A Fresh Feast of Fish: Japan Series #4

If you like Sushi, go to Japan, right? It's fresh, it's fantastic! Yes, sushi in Vancouver can be the same quality as Japan, but it can also be mediocre. Quality, in Japan, is consistent. Even the bargain basement 100¥ sushi places are decent. Actually, it's pretty difficult to have a bad meal in Japan. It may not be to your taste, but it won't be bad. This sushi plate was at Seiko's aunt house. It's pretty common to order sushi when relatives come over, because it's fancy and everyone likes it. That's the major difference... No one doesn't like it. At least not many.
And you know what, Sushi (as in Raw Fish slap on Rice) isn't really that scary. Most people who don't like Sushi's taste, is usually because they had unfresh sushi with bad nori (seaweed) and it's the taste of the seaweed that most people don't like. Fresh Raw fish doesn't taste fishy.
Anyway, that's enough of my rant on Raw Fish. Try some Sashimi today! You won't regret it! 

金閣寺 : Japan Series #3

Kyoto is famous for many things, one of which is
金閣寺 [kinkakuji] or "The Golden Temple". It's actually covered in gold leaf and surrounded by a zen garden and "mirror lake" which of course, was full of coy. I wonder what kind of fishing it would be... Anyway, I thought since it's probably one of the most famous images of Kyoto so I thought I'd post this picture. It gives a bit of famous-ness to my life. Kind of like visiting a location featured in Awake! (Seriously, I did that two years ago, when I visited Ireland's Burren) I wonder how many other people make it a point to visit Awake locations. It's kind of cool when you can say... "Oh I went here, it's featured in March 8, 2004 issue of Awake!" (Which happens to be the article showcasing the Burren, by the way) I also flew into Kansai Airport, featured in the Jan 8, 1996 issue of Awake! Hey, I could build a whole itinerary around Awake! locations! Isn't the WT Library great?
v(^_^)v

Please Contact the Phone. Japan Series #2

If you can't see this picture, you'll have to click it to make it bigger... but there's a few good ones here to point out:

The first point is grammatically perfect... I think it was copied off a parking sign somewhere.

But anyway, even the second point is pretty good... if not a little awkward... but still, understandable and not that strange....

Even the 3rd point is only missing a measly little 'n' in taken. So far, this looks like a 700-800 Toeic tested japanese translator.

But the 4th point... now this is where all the randomness breaks down and it becomes hilarious. I mean, it's understandable and all... and really, if "the" was changed to "by" all would be okay and pretty understandable... but there's something comical about a banner telling you to call the phone... we all understand that you're wanting to call a person... but i had this distinctive urge to go to the nearest phone and start talking to it... imagine:

"Hi, are you the phone?"
"I have a problem with my locker... can you help me?"

The problem is that in Japan... where everything talks to you... I wouldn't be surprised if it actually talked to me...
いらさひませ！元気ですか。嬉しいですか。電話ばんごけて下さい！ありがとうございます！
Welcome! how are you? Are you happy? Please dial your number! Thank you very much!

Seriously... escalators talk to you in Japan... telling you thank-you and to take care.

I need a machine that talks to me in Japanese. 

Don't Feed Pacman. Japan Series #1

While visiting Nara, outside a temple, there was this sign. I couldn't resist taking a picture of it. Please don't feed Pacman!

Actually, it's saying not to drink the water. The first two characters mean drinking water(nomimizu), and the last two are prohibited(kinshi). I much prefer my explanation... DON'T FEED PACMAN! I didn't realize pacman was buddhist... but then again, eating pellets in a vast world of dots and ghosts that reincarnate themselves... maybe he is. 

Delicious cakes make us happy

Although this is not too engrish like, it is very typical of many japanese products. They always have a little bit of english. Although, i can't figure out what is lovely from but i know that this cake package is telling me to have a good time... please.

Well, tomorrow i'm off to Nara, the old capital of Japan. Should be fun.

じゃね。 

To Japan! and BIG NEWS!

Well, I'm off to Japan... as of the time this post, that is. I won't be able to post this at the airport (or will i?) so i set it in the future. And, the reason for my trip should be obvious by the picture I chose. (I'm going to buy a watch). NO! Of course not... (^_^)

Anyway, this trip will be fun, apparently, it's all been planned for me... so it will be the fastest trip ever!!!

I have an entire suitcase full of gifts. It's crazy. I went crazy with 'omiyage'. Omiyage(お土産) is the japanese word for souvenir or gift. I'm not sure where it comes from, but the kanji (characters) are for Ground or Soil and Produced, so I suspect, omiyage had an original meaning of a gift from the gods... something returned to you for your hard effort in tilling the soil. Maybe I'm wrong, however, it has happened once before... (<.<) Anyway, I've been working on a website for our wedding, and since it's almost ready, I'm going to reveal it (let's call it the pre-beta release) Feel free to check it out don't forget to sign the guest book! here it is: http://www.seikoandgary.com

Pretty obvious title, if you ask me!

See you in 10 days! I'll try to post at least ONE weird Japanese blogpost with pictures from Seiko's phone while I'm there... that is, if you want me to. Let me know in the comments for this post.

またね！

Are the Holidays over?

I must be crazy, but my landlord still has a blow-up santa snowglobe out. These were all the rage this year in Vancouver, and even though they're a little tacky, I think they're a rather innovative decoration. Seriously though! IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS! I can't believe people still want a memory of their credit card debt inflated on the back porch!

Anyway, I've also included (and completely unrelated) another VIDEO! This one is for Chris. Recently, Bugatti (owned by VW) released a 1001hp (that's a lot!) 16 cylinder car called the Veyron. This is some footage of someone in a BMW M3 who is following the Veyron. Pretty cool. The video is a bit boring, but you have to realize how RARE this car is. Chris will correct me on this, but isn't there like only 75 made per year? You just don't see this car on the street... it's barely released yet. I suspect this was from the auto show. I wish I was driving it. Pure, unadulterated, driving heaven, I say.

 

Urban Ninja

I'm back to posting videos, again. but this one is seriously cool. I can't believe the stuff this guy can do!!! It's amazing! I really wish I had taken gymnastics when I was younger. That would've been cool to be able to do a backflip.

On the road... In ikea

Apparently I can send a blog entry just by emailing my blog. So when I'm stuck somewhere I can blog to my heart's content and write stuff.

Take for example today. I was in ikea and I really felt like a rat in an enormous cage, except instead of rewarding you for finding the way out, the goal of the game is to keep you inside the maze for as long as possible. And when you finally find your way out you're rewarded with long line-ups (queues) and a long receipt you always spend more than you planned to and the furniture typically lasts as long as a three year-old's attention span is while watching elmo on sesame street.

Ikea, swedish for cheap meatballs and pasta.

Then again, ikea may be cheap crap, but it's disposable furniture. Single use furniture, if you will.

Any hardcore ikea fans out there?
--Gary Armstrong--

How can you not love this dog?

Cute, right? Except that he should read the latest article of the Awake's Young People Ask, "Why do I hurt myself?"

Enough of India... let's learn how to eat Sushi

Enjoy this video. It's a little dry, and don't take it at all seriously, but there's 5% truth in it as well. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.