Pho!

I affectionately miss having bowls and bowls of pho back in Toronto so I finally decided to give this home made base a try. The soup wasn't too bad but the noodles weren't really extravagant. Most definitely going to have some as one of my first meals when I get back to Toronto.

willpepsi @ special edition

Super awesome cool Pepsi cans I picked up the other day. <3 Japan.

The Shot

All the talk is about this guy's game winner and how it was instantaneously immortalized amongst one of the greatest playoff moments of all time. In my eyes it was great but Jordan and Miller still had better. Furthermore it seems though as the Cavs will lose the series which will potentially undermine the meaningfulness of the game winner even more. Should be an entertaining next couple of games to say the least.

Tweet!

Finally took the time to see what the fuss is all about. In my eyes it's just a lazy man's facebook. Stalking has never been as simple under your fingertips than ever before. As if I needed another online facet to waste more time. Still though, it's proving to be rather amusing so far.

So check out it out here: Tweet!

Acoustic

Dug this up just a few days ago: Wyclef & Niia.

I've always been a fan of live music and acoustic tracks but haven't had the opportunity to observe as much as I would like to. After being in the Philippines for a week I miss the night time beach scene with live acoustic music being played every night.

Dead Drunk

Signs and English in Japan are generally amusing all the place. No matter where you go it's only a matter of time until you stumble upon something like this. I suppose if you were half-dead drunk things would be okay!

大阪

Here's a shot of downtown Osaka from the Umeda Sky Garden. This was my second trip to Osaka and this time around I didn't have a dead camera battery. While there really isn't much to do around here compared to Tokyo the food and shopping is still great.


Food like fresh manta ray and eels!


Okonomiyaki is always delicious-- I think it's a multi-purpose food suitable for all types of situations. Got a new job or promotion? Have some okonomiyaki. Celebrating a birthday with some friends? Okonomiyaki. Break up with that long time boyfriend/girlfriend? Feel better with some okonomiyaki.


The famous Namba takoyaki stand. This line-up goes on and on but the wait is always worth it. Perhaps it was a bit inflated though since it was Golden Week.


Yes, this is the same line from up above and it stretches further still. Perhaps my Japanorama blog should start including some panoramic shots. Too bad I'm utterly lazy and probably couldn't stitch a photo if my life depended on it.


Artificial plastic food placed in glass display cases is probably like the best idea ever. Not only does it help with decision making I can now effectively complain and bitch to myself and others when the meal that arrives to my table is different from the piece of plastic I pointed too. Efficiency at its best =].


Have yet to try fugu (pufferfish), but I will definitely do it before my days are numbered in Japan. However if not prepared properly my days in Japan will be numbered. Isn't it beauitful harmony? I still remember that old Simpsons episode when Homer ate a piece and presumably had 24 hours to live.

The More You Know...! (insert lightbulb)
Fugu contains lethal amounts of the poison tetrodotoxin in the organs, especially the liver and ovaries, and also the skin. The poison, a sodium channel blocker, paralyzes the muscles while the victim stays fully conscious, and eventually dies from asphyxiation. Currently, there is no known antidote, and the standard medical approach is to try to support the respiratory and circulatory system until the poison wears off.


After one year I'm still fascinated at the way some buildings are designed and plastered with menus and various other advertisements. Maybe because I don't understand half of it the puzzlement continues to prove interesting.


Hitachi Tower in the Tennoji area. Not really sure of its significance but I'm sure it has some meaning since someone obviously put the time and effort into making it all pointy with lights.

Place to Place

Fancy getup, artistic lights, mirrors on the walls (and ceiling!) and a vibrating-music playing bed. The glass bathroom was also quite transparent. From here...


...to here! Epic comfy capsule. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The futon and blanket were pretty comfortable. Each capsule has its own miniature television monitor, radio, alarm clock, and mirror.


This place had curtains closing each capsule. Kinda wish there was a latch/hatch thingy to seal myself in but the curtain worked sufficiently enough.


Complete with the whole communal bathing area. Thank god I checked to see first whether or not anybody was using the facility first. Would have been a tiny bit awkward trying to talk myself out of that one had I stumbled upon someone.

Happy Anniversary 日本！

It has officially been a year! There's really only two conclusions I can make. The first is my experience here has been everything and more than I could have ever asked or imagined for. If I had to pack up and go home today I would have no regrets whatsoever. When I left from home last year I got a little bit ahead of myself and thought of the things I would experience and how awesome things could possibly turn out. As it is, things are even more splendid to my previously created outcomes. The second is if I had to go back and make the decision of leaving Toronto again I would do it 10000000 times out of 10000000.


Here's something I definitely won't be doing again though. At least that's all I can hope for...　(I almost forgot about this picture!)

Back from Boracay

I survived the Philippines! And I couldn't be more glad to be home in Japan. After living here for the year I think I've developed a security bubble since everyone here is so kind and friendly. Not to just single out the Philippines, but I think no matter where else I go I'll immediately start feeling unsafe the second I step off the plane.


However it was really fun. Sketchy fun. Haggling left, right, and center to get some kind of offer and trying not be ripped off was of great importance for the past week. I didn't realize tips were also necessary beforehand. And it also seems everyone likes to stare and give people dirty looks here. I was so confused. I don't think I looked that different from everyone else there. I practiced my dirty stare with this crab @_@.


I can see why some people would deem it a paradise and enjoy the beach and night life. The nature and scenery really is wonderful. Happy hour starts at 9:00am and there's live music on the beach every night.


Fruity drink after fruity drink after fruity drink flowed like water. I really miss having access to affordable fresh fruits and I perhaps overdid it a little on the mango, watermelon, and other shakes.


So much delicious food and regular sized portions too! This lobster was dinner on our first night and it was probably the best thing for the rest of the week. There were steaks and pizzas but if my memory serves me correctly "Sir Homard" was definitely the most delicious dinner.


Hanging on to this thing was extremely fun. While being pulled it almost becomes vertical while you're dragged across the ocean. One of the girls fell off while we were riding and her life jacket completely withered off. Lucky for her she could swim... I'm thinking I'd be at the bottom of the ocean if happened to me. Phew!


ZOMG Space Helmets?!?! Unfortunately the underwater camera wasn't that great but the experience was definitely worth it. Probably the closest thing to walking on the moon that I can imagine and feeding the fish was awesome.


Snorkelling! The upper half of my body is cut off but that's alright. I can still taste the salt water going down that tube. Yum!