Japan ’08

Kayaking on an island with one inhabitant

Kayaking on an island with one inhabitant

Random Observation/Comment #74: How would you feel if you were the only one who lived on an island?  Sure, you would get guests who come and visit, and daily supplies of food, but what would you do all day?  Spirited survivors stranded on an island at least need to come up with ways to escape the island, plan for food...

Bike riding in Ojika

Bike riding in Ojika

Random Observation/Comment #73: Most people need a destination – a goal to motivate and make their efforts and rewards balance.  These people wind up trying so hard walking that they forget to stop and look around.  Our path was beautiful to begin with, but we each search for different beauties.  I went bicycle-riding in Ojika to enjoy the journey, not...

Sing it loud and sing it clear

Sing it loud and sing it clear

Random Observation/Comment #72: I thought I heard an angel sing.  This voice was so energetic and moving that it drew a music video in my mind.  It opened parts of my imagination that I didn’t know existed.  Oh wait, that was me ^^ (I’ll wait for you to finish throwing up in your mouth).  Just kidding, those notes belonged to...

A peaceful day in Nagasaki

A peaceful day in Nagasaki

Random Observation/Comment #71: Wandering a random city is sometimes more fun than actually knowing where you’re going.  You did good, camera (. . )>. In my vacation sleeping mode, I usually require at least 8 hours to be functional (Cooper sleeping habits averaged 4 hours a night).  Therefore, sleeping at 4AM and waking at 11AM was just at the cusp...

The Night Sky – Oh! How I’ve missed the stars

The Night Sky – Oh! How I’ve missed the stars

Random Observation/Comment #70: The city’s (of course, there is only one “the city”) light pollution had made my star gazing hobbies impossible to fulfill.  Osaka had a similar problem, but Nagasaki on top of a large mountain, was a little more forgiving.  Not a cloud in the sky – not a worry in the world.  I loved every second.  I...

I’m turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese – my hair says so.

I’m turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese – my hair says so.

Random Observation/Comment #69: Japanese people pride themselves in having crazy hair.  They always have long hair in the back so they can use a million hair products to make it stick up like anime characters.  You may try to have blonde hair, but the bleach will only make it a weird brown.  You’re not from California – deal with it....

Nagasaki Memorial: “My G-d. What have we done?”

Nagasaki Memorial: “My G-d. What have we done?”

Random Observation/Comment #68: I’ve never been given such a dirty look from an old man in my life.  He stared me down as if I were the one who pressed the button or even the one who made the decision.  A dark cloud hovered above me the entire day, and my shoulders slumped with my hands dug deep into my...

Beppu: Buried alive in Takegawara Spa

Beppu: Buried alive in Takegawara Spa

Random Observation/Comment #67: Good Idea/Bad Idea.  Good Idea: Professionals preparing you for a sand bath.  Bad Idea: Anyone-else preparing you for a sand bath.  So that’s why you don’t try it at beaches.  Where’s my air hole? Because pictures were forbidden in the spa area, I couldn’t actually snap color photos of how this sand bath deal is setup, but...

Matsuyama Onsen: Bring me back to Spa World

Matsuyama Onsen: Bring me back to Spa World

group photo in yukatas Random Observation/Comment #66: The larger selection and waterfall massages at Spa World clouded the fact that everything was artificial.Can you feel the difference?Nothing matters when I put that cloth over my eyes and breathe the hot steam clearly through my nose.I could feel every section of my lungs filling with the essentials of life.Dai ski dai...

Matsuyama Castle: Recreating a battle

Matsuyama Castle: Recreating a battle

Random Observation/Comment #65: The view of the city and the trees is incredible from the top of a castle.I tried to imagine how this place looked hundreds of years ago without industrialization.Was it a vast plain of trees from one mountain to the next?Was this terra-formed land once a jungle of creatures?Can I just replace the concrete with wooden huts...

Chiiori farmhouse: Peaceful, but would drive me mad

Chiiori farmhouse: Peaceful, but would drive me mad

Random Observation/Comment #63: Some people can just give up all technology and spend 6 months living in a place where there are more names for the native trees than there are for the living people.What are you? Nuts?At least live with a hot girl and spend the long winter nights keeping warm the old fashion way. There’s a lot of...

Japanese meals of epic proportion =)

Japanese meals of epic proportion =)

Random Observation/Comment #62: Always sit next to people with dietary restrictions so you can get seconds without feeling bad (in fact, feeling quite useful for not wasting food).I am Jacob’s scraps. I don’t remember every dish’s name, but I do remember the taste and texture of all these plates before me.It was a large feast (and feat) with small portions.You...

“we were on a break”

“we were on a break”

I left my writing urges on the back burners this week as I scheduled my life for the next few months.  I feel the need to plan a little bit more than usual.  I’m sure the recently graduated class had a similar hyper-ventilating experience when the idea of growing up began seeping into our everyday lives.  “Wait, I’m out of...

Iya Valley scenery and overall beauty – the vine bridge of dooooom

Iya Valley scenery and overall beauty – the vine bridge of dooooom

Random Observation/Comment #61: You never think a vine bridge is scary until you walk on one and shit a brick. The early morning train and ferry ride from Tokyo to Iya Valley was not particularly invigorating.I was tired, and carrying around this 50 lb suitcase was not exactly my favorite pastime.I shuffled my feet and dreaded every next staircase –...

Zushi beach with a night of karaoke

Zushi beach with a night of karaoke

Random Observation/Comment #60: I’ve missed the entire beach season back at home.Japanese beaches (depending on what accent you say it in) just aren’t the same.Please at least give me a small wave (to the water and the girls). For some reason, when I think of Japan, I don’t particularly think of beaches.I think of mountains, hiking, temples, sushi, and seaweed,...

Auctioned fish and a walk around Kamakura

Auctioned fish and a walk around Kamakura

Random Observation/Comment #59: The auctioning voice for the Tsukiji fish market is absolutely hilarious.It sounded like a song with a lot of crescendos – just drop the beat and that guy would be platinum in a few months. Waking up for the fish market was a little difficult due to the drinking from the night before.It definitely helped that we...

New York, I’ve missed your alcoholics

New York, I’ve missed your alcoholics

I’ve been home since Thursday, but I haven’t really been home because I spent the past three days in the city enjoying the last few days of summer with Jake, Justin, James, Chris, and Duff.  We caught up on our lost summer days of craziness and laughed over a few beers here and there.  We did a proper bar crawl...

Optimizing time

Optimizing time

I still can’t believe I’m leaving in 3 days after being here for close to 3 months.  There aren’t words to express this feeling of sadness for leaving, yet a conflicting level of happiness for returning to where I call my home.  Japan has burrowed, setup living quarters, and ordered extraneous furniture in my heart.  I will never forget these...

Harajuku and Shinjuku for an afternoon

Harajuku and Shinjuku for an afternoon

Random Observation/Comment #58: People in Harajuku are just desperate for attention; I think they’re doing it in the most disturbing way possible – these freaks that don’t care if they’re shmoiling as long as they look badass (and they do look pretty badass). After Akihabara, RJ and I went to meet up with the rest of group for dinner.Finding someone...

Akihabara Craziness

Akihabara Craziness

Random Observation/Comment #57: French maid dresses worn by Japanese girls have been added to my fantasies.It’s not perverted (or dodgy), honest: They’re just so damn cute in short skirts and high stockings. R.J., compared to my uber-Otaku nature, is a level 3 at best (it’s not supposed to make sense).He’s gone above and beyond by getting the Gundam Seed Destiny...

Impressions of the Tour

Impressions of the Tour

Random Observation/Comment #56: There seems to be much less time to write since being a tourist takes so much work and effort.It’s also nice to learn more about other people instead of typing on my laptop like an antisocial during long ferry rides… wait a minute. We are 9.I would grow much closer with all of these people (including myself)...

Ueno Park: Blitz through the museums

Ueno Park: Blitz through the museums

Random Observation/Comment #55: Science museums used to be so much more fun, but now that I know all of the physics involved, it’s not as much of a mystery.It’s like watching a magic show where you’ve already learned all the tricks.Damn, how could I have been so impressed by simple concepts like magnetism, pullies, air pressure, and optics? Dragging that...

Tokyo Day 1: Take advantage of being a tourist

Tokyo Day 1: Take advantage of being a tourist

Random Observation/Comment #54: My first hostel experience is a positive one – I did not get killed (Because living is good, and dying is not as good). The packed suitcase, backpack, and messenger bag became a nuisance very quickly.In Shinosaka, I boarded the Nozumi train, unaware of the restrictions of the JR pass.This super-duper express looked slick and had reserved...

Osaka dai gaku Reflections – Farewell party

Osaka dai gaku Reflections – Farewell party

Random Observation/Comment #53: May all of the projects at Osaka lab work according to spec and do so in a timely manner.With the Japanese-speaking group, we grab lunch and talk about how weird American culture is – often considering my American input on the situation.In contrast, the English-speaking group takes prolonged ice cream breaks to vent frustrations about Japanese customs.It’s...