月別アーカイブ: 2009年6月

BUYING A SUICA

If you ever want to get yourself a Suica, then you should go to Ueno. There are other places toget it, but that’s a place I know. When you get there, head for the central exit and then when you come through the barriers, go into the Shinkansen ticket office directly on your right. You can’t miss it. Once in there, wait in line and then tell the guy that you want a suica. You have to pay 2000 yen for one, but when you get it, 1500 yen goes toward credit for travel, so basically in costs 500 yen. You don’t get any discount for using it, but it just means that you can press it on the touch pad and walk though the barriers, without having to buy a ticket anymore, remember to keep it topped up, if you don’t, then  just go to the barrier staff member and pay the difference when the barrier closes on you.

You can also use it to get a monthly pass for work, the longer in advance you pay, then the more your discount, however, it is only a marginal discount, but, why not?

Shinobazu Pond

Shinobazu Pond seems to be the highlight of Ueno since it’s now filled with lotus leaves which will grow lilies soon!! They are so beautiful and add such grace to the Ueno area. We live at Ueno Nishi Oakhouse and very lucky to be near such a lovely pond where we can also ride in a swan and float under the sun:)  

Okutama

I hadn’t been there for at least 3 years but it was just as perfect – and convenient – as I remember. 1.5 short hours from Tokyo – save some dinero and get off at the un-manned railway station. Get on a bus heading for the lake, cross the dam and head for the hills. An hour hike later and you might as well be in the middle of Hokkaido.

Okutama is the perfect refuge for the Tokyo weary. It’s cured me before, it cured me last weekend and as long as I live in the world’s biggest megalopolis, it will  cure me again. A night of fresh air and stars was about a thousand times better than smokey izakayas and eternal orange skies.

Dai-Shizen, get your refresh time.

>.< studying …

level 2 exam is coming, and i am not doing good in studying, because i have to catch up more than half year of NOT studying or paying attention in class … wow, great. anyhow, i have the mock today, for just a section of the test, and ya, bad …

i think my chance of passing is like … less than 50% for sure, it will take a miracle to make me pass it … M I R A C L E …

and so what if i don’t pass it this time, am i in such a hurry, yes and no …

Head like a F#cking Orange

 Here’s some excerpts from the the diary of the funniest man in the world, Karl Pilkington. It’s more entertaining than anything I could ever write an its a lazy excuse for a blog. Best to not make a habit of this, anyways enjoy! (if anyone actually reads this besides my girlfriend…. or maybe John)

Woke up to the news that Tony Banks had died. There was a piece on the news about how everyone was shocked. Got me thinking about an invention: a watch that counted down your life. If it said you’ve got three days left, go to the doctors. Told Suzanne  about invention. She said she wouldn’t buy one. But she said that about the iPod.

A fella on the plane was reading Coy Mag. It was a fishing magazine. I glanced over and noticed he was reading the Pond of the Month article. Don’t think they could make it into a weekly magazine. There was a really fat bloke on the plane. He was playing on his PSP. While I waited to go to the toilet, I looked at what game he was playing. It was darts. He’s that fat and lazy he can’t face playing a more active game on a games console.

Sat next to an old fella. Old men’s ears and noses carry on growing as they get older. Suzanne noticed his fingers were fat too. Maybe they continue to grow. Suzanne didn’t laugh when I said that her arse had the same problem.

 Funny right? Here’s great poem by the guy as well.

Bubbled wallpaper, what a mess.
Washer dryer knackered, what a mess.
Siamese twins seperated, one leg less.

Manny

Ever since I moved into  my guest-house in Tokyo, I have lived along side a real deceptive character. He is quite elusive as he goes by a variety of aliases, but generally he is known as Manny!!!!(or Manichan by the Japanese people in our house). When I first met him he like seemed generally normal, though not soon after he began to move in strange ways, almost disturbing ways. His actions were not easy to turn a blind eye to……then the costumes started.

One day he would look altogether normal, then the next he’d be sporting a strange white hat made of  paper. I did think to myself that this was slightly odd but in all fairness he wasn’t doing anyone any harm.

A week later he took the leap from odd, to out right bizarre. He was standing  in the living room, wrapped head to toe in aluminum foil, impersonating the Tin man from The Wizard of Oz. As the weeks went on  he has been dressed as a wizard, a rag cladded bum and an Egyptian mummy, terrorizing everyone in the house. His most recent attire is a flouro green and pink Mohawk and an electric guitar.

I guess I shouldn’t be too  critical as his wardrobe selection is involuntary and he is  a 1 foot tall wooden mannequin.

Security in a Guesthouse

Guesthouses that I’ve lived in so far, all have a very good security system. It’s very important to maintain a good security for all residents so we can feel as comfortable as possible in our home. Last week when I got home there was a strange man in the house and I knew that he doesn’t live in our guesthouse so I decided to contact the Oakhouse staff to let them know about this situation. They were very understanding as usual and their security measures were very good. I feel very safe living with Oakhouse and really would like to thank them for always taking care of their residents needs. Oakhouse Thank You!!!!

oh no

I’d completely forgotten about this blog! Looks like I will have to write one everyday until the end of June to receive that precious 2,000 yen discount^^

Time really flies in Tokyo. The place is packed with things to do and there’s a surprise waiting around every corner of this city. The downside is that it’s difficult to resist paying for some plastic kitchenware (I bought a pig-shaped cover for microwaving food) which I know is completely useless, but I just had to buy it cuz I know it only exist in this damn country!

So today, after church, instead of roaming around the streets of Tokyo, I decided to go to a nearby supermarket to buy some cheap sashimi and korean noodles. After stuffing myself up with some unknown raw fish I drank sawa with my French housemate, had an intense discussion about the existence of UFOs, conspiracies surrounding the Vatican and the Freemasons. Shortly afterwards we both realised that we were talking complete rubbish so we started mocking Londoners instead. Man, that French dude can imitate Cockney so well!!

Hope you all had a good relaxing weekend.

People, Places and nature in Japan

Something that I`ve noticed about the majority of people in Japan is that they live up to the unknown expectations of Canadians, Americans and almost every other culture that knows what the Japanese people are like.  They are very polite and generous.  Also, they are very helpful even trying to communicate when there is a complete wall between themselves and foreigners.  I know this because I`ve had many experiences already with these kinds of situations and they can be very frustrating, but they deal well with it or at least they seem to. 

Every place that I`ve been to so far has something unique, soothing and serene.  I`ve enjoyed visiting several locations North, West, South and East of Tokyo as well as Tokyo itself.  Included in the places that I`ve visited, there`s a lot more nature than I had expected before I came here.  The nature here is exquisite because it is mixed with technology, old and new buildings and many trees and plants that look like they are resting on a tropical island.  Its simply beautiful, comforting and relaxing.  My friend and I went to visit an area close to the ocean a few weeks ago and I felt enthralled with everything that my eyes could see.  There is nothing more powerful and quiet than the ocean.  Although I didn`t swim in it, it felt refreshing.

Life in Japan

I have several pictures from my small trips around Japan.  I was in Japan two years ago and visited Kyushu and the whole area was breathtaking and absolutely amazing.  I work a lot of different jobs now and am getting more used to working here, but most of my jobs are outside of the area I live in so I`ve also gotten used to using the train lines.  Its a little difficult because getting used to looking at three systems; Hiragana, Katagana and Kanji is confusing at times.  Currently, I`m attempting to study Katakana and will be starting on Kanji hopefully soon.  I think it would be wise for anyone wishing to come to Japan to work or to even visit,  to try their best to study and learn as much Japanese as possible before arriving here.  Also, make sure to have a job lined up before arriving as well.