Last week I went to Tokyo for the second time. This was a much briefer trip with a lot less done. The main reason for the trip was a job interview on the 15th, which I have previously discussed, so I'll talk about the rest of what I did in Tokyo here.
I caught the night bus on Saturday night, and arrived in Tokyo at about 6:30 am on Sunday. My first order of business was to get some breakfast, which ended up being MacDonalds (I like their breakfast menu). I stayed in MacDonalds reading until about 8, at which time I went across the corridor to Starbucks, which had comfier chairs. I ended up staying in Starbucks until 1, in which time I read, watched some Futurama, updated my Japanese dictionary, and practiced writing Japanese sentences.
After I left Starbucks I went to Tokyo Tower (東京タワー) via Zojoji temple. It's a nice place with some gardens around it. I actually went into the main temple and sat for a little while, because some sort of ceremony was going on and there were some monks chanting, so I watched and listened. Then onto Tokyo Tower itself. I only went up to the main viewing platform, about 150m or so up. The view was not bad, but the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building has a much better view. Also nice was the trick art gallery, a collection of works by a guy in which all the pictures are optical illusion types of things. They were pretty interesting.
After that I met up with Tyrone, who quite kindly allowed me to stay at his place for the night, thus saving me the expense of a hostel. I got to sleep on a real bed for the first time since I went to Okinawa, and had a very good night sleep. He also knows a shop that sells TimTams, so when I ate my first TimTam for I don't know how many months, I was in heaven.
Monday was the day of the interview. The interview was at 10 in Ginza, and I got there with plenty of time. The interview lasted about 25 minutes, so at half past I was free for the day. Nearby was a kabuki theater, at which a show was starting at 11. After finding out prices and deciding it was cheap enough (700 yen) I got a ticket for the first act. My seat was in the very back row, but what do you expect for 700 yen. I couldn't really pay attention because I couldn't understand what they were saying and may have nodded off during the show. After the show finished I wandered around Ginza looking for the Godzilla statue that apparently exists. Unfortunately I didn't find it. I spent an hour or so in another Starbucks, and then headed back to Tyrone's place to collect my stuff.
Then began the long wait for the bus back, which left at 10pm. This was filled with some time in an internet cafe, a bookshop (I picked up starship troopers, and managed to read most of it on the bus), dinner at MacDonalds (noticing a trend here), then about 20 minutes waiting at the bus stop. Then on the bus and heading home.
A quick tiring trip that didn't get me a new job, but the rest of what happens made it a worthwhile trip.
End Post
Writing time: 27 minutes
Time since last post: an hour or so
Current media: The Samurai Champloo soundtrack
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Monday, October 22, 2007
Recent Events
Lately, life has not been so good. Or more specifically, work has not been so good. Even more specifically, the pay has been not so good. Well, not not so good, but absent, non-existent, late, yet to be paid, etc, etc.
The company is going down the tubes. Last month the teachers pay was 4 days late for most teachers. The Japanese staff are still waiting for their pay from last month. I don't really believe the promise that we'll be paid on the 25th, because that promise came after they failed to pay us on the 19th as they promised.
The actual work is not so bad. Most days have been pretty light of late. This is because the staff have been anticipating teachers not turning up and not filling the schedule, so when everyone does turn up, we all get free lessons.
Yesterday was a different story. There were meant to be five teachers working, but only two turned up. Guess who was one of those two. Yup. Me. My schedule for the day was almost completely full. The maximum size of a class is four students. My first class had three students, my last class was a man to man class where the student pays extra to be the only student, and the rest were four student classes. A few students didn't turn up, so that made it a little easier but it was a daunting schedule to look at. The staff have said they'll try and give me an easy schedule today if it's possible, so that's something to look forward to.
The Japanese staff are having a really rough time. Branches are closing all the time, teachers are not coming in and quitting at massive rates, and students are trying to get as many lessons as they can before it all comes crashing down. Combined with no real leadership from above, it seems that the branch level staff are all working together to try and keep things going. On Friday I ended up going to three different schools, as other schools were so desperate for teachers that they were willing to have someone come out to teach just one lesson, then travel to the next school for one lesson, then back to my regular branch for the rest of the day. I have to say they're doing a good job, but eventually they're going to run out of options.
Another issue is the rate at which branches are being closed. At first it was just some kids schools and small schools, but now more and more schools are closing, and it's more and more obvious that there is no planning going on. Last month some schools closed and the students were offered a transfer to another school. Then early this month they announced that school would close at the end of the month. So now the students have to transfer again, or more likely are going to quit. My school has yet to close, and word is the owner of the building is out of the country so doesn't know what's going on. We've been getting lots of transfer students, and hopefully we'll be getting some teachers from the schools that are closing, but there's no information so far. Apparently there's meant to be training for new teachers at my school today, but the head teacher hasn't got any information about the new guys, so it's pretty likely there not coming. I know I wouldn't come over now if I knew what was going on.
My reaction to all of this was at the beginning denial, but in the last month has gone to a fatalistic panic. After last months late pay, I initially thought they wouldn't be late twice, because they knew it would piss of the teachers, and with no teachers there's no business. But late the pay is, and now I'm looking for other work. I had an interview in Tokyo last week which was good and bad. Good in that they were willing to let me start training straight away, bad in that the training is unpaid, the pay is purely on a commission basis, and although the work is investment based, you have to get your own clients whose money you invest. This is not the sort of thing I can uproot and move to Tokyo for. I've also had a phone interview for teaching in China, but the pay is again good and bad. It's about what a manager in China receives, so you can live like a king over there, but it works out to about $1000 a month, so you can't really save any money. Tomorrow I have a phone interview for a job in South Korea, which is a lot better. I'd also much rather live in Korea than in China. No Great Firewall to start with, and the pay is a lot better (actually a bit better than what I get in Japan. It's about the same amount of money, but they also pay your rent and half your health insurance, plus pay for a return airfare, so that would be pretty good). We'll see how that goes.
This has also had a detrimental effect on my limited social life. The usual Monday night outing has been postponed indefinitely, pending getting some money. My diet is also suffering. For most of the last three weeks, dinner has been instant ramen. Breakfast is a pastry and some juice, or if I'm feeling luxurious, MacDonalds. The activities I've taken to fill the gap are online poker and watching the entirety of the original series of Star Trek.
End Post
Writing time: 41 minutes
Time since last post: 12 days
Current media: Newstopia
The company is going down the tubes. Last month the teachers pay was 4 days late for most teachers. The Japanese staff are still waiting for their pay from last month. I don't really believe the promise that we'll be paid on the 25th, because that promise came after they failed to pay us on the 19th as they promised.
The actual work is not so bad. Most days have been pretty light of late. This is because the staff have been anticipating teachers not turning up and not filling the schedule, so when everyone does turn up, we all get free lessons.
Yesterday was a different story. There were meant to be five teachers working, but only two turned up. Guess who was one of those two. Yup. Me. My schedule for the day was almost completely full. The maximum size of a class is four students. My first class had three students, my last class was a man to man class where the student pays extra to be the only student, and the rest were four student classes. A few students didn't turn up, so that made it a little easier but it was a daunting schedule to look at. The staff have said they'll try and give me an easy schedule today if it's possible, so that's something to look forward to.
The Japanese staff are having a really rough time. Branches are closing all the time, teachers are not coming in and quitting at massive rates, and students are trying to get as many lessons as they can before it all comes crashing down. Combined with no real leadership from above, it seems that the branch level staff are all working together to try and keep things going. On Friday I ended up going to three different schools, as other schools were so desperate for teachers that they were willing to have someone come out to teach just one lesson, then travel to the next school for one lesson, then back to my regular branch for the rest of the day. I have to say they're doing a good job, but eventually they're going to run out of options.
Another issue is the rate at which branches are being closed. At first it was just some kids schools and small schools, but now more and more schools are closing, and it's more and more obvious that there is no planning going on. Last month some schools closed and the students were offered a transfer to another school. Then early this month they announced that school would close at the end of the month. So now the students have to transfer again, or more likely are going to quit. My school has yet to close, and word is the owner of the building is out of the country so doesn't know what's going on. We've been getting lots of transfer students, and hopefully we'll be getting some teachers from the schools that are closing, but there's no information so far. Apparently there's meant to be training for new teachers at my school today, but the head teacher hasn't got any information about the new guys, so it's pretty likely there not coming. I know I wouldn't come over now if I knew what was going on.
My reaction to all of this was at the beginning denial, but in the last month has gone to a fatalistic panic. After last months late pay, I initially thought they wouldn't be late twice, because they knew it would piss of the teachers, and with no teachers there's no business. But late the pay is, and now I'm looking for other work. I had an interview in Tokyo last week which was good and bad. Good in that they were willing to let me start training straight away, bad in that the training is unpaid, the pay is purely on a commission basis, and although the work is investment based, you have to get your own clients whose money you invest. This is not the sort of thing I can uproot and move to Tokyo for. I've also had a phone interview for teaching in China, but the pay is again good and bad. It's about what a manager in China receives, so you can live like a king over there, but it works out to about $1000 a month, so you can't really save any money. Tomorrow I have a phone interview for a job in South Korea, which is a lot better. I'd also much rather live in Korea than in China. No Great Firewall to start with, and the pay is a lot better (actually a bit better than what I get in Japan. It's about the same amount of money, but they also pay your rent and half your health insurance, plus pay for a return airfare, so that would be pretty good). We'll see how that goes.
This has also had a detrimental effect on my limited social life. The usual Monday night outing has been postponed indefinitely, pending getting some money. My diet is also suffering. For most of the last three weeks, dinner has been instant ramen. Breakfast is a pastry and some juice, or if I'm feeling luxurious, MacDonalds. The activities I've taken to fill the gap are online poker and watching the entirety of the original series of Star Trek.
End Post
Writing time: 41 minutes
Time since last post: 12 days
Current media: Newstopia
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
A New Decoration
I just thought I'd put up a picture of the latest decoration in my room. Well actually, the only decoration in my room. I don't quite know exactly what it says, although two of the small kanji on the left are the name of the suburb I live in (岡町), but I like it and it will definitely make the trip back to Australia as a souvenir. Just don't ask where I got it until after I'm out of Japan.End Post
Writing time: 5 minutes
Time since last post: a few hours
Current media: None
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Uh-Oh. We Can't Have That Happening
I've just read an interesting little story about an incident that occurred during the most recent sumo tournament. It seems a woman tried to invade the ring just as a fight was about to begin. The woman made it to the raised area, but was stopped by a referee and a fighter (now that's got to be a one sided affair). Fortunately, the woman was stopped before actually entering the ring which is considered a sacred area from which women are prohibited. So much so that when Osaka had a female governor, she was forced to delegate the traditional governor's duty of awarding prizes to a male delegate. And they say men and women are equal in Japan. At least women are allowed to climb mountains nowadays.
End Post
Writing time: 9 minutes
Time since last post: 3 days
Current media: None
End Post
Writing time: 9 minutes
Time since last post: 3 days
Current media: None
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Interesting Times
Since last Friday, work has taken on a sort of despondent feel. The company, which has been in trouble for a long time, seems to have entered a death spiral. It started last Friday when most of the teachers were not paid on time. At around 5 pm (after the banks had closed) a fax was sent out to most branches saying that there was a processing problem that meant that it was impossible to complete the deposit of salaries, and that payments would be made on the following Tuesday or Wednesday (Monday was a public holiday), depending on where in Japan you were. This followed an incident two months ago where the salaries of the Japanese staff (they are on a different cycle for pay. Teachers are paid on the 15th, staff on the 27th) was about 5 days late.
At the same time NOVA is closing a large number of branches (I keep hearing about new branches closing). A lot of the closures seem to be kids schools, which honestly can be nothing but a money sink, but nonetheless I quite liked my kids schools and will miss the kids I have taught there (that reminds me, I have photos from my other kids school to post). Were this just a rationalisation of the business, this wouldn't be so bad. But some of the schools closing are quite large, and some smaller schools are staying open. And of course there is the rumour that the closures are due to NOVA being evicted due to unpaid rent. The fact that the list of closures keeps growing seems to suggest that this isn't part of a master plan.
Pretty much everyone is looking for other jobs. None of the teachers expect to be working next month. No one is optimistic about being paid for this month, let alone next month. No one is really motivated to work. I've heard teachers say that they're just coming in because they have nothing to do and don't want to just sit at home. I think I'm going in out of misplaced loyalty and a significant dose of denial.
I've started looking for other jobs (not that seriously, I've applied for one job working in either China or Russia). I'm also reassured by the fact that I can get unemployment benefits for three months. I could try to live cheaply for three months, try and save what I can before bugging out as soon as I get the final payment. Also handy is the fact that a ticket home for me is a mere 35000 yen (about $350 dollars (a whole fucking lot less than what I paid to get over here, although I'm willing to bet the luggage allowance is a lot less)). Right now I'm aiming to just live as cheap as I can until I either find my new job or bug out.
One thing I haven't really considered is that maybe the announcement on Tuesday is some sort of miracle cure for NOVA's problems. If it is, then I will hang around, until early next year, and save as much as I can. But that would be the easy way out, and the odds are beyond unlikely, and approaching the impossible.
I would like to be able to just hang around and keep cruising through life in Japan, but it looks like I'm going to have to put some effort into this for a little while before resuming my cruising ways.
End Post
Writing time: 39 minutes
Time since last post: 4 days
Current media: Battlestar Galactica 3x07
At the same time NOVA is closing a large number of branches (I keep hearing about new branches closing). A lot of the closures seem to be kids schools, which honestly can be nothing but a money sink, but nonetheless I quite liked my kids schools and will miss the kids I have taught there (that reminds me, I have photos from my other kids school to post). Were this just a rationalisation of the business, this wouldn't be so bad. But some of the schools closing are quite large, and some smaller schools are staying open. And of course there is the rumour that the closures are due to NOVA being evicted due to unpaid rent. The fact that the list of closures keeps growing seems to suggest that this isn't part of a master plan.
Pretty much everyone is looking for other jobs. None of the teachers expect to be working next month. No one is optimistic about being paid for this month, let alone next month. No one is really motivated to work. I've heard teachers say that they're just coming in because they have nothing to do and don't want to just sit at home. I think I'm going in out of misplaced loyalty and a significant dose of denial.
I've started looking for other jobs (not that seriously, I've applied for one job working in either China or Russia). I'm also reassured by the fact that I can get unemployment benefits for three months. I could try to live cheaply for three months, try and save what I can before bugging out as soon as I get the final payment. Also handy is the fact that a ticket home for me is a mere 35000 yen (about $350 dollars (a whole fucking lot less than what I paid to get over here, although I'm willing to bet the luggage allowance is a lot less)). Right now I'm aiming to just live as cheap as I can until I either find my new job or bug out.
One thing I haven't really considered is that maybe the announcement on Tuesday is some sort of miracle cure for NOVA's problems. If it is, then I will hang around, until early next year, and save as much as I can. But that would be the easy way out, and the odds are beyond unlikely, and approaching the impossible.
I would like to be able to just hang around and keep cruising through life in Japan, but it looks like I'm going to have to put some effort into this for a little while before resuming my cruising ways.
End Post
Writing time: 39 minutes
Time since last post: 4 days
Current media: Battlestar Galactica 3x07
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Closing Down
In the last week Nova has announced that it is closing a bunch of branches all over the country (I've heard the number 300 mentioned (Sparta (sorry, couldn't help myself))(holy nested brackets)). This is impacting me as the two kids schools I go to are being closed. I was told about the one at Nigawa closing last week, but thought the one at Obayashi was safe as on the weekend I got a cover form for that school. Today however, I got a cancellation form and was told that Obayashi is closing too.
So at Obayashi this afternoon in addition to me and Tomiko (the regular staff at the kids school) the Nishikita manager came along in a role I've taken to calling "The Harbinger of Doom" to tell the parents about the closure and what their options are (which schools they can transfer to). I'm not sure as my Japanese isn't good enough, but I think some of the parents asked which classes I teach at Nishikita (some of the parents at Nigawa asked that too).
I got a few photos with the some of the kids today (the kinders and some of the seniors). I'll try and get some photos from Nigawa next week. Anyway, here are the photos.
My kinder class. From left to right: Hoshika's younger brother, Hoshika, Chiemi, Ayumi, Yusaaku (in the grip of Nova Usagi) and Tomiko (the staff at Obayashi)
Me and some of my senior kids. Left to Right: Mizuho, Mio (a former student from before my time who turned up today for some reason), Daiki, Yurina and Yusuuke
End Post
Writing time: 25 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: The Daily Show
So at Obayashi this afternoon in addition to me and Tomiko (the regular staff at the kids school) the Nishikita manager came along in a role I've taken to calling "The Harbinger of Doom" to tell the parents about the closure and what their options are (which schools they can transfer to). I'm not sure as my Japanese isn't good enough, but I think some of the parents asked which classes I teach at Nishikita (some of the parents at Nigawa asked that too).
I got a few photos with the some of the kids today (the kinders and some of the seniors). I'll try and get some photos from Nigawa next week. Anyway, here are the photos.
My kinder class. From left to right: Hoshika's younger brother, Hoshika, Chiemi, Ayumi, Yusaaku (in the grip of Nova Usagi) and Tomiko (the staff at Obayashi)Me and some of my senior kids. Left to Right: Mizuho, Mio (a former student from before my time who turned up today for some reason), Daiki, Yurina and YusuukeEnd Post
Writing time: 25 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: The Daily Show
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Japan: Exporting 70% of the World's Crazy Shit Since 1960
In some ways, Japan is like many countries. Reliable electricity, hot water, internet (my 3 basic requirements for somewhere to live), tall buildings, roads, cars, commercialism, etc. But it also includes a lot of crazy stuff. People who wear long gloves while riding a bike. People who have umbrellas attached to their bike. Kids who get homework during summer vacation, and do it. Green tea kit kats, orange kit kats (OK, this one is actually nice), kiwi kit kats, and others I'm not quite sure of.
At any rate, there's a lot of crazy over here. And in the news today I saw another example of the crazy. A man has sent his finger to the Prime Minister as a protest to his decision not to visit Yasukuni shrine (Yasukuni is where the war dead of Japan are enshrined, including 14 war criminals, making official visits by the Prime Minister a touchy subject with neighbouring countries). Accompanying the finger was a DVD containing pictures of the man cutting off his finger, and he has been charged with intimidating a government official.
This I must say is all in rather poor taste. This man is obviously taking things way to seriously, and this is what has led him to this rather unpleasant situation.
Anyway, that's today dose of crazy from Japan
End Post
Writing time: 17 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: Firefly
At any rate, there's a lot of crazy over here. And in the news today I saw another example of the crazy. A man has sent his finger to the Prime Minister as a protest to his decision not to visit Yasukuni shrine (Yasukuni is where the war dead of Japan are enshrined, including 14 war criminals, making official visits by the Prime Minister a touchy subject with neighbouring countries). Accompanying the finger was a DVD containing pictures of the man cutting off his finger, and he has been charged with intimidating a government official.
This I must say is all in rather poor taste. This man is obviously taking things way to seriously, and this is what has led him to this rather unpleasant situation.
Anyway, that's today dose of crazy from Japan
End Post
Writing time: 17 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: Firefly
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Shirahama
So, a few days after getting back from Okinawa, where there was a decided lack of time spent on the beach, on Tuesday (24/7/07) I caught the bus to Shirahama with a group of friends from around here. Here we spent 3 days on the beach. We camped out on the beach at night, and left only to find somewhere for meals, and to visit the convenience stores for supplies.
Generally it was a good and stress free time. We all got a bit sunburnt in different places depending on what individuals wore and where they put sunscreen. On Wednesday night we lit a bunch of fireworks we bought at the local convenience store. One we weren't sure which was up, and got it wrong, sending it flying along the beach, passing only a few meters away from another group of people.
We were most active on the first day. The second day was mostly spent sitting in the shade, trying to avoid getting more sunburnt. Day three was similar, but we weren't quite so scared of the sun, although we were getting a bit tired of not sleeping on a futon and having access to a hot shower. We had lunch and hung around the cafe for a while, then went to a hotel bar and mooched around for about an hour or so on one drink.
The bus ride back was slower than the ride to the beach, due to some traffic issues on the way.
I got sunburnt worst on my feet, so much so that wearing shoes to work today was quite uncomfortable
End Post
Writing time: 19 minutes
Time since last post: 8 days
Current media: Rasputina - How We Quit the Forest
Generally it was a good and stress free time. We all got a bit sunburnt in different places depending on what individuals wore and where they put sunscreen. On Wednesday night we lit a bunch of fireworks we bought at the local convenience store. One we weren't sure which was up, and got it wrong, sending it flying along the beach, passing only a few meters away from another group of people.
We were most active on the first day. The second day was mostly spent sitting in the shade, trying to avoid getting more sunburnt. Day three was similar, but we weren't quite so scared of the sun, although we were getting a bit tired of not sleeping on a futon and having access to a hot shower. We had lunch and hung around the cafe for a while, then went to a hotel bar and mooched around for about an hour or so on one drink.
The bus ride back was slower than the ride to the beach, due to some traffic issues on the way.
I got sunburnt worst on my feet, so much so that wearing shoes to work today was quite uncomfortable
End Post
Writing time: 19 minutes
Time since last post: 8 days
Current media: Rasputina - How We Quit the Forest
Friday, July 20, 2007
Okinawa Day 4
Day 4 in Okinawa was mostly relaxed, but there were a few events of note. The usual breakfast (MacDonalds bacon & egg muffin meal), then I checked out of the hostel, but was able to leave my bag there for the day.
First on the agenda was to buy a yukata (a Japanese summer style kimono) as work was planning a yukata party on Sunday, and I wouldn't really have time to buy one back in Osaka before then. After wandering around a little I found a shop that had a bunch of kimono looking things, and in my poor Japanese first asked "kore wa yukata desuka?" (is this a yukata?), and getting an "iie" in response, followed with "yukata wa arimasuka?" (are there yukatas?) whereupon I was led to a different section of the shop. They gave me one to try on, a large (yukatas don't come in many sizes, and since the average foreigner is bigger than the average Japanese person, large was realistically the only one that would fit. The length is about right, but the sleeves are a little shorter than they should be. After some confusion over the name of some colours I finally picked out a yukata that is dark blue in colour, with some sort of pattern on it (it looks like some sort of lamp thingy). As later events would show, this purchase would be very fortunate.
After this I went to one of the parks to relax for a while. I did a bit of reading, played some more Phoenix Wright, and then decided to do some juggling. I did this for a while, practising some routines, then 3 balls in one hand (I can kind of do this now, but I have too move a lot). The juggling ended when I lunged to catch the balls and heard a rip. I looked down and the inside right leg of my shorts was torn from where the legs meet in the middle to the hem. I quickly sat down on the bench and considered my options. Walking down the streets in my shorts like this was not an option. The solution to how to get back to the hostel to my bag and a new pair of shorts: the yukata. I put on the yukata and headed back to the hostel. I got a few odd looks on my way, and learnt I couldn't really use my normal stride in a yukata (I'm sure you can work out why). Anyway, I got back to the hostel, changed pants and then went back out into the world, sans yukata. I had lunch, and decided to head over to the Naha museum to kill some time. Unfortunately, the museum was closed, so I got some icecream at the Hageen Daas that was below the museum. After that I decided to call it a day and go to the airport.
My flight arrived in Kobe on time at 8:25, and I was home between 9:30 and 10.
End Post
Writing time: 17 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Rasputina - How We Quit the Forest
First on the agenda was to buy a yukata (a Japanese summer style kimono) as work was planning a yukata party on Sunday, and I wouldn't really have time to buy one back in Osaka before then. After wandering around a little I found a shop that had a bunch of kimono looking things, and in my poor Japanese first asked "kore wa yukata desuka?" (is this a yukata?), and getting an "iie" in response, followed with "yukata wa arimasuka?" (are there yukatas?) whereupon I was led to a different section of the shop. They gave me one to try on, a large (yukatas don't come in many sizes, and since the average foreigner is bigger than the average Japanese person, large was realistically the only one that would fit. The length is about right, but the sleeves are a little shorter than they should be. After some confusion over the name of some colours I finally picked out a yukata that is dark blue in colour, with some sort of pattern on it (it looks like some sort of lamp thingy). As later events would show, this purchase would be very fortunate.
After this I went to one of the parks to relax for a while. I did a bit of reading, played some more Phoenix Wright, and then decided to do some juggling. I did this for a while, practising some routines, then 3 balls in one hand (I can kind of do this now, but I have too move a lot). The juggling ended when I lunged to catch the balls and heard a rip. I looked down and the inside right leg of my shorts was torn from where the legs meet in the middle to the hem. I quickly sat down on the bench and considered my options. Walking down the streets in my shorts like this was not an option. The solution to how to get back to the hostel to my bag and a new pair of shorts: the yukata. I put on the yukata and headed back to the hostel. I got a few odd looks on my way, and learnt I couldn't really use my normal stride in a yukata (I'm sure you can work out why). Anyway, I got back to the hostel, changed pants and then went back out into the world, sans yukata. I had lunch, and decided to head over to the Naha museum to kill some time. Unfortunately, the museum was closed, so I got some icecream at the Hageen Daas that was below the museum. After that I decided to call it a day and go to the airport.
My flight arrived in Kobe on time at 8:25, and I was home between 9:30 and 10.
End Post
Writing time: 17 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Rasputina - How We Quit the Forest
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Okinawa Day 3
Day 3 in Okinawa was a little different. I decided that rather than trying the beach again and getting drenched, I'd do some sightseeing and then catch another movie. I was delayed in leaving the hostel though because while I was doing some after breakfast reading I started watching one of the other guests making a string bracelet, and ended up making one of my own. In hindsight, the rough black twine I though would look macho and manly just ended up looking a bit ratty and was harder to make.
For my sightseeing I headed over to Ryuku Castle. The castle has been built and rebuilt many times, most recently after WWII. There are some parts that are still being restored but it was a good visit. Just before going into the main castle part, in the courtyard there was a performance of traditional dance which I hung around and watched. A bit different to the dancing I'm used to, but no-one can do fancy footwork in a kimono. Overall, the dancing was quite sedate, and the use of props was more interesting than the footwork. The inside of the castle was pretty interesting, and had a lot of English signs. You did have to take of your shoes off at the entrance though. After the castle I wandered around the lake just below the castle, and headed to the cinemas around 4:45ish.
The movie I saw was Pirates of the Caribbean 3. My advice is if you haven't already seen it, don't. During the movie I was thinking "this is bad". The story made little sense, and the humour of the original is sorely lacking. The few moments of comedy with Johnny Depp were the only positive things in the movie. I did however stick around for the little coda after the credits.
Dinner was KFC, and then I went back to the hostel for the night.
End Post
Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: None
For my sightseeing I headed over to Ryuku Castle. The castle has been built and rebuilt many times, most recently after WWII. There are some parts that are still being restored but it was a good visit. Just before going into the main castle part, in the courtyard there was a performance of traditional dance which I hung around and watched. A bit different to the dancing I'm used to, but no-one can do fancy footwork in a kimono. Overall, the dancing was quite sedate, and the use of props was more interesting than the footwork. The inside of the castle was pretty interesting, and had a lot of English signs. You did have to take of your shoes off at the entrance though. After the castle I wandered around the lake just below the castle, and headed to the cinemas around 4:45ish.
The movie I saw was Pirates of the Caribbean 3. My advice is if you haven't already seen it, don't. During the movie I was thinking "this is bad". The story made little sense, and the humour of the original is sorely lacking. The few moments of comedy with Johnny Depp were the only positive things in the movie. I did however stick around for the little coda after the credits.
Dinner was KFC, and then I went back to the hostel for the night.
End Post
Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: None
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Okinawa Day 2
My second day in Okinawa was not quite as exciting as the first. I slept in a bit, then walked down to the nearest MacDonalds for breakfast. As I got there, it started raining, so I stayed a bit longer than I normally would. When the rain looked like it was easing off, I left, but almost immediately it picked up again, so I popped into a convenience store and bought an umbrella. I went back to the hostel to wait out the rain.
At about noonish it looked fine, so I decided to walk to a nearby beach. After spiralling around for a while, I finally found the beach. I sat down on the beach and rented an umbrella (I actually just tried to open an umbrella on the beach and a guy came up and told me it was a rental, so I just gave him some money). However, after about half an hour the heavy rain came back suddenly so I and everyone else on the beach ran for the shelter of the nearby buildings. After the rain eased off again I said to hell with this and went back to the hostel to change clothes as I was somewhat drenched.
I decided that my alternative activity would be to see a movie. I got to the cinemas at about 4, and the next English movie on was Die Hard 4 at 5. So I decided to hang around (the cinema was in a mall which I wandered around in. On a related note Transformers toys for the current movie seem a lot cruder and less sophisticated than the ones I remember from my youth.) Anyway, the movie wasn't too bad, the scenario, tech and action was a bit more implausible than previous Die Hards, but it was still fun to watch.
After that I had dinner at a steak bar near the hostel, I had a nice awamori cocktail with some good steak, although the steak didn't come with anything else.
End Post
Writing time: 13 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Hook
At about noonish it looked fine, so I decided to walk to a nearby beach. After spiralling around for a while, I finally found the beach. I sat down on the beach and rented an umbrella (I actually just tried to open an umbrella on the beach and a guy came up and told me it was a rental, so I just gave him some money). However, after about half an hour the heavy rain came back suddenly so I and everyone else on the beach ran for the shelter of the nearby buildings. After the rain eased off again I said to hell with this and went back to the hostel to change clothes as I was somewhat drenched.
I decided that my alternative activity would be to see a movie. I got to the cinemas at about 4, and the next English movie on was Die Hard 4 at 5. So I decided to hang around (the cinema was in a mall which I wandered around in. On a related note Transformers toys for the current movie seem a lot cruder and less sophisticated than the ones I remember from my youth.) Anyway, the movie wasn't too bad, the scenario, tech and action was a bit more implausible than previous Die Hards, but it was still fun to watch.
After that I had dinner at a steak bar near the hostel, I had a nice awamori cocktail with some good steak, although the steak didn't come with anything else.
End Post
Writing time: 13 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Hook
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Okinawa Day 1
An early start, getting up at around 6:30, to catch a 7:17 train to Kobe, and then another train out to the airport, arriving at the airport at around 8:45. Check in was no hassle, although it was a bit funny that getting your boarding pass and checking your luggage are two seperate processes over here. The flight was about two hours, and then another 15-20 minutes on the monorail. The guest house I was staying at (props to Guest House Sora, a very good place to stay if you happen to be in Naha). I dropped my bag at the guest house, and then wandered around town for a while. I had lunch at KFC (my dining habits in Naha were particularly unadventurous), then decided to visit one of the parks nearby. After a fair bit of walking (I ended up walking in a contracting spiral around the park before finally finding it. I sat in the park and read for a while as well as playing a bit of Phoenix Wright. It started raining after a while, pretty heavy rain, but I was under a shelter so it wasn't a problem. There were a lot of cicadas in the park which made a heap of noise when the rain started, and at times their flight reminded me of The Birds.
When the rain finally stopped at around five I headed back to the guest house to check in properly (pay the bill and get my key, etc), chatted with a few other guests and then headed out to dinner. I had dinner at the Cowboy Steakhouse, which was probably a bit to pricey for what you got, but had good steak and a nice and tall mango daiquiri. I then stopped into a bar called Zero Ichi K (01K on the sign) and hung out there for a while. Two marines came in a little later, and I talked with them and played darts against them (I won two games of 301, lost at cricket and a round of count up). 01K was pretty cheap, but mostly because of their very generous definition of happy hour (7pm-2am is what I recall on the sign).
End Post
Writing time: 12 minutes
Time since last post: nominally 1 day, but since I'm retroactively posting my travel stuff, it's really 6 days
Current media: None
When the rain finally stopped at around five I headed back to the guest house to check in properly (pay the bill and get my key, etc), chatted with a few other guests and then headed out to dinner. I had dinner at the Cowboy Steakhouse, which was probably a bit to pricey for what you got, but had good steak and a nice and tall mango daiquiri. I then stopped into a bar called Zero Ichi K (01K on the sign) and hung out there for a while. Two marines came in a little later, and I talked with them and played darts against them (I won two games of 301, lost at cricket and a round of count up). 01K was pretty cheap, but mostly because of their very generous definition of happy hour (7pm-2am is what I recall on the sign).
End Post
Writing time: 12 minutes
Time since last post: nominally 1 day, but since I'm retroactively posting my travel stuff, it's really 6 days
Current media: None
Friday, July 13, 2007
God damn
So on Tuesday I booked my trip to Okinawa. Bought the tickets, booked a hostel, found out how to get to Kobe airport, all that shit. Yesterday I mentioned my plans at my Japanese lesson, and was informed that there is a typhoon currently heading towards Okinawa.
God damn.
It looks like the typhoon will hit tomorrow morning, and by Monday will have weakened and be passing over the main island of Japan, so hopefully I can still go.
In any case, if the planes are still flying, I'm going to go. I may however have to alter my plan of sitting on the beach and reading. Worst case scenario I sit in my hostel and read.
End Post
Writing time: 4 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: none
God damn.
It looks like the typhoon will hit tomorrow morning, and by Monday will have weakened and be passing over the main island of Japan, so hopefully I can still go.
In any case, if the planes are still flying, I'm going to go. I may however have to alter my plan of sitting on the beach and reading. Worst case scenario I sit in my hostel and read.
End Post
Writing time: 4 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: none
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Okinawa Bound
Next week I get my next four day weekend. The plan for this one is Okinawa. It's summer, there are beaches, plus it seems such a waste to have so much time off and not go somewhere further afield.
Today I sorted out tickets and accomodation. All without leaving my room. The internet is a wonderful thing. The hostel will be a bit cheaper, and I don't expect to spend quite so much on trains and entry fees, so it may end up being about the same cost as my trip to Tokyo.
My main plan for what to do in Okinawa is to lie on the beach and read. On that topic, I'm not sure what to read so have decided to try a new blogger feature. There is a poll for what book I should read while in Okinawa. I may also visit Okinawa castle, but I doubt I'll do that much sightseeing.
End Post
Writing time: 102 minutes (although I did stop for a while to go for dinner and do some other stuff)
Time since last post: 4 days
Current media: None
Today I sorted out tickets and accomodation. All without leaving my room. The internet is a wonderful thing. The hostel will be a bit cheaper, and I don't expect to spend quite so much on trains and entry fees, so it may end up being about the same cost as my trip to Tokyo.
My main plan for what to do in Okinawa is to lie on the beach and read. On that topic, I'm not sure what to read so have decided to try a new blogger feature. There is a poll for what book I should read while in Okinawa. I may also visit Okinawa castle, but I doubt I'll do that much sightseeing.
End Post
Writing time: 102 minutes (although I did stop for a while to go for dinner and do some other stuff)
Time since last post: 4 days
Current media: None
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Fan Mail
On Thursday I got my first bit of fan mail.
End Post
Writing time: 6 minutes
Drawing time: unknown
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Die Hard
End Post
Writing time: 6 minutes
Drawing time: unknown
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Die Hard
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tokyo Day 4
The final day in Tokyo. The plan for today was to visit Harajuku, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo Tower and Ginza. This plan did not quite get fulfilled. I first headed over to Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken. The shrine is in another of Tokyo's huge parks. The walk from the entrance to the shrine is nice, with old fashioned fences, creeks, forest, wine barrels, torii, the barrel things they have at shrines and more. The shrine itself was nice. I also went to the museum there where there was a display of ceremonial clothing that belonged to the emperor and empress.
After this I walked around Harajuku, a shopping district for a bit. I had lunch at a Coco Ichiban (a curry house) and then decided I'd had enough of walking around and all that so decided to head home. I went back to the JR Tokyo station, got my bag from the locker and caught a shinkansen back to Osaka.
Thus ends my Tokyo trip.
End Post
Writing time: a bit of time
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: The Chaser
After this I walked around Harajuku, a shopping district for a bit. I had lunch at a Coco Ichiban (a curry house) and then decided I'd had enough of walking around and all that so decided to head home. I went back to the JR Tokyo station, got my bag from the locker and caught a shinkansen back to Osaka.
Thus ends my Tokyo trip.
End Post
Writing time: a bit of time
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: The Chaser
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tokyo Day 3
Another day of walking around. Today, Shinjuku. The city part of Shinjuku wasn't that amazing or different to anywhere else, but there was a very nice park there, Shinjuku Gyoen. In the park was a tree wrapped in a blanket, and a traditional tea house with the traditional ticket vending machine.
After the park I headed over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, and up to the observation deck on level 45. The view from the top is pretty impressive. I think I may have just seen Mt Fuji. At the least, I saw to angled lines that kind of came together at a point which was in the direction of Mt Fuji, which is good enough for me.
After that I went back to the hostel for a bit of rest, and that evening went into Shibuya to catch up with Tyrone. We wandered around for a bit just catching up.
End Post
Writing time: A while
Time since last post: 1 day (hypothetically, since I'm posting retroactively)
Current media: Hellboy
After the park I headed over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, and up to the observation deck on level 45. The view from the top is pretty impressive. I think I may have just seen Mt Fuji. At the least, I saw to angled lines that kind of came together at a point which was in the direction of Mt Fuji, which is good enough for me.
After that I went back to the hostel for a bit of rest, and that evening went into Shibuya to catch up with Tyrone. We wandered around for a bit just catching up.
End Post
Writing time: A while
Time since last post: 1 day (hypothetically, since I'm posting retroactively)
Current media: Hellboy
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tokyo Day 2
Slept in a bit. Got breakfast from a nearby Lawsons (cheese karage, a banana and an orange juice) which I ate while planning the day. Thanks to a map on the table at the hostel, I learnt that Asakusa shrine was quite close, and so decided that would be my first destination.
After I ate breakfast and read my emails, I walked down to Asakusa shrine. On the way, I passed a weird toy shop and a restaurant that advertised Okinawan cuisine. After about 15 minutes I reached the front of Asakusa shrine. Between the entrance and the shrine proper is a street of shops, a bit like that at Kiyomizu, but not as long. I looked at some of the shops there, mainly those selling yukatas, but they only had yukatas with patterns on them, and I'd prefer a plain one. I also saw this shirt at one of the shops. The shrine itself was pretty good, with a large main shrine and then a number of smaller shrines surrounding it.
After Asakusa, I headed over to Ueno to visit Ueno Park (うえのこえん). This park is full of statues, shrines, fountains, homeless guys, galleries, more fountains, giant heads (although not the Face of Bo), a zoo I didn't go to, cats, and more.
I then headed over to Akihabara, the Den Den town of Tokyo. Lots of computer and electronics stores, as well as comic book type shops. I saw one shop with a famicon (the Japanese version of a NES) and some old school LCD Nintendo games. The problem with the comic shops was that there was no clear separation between the ordinary comics and games which I'm interested in and the hentai which I'm not. In fact, a lot of the time they were mixed together. I didn't take many pictures here, as it's much the same as computer and comics shops all over the place.
I headed back to the hostel after that, and went to dinner at the Okinawan restaurant, which was dissapointing as the food was small (on a large plate) and expensive. It was good, but for that much money, you should get more. I went to Bar JD's Style for a few drinks, then called it a night.
End Post
Writing time: 45 minutes
Time since last post: a few days
Current media: None
After I ate breakfast and read my emails, I walked down to Asakusa shrine. On the way, I passed a weird toy shop and a restaurant that advertised Okinawan cuisine. After about 15 minutes I reached the front of Asakusa shrine. Between the entrance and the shrine proper is a street of shops, a bit like that at Kiyomizu, but not as long. I looked at some of the shops there, mainly those selling yukatas, but they only had yukatas with patterns on them, and I'd prefer a plain one. I also saw this shirt at one of the shops. The shrine itself was pretty good, with a large main shrine and then a number of smaller shrines surrounding it.
After Asakusa, I headed over to Ueno to visit Ueno Park (うえのこえん). This park is full of statues, shrines, fountains, homeless guys, galleries, more fountains, giant heads (although not the Face of Bo), a zoo I didn't go to, cats, and more.
I then headed over to Akihabara, the Den Den town of Tokyo. Lots of computer and electronics stores, as well as comic book type shops. I saw one shop with a famicon (the Japanese version of a NES) and some old school LCD Nintendo games. The problem with the comic shops was that there was no clear separation between the ordinary comics and games which I'm interested in and the hentai which I'm not. In fact, a lot of the time they were mixed together. I didn't take many pictures here, as it's much the same as computer and comics shops all over the place.
I headed back to the hostel after that, and went to dinner at the Okinawan restaurant, which was dissapointing as the food was small (on a large plate) and expensive. It was good, but for that much money, you should get more. I went to Bar JD's Style for a few drinks, then called it a night.
End Post
Writing time: 45 minutes
Time since last post: a few days
Current media: None
Monday, June 18, 2007
Tokyo Day 1
I arrived in at JR Tokyo at about 7 o'clock. My first act after getting my stuff was to go and buy a shinkansen ticket for the return trip. Then, I dumped my big backpack in a locker near a curry house, and got breakfast at a cafe. When I actually walked out of the station, the first thing I saw was a giant NOVA flower, and then a giant Usagi at the top of the building. I wandered around the station for a while (an area called Nihonbashi). I found a currency museum that was part of the Japanese mint which I thought I would go to, but it turns out that it was closed on Mondays. So a bit more wandering, then I decided to head to the Imperial Palace and visit the gardens there, where I intended to sit around for a while and not do much, to try and gain a bit of energy. Well, guess what else was closed on Mondays? So instead I sat down on a small garden on the street outside the palace. I read for about ten minutes, then laid back and used the book as a cushion. I lay with my eyes closed for maybe half an hour when this guy in a suit came over and told me the emperor would be driving by soon. So I sat up and got my camera ready, and waited for about 20 minutes until the motorcade went past. It was about 4 cars and I didn't see the emperor, but I did see an old lady wave from one of the cars, so I assume this was the empress.
After that bit of excitement, I walked around the imperial palace, at one time being overtaken by an old man (I blame the lack of sleep). After making the round of the palace I walked to Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine was interesting with a few statues and other bits and pieces, but the good bit was the museum. It started out with a documentary in Japanese, which I went into with the intention of trying to pick up as much as possible, but after about 10 minutes nodded off. I hope I didn't snore. Anyway, the rest of the museum had information in English and Japanese (although more in Japanese. Can't really blame them for that though.) and was quite interesting. It made me somewhat more interested in the history of Japan from about 1900-1940 (My knowledge sort of goes "samurai, samurai, something, something, Pearl Harbour").
After that it was late enough in the day for me to check into my guest house, so I headed out to Asakusa. I got my room key, and checked out the room. It had it's own toilet and sink, and four bunk beds. For Tokyo, pretty good value at 2800 yen per night. I had a bit of a nap, and then headed out for dinner. I had a curry at a surf themed restaurant, that was nice, if a bit pricey (that seems a common theme in Tokyo, nice but a little pricey). Then I tried out a bar called Bar JD's Style. It was nice and the barkeeper was friendly. The decor was mainly Jack Daniels paraphenalia. After a few drinks there, I went back to the hostel to get some sleep.
Pictures are here.
End Post
Writing time: A while
Time since last post: doesn't really count since I'm posting retroactively
Current media: Dr Who 2007 season episode 11
After that bit of excitement, I walked around the imperial palace, at one time being overtaken by an old man (I blame the lack of sleep). After making the round of the palace I walked to Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine was interesting with a few statues and other bits and pieces, but the good bit was the museum. It started out with a documentary in Japanese, which I went into with the intention of trying to pick up as much as possible, but after about 10 minutes nodded off. I hope I didn't snore. Anyway, the rest of the museum had information in English and Japanese (although more in Japanese. Can't really blame them for that though.) and was quite interesting. It made me somewhat more interested in the history of Japan from about 1900-1940 (My knowledge sort of goes "samurai, samurai, something, something, Pearl Harbour").
After that it was late enough in the day for me to check into my guest house, so I headed out to Asakusa. I got my room key, and checked out the room. It had it's own toilet and sink, and four bunk beds. For Tokyo, pretty good value at 2800 yen per night. I had a bit of a nap, and then headed out for dinner. I had a curry at a surf themed restaurant, that was nice, if a bit pricey (that seems a common theme in Tokyo, nice but a little pricey). Then I tried out a bar called Bar JD's Style. It was nice and the barkeeper was friendly. The decor was mainly Jack Daniels paraphenalia. After a few drinks there, I went back to the hostel to get some sleep.
Pictures are here.
End Post
Writing time: A while
Time since last post: doesn't really count since I'm posting retroactively
Current media: Dr Who 2007 season episode 11
Tokyo Day 0
Currently en route to Tokyo. I'm waiting at a service station, a sort of get out and stretch your legs place, with a huge dose of commerce. The place is next to the highway, and there is a footbridge going across which I can not see the other end of.
Have not got much rest so far. The aircon, while not hot, is not cool enough. I bought an inflatable pillow which should help, and some coke. which won't
Have not got much rest so far. The aircon, while not hot, is not cool enough. I bought an inflatable pillow which should help, and some coke. which won't
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