Japan ’08

Japan Closing Advice

Japan Closing Advice

Random Observation/Comment #103: It’s hard to say goodbye, but I guess I never left – I guess I never have to.  I’ve been reliving the memories for the past 2 ½ months and it’s been the most enjoyable moments in my life.  Every morning in front of my laptop on the LIRR, I am in my writing zone with the...

Making ice cream while hung over

Making ice cream while hung over

Random Observation/Comment #102: When the “schedule” is set, you’re not allowed to make any impromptu changes.  Even if you drink until 4AM the night before, you still must wake up at 8AM to attend a frozen-yogurt-making activity.  Almost everyone I know would have slept in (which would be convincing enough to follow guilt-free), but every single drunken mess I saw...

The story of a bottle of jager and rum – it ends with their sacrifice

The story of a bottle of jager and rum – it ends with their sacrifice

Random Observation/Comment #101: As the alcohol content in these little Japanese people’s blood stream increases, so does the frequency of slurred Jap-English phrases.  I had no idea what they were saying, but it was fun trying to figure it out.  Even if I did understand, I waited for them to draw a picture or make funny gestures for my own...

Paragliding is aight

Paragliding is aight

Random Observation/Comment #99: Who the hell doesn’t want to fly?  I’m a little afraid of heights, but I would still love to be able to make that party entrance.  I mean, it’s not as classy as entering a party in your own mansion with three beautiful ballet dancers around your arms after being released from a private chopper, but I...

Field Trip!!

Field Trip!!

Random Observation/Comment #98: I miss field trips.  They made me so happy because I could be legally absent for a day.  I was one of those losers who had perfect attendance throughout elementary, middle, and high school.  My mom always said I wasn’t sick enough to stay home, and I never met bad enough friends to convince me to skip...

Shopping and Fugu – I got a new hat

Shopping and Fugu – I got a new hat

Random Observation/Comment #97: I love this hat.  I love it so much that I will name it.  My old stuffed animals (of which I obviously haven’t had sitting next to my pillow at home for decades) all had very uncreative names.  I had bunny the bunny and chicky the chick chick.  When I watched the South Park Christmas Critters episode,...

We definitely won the bar crawl

We definitely won the bar crawl

Random Observation/Comment #94: Are there really losers in a bar crawl?  Properly, are you even likely to finish?  I was having a good time just walking around with inebriated strangers, and picking their brains about traveling and career paths.  Everyone has such an interesting story and outlook on life.  Some of them I pity, while others I envy – this...

Brazilians know how to eat

Brazilians know how to eat

Random Observation/Comment #93: Brazilians know how to eat their beef.  This hypothesis was confirmed when I met a Brazilian family Upstate that buys their own cow from a farm, and owns three freezers to keep her fresh for 6 months of eating.  When the mother said, “I went to a farm to buy the meat in this soup,” I thought...

Schitz

Schitz

Random Observation/Comment #92: I’ve realized that “new favorite places” is just a quick infatuation.  It’s like a really bad middle school crush that is purely sexual… maybe not.  I think more accurately as love at first sight.  After some time of getting to know her, you find out she’s a psychotic, ex-con drug addict with a huge debt and fake,...

Oh how I’ve missed you, Osaka

Oh how I’ve missed you, Osaka

Random Observation/Comment #91: It had only been 3 weeks of traveling with no idea where to sleep and full-unplanned days, but this was enough time for me to be thankful for a comfortable bed and a reliable place to keep my belongings.  I long for such adventures, but I don’t know if this excitement is what I really I truly...

JICA… nice

JICA… nice

Random Observation/Comment #90: I don’t usually act very stressed or concerned about anything, but that’s usually because everything goes according to a set of expected outcomes.  In my mind, there are plans for every little thing that shouldn’t even be relevant.  I’m not a big fan of surprises.  It’s most probably a control issue or a desire for security and...

A Hellish trot downhill

A Hellish trot downhill

Random Observation/Comment #89: Conversations tend to die off when you barely have energy to stay awake, let alone climb down a mountain.   “So… what’s up?”  “What’s up? What’s up!?! Shut the hell up! I’m going to rip your head off and crap down your neck! – Oh, Sorry! I’m really not a morning person…” I urged my followers to begin...

Another World Above the Clouds

Another World Above the Clouds

Random Observation/Comment #88: It’s easy to glimpse over sayings like “breath-taking” and “once in a lifetime” in a blog, and take them as a bit of literary exaggeration.  As I think about the words I’ll use to describe such a beauty, I find these fluffy adjectives and metaphors passing through my vocabulary.  I can’t quite decide which examples best paint...

The Moon Never sets

The Moon Never sets

Random Observation/Comment #87: Thank you, Chris’ dad, for convincing Chris to bring a head lamp on these escapades.  Thank you, Chris, for lending it to me.  Thank you, Clemens, for lighting the way for all your new friends.  Thank you, newly- found friends, for allowing me to contribute in the penguin huddle.  That was an unprecedented way for me to...

The day of The Climb

The day of The Climb

that’s the best picture I could get in a movie theater Random Observation/Comment #85: The movie theater in Shinjuku is gi-normous and literally has a stage with curtains.  It had fancy, soft, red seats made for a Broadway show.  I probably just picked a nice theater in the area, but I was still very impressed. After checking out of the...

Mt. Fuji – you leave me confused

Mt. Fuji – you leave me confused

Random Observation/Comment #84: Don’t wear shorts when you’re climbing any mountain.  It’s freakin’, ridiculously cold up there at night.  The guide books do not lie, and you are not superman. I’ll keep the first entry of Mt. Fuji as a general overview of my impressions of the climb, an insight on what to expect, and a few suggestions for future...

Keio Plaza Hotel – Now that’s what I’m talking about

Keio Plaza Hotel – Now that’s what I’m talking about

Such a fancy pants hotel… Random Observation/Comment #83: There are some problems you can just throw money at to make better.  Today was just one of those problems. Due to the extremely shitty day Chris and I were having, we decided to go to the nearest JR station and ask for hotel bookings.  The JR Company and local hotels have...

That was just a shitty day

That was just a shitty day

Random Observation/Comment #82: This day was so shitty that I didn’t even take any pictures for the first half of it (that’s almost blasphemy).  I guess every good vacation needs one of these days to keep the planets in orbit and the tides from devouring the lands.  Good thing I guiltlessly spent a lot of money that night to cheer...

A weekend with Nobby summarized

A weekend with Nobby summarized

Random Observation/Comment #81: Nobby doesn’t drink, but she constantly tells stories like, “When my friends and I were drinking last weekend… blah blah blah happened.”  To me (and probably the rest of the fluent English speaking community), that sounds like she was also a player in the drinking festivities.  Chris personally thinks that she should make the distinction every time...

Shibuya welcomes me in her Womb

Shibuya welcomes me in her Womb

Random Observation/Comment #80: Techno clubs all sound the same, yet some places can charge $40 for the entrance fee while others only charge $20.  It seems like the only difference is the size of the place and the different lightshow techniques.  I wonder if they pay hot girls to cycle at the entrances to attract more people, or if their...

Food, Glorious (Japanese) Food

Food, Glorious (Japanese) Food

Gorgeous sashimi Random Observation/Comment #79:  I love being on vacation.  I literally have an erection just thinking about that sashimi (not literally). I always feel a little guilty spending an obscene amount of money on food because, in the back of my head, I have this lingering survival thought that I eat to live.  Whatever I eat, as long as...

Farewell my Friends

Farewell my Friends

Random Observation/Comment #78: It’s always a little depressing to leave new friends when you know that we’ll probably never meet again.  Luckily for our generation, we have this new electronic being to replace our social life.  Isn’t it sad that people today are flattered when they receive snail mail or even phone calls?  With emails and text messaging available instantly...

Kyoto: Today was a good day, I met Superman.

Kyoto: Today was a good day, I met Superman.

Random Observation/Comment #77: The title of the entry may sound confusing, but it was just a random comment because we saw someone that looked like Clark Kent while walking around Kiyomizudera.  It was the smallest comment with the shortest joke lifespan possible, but I still remembered it so well.  I remembered it well because I remember every little thing from...

Temple Meditation – who’s the wise guy that cut the cheese?

Temple Meditation – who’s the wise guy that cut the cheese?

Random Observation/Comment #77: Being a monk sounds horrifically painful.  Let’s take all of someone’s possession away and force them with the most boring routine known to man.  What would I do without my jeans?  Excuse me while I console my wardrobe – my rogue thoughts have frightened them.  (Those who know me, know I’m joking – partially) “Excuse me, Mr....

Kyoto Gion: Feed the tourists what they want to see

Kyoto Gion: Feed the tourists what they want to see

Random Observation/Comment #75: Most tourists are not frugal.  They make excuses for spending money like, “It’s okay, I’m on vacation.”  Tourist attraction companies know this all too well.  They set their prices so it’s low enough that someone wouldn’t think that it’s too ridiculously expensive, but high enough for the tourist to shake their head in shame feeling like they’ve...