Rocky IV

No Russians this time, but its still worth a look.

Another Point, Japan: Free Breast Exams

Got this in the mail a few weeks ago, and was lazy and forgetful about getting one of my co-workers to tell me what it was about--for which I am now kicking myself. Turns out it was a coupon for a free breast exam that was sent to me by the City of Nagoya. They gave me a huge list of doctors I could go to with my coupon to get a check-up for free. Did I mention it was FREE? Because it was. I found out the day before it expired so I wasn't able to take advantage of it, but if there's a next time, I'll be sure to jump on it. Japan, you rock.

Sad Penguin

I was at Loft in Sakae the other day when I came upon this rather strange sample photo in a frame. We've all see the smiling faces or the wedding photos or just photos that are generally and generically somewhat pleasing (or just tolerable) to look at while you choose a frame. But this person in a penguin suit with it's head against the wall seems sad...maybe? This is weirdly cool and very amusing. So much so that it almost made me buy the frame...almost.

Hairstyling 101

My student, Ken, came to class last week with a chunk of hair missing from the front of his head. Turns out he took a stab at cutting his own hair--literally. I immediately thought of the time my brother, Mike, did the same thing when we were kids. But in my brother's defense, he did a much better job than Ken. Ah well, at least I'll have something to make me smile for a while, until it grows back.

The Great Wall of China

Been there. Yea, I said it. It was one of the most amazing things I've seen yet (and I do plan to see a lot more). We visited the Mutianyu section of the Wall which was an excellent choice because it wasn't crowded (these photos were taken between 10-11am on a Monday during a holiday season) AND, are you ready for this? You can toboggan down from the wall. So now not only can I say I've stood on the Great Wall of China, but I can also say I've tobogganed down it. Now that's something you don't hear everyday. Video to come.

Paella: Delivered

Among the restaurants that deliver food in Japan: pizza and Italian food, curry, sushi and recently paella. We got seafood paella delivered to our front door, and it was pretty good! A little on the pricey side at about $30 for a large, but they do put a nice amount of seafood on it though. Check out the video:

Maple Syrup Kit Kat

Talk about following a tough act--it may not be as exciting at seahorses on a stick, but it sure did taste better. Here's a taste test we did of Maple Syrup Kit Kat:

Rocky III

Here's the latest video of our puppy, Rocky.

Strange Shop Names: Unrelish

I don't get it, but by the looks of Marlow's face, he might. According to my dictionary, this isn't even a real word.

New Rocky Pics

He's about 4 kilos now, with up to 2 kilos left to go.

Beijing 2010

Just got back from our vacation in Beijing. More pictures and videos to come. Overall we had a great time! Here's a quick breakdown of the best, and worst parts of our trip:

Awesome:
*The Great Wall
Mutianyu section is great because it's not as crowded as the more famous Badaling section AND you can toboggan down from the wall!
Drawbacks:it's not as easy to reach as Badaling, but well worth the trouble.
*Peking Duck
Da Dong Restaurant has a super-lean version that was just fantastic.
Drawbacks: Was on the pricier side compared to other restaurants- 99 Yuan for half a duck.
*The Forbidden City
Very cool. Spend the money, and go for the Palace Museum tickets, there's a lot to see beyond the gates.
Drawbacks: Very crowded during peak seasons and it's also huge! Be sure to allow plenty of time to look around (at least 2 hours).
*Night Market at Wanfujing
Ate scorpions and seahorses. For real. You can check out all kinds of crazy foods alongside awesome traditional dishes, like dumplings and noodles.


Not Cool:
*Chinese toilets
You're in for a surprise. Toilets are the squatting kind that are flush with the ground, but often dirty. At one point, the public toilet was literally a row of holes in the ground in a open room. That's it. Western toilets were few and far between.
*Pollution and/or yellow sand
A haze covers the city, part pollution part yellow sand that blows all over the city making it quite dusty. Your nose will need a good cleaning daily.
*Rude people
This is purely culture shock, as we now live in one of the politest societies in the world, and have grown quite accustomed to it. The people of China can seem outright rude at times, especially to the sensitive, but there is a line between those that really are douches and those that are just a product of their culture though it can be hard to distinguish.
* Visas
For Americans, it's really expensive. We paid about $200 per person! This price may have been higher as ours were arranged through a travel agent. Americans have a much higher price than the rest of the world, it's about double.

Strange Shop Names: Starvations

I think I'm going to begin a series of these, because there are just so many here. English shop names in Japan seem to be really popular, but among them lie these downright weird ones that will make you snicker, giggle, gasp or just stand there confused and dumbfounded asking "Why?". I see them all the time, especially when shopping. And believe me, when I've got to the point where I can't lift my arms past my belly button because I'm carrying so many bags that I actually stop to snap a picture--it's gotta be good. And here you go: Starvations.

Free Hugs

Yea, I think I was the only one to take him up on this. Most of the Japanese people around didn't even look at him.

Vacuuming...Outside?

Can't remember what happened to the footage, but a while ago I saw a lady cleaning the steps of Nagoya Station (yes, the biggest station in the city) with a small cordless vacuume. Now this was inside the station, which I still think is a bit excessive, but she's got nothing on this lady. This lady was cleaning the outside of the Immigration Office with cordless vacuum. It's outside! There's no reason to take the dirt away--because more is just going to come back immediately. Someone should get here a broom.

Japanese Supermarket Fish Tank

My last day at Kozoji ECC, I arrived at the station early to stop at the grocery store. Now, I never really go to this particular grocery store, and when I have, I just ran in and out because clock-in time was approaching. But today I had some time to wander, and boy was I kicking myself for not bringing my camera (sorry for the crappy quality by the way, this video was taken on my iphone)...in the corner of this supermarket there is a big fish tank with what appears to be sharks...for sale...in a grocery store...does that seem strangely awesome so anyone else, or it is just me?

Rocky II

I'm just going to come out and say it: I've become one of those people that is obsessed with their dog, and thinks that everyone else is as crazy about him as I am--so much so that I have no intention of ever NOT making videos or snapping a tons of pictures of him. Forgive me. Here's the second Rocky video installment, two of many more more to come. Can't say I didn't warn you.

Trust in Japan

This snack stand is a familiar sight to anyone who has been around the Asunal area in Kanayama. Located in a hallway near the JR and Meitetsu main entrances, this spot sees a decent amount of foot traffic all hours of the day. This photo was taken at about 9:30 pm on a Tuesday night, when there are still many people hustling around, and the hallway is open to allow people to cut through the building a little faster. The shop is quite obviously closed...but is it? Really? Because everything is pretty much still exposed, and in my book that's either because it's open for business, or you don't mind getting your stuff stolen. But not here. Oh, it's closed all right, and it's only my paranoid, suspicious American mind that can't wrap itself around this idea. It isn't an issue. No one touches any of the soyjoys, cookies, drinks or potato chip bags that are so tantalizingly unsupervised and would pretty much scream "TAKE ME!!" to most of the people I know back home. But, no one bats an eye. They just keep walking. Props yet again, Japan.

Lemon Soda Kit Kat

There is a lemony soda that is popular in Japan called Ramu Rei that Nestle has chosen to make into a Kit Kat. It didn't turn out too bad, but it's not one of my favorites. Check out the video:

Sashimi Sampler

I love free samples. And I wholeheartedly think anyone who says they don't is a filthy liar. Wandering through a high-end grocery store last week I came across this tuna sashimi sampler table, and for once, the first thing that came to mind wasn't to immediately snatch some. Instead, I marveled at how this exact same scenario would have been seen as an atrocity back in the States. People would think (or shout, which are often one in the same for some Americans) "Raw fish? I don't care how free it is, I'm not touching it." Their loss, more for me.

Macho Parking

Found this sign for a local business (called Macho) while Rocky and I were out for a walk. I guess sissies can park out front.