Tuesday, July 27
Sights of Life in JP
This is Ginza, a super high class shopping district.
Everyone is in power suits and polished shoes, and looking sharp and professional even when they are walking along one of the most famous shopping districts in Tokyo. I felt super touristy and a little out of place in my jeans and sneakers, and my oversized 3 litres Mambo backpack.
top to bottom:
>> Matsuya, Ginza's mini Macy's
>> Apple ! The exterior of the building looks just like my PowerBook.
>> the Sony building
>> they manage to have a car showroom in a busy shopping district ... I wouldn't want to imagine the rent for it ...
The famous Jackpot arcades of JP, and there's one of these every fifty steps along the streets:
There's a familiar story behind the uncountable no. of Pachinkos on the island ...
You see, men in JP don't seem to go home early, esp. not for dinner. Coz going home early means they are not working hard enough / not diligent enough.
General thumb of rule is this - no one goes home before the Big Boss does.
But when the Boss does decide to go back before 8p.m, instead of rushing home to be with the kids, you see the men hanging out at places like the pachinko arcades, or ordering one small bottle of sake at a local bar, and making it last for the next three hours or 'til 11p.m, whichever is later.
Almost like smartly dressed hobos, they are.
The kind of social pressure they seem to be under ... poor peeps.
Did I mention that JP men never seem to go anywhere without shirts and ties, and for 80% of them, overcoats as well ? Never mind that it's a burning hot 39 degrees celsius in the day. Well now you know.
Unlike in the US most of these restaurants are double stories high.
The counters and kitchens, together with a few seats occupy the ground level. The rest of the tables and chairs are on Level 2.
The restaurants are usually rather cramped.
That night, I decided to try out ...
And I say, nothing beats the Originals ! Yum.
Ever wondered how it's like if Shenton Way meets Orchard Road or more familiarly, Wall Street meets Downtown Manhattan ?
This is Ginza, a super high class shopping district.
Everyone is in power suits and polished shoes, and looking sharp and professional even when they are walking along one of the most famous shopping districts in Tokyo. I felt super touristy and a little out of place in my jeans and sneakers, and my oversized 3 litres Mambo backpack.
top to bottom:
>> Matsuya, Ginza's mini Macy's
>> Apple ! The exterior of the building looks just like my PowerBook.
>> the Sony building
>> they manage to have a car showroom in a busy shopping district ... I wouldn't want to imagine the rent for it ...
Cigarettes vending machines ! Very convenient indeed.
Of course, they stand right besides the drinks vending machine ...
I almost slotted my coins into the wrong machine while getting my can of drink.
The famous Jackpot arcades of JP, and there's one of these every fifty steps along the streets:
A Pachinko arcade at 9.30a.m in the morning
There's a familiar story behind the uncountable no. of Pachinkos on the island ...
You see, men in JP don't seem to go home early, esp. not for dinner. Coz going home early means they are not working hard enough / not diligent enough.
General thumb of rule is this - no one goes home before the Big Boss does.
But when the Boss does decide to go back before 8p.m, instead of rushing home to be with the kids, you see the men hanging out at places like the pachinko arcades, or ordering one small bottle of sake at a local bar, and making it last for the next three hours or 'til 11p.m, whichever is later.
Almost like smartly dressed hobos, they are.
The kind of social pressure they seem to be under ... poor peeps.
Did I mention that JP men never seem to go anywhere without shirts and ties, and for 80% of them, overcoats as well ? Never mind that it's a burning hot 39 degrees celsius in the day. Well now you know.
This is a game arcade. It is not as common as the Pachinko.
A "wet market" seafood stall opening for biz along Ueno Flea Market.
Rich history, this place has .. Ueno, I mean, not the seafood stall.
Good ol' McDonald's, still one of the cheapest food you can find.
Wendy's !!
and Denny's !!
Unlike in the US most of these restaurants are double stories high.
The counters and kitchens, together with a few seats occupy the ground level. The rest of the tables and chairs are on Level 2.
The restaurants are usually rather cramped.
That night, I decided to try out ...
their famous homebred brand, the MOS Burger
And I say, nothing beats the Originals ! Yum.
Thursday, July 22
Woo ... Pictures !
There were no clouds in Osaka; it was a total clear blue sky (look at the left pic).
So clear and blue that I was cooked by the UV rays in less than 5 mins after I got off the coach.
So glaring that no amount of shades or caps could save me. I had to squirt my eyes all the time to look at things.
For a slightly larger version of pic, click here.
Here, I have to complain a little. See that chipster at top right ? I think that was a female inside the costume ! She was ignoring me and fawning over and playing cheekily with whichever male species who wanted to take photos with it. It even attempted to cover my already half-covered face with its blue pilot cap. Dumbo ! I had to tiptoe. (Yeah I was that short.)
you have to walk thru this:
Less than a mile away from the heavily guarded Castle stood the magnificent statue of the Last Samurai of Japan. If you'd watched "The Last Samurai" in which Tom Cruise starred in, you might know who I'm referring to.
I started out wanting to splash my own pics all over the place but ended up telling a mini story. Haha. That's all for now, 'til the next one.
There are some interesting pictures that I intend to put up but I have yet to transfer them all from my memory sticks so you just got to stick around a little more. Meanwhile I shall be vain and post some self portraits instead.
This, as you can see, is the Japan Universal Studios in Osaka.
There were no clouds in Osaka; it was a total clear blue sky (look at the left pic).
So clear and blue that I was cooked by the UV rays in less than 5 mins after I got off the coach.
So glaring that no amount of shades or caps could save me. I had to squirt my eyes all the time to look at things.
For a slightly larger version of pic, click here.
Here, I have to complain a little. See that chipster at top right ? I think that was a female inside the costume ! She was ignoring me and fawning over and playing cheekily with whichever male species who wanted to take photos with it. It even attempted to cover my already half-covered face with its blue pilot cap. Dumbo ! I had to tiptoe. (Yeah I was that short.)
The Imperial Palace East Garden, Tokyo. I had never seen more well tended lawns as those in the Garden ! The Edo Castle where the Imperial Family resides is surrounded by stonewalls and moats, and to reach the gates of this Castle (below)
you have to walk thru this:
the landscape of burning hot black fine rocks. Oki I was exaggerating a little about the burning hot part. But the sand was really quite warm. And you can see a little of the Castle at the top extreme left hand side of the pic, behind those trees. I was standing half way to the castle, so multiple whatever distance you see in the pic by two, and that was how far anyone has to walk under the cloudless sky, just to get to here:
to see the barriers 300 meters away from the gate. That was it.
Less than a mile away from the heavily guarded Castle stood the magnificent statue of the Last Samurai of Japan. If you'd watched "The Last Samurai" in which Tom Cruise starred in, you might know who I'm referring to.
Statue of Kusunoki Masashige
I started out wanting to splash my own pics all over the place but ended up telling a mini story. Haha. That's all for now, 'til the next one.
Tuesday, July 20
I'm back
I'm dog-tired, so photos later.
from the land of the sumo wrestlers, porno mags and video tapes, and fishbowl concept buildings.
I'm dog-tired, so photos later.
my back-trekking passes to hello-kitty land
Monday, July 12
Taken at Sam's
Oki, just one more before I zip off.
This. A very tired mini schnauzer. According to Janet, it's one of the smartest purebreds around. I call it the grandpa dog coz it has bushy eyebrows ! and when its hair grows long, its beard makes it look even more like a wise old dog ! HAHA
Saturday, July 10
Photo Friday: Cool
This week's challenge: COOL
My first participation in the Photo Friday Challenge.
This week's challenge: COOL
Nothing like a burly glass of icy Root Beer Float
on a hot summer day.
Friday, July 9
Theme Thursday: Wings
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This week's theme: WINGS
My first photo submitted for Theme Thursday
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This week's theme: WINGS
Wings of a Nation's Pride, Downtown NY
Wednesday, July 7
Furry encounter
His name is Nikki. I saw him walking his owner and asked if I could take pictures of him. He agreed very graciously.
Nikki also allowed me to pat him and returned the affection by licking my hand with his small pink tongue.
We struck up a conversation where the puppy told me proudly that he's turning one next month, when he'll be an adult dog officially.
'That's like turning twenty-one for us humans.' I said with a smile.
I also congratulated him, adding with an equal amount of pride that Mr Lecter's initiation into doghood is just a month after his. Mr Lecter also happens to be the only surviving crazy and altruistic black version of their breed, allowing no one to pat him except me (... and maybe Dee, depending on conditions). Or if he's extremely hungry and you have food with you. Then maybe you *might* be able sneak a quick pat on him as he munches on one of the only two things he's living for. The other is I, of course. But I digress.
So after Nikki posed for the snapshots, I thanked him and promised to email him the pictures. Then I held out my hand where he planted a small wet kiss on it. Just like a gentleman.
His name is Nikki. I saw him walking his owner and asked if I could take pictures of him. He agreed very graciously.
Nikki also allowed me to pat him and returned the affection by licking my hand with his small pink tongue.
We struck up a conversation where the puppy told me proudly that he's turning one next month, when he'll be an adult dog officially.
'That's like turning twenty-one for us humans.' I said with a smile.
I also congratulated him, adding with an equal amount of pride that Mr Lecter's initiation into doghood is just a month after his. Mr Lecter also happens to be the only surviving crazy and altruistic black version of their breed, allowing no one to pat him except me (... and maybe Dee, depending on conditions). Or if he's extremely hungry and you have food with you. Then maybe you *might* be able sneak a quick pat on him as he munches on one of the only two things he's living for. The other is I, of course. But I digress.
So after Nikki posed for the snapshots, I thanked him and promised to email him the pictures. Then I held out my hand where he planted a small wet kiss on it. Just like a gentleman.
Monday, July 5
Views from atop
Remember the days of sneaking openly into Arcadia ? The views from the top floors were breath-taking. You could see the tops of the trees stretch far and away.
There, was the tip of the SingTel building, the one besides the GreyPeople Junior College. The one where the peeps working there looked over to the rooftop of the school one fine day, discovered a college couple at the prelude stage to making out, and promptly told on them. But the adventurous couple managed to get away before the lecturers arrived at the scene of crime and their daredevil deed was the chatter fodder for days. #
*Photographer- Sam Javanrouh, posted on daily dose of imagery
++
Happy b'day Dee.
Remember the days of sneaking openly into Arcadia ? The views from the top floors were breath-taking. You could see the tops of the trees stretch far and away.
There, was the tip of the SingTel building, the one besides the GreyPeople Junior College. The one where the peeps working there looked over to the rooftop of the school one fine day, discovered a college couple at the prelude stage to making out, and promptly told on them. But the adventurous couple managed to get away before the lecturers arrived at the scene of crime and their daredevil deed was the chatter fodder for days. #
*Photographer- Sam Javanrouh, posted on daily dose of imagery
++
Happy b'day Dee.
Sunday, July 4
Fireworks
Was it along I-75 ? We drove pass the town where the Big Mexican statue stood. It was the Mexican Town, as we called it. There were rides of all sorts and a big fireworks house. You turned off the highway and into the vast parking lots, all pumped up to get your hands on some fireworks.
But it was the Winter holidays and the place was deserted, save for the touristy-looking peeps who were no doubt falsely lured to the Mexican Town for the same reason as us. To be fair, there was a restaurant open for biz. But still no fireworks for sale.
Tough luck. #
Mr Black and me, with the BigFriendlyMexican
*Photographer- Michael Ricklefs, posted on A Day in the Life
Was it along I-75 ? We drove pass the town where the Big Mexican statue stood. It was the Mexican Town, as we called it. There were rides of all sorts and a big fireworks house. You turned off the highway and into the vast parking lots, all pumped up to get your hands on some fireworks.
But it was the Winter holidays and the place was deserted, save for the touristy-looking peeps who were no doubt falsely lured to the Mexican Town for the same reason as us. To be fair, there was a restaurant open for biz. But still no fireworks for sale.
Tough luck. #
Mr Black and me, with the BigFriendlyMexican
*Photographer- Michael Ricklefs, posted on A Day in the Life
Small, big, bigger
I remembered when we had dinner at Denny's in Orlando on the first ever roadtrip. Lecter was just the size of my hand, a real tiny black bundle he was. Back then, he would lie on my lap, looking suspiciously as the food arrived, not knowing any better the value of it. And when he did, he sat up straight faster than I ever seen him did.
‘No oily food,’ I said. ‘No salty content.’
And he had to be contented with the tiny pieces of lettuces of the main course.
At Key West we had a rare seafood treat, out where the boats were docked side by side and the wind only seemed to blow from one direction. We ordered dolphin meat coz we were curious how it tasted like. Even tho' the Dolphin Conservation Center was less than a hundred mile away from where the restaurant was.
Lecter had grown bigger then, when he loved to stand on his hinds against the dinner table. To hold off his two-front-paws-on-table display, you were pressing down so hard on him, he became flat like a black fish (with fur) on your lap. He only had the lettuces (and a little key lime pie) that day.
When we had our first and only ($6.99) lobster deal (KW), Lecter actually peed on the vintage leather seats in the restaurant when we refused him the meat off our plates. That rascal.
On the way back from NYC, we stopped over at a deserted town where there was absolutely nothing open at 11 pm ... except good ol' 24-hour IHOP. (Ahh ... our favorite restaurant where you discovered what A1 sauce really was. Heh heh.)
By then Lecter’s grown bigger than my two hands combined. We could no longer have him into the restaurant so that he had to stay in the car, out in the chilling weather in the pouring rain.
Poor boy. Guiltily I smuggled him the fries as a treat. Never minding the ‘no oily stuff’ rule.
‘No oily food,’ I said. ‘No salty content.’
And he had to be contented with the tiny pieces of lettuces of the main course.
At Key West we had a rare seafood treat, out where the boats were docked side by side and the wind only seemed to blow from one direction. We ordered dolphin meat coz we were curious how it tasted like. Even tho' the Dolphin Conservation Center was less than a hundred mile away from where the restaurant was.
Lecter had grown bigger then, when he loved to stand on his hinds against the dinner table. To hold off his two-front-paws-on-table display, you were pressing down so hard on him, he became flat like a black fish (with fur) on your lap. He only had the lettuces (and a little key lime pie) that day.
When we had our first and only ($6.99) lobster deal (KW), Lecter actually peed on the vintage leather seats in the restaurant when we refused him the meat off our plates. That rascal.
On the way back from NYC, we stopped over at a deserted town where there was absolutely nothing open at 11 pm ... except good ol' 24-hour IHOP. (Ahh ... our favorite restaurant where you discovered what A1 sauce really was. Heh heh.)
By then Lecter’s grown bigger than my two hands combined. We could no longer have him into the restaurant so that he had to stay in the car, out in the chilling weather in the pouring rain.
Poor boy. Guiltily I smuggled him the fries as a treat. Never minding the ‘no oily stuff’ rule.
Maid of a bride
She could have gotten a flattened foot. But she turned around, looked right thru me for a 2-sec lag, mumbled something which might consist the words 'very tired', and then walked away looking quite dazed. I guess that pretty much sums up the whole bridesmaid experience effectively.
The Sister was up before sunrise, and out before I woke up. When I came back at late past midnight just now, she was right behind me. So I passed her the overweight gate lock to lock up after her ... and she dropped the that ton of steel almost right where she was standing.
She could have gotten a flattened foot. But she turned around, looked right thru me for a 2-sec lag, mumbled something which might consist the words 'very tired', and then walked away looking quite dazed. I guess that pretty much sums up the whole bridesmaid experience effectively.
Friday, July 2
Heating up the November elections
Coz by the time it hits the theaters here in uptight S'pore (if it is ever allowed to be shown), it would no doubt be as watered down as that forgotten Frappuccino on the coffee table.
There has been much talk about Moore's controversial 'Fahrenheit 9/11'. This is the first time I wish I am back in the States coz of a film. So that I can watch it when it's released, piping hot and as uncensored as it can be.
Coz by the time it hits the theaters here in uptight S'pore (if it is ever allowed to be shown), it would no doubt be as watered down as that forgotten Frappuccino on the coffee table.
