konichiwa from Japan!

Hey all you nasty America-hating commie pinko tree-hugging DUers!

Just checking in with you all - will only be online for a half hour or so, but wanted to let you know that Rabrrrrrr is alive and well and enjoying the heck out of Japan.

I am even riding a bicycle around Kyoto!

I'm keeping copius journal notes of my trip, which at some later point I will be able to relate, but I will say that I find Japan to be very relaxing - even in all the busyness - and also clean, courteous, and safe. I'm loving it! And of course it's beautiful, and has a tremendous history. I've been to a number of temples already - amazing artistry. And the Himeji castle which blew me away with it's construction and size.

The food, of course, is brilliant. And Kyoto loves to eat! Temptation everywhere, and I couldn't possibly ever eat everything that I want. I'm always full!! I'm so happy!

We've had beautiful weather, beer is available in vending machines on the street, I found a cigar store that has CUBAN cigars, and I managed to forget to bring more than half of the cash I intended to bring and a lot of places here don't take credit cards. So I've had to be judicious in spending! But what the hell, it's all fun.

And yesterday I rode the train all by myself to Himeji, then back to Kobe, then back to Kyoto.

Oh, and as one who LOVES grocery stores (and used to work at a huge one) Kyoto has a HUGE grocery store not far from where my partner lives. We went there last night, about 10 pm, when all the sushis and a lot of vegetables go for half price. Got ourselves a big block of seared tuna and had a FEAST with it, along with some squid marinated in its innards (one of my fave Japanese snacky-type foods), a fantastic salad with Japanese basil and radish sprouts, and some other things.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.......the living is good on vacation in Kyoto.

Cheers all!

(and apologies if there's any weird punctuation - I'm on a Japanese keyboard and it's set up different, but for some reason it switches to American style, and the punctuation is where I expect it, and then it switches back to Japanese style and gives me not the punctuation I expect. It's in American mode right now).

p.s. - for all who answered my question about the long flight: All Nippon Air is an amazing airline with great service and the flight didn't feel like 15 hours at all and I managed to spend most of the time reading, though I did watch "The Last Samurai" (it was crap, Tom Cruise should be arrested for sucking so much, though it was beautifully filmed, gotta give the cinematographer props for that), and slept a few catnaps. Also, the booze was free, though I only had two beers since I'm not big on drinking while flying. Oh, and I also was able to get an aisle seat in front of the bulkhead - so I had the aisle, plus a lot of legroom, and no one next to me! Thanks again to all who made suggestions and helped out.

Next week I'm off to hiroshima on the bullet train (a long dream of mine to ride it!) and also to the Osaka aquarium and some other stuff. I've taken lots of photos, which I can't upload yet, and hope that I will be able to get some painting done this week.

:hi: Glad to see you're having fun! Ain't the beer vending machines great? I'm off to hit one of those vending machines right now :evilgrin:. Cheers!

so check your email.

Beer machines - they rock! I've not seen many, but I've seen some.

And I love the non-punitive liquor taxes here.

And cigarettes - I can't believe how cheap they are because they don't 400% taxes added to them.

Keep up the fun.

about coffee. I spent many years living in Japan some years back (Kyushu), and believe it or not, that's where I got hooked on "quality" coffee and it's preparation (Freshly ground and fancy apparatus). That used to be the only place I could consistently find Blue Mountain coffee. Be sure to drop in as many coffee shops as you can handle. They really make a special thing about quality coffee and it's appropriate atmosphere. Seattle doesn't even come close.

As for your ornery keyboard; I know what you mean. I recently installed the Japanese character set on my WIN Xp machine. Every so often, I rap the wrong key with the palm of my hand, and ideographs appear at inappropriate times.

pnorman

I'd love to see some!!!:hi:

The tablecloth in the teacher's room at one of my schools says the following:
Vegetables
A Kitchen Garden
He is harry back.

In Tokyo there's a restaurant with a sign outside that says 'A delicious dish is many.'

Another place has Private sign in the back that instead reads 'Privert.'

Down the street from my apartment there's a hairdressing place called Blow & Cut. It's next door to a sex bar.

and I have never been to Japan. My parents have and said it was rainy and expensive, LOL!

This is really cool. Have a great time and let us know about all your experiences!:D

:hi:

:hi:

Kyoto sounds wonderful. I've always wanted to visit the more historic places in Japan.

Please take lots of pics and send more postacards if you can. It's great to get these "live on the scene" reports. :D

Beer vending machines, huh? I like it.

I'd be going there myself if my finances had worked out differently. As it is, I'm missing the translators' convention that will be held in May.

I'm also glad to know that you had a good experience on ANA. I'd be willing to pay extra to fly with them out of California rather than taking the nonstop from Minneapolis to Tokyo on Northworst.

Enjoy your stay and please keep us up to date on what you're doing.

My sister worked in Osaka for one year (with Universal Studios). She had a wonderful experience there and did alot of traveling to some awesome places.

Looking forward to your updates!

Let me know what is current over there if possible. :evilgrin:

My big selfreliance event over there was to ride a train out about 20k and then got off and wandered back to the hotel on my own. You really find out the true nature of a place that way. Seeing all the back roads and side streets. It is a beautiful place. But alas the culture is preserved, not alive. Try to catch DaiBudhsu (Big Buddha). I partucularly like his giant sandals laying near by in case he decides to go for a walk.

my ship will come in and I will visit Japan

In the mean time keep us posted OK?