Journalizing Japan: Change of Plans

We got back to Izumi City crazy late last night due to a train accident (not our fault), so we decided to get some shut-eye and head to Himeji for the day. Well worth the trip, and healthy hike to reach the castle, which is an amazing structure. You must pay a visit before you die.
I'd also like to mention that the ramen house mentioned on page 400 of Lonely Planet: Japan is everything it says it is. If pork is your thing, Ramen-no-Horyu is the place.
Five minutes left at this stupid @Station terminal. Off to Hiroshima...fingers crossed.

Journalizing Japan: Nara Niceness

Hi! This is Al (duh), feeling beat like a rented mule yet elated, comin' at you from Nara, where sacred deer have the run of the place.
The Todai-ji temple is a must-see. Not only is it a dope structure, it's got a shitload of school kids hanging around, taunting the deer...and the foreigners. Actually, they were really cool. I was one of three black folks I saw all day, so I could easily say that me and my white wife stood out easily among the many tourists. We were kinda treated like rock stars. I could get used to that.
Off to bed, then Hiroshima!

Journalizing Japan: Osaka Internet Kiosk Edition

Hi. Sarah and I are having a blast. Just got out of the Osaka Aquarium and off of the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel. At an internet kiosk with eight minutes remaining. I'm out of 100 yen coins (for the moment). All y'all need to know is that we're alive and eating. Yo, Kenji! I got yer number, homie! I'll try to reach you.
Peace!

Journalizing Japan: Sensory Overload

• Our time here so far in one word: overwhelming. But in a good way. There's so much...stuff. Lots of it.
• Just came back from a jaunt that included New Japan wrestling merch, a sumo tournament, and the amazing Shibuya crossing. We're crazy tired. Not as tired as yesterday, though. Yeah, we're taking a ton of JR trains and Tokyo Metro subways, but we're also hoofing it quite a bit, trying to find these obscure/not-so-obscure places to satisfy my esoteric jollies. Sarah's been saying that I'm getting my revenge for all of the estrogen-laced shopping excursions I've been dragged to.
• For the record, Brad Pitt is your gaijin-to-go-to for SoftBank, and Beyonce is representin' Crystal Geyser. Apparently, it's "her water". Uh...you'd have to watch the commercial. It's kinda boring.
• I just watched Lily Allen get asked somewhat personal questions in a 2001: A Space Odyssey-type environment by a disembodied voice. I wanna get that famous. I fucking love this country.
• If you're wondering why I've been stingy with the links, it's because I'm faster at placing those with a mouse, and I'm using a Eee PC. Me and the keypad don't get along very well.
• I spent 98 bucks on an issue of Arkitip (that Evan Hecox issue). I don't feel bad about that at all. Domo arigato, Tower Records Shibuya!
• I fully recommend a trip out here to anyone, but if you can't handle cuteness, well...I don't know what to tell you, jack. Japan has an endless supply of it. Characters and mascots are everywhere. If you can't deal with that, I suggest visiting a country where things are less kawaii.
• I'm surprised at the amount of black people I've seen out here. It's not like I was expecting to be the only black Canuck among the nihon-jin, I just didn't plan on seeing more than 20 in my first couple of days.
• For the record, there's no fade-to-black between commercials or programs out here, so what you get is a non-stop barrage of television. I find it strangely comforting.
• I've been drinking everything under the sun, mainly because I can, but also because it's hot, so there's a method to my usual madness.
• In Tokyo, vending machines are pretty much everywhere. It'll be interesting to see how Osaka compares.
• I've got some e-mail to write. Peace.

Journalizing Japan: Healthy

I forgot to mention that we were thermographically scanned before getting off of the plane. We were each given a yellow paper certifying that we were free of hog cooties. I shall celebrate by eating bacon.

Journalizing Japan: Arrival!

• We're totally here. It feels kinda weird. I like it.
• Hunting for the right train totally beat the shit out of us mentally and physically, especially after the cramped limo bus ride.
• A very kind, English-speaking elderly lady helped us find the right station, and told us how to purchase tickets. She ruled, needless to say.
• Our room is all cute and cozy. We're watching some weird-ass variety show.
• Just got back from the Sev down the street and a Lawson's location. The buying of exotic beverages has begun.
• Bought a plate of sausage and wedges from the previously-mentioned Sev (or 7-I & Holdings). So far, not a mistake. My stomach is pleased. We'll see how the cheesy bread thing with the meaty bits and the sausage n' pasta fares in the morning.
• Kirin commercials are fun to watch.
• Bedtime.

Journalizing Japan: Vancouver Layover

• Managed to kill an hour of our over 4-hour layover by eating and wandering. Thanks, Pizza Hut.
• Sarah is off stretching her legs and buying something from Starbucks.
• Watched The Wrestler during the flight over here. Air Canada tried their best to keep me from enjoying it by cutting out most of the violence and all of Marisa Tomei's nudity. Despite that, I thought it was great. The spot planning scene with Necro Butcher was hilarious.
• Nap time.

Out of Office AutoReply 3

Konnichiwa!
My wife and I are heading to Japan to see if Sarah Jessica Parker is still shilling for Diet Coke out there. Plus, I'm sure Nicolas Cage's pachinko machine commercials are WAY more humorous on home turf. Only one way to find out!
So, that means I'll be away from the 11th to the 29th of this month. [supervisor] and [supervisor] will be glad to assist you while I'm off purchasing manga and photographing vending machines. [supervisor and dude I work with] are your Naylor Net-issue folks.


Y'all thought I was gonna end with a Godzilla joke, right?
Please.

Nihongo wa wakarimasen!
Al

Peace, y'all.

Random Thoughts: May 2, 2009

Citadines Tokyo Shinjuku (photo courtesy of the good folks at Citadines).
Can't wait to see this place for really real-like.

• Japan-bound: Just sittin' here, listening to the last episode of Keep Risin' on 101.5, counting the minutes. Our first five days in Tokyo are going to be overwhelming, I have no doubt about that. I just found out that there's going to be an Audrey Kawasaki exhibit going on while we're there. Perfect! She's so damn good, and the chance to see her work up close must be jumped at.
  I finally put my Rebel together, and I'm enjoying using it. Of course, I'll be using that to document the trip along with my trusty Canon PowerShot A520 (pictured here).
  I also picked up a Moleskine Watercolour Notebook, inspired by Luis Mendo's Tokyo y Yo. We'll see how dedicated I'll be to this. I'm considering drawing everything I eat (props to Riki Takaoka).
  
  
• A Pleasant Surprise: Apparently, my tea-drinking gorilla is part of an orphanage mural somewhere in Zambia! Hey, how can I be mad at that? Here's a closer look.
  
  
• The Toronto Comic Arts Festival: If I wasn't going to Japan, TCAF would be my destination. Seriously...if you live in or around Toronto and you love comics, you'd be crazy to miss this. And it's FREE. I don't want to hear any excuses! GO.
  
  
• Gone: Gotta go. Errands and projects to handle. And my laundry's done! Peace.
  

Random Thoughts: April 19th, 2009

Taken a month before the trip was a sure thing (Sarah's vacation time wasn't exactly guaranteed).

• Greetings: How ya doin'? It's been too long. Yo...your ass looks terrific in that dress.
  
  
• Japan: Yup, we're going. To say I'm reallyfuckingexcited doesn't even cover a tenth of what I'm feeling. Not only is this a lifetime destination sort of thing, but I'd also like to think of it as my first true grown-ass man vacation. The cross-border jaunts Sarah and I have made over the past few years were as natural as breathing; visiting the U.S. is like spending some time with a neighbour that has a cool-ass candy dish. This here is a life-changing excursion, complete with a real deal, limit-testing, major leg cramp, over-the-ocean flight. My glee, to say the absolute least, is off the charts. How would you chart something like that, anyway?
  
  Much like a kid trying to steal peeks at a Christmas present, I've been multiplying my anticipation by searching Flickr for photos of Japanese Sevs, Freshness Burger, and anything Mister Donut-related.
  
  I'd like to take this moment to shout out my man Steve St. Louis, his lovely wife Hiroe, and my homie Jason Lapayre for their help in making this happen. And of course, my beautiful wife for doing...well, everything. This couldn't have got off the ground without you, lady.
  
  I'm not lying to y'all: I fucking need this vacation. I'm spent mentally and creatively, and I'm confident that this will be a life-changing and invigorating experience, even though I'm trying not to put any emphasis on that.
  
  
• Joel Plaskett: I was just thinking – does anyone hate this dude? I mean, I certainly don't, but I find that folks who might really dislike him aren't very vocal. Truthfully, I haven't looked for any Plaskett dissent, because life is too short, and I'd rather look at naked women. Plus, I think such a pursuit would be fruitless. I assume a typical list of Joel-hater gripes would go like this:
  
  
  1. The CBC (especially Radio 3) has been all up on his dick from day one.
  2. That's it.
  
  Rather pathetic, eh? And that's definitely not a knock on The Corp. I figure they just know a good thing when they see it. He's just a charming dude that combines pop hooks, folky moments, and "arena rock" (a carry-over from his Thrush Hermit days) into one accessible package. Maybe that's his actual crime: being so damn accessible. But really, what's wrong with appealing to a lot of people? But of course, Nickelback appeal to a lot of people, and...y'know, let's just not fucking go there.
  For the record, I really didn't have a point to any of this.
  
  
• Google Street View: I love this. Why it took me so long to get into using it, I'll never know. Without it, I'd never be able to visualize which Sev is closest to our Tokyo hotel.
  Shut up.
  
  
• Rebel. Gonna take this with me. Need to get a bag for it. I oughta take it out and use it, too.

It's bedtime. Gotta handle some freelance-y stuff in the morn. Peace.