned all evening. The rest was wrestling but that ceremonial bit intrigued me, and although I obviously haven't been here for long enough to know I think pro wrestling here is more closely attached to other martial arts, sumo etc than the NA equivalent could bne. There was as even a bunch of sumo guys out from training (hahahha) to take in the show.
I'm not in the mood for a lot of detail right now (aren't I a grump?) so I'm going to just remember whatever I remember from the past week. If you have the good fortune to know or be related to Giuliana I think it'd be better to go with her accounts. She is a Japan veteran afterall.
First off, I have been staying with Giuliana, in her apartment, all oh I'd say 9 feet by 5 feet of it! And at 55000 yen per month (about $550 US) well, real estate isn't cheap, especially in this neighbourhood. She has to pay 100yen for 15 minutes of hot shower too, but everything else (including internet) is included. It's not so bad if you can get used to the size, but any great creations in the kitchen require patience and possibly lots of prep work in the bedroom.
While Giuliana's been working, I've done a lot of walking. Good time of year to do it as it is cherry blossom time and everywhere is just lovely. The weather has been really great, until today when it started to be cold and rainy so no complaints there either. I've seen the Sony store with all its fangled gadgets, including one TV that is constantly tuned to Canadian programming to demonstrate streaming over the internet from anywhere in the world. I was watching some shows being broadcast on the New VR (something Ontarians should be familiar with) and then the CBC feed was showing some curling. I watched, no one else seemed to care. Heh, whatever.
The Emperor's palace, it's big...and often closed, but I like the outer fortifications so that's okay.
I really like their various parking garage strategies, the giant narrow ferris wheel of cars inside a tall metal building is definitely a favourite and I just wish they would put a plexi-glasss front on the thing so I could watch them go round. Also they have lots of turntables in front of garages so you can drive in straight then rather than back onto the road you get spun around the right way when it's time to leave.
Tokyo keeps reminding me of 50s and 60s NYC. Well, at least pictures and video of the era, I wasn't really around at the time. After thinking about this I realized that the perception is a good one. I mean there was no Tokyo after WW2 and it was rebuilt in the 50s and 60s with I would assume a great deal of US influence. Buildings, subways etc. And every once in a while I see some fashions that make me think, "wait a minute, isn't that 50 years old?"
And yesterday!!!! I went to a wrestling show. Good times! Now most people won't know what I'm jabbering about with workrate or heels or faces or snap suplexes...so....I'll limit the nitty gritty. I will say that the whole event was treated in a much more ceremonial fashion than a North American show would be. They had teh drummers and conch shell blowers to open things along with torches and firepots at the ring's four corners that burned all evening. The rest was wrestling but that ceremonial bit intrigued me, and although I obviously haven't been here for long enough to know I think pro wrestling here is more closely attached to other martial arts, sumo etc than the NA equivalent could bne. There was as even a bunch of sumo guys out from training (hahahha) to take in the show.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
and the inevitable one more thing
Does anyone know why there is a peak season between Canada and Japan from April2-12 or thereabouts.
Me and the guy at Japan AirLines couldn't figure it out, but apparently it comes from teh Canadian end of things. The best I could come up with was winter is ending and people are going home, but that doesn't seem right for Japan.
A mystery!
Me and the guy at Japan AirLines couldn't figure it out, but apparently it comes from teh Canadian end of things. The best I could come up with was winter is ending and people are going home, but that doesn't seem right for Japan.
A mystery!
Heading to japan
I'm off to Japoan tonight. Will spend a few days there then I'm coming to Canada. Have you heard of this country?
And that's all I have to say on that topic for now.
And that's all I have to say on that topic for now.
So that's how it's done
After pondering how one makes friends and acquaintances while travelling I was walking up the street and a guy simply came up behind me and asked if I was travelling alone (in a non creepy way).
He's just starting travelling and was lookiong for someone to get a bite to eat with. I was unfortunately dead tired and had to turn him down, but I think I managed to seem odd and haggered enough he was happy with my respoinse by the time we parted ways. He seemes pretty eager to run.
Who'd have thought it was jsut that easy.
He's just starting travelling and was lookiong for someone to get a bite to eat with. I was unfortunately dead tired and had to turn him down, but I think I managed to seem odd and haggered enough he was happy with my respoinse by the time we parted ways. He seemes pretty eager to run.
Who'd have thought it was jsut that easy.
Stuff in Bangkok
When I got here it wasn't as hot as I'd excpected. ONce again I had apparently brought a cool front with me. Just as I was thinking how awesome I was yesterday heated up a lot, turns out I'm only so good..
The other day I stopped to look at a map. Then I looked down, and there was the cutest dog ever. There are a lot of cool dogs here, mostly because they're strays and therefore are all mongrels. I alsways think that kind of dog is awesomest. But anyway. I looked at the dog (who was shading under a tree) and he looked at me. I said hello then as I went to leave the dog decided I looked like a fine fellow. Would have loved to have taken him home, except for the worms and fleas I'd likely give him, and Hannibal would be certainly jealous, but it is not meant to be.
So I had to pick up the pace and get a lead. He wasn't goping to speed up too much in the heat so I made it around a corner. When I looked back he was looking around a little put out but soon enough found an even shadier spot. SO everything worked out!
I also was in the neighbourhood (Patpong) so decided to look for all the nasty strip clubs and bars and seeedier stuff of Bangkok that is supposed to be a quite a sight. I guess I was in teh wrong neighbourhood, however, because I found nothing. Well that's a lie, I did see a bar called Boy Zone (or something like that) but that's hardly a thriving brothel district.
Some girls are hippies. Other girls have the hippy look. Like seeing a "Hippy" with a brand new Lonely Planet seems odd, passing girls that at first glance appear hippyish, only to have your sense blotted out by too much high quality perfume also seems odd. Heh, everyone has a look I suppose. As long as they stand by the whole free love thing I don't think anyone will complain.
The other day I stopped to look at a map. Then I looked down, and there was the cutest dog ever. There are a lot of cool dogs here, mostly because they're strays and therefore are all mongrels. I alsways think that kind of dog is awesomest. But anyway. I looked at the dog (who was shading under a tree) and he looked at me. I said hello then as I went to leave the dog decided I looked like a fine fellow. Would have loved to have taken him home, except for the worms and fleas I'd likely give him, and Hannibal would be certainly jealous, but it is not meant to be.
So I had to pick up the pace and get a lead. He wasn't goping to speed up too much in the heat so I made it around a corner. When I looked back he was looking around a little put out but soon enough found an even shadier spot. SO everything worked out!
I also was in the neighbourhood (Patpong) so decided to look for all the nasty strip clubs and bars and seeedier stuff of Bangkok that is supposed to be a quite a sight. I guess I was in teh wrong neighbourhood, however, because I found nothing. Well that's a lie, I did see a bar called Boy Zone (or something like that) but that's hardly a thriving brothel district.
Some girls are hippies. Other girls have the hippy look. Like seeing a "Hippy" with a brand new Lonely Planet seems odd, passing girls that at first glance appear hippyish, only to have your sense blotted out by too much high quality perfume also seems odd. Heh, everyone has a look I suppose. As long as they stand by the whole free love thing I don't think anyone will complain.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Food
Tha hardest thing about saying goodbye is going to be the food.
Especially here in Bangkok, where it is all so very cheap and there is such a diversity. The people I see sitting in restaurants munching on garlic bread and spaghetti...I dunno. I'd like some of thjat too but why bother when I can eat it at home.
I am currently trying to eat all the things I've eaten already, one last time. A noble cause but it can't be good for the waistline. Especially when you buy the huge pack of coconut puddings instead of the more logical smaller version. But they're sooooo good.
Along these food lines, the roti I find here just isn't the same as all the deliciousness available in roti form in Malaysia. They are so yummy down there, and bigger! Also, the preparation of rotis with the guys throwing the dough around stretching it out before folding it in on itself to fry is a sisght to behold. I thook a picture of a guy doing it here, but really should have taken on in Malaysia. When I got back here and watched one being made for the first time I was very disappointed. The skill just was not there. The dough rips, they don't stretch it as much...alas!
Good bye fruitshakes, and fruit and pad thai and rice porridge (that'll probably be in Japan mind you) and jelly ice sweets and rotis and sweet milk (I am buying tins when I get home) and all the other yummies. And goodbye to those low low prices.
And I finally had a REALLY good papya salad. I bought it from a lady with the whole 2 baskets setup (another important "last of" to get). I made sure to ask for no spicey and only got a touch of the dried sdhrimp fishy seasoning. It was REALLY good (as the other big REALLY above demonstrated). My fiorst papaya salad was in Bangkok early on, pre spicey knowledge and WOW! It was a tough sweaty lunch that I couldn't finsih followed that evening by...welll...yes. I also has another one in Luang Prabang but it was too fishy.
The only problem with stumbling upon a perfect salad this late in the game is the fact it makes me want top stay longer. Just for a salad! Now that's good!
Especially here in Bangkok, where it is all so very cheap and there is such a diversity. The people I see sitting in restaurants munching on garlic bread and spaghetti...I dunno. I'd like some of thjat too but why bother when I can eat it at home.
I am currently trying to eat all the things I've eaten already, one last time. A noble cause but it can't be good for the waistline. Especially when you buy the huge pack of coconut puddings instead of the more logical smaller version. But they're sooooo good.
Along these food lines, the roti I find here just isn't the same as all the deliciousness available in roti form in Malaysia. They are so yummy down there, and bigger! Also, the preparation of rotis with the guys throwing the dough around stretching it out before folding it in on itself to fry is a sisght to behold. I thook a picture of a guy doing it here, but really should have taken on in Malaysia. When I got back here and watched one being made for the first time I was very disappointed. The skill just was not there. The dough rips, they don't stretch it as much...alas!
Good bye fruitshakes, and fruit and pad thai and rice porridge (that'll probably be in Japan mind you) and jelly ice sweets and rotis and sweet milk (I am buying tins when I get home) and all the other yummies. And goodbye to those low low prices.
And I finally had a REALLY good papya salad. I bought it from a lady with the whole 2 baskets setup (another important "last of" to get). I made sure to ask for no spicey and only got a touch of the dried sdhrimp fishy seasoning. It was REALLY good (as the other big REALLY above demonstrated). My fiorst papaya salad was in Bangkok early on, pre spicey knowledge and WOW! It was a tough sweaty lunch that I couldn't finsih followed that evening by...welll...yes. I also has another one in Luang Prabang but it was too fishy.
The only problem with stumbling upon a perfect salad this late in the game is the fact it makes me want top stay longer. Just for a salad! Now that's good!
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