Phil and Red's Excellent Adventure

Back home...My thoughts on Japan.

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:30:07 -0500

Well, I'm dealing with the Jetlag Depression. It really sucks. I dont' want to do anything and when I do, its nerve racking and I dont want to do it. Thinkin about the future is painful. But i went out bike riding with Vinnie, so that helped alot. Then came back and updated this journal and had a nice dinner with the folks. I went out to a couple haunted houses with Vinnie as well tonite.

I thought the country was absolutely beautiful. I had a blast while I was there. Its not as clean as what we as Americans may think. From all we get here is that the country is analretentive about cleanliness. From what I saw, the country is just as clean or dirty as the US. However, I have heard some negative things about hospitals from foreign teachers that are over there. John and I used to tease Yumi and Rumi that all of Japan smelled like a hospital because it was so clean. Not the case. They just like to take their shoes off before going into the living quarters of a house.
I really liked Japan it was quite beautiful. It was very cramped, but pretty. Every city I stayed in, you could see mountains. Lots of green stuff. Unfortunately, I didnt see Godzilla. I wanted to so bad.
The people were great and polite and good to spend time with. However, I hear that they are polite to your face and you don't want to see them when your back is turned. I dont know how true that is, but thats the impression I get from business folk and people who deal with the Japanese alot. I haven't met 2-faced Japanese people that I know of, yet.
I had a blast in Japan and spending time with Yumi was wonderful. I want to go back. So i guess i give it a positive review.
Anywho, its late. Goodnite.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Flight back home.

Sat, 29 Oct 2005 09:14:36 -0500

So i got up around 730am and that allowed me enough time to make the train with about 10 minutes to spare. We took off an headed for the airport. Around the second stop, we picked up lots of people. I got to the airport around 11am. I checked into my flight no problem and had to spend the rest of the time killing time. I tooled around on the internet and talked to Yumi on the fone. I managed to kill the time and make it to my flight with about 20 minutes to spare.
The line up for the plan was a disaster. They were calling out the row#s like they usually do, but there was just this giant blob. So, the guy that checked me in showed up, and boy, I hope the airlines pay him well because that guy is very talented with languages. He speaks Mandarin, English, and Japanese fluently. He has a slight chinese accent to his english, since he was chinese. He was very skilled. Im sure he could get lots of money in jobs with his skills. He basically herded everyone into the correct areas.
The flight home was 11 hours. I tried to sleep. I had a little pillow, one of those eye masks and earplugs, but I was always attentive. I was resting and trying to sleep, hopefully that was good enuff. That was for like maybe a total of 3 hours throughout the ride.
I ended up watching Herbie: Fully Loaded. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. It did what it was supposed to do. However, the second movie I watched, was just utter crap. XXX: State of the Union. I was just appalled at how bad it was. I really just want to ask the director: Lee Tamahori, and the writers: Rich Wilkes and Simon Kinberg....WTF were you thinking? Did you actually thing this was a good thing? It was utter crap. I had so much more thought up to talk about this ,but I realized how much i would talk about this utter crap and realize it was just a waste of time. This movie sucks. Its worse than the first one, if thats possible.
After that load was finished, I looked at the Chinese guy next to me, held out a thumbs down and gave a rasberry, he laughed and said, "Yeah, that movie was shit." I'm serious. he said that!
I then tried to sleep.
When I took off my mask, they were wrapping up "March of the Penguins" The one film I wanted to watch. Damnit!
I finally got home. Gettnig thru the customs checkpoint was easy this time, however, getting my baggage wasn't. The machinese weren't working properely so the luggage wasn't coming off. And because of this, there was a huge line at the bag checkpoint.
My mom was waiting for me and my dad was circling. We headed out. I had pizza for dinner, it was yummy but overcooked.
Well, goodnite. I am really really really tired.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Asakusa

Fri, 28 Oct 2005 09:05:09 -0500

Yumi and I made plans to meet up at the Minami Koshigaya train station for our day together. I got there and there was an LDP, Liberal Democratic Party, rally there. Its the reigning party of Japan. The one Prime Minister Koizumi is in. Its pretty much the only party that really matters there. They have been in power for like 50 years unbroken except for about 4 years in the 90s.
Yumi was surprised to see the rally because the place was really crowded and she was also kinda star struck because the people standing on top of the van spouting lies to the Japanese people were quite famous. Yumi sees them on TV almost everyday, when she's in Japan. They are always in the news. I got some video.
We decided to go to Asakusa, which has a very old/traditional street. It also has the largest lanterns in japan apparently. The old traditional street was covered with tourist shops dealing in traditional styled items. Mostly made today. They also had a bunch of Power Rangers and Ultraman toys. I totally wanted to see Voltron, but to no avail.
We walked around the city. Walked down by the river. Bought things for family and friends. It was a good time.
We headed back and Yumi had to go to her folks to attend to some family matters. I went off to Omiya station to buy an Airport destined train for tomorrow. There was only one train from Omiya and that was at 9am so I would have to hang at the airport for 4 hours. Great. Just what I wanted.
After that I met up with Yumi later and we had dinner and hung out. We then had to say our saddened goodbyes. Being with her the past week was wonderful.
well, goodnite.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Charlie and the Choco Factory and searching for sox.

Thu, 27 Oct 2005 23:35:57 -0500

Yumi and I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory today. Looked for socks with the little toe slots in them. Found some. Went out for dinner and drinks with some of Yumi`s friends.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: The Gayest Place in Tokyo.

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 23:38:04 -0500

Yumi and I went to Tokyo Disneyland today. It was alot of fun. Most of the rides were the same as Disneyworld and Calif Disneyland, but they got a new Nightmare before Christmas ride. The Japanese love this movie.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: I went to the zoo and saw some monkeys o oh oh o oh

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 23:40:04 -0500

Yumi and I went to the zoo today. Then met up with Rumi for dinner and drinks. Met her new boyfriend.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Saitama Arrival

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 23:43:53 -0500

I headed from Kyoto to Saitama today. Got help thru the JR information office on a location for a cheap hotel for 4 nights. Met up with Yumi, spent time with her. Wonderful.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Nagoya

Sun, 23 Oct 2005 23:47:07 -0500

Got kicked out of my automated hotel at 1030am. Jeff and I went to a re-sale place for awhile. Then decided to head out to Nagoya for some shopping. Neato. Ate at CoCo Ichiban - curry place. Yummy. Came back and called my Yokohama contacts about my change in plans.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Hiked it to Hikone.

Sat, 22 Oct 2005 23:49:42 -0500

Went to Hikone today. Met up with Jeff. Super Hotel is almost fully automated. Nice to not site see. Just chilled. Dinner with wife and mom-in-law. Watched 4 episodes of 24 season 4...nice relaxing night.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Giving Up

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 01:22:17 -0500

Started out today at 9AM to do some sightseeing...but at 12pm, after about the 5th temple or shrine...I said, "I dont want to do this anymore, I'm bored."
I was burnt out on sightseeing temples and shrines. I couldn't take anymore pictures, everything was so beautiful, but it all looked the same in a way. I couldn't take it. I was on overload.
So, I just walked back thru downtown.
Crashed at an internet cafe for about 3 hours. That was a cool experience. It was like a comic and internet shop. They had everything.
Later on in the evening, when it got dark, I hit up the Gion part of town which had a lot of traditional tea houses and old stuff. This is the old town area. I thought I may see some Geisha, but I didnt.
This was a cool area.
Saw a Lamborghini Diablo. That was neat.
Goodnite.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: The Golden Temple

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 15:44:41 -0500

How do you take enough pictures and enough video to capture the beauty of an entire country let alone a small county or even just a temple?
Phew. One long long day. I woke up at about 6AM and took a quick shower and headed out for my day of Kyoto sightseeing around 645am. Grabbed some breakfast at the Lawson convenience store and tried to catch the #205 Bus. I dont know why I constantly think that bus stops should be directly opposite each other on both sides of the street. Just something i picked up from college in AA, I guess. All the bus stops here in Kyoto at least are set at around the opposing corners of interesections. Took me like a few stops to figure that out.
This City Bus Map i got at the TIC the first day I was here with Gary and David was a real big help. Its got all the bus routes. Its a little confusing, but not after awhile. I just kinda wish they had the kanji written down so I could match it up with the digital signs at the front of the bus.
My plan today was to hit the Northwestern side of Kyoto then down to the western side of Kyoto and then come back to the central and then to the hotel in time for Shorinji Kempo practice.
I arrived at the Kinkakuji Area, The Golden Temple area, around 720am thinking for some stupid reason that they would be open..eventhough the Lonely Planet says 9am. I guess I got up early to get a head start on everything only to realize i got up too early. So, I walked around aimlessly looking at the entrance and exit and the stairs. Very pretty stairs. There were also old Japanese people doing some morning exercises there as well. Now, in Japan, since they dont have Taiji, they dont do really anything kool in the morning. Its not like they are doing Shotokan Karate or anything. So I just saw them trying to stretch and walking while swinging their arms big and wide...power walking. How I detest power walkers. There was a couple people power walking backwards. That was kinda funny. Now come to think of it, I think I did see a japanese woman doing some taiji. She was stepping down the gravel entrance pathway while doing what looked like a beginner`s attempt at "Parting the Wild Horse`s Mane"...thats a nice way of saying, "Knocking your opponent over and cracking his head on the pavement".
Around this time the people working there started to get annoyed at my intrusive white presence and they started bowing to me and were all like, "Good morning, Jackass, we open up at 9am. Thank you so very much, Jackass." So, I bowed and replied, "I`m sooo sorry for being a gaijin, i beg your forgiveness, please except my apologies. Thank you so very much. Good morning."
So, I sat down at a little pavillion thingy and i realized, Dude...I dont want to sit here for another 1.5 hours for this place to open. So I looked at my trusty walking tour map that I got from the TIC, good stuff. I compared the opening times for other places on this walking tour in the Lonely Planet Guide. RyoanJi opens at 8am. Sweet, it was 745am, so i powerwalked my patoot out of there.
As I was walking down the street I was seeing alot of school kids not in school. I was like, this must be field trip day or something.
I got to RyoanJi in about 20 minutes. This is the location of the very famous Zen Rock garden. The first of its kind apparently. You know, either I am not enlightened buddhistly or i dont have great design appreciation becuase, man, when I saw this site, i was like...this is it? This is what is so famous? What a rip. I found that the temple and the location that plays host to this sight were much more beautiful than that actual garden. I read something about the gardener...no one knew who he was. He made this garden and offered no explanation. He prolly did it as a joke and people took it wrong.
(Dont be calling me some ignorant yankee for not seeing the beauty its existence, it just didnt do anything for me. There was far more other things that I saw here that did it for me though. And no, it wasn`t McDonald`s.)
The area surrounding the rock garden was absolutely gorgeous though. Man, so many places in this country are so pretty. How do you take enough pictures and enough video to capture the beauty of an entire country let alone a small county or even just a temple. Its gotten to the point that I am like, why bother taking a picture, I cant duplicate its beauty. The dilemma of the ammateur artist.
So, I get into the RyoanJi. First major site is this pond filled with lillipads and a couple cranes. Then there was this little bridge leading out to a small island in the center that contained a micro Shinto shrine. Then on after that was to the Zen temple containing the famed, and my personal view of overrated, Zen Rock garden. There were some shoji sliding wall/doors that had paintings and such. The foliage around the temple was another sight all its self. Oh yeah, the temple`s architecture was pretty as well. It was around 845am so I started heading out. The walk back to the entrance was scerene and picturesque and I didnt know how to get video of it all. so pretty. So green. So relaxing.
I left and thats when the throngs of people started showing up. Well, not the throngs, but the older white women with too much make up on and baggy clothes. I hopped a taxi back to the Kinkakuji sight seeing area. I arrived got out and walked down the walkway and I got there just as they were swinging the doors open and allowing the hundreds of japanese tourists and schoolboys and girls that had lined up for entrance. I was impressed with the size of the crowd. Got my ticket and then headed in. When I saw the Golden Temple, I was just standing there awestruck. It was absolutely beautiful. Very amazing. For those of you that dont know what the golden temple is, it was a three storey villa that. after the owner died, was turned into a buddhist temple. The owner had completely covered the entire temple, starting at the second floor, in gold. It was...i cant really explain it. I stood there for about a minute before I got bumped into and then I scurried to find a spot to take pictures of the thing. I took a bunch. The stereotype of japanese people just taking pictures was in full effect. All i heard besides the pleasant cawing and scrapping of tourists was the snapping of lens shutters. I took lots of pictures of this temple. Then i followed the set path onto the other sights of the area. All the while as I walked thru the path, I was always pretty much just looking at the golden temple. Once we got out of view from it, I couldnt really see anything, the morning sun shining off the gold burnt my retinas. Not really.
The rest of the area was quite pretty as well. I tried to get fotos of everything kool. I headed out after about an hour. I went to the bus stop that I got off on. I took the bus to an exchange point and picked up another bus to go to the Arashiyama section of Kyoto...the Western area. This had another walking tour. A much longer one thru a monkey filled park, a giant bamboo forest, a bunch of forest nestled temples that were just awe striking. I think I went to like over 10 temples. It got to the point that after all those temples, I just didnt really go into any of the other three that were there. I mean, all the temples and shrines are pretty much all constructed in the same way. Its exactly the same thing in China. What is really cool, though, about seeing these temples is how they incorporate their construction with the immediate surroundings. And that is what I find so beautiful and amazing about these temples...the location. The last one I went to before not going into the others was the massive Nison-in temple system with an extensive graveyard set up. There was just no way to get pictures and videos of all the wonderful sites there. It also had a little lookout ledge up in the hillside that offered a gorgeous view of the city, however, there were too many trees in the way. I wanted them chopped down.
I left that temple system all happy. I ate at this little resturant on the path to the other temples. It was very yummy. I skipped the next 3 temples, but i did walk up to their gates to check their layouts, pretty much the same. So I headed onto the last one that was considerably different. The Adashino Nembutsuji. This is a temple that honors all the homeless, those with no next of kin, and poor souls who died with no one else caring for them. There were thousands of these little stones set up and a couple really extravagant buddha statues. Something I have noticed alot in these temples is that people have put little red clothes on the buddhas to keep them warm in the winter and cold nights.
After this place I walked back down to the Arashiyama station where i got let off and picked up a bus back to the center of Kyoto.
I headed for the Nijo Jo and got there around 2-230pm. A shogunate castle in Kyoto that rivaled that of the imperial castle in Kyoto. (the Imperial castle nowadays isnt that great of a spectacle because its a rebuilt one that just isnt oldschool)
Nijo Jo was impressive, not as massive as Himeiji Castle, but just as powerful in presence. All the artwork inside the temple wasnt very well preserved, unfortunately. It was just really old and showing it. It also had nightingale floors to act as warning alarms against silent intruders, ninjas! There were two parts, there were the offices and such areas and then the interior palace. The garden of the place was really awesome as well. Some wonderful views in this location. Gorgeous.
After this place was spent, i left around 4pm when the place closed. I headed towards the Imperial Castle. On the way there I stopped at McDonalds out of curiosity for how it tastes in Japan. Its very salty here. Everything. At least, I am infering that from just one sandwich and some fries. It was great on the fries, but not the burger.
I also got some fotos transfered to a disc because my 1GB stopped working the other day, but now it works and I had filled up my other two cards with me. I went to a fotoshop across the street from McDs. It was cool, you plug your card into this computer and you say what you want it to do, it calculates the price for how many pictures you got and then burns it to disc. Only problem is you can only put on card on one disc, you cant do 2 cards on 1 disc, which is what I wanted to do. Oh well.
I headed to the Imperial Castle. Now, for any imperial possesions, they want you to get permission/make reservations to enter the grounds before hand. So I was all like, "Screw that, Yo! If I need special permission/reservations to visit your place on my time, then you obviously dont deserve my patronage. Yeah, suck on that, you lousy Imps!"
So I just hung out at the "free to the public" park/garden. Very very pretty. It was real nice. It was around 500pm so I headed out and headed for downtown Kyoto. My ghetto hotel is just on the south side of downtown, i was on the north side. I walked all down thru it while doing some window shopping for some sort of gift to give to Suzuki sensei tonite at practice. Downtown Kyoto was really cool. Very cool vibe. Lots of lights, lots of shopping, lots of crazy japanese styles - clothes and hair. It was pleasant. Didnt get any fotos or video though. Dont know why. I will tomorrow.
I picked up something for Suzuki Sensei. I finally arrived at my hotel after a long walk at about 6pm. I paid my hotel bill because the machine was working today. It took me a while to get the girl behind the counter to understand because I think it was the daughter. She kept pointing at the receipt trying to tell me its been paid, and I am like, no its not. Your mom told me to pay it today. So she finally figured it out after 10 minutes.
I relaxed in my room for about 45 minutes while I watched some crazy Japanese game show. They are just as annoying and crazy as the one in Lost in Translation. However, I wish they still had Takeshi`s Castle still on. I would totally love to see that. Thats the Japanese sports gameshow that SPIKE TV took and added a comedic english dub too. The events themselves are ridiculous and pain inducing enough to make you laff your butt off, but the enlish dub adds more stuff too.
I headed out to SK. Practice went well. Met a dude from New York named Dante. He was real cool. He has been in Japan for 1 year. Has a wife now and other things. Likes it. Wants to learn more of the language. He helped me with some things that the sensei was talking about.
Near the end of practice i couldnt continue, i was breathing heavy and everything. So much walking and siteseeing. I was tired. I think I impressed the sensei with my flying skillz. It was fun. These kenshi, even the old ones, are out for blood at all times. I was like...YIKEs! They are too fast, I cant block! There was also this little yellowbelt boy when i was there. I walked in, changed into my new dogi. He saw me and came up to me, and I was like, "Hello" and then he poked my balls. I was like, WTF! so I kicked his ass and threw him around.
I was so tired that I was happy when class ended. I walked home and took the subway back like I did there. I took a well needed shower. I bought a beer and some chips. Chilled out in front of the TV for about 20 minutes and then past out. Goodnite all. Take care.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Heading to Himeiji and Kyoto

Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:37:15 -0500

Left Fukuoka today and headed via Shinkansen to Himeiji Castle. I love the Shinkansen. So cool.
Himeiji was a blast. Gorgeous and breathtaking. The castle was huge!
After I spent time at the castle, I hopped on a another Shinkansen to Kyoto.
Arrived in Kyoto and found my hotel. What a rat hole it looked like, but at $140US for 3 nights, it was fine with me. But, it was run by cool people - it was a family shop. I walked in and gave my reservation. I heard Queen playing in the bar area. First thing she said to me, "Do you like Freddy Mercury?" and I was like, "Who in their right mind doesn't."
Then she looked at me with curiosity and asked, "Where are you from?" And i said, "USA". She then said, "I will give you 10% Discount." She went back to her stuff. "I was like, um Thank you, but why?" She said, "I like you." So, I ended up paying about $120 US dollars for 3 nites. Not bad.
i chilled out the rest of the night trying to think of what to do tomorrow. Goodnite.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Last Day in Fukuoka

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 01:53:29 -0500

Spent today chilling out and watching the Shorinji Kempo movie, playing with Kay and Kyle, and visiting the post office.
I also set up reservations at hotels across Japan and contacted people. When Mitch came home from work, we went out to the mountain top again and encountered a motorcycle gang. I took fotos of the city with a tripod. Some good shots. Hope they come out.
Goodnite.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Fukuoka Sightseeing

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 01:56:34 -0500

Did a bunch of sightseeing in places today. Saw the largest wooden sitting Buddha in Japan. Pretty neat. Also visiting a Japanese crematorium. Found out that Shinto priests and Buddhist monks in Japan are very well off. They make a lot of money.
Saw the new museum that opened up. Its entirely encased in glass. Just saw the building didnt go inside.
Mitch and the family took me to the mountain out behind their house and the overlook on the city was beautiful .I tried to take fotos, but it was pointless without a tripod. I think we will come back tomorrow.
This road in the mountain would be perfect for drifting races.
Goodnite.

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Daifunzi...I think the name is.

Sun, 16 Oct 2005 02:00:59 -0500

Woke up this morning when Kyle, Mitch's son, walked into the room I was sleeping in. He just stood there staring at me. I said goodmorning. He looked at me and took a dump in his pants. Then he slowly turned away and walked away. So I closed the door and slept a little longer.
Got up and Mitch had gone to this audition. So I played with the kids and ate soem breakfast and fooled around for a bit.
Then the kids, Kimi and I headed out to the big park to meet Mitch for lunch. We walked around and stuff. Very pretty. After lunch at a chinese resturant, we headed out to Daifunzi which is out about an hour away. It was a Shinto place and it was really pretty.
Took lots of pictures obviously.
goodnite.