Adachi Odai to Arakawa Heda walk – Musashino no Machi

2 12 2008

Length:  approx 13km
Starting Station:  Adachiodai
Finishing Station:  Takashimadaira


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Arakawa Heda to Hikarigaoka Walk – Musashino no Michi

2 12 2008

Length:  approx 13 km
Starting Station:  Takashimadaira
Finishing Station:  Nerimatakanodai


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Rebel Rebel

29 11 2008

sorry, its a meme…
from my iPod playing on Shuffle, my thoughts in [] –

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Radiohead:  Hunting Years

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Gorillaz:  Double Bass [thumpin’!]

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Tenacious D:  Tribute [the greatest and best song in the world???]

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Maroon 5:  Shiver [um….  no…. not going to comment]

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Soul’d Out:  Introduction:Message from…. [its a spacey sounding song]

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Lily Allen:  Knock ‘Em Out  [Does that mean I’m a flirt?][a try hard flirt?]

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
New Japan Phiharmonic Orchestra:  Ritsuko (theme of Ritsuko from Eva) [Ristuko was messed up.  am I messed up?]

WHAT IS 2+2?
Chris Brown:  Yo(Excuse me Miss) [crap]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Walt Disney Music:  Baby Mine (from Dumbo)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Rip Slyme:  Checker Flag [no idea what this song is about… am I racing them or something?]

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Greenday:  Good Riddance [haha.  I think this was one of our graduation songs as well]

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Mika:  Stuck in the Middle [well, it would be nice to be comfortably off]

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE
???:  Fly Me to the Moon  [not the Frank Sinatra version ]

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Roxus:  Where Are You Now [yes, they are stuck in the 80’s]

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Placebo:  In the Cold Light of Morning [when everyone’s yawning I’m high???]

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Ishino….:  Gimme Some High Energy [you’re all energy vampires, sucking me dry!]

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Men at Work:  Downunder [blinks…..  ]

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Regurgitator:  Black Bugs [I have lice?]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Labyrinth Soundtrack:  Home at Last [thats sweet!]

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Soul’d Out:  Confession [um….  no idea what this song is about…….]

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Justin Timberlake:  Chop me Up [doesnt sound very appealing]

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Alex Lloyd:  Four Seasons in One Day [never actually lived in Melborne]

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Pink:  Dear Mr. President [if you can’t laugh bout politics, then you’d be crying]

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Jamiroquai:  Corner of the Earth [well, i suppose we are killing the earth….]

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
The Chemical Brothers:  Believe [awwww]

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Mr. Children:  Innocent World [no idea what this song is about, but its not one of my Mr Children faves…  maybe bad J-Pop?]

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
The Rockmelons:  Stronger Together [hmmm.. in the ’80’s?]

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Steady and Co.:  Wonderland [no idea what this song is about]

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Daft Punk:  Aerodynamic [well, yes, Im not very aerodynamic at the moment…]

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
David Bowie:  Rebel Rebel [its just not a music meme without Bowie]


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YouTube Live Tokyo

24 11 2008
 
poor quality pictures from my phone… sorry!

So, YouTubeLive Tokyo was on Sunday.  Despite my doubts, I did end up going, and it was fun, and somewhat interesting.
We arrived about 4, and were able to catch BoA, who was the first act on the main stage.  For us she was the highlight of the Japanese acts, even though we hadn’t listened to her music before now.  She’s cute, a good singer and dancer, and her songs were catchy.  I’m considering downloading some of her music now.
BoA was followed by Sakaiyu, a singer/pianist, Ayuse Kozue, a pop singer, Blue Man Group, Genki Rockets, a DJ with a great name, and Kreva, maybe a hip hop singer, but very uninspiring.  BoA and Blue Man Group were the most enjoyable acts for myself, the rest just seemed to prove how dull japansese music can be.  Don’t get me wrong, there are japanese artist that I like, however, on a whole, popular music in japan leaves something to be desired. 
But despite that, you can check it all out at the Live Channel – http://jp.youtube.com/user/livetokyo
Unfortunately didn’t catch any other the acts on the second stage, but did catch a glimpse of Tokyo Dance Trooper, and TokyoCloony(?sp?), and displayed my geek-i-ness in claiming I’d seen most of the videos they played. (not that there were many…)


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20 11 2008

Thanks Loz, http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20237714_20241213,00.html

…but I could have told them that….


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YouTube Live Tokyo

18 11 2008

YouTube Live in Tokyo is this Sunday, and surprisingly, from an internet lottery, I won tickets….  So, I wonder just what its all about….  (Me see competition, me enter….)


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Koshigaya Aeon Laketown

18 11 2008

At the start of October, Aeon Laketown opened at the Koshigaya Laketown (on the JR Musashino-line).  Its not too far from my home (in fact, I think I could walk there), so I decided to check it out on Monday.  Here’s the stats –

Number of Stores:  566
Space:  about 220,000 square meters
Length:  End to end, about 1 kilometer
Floors:  3
Cost:  85 billion yen

As you can probably guess, it’s all shiny!  There weren’t many people there on Monday, and I spent about 5 hours wandering around.  The variety of stores is pretty good for young people, lots of fashion, restaurants, and a cinema (which has a Men’s Day!  For all those guys who felt discriminated against by Ladies Day).  And as far as I could find – 4 Starbucks (I’m not joking).  Certainly not much reason for me to go into Tokyo for shopping now with a Zara and Gap nearby.

Check out their website – http://www.aeon-laketown.jp/index.html

Pick-ups:  Found an interesting CD in Village Vanguard – Pia-no-Jac


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ええじゃないか？

12 11 2008

Went to Fuji Q Highland with AD and Kelly on Monday.  The weather was a dreary cold cloudy day, but despite freezing our feet, this turned out to be a plus, since there were hardly any people at the park.

Fuji Q is lots of fun, kinda like the theme parks on the Gold Coast.  Lots of wild rides and a few themed areas (like Thomas the Tank Engine land).  Its famous for Fujiyama, a really tall and long roller coaster, and Eejanaika, a 4th dimension roller coaster.  http://www.eejanaika.jp On the website you can view a movie of what it’s like to ride, but it doesn’t do it justice.

It was my first time on a 4th dimension roller coaster, and it has to be the best one I have ever been on. 4th dimension means that not only does it do the things a regular roller coaster does, but the seats are also able to spin.  Its a wild ride, and although it is scary, I actually found the Fujiyama to be more scary because it was quite jerky.  Eejanaika is really smooth and fast, and its over before your brain has time to process it.  We even got front seats!!!  I will certainly make the effort to go back next year when its a little warmer.

How to get there:  From the Shinjuku Keio West Highway Bus terminal you can catch a bus, leaving every 30 minutes.  The bus ride takes 1 hour and 40minutes.  You can also buy a Q-Pack ticket, which includes return bus fare and Fuji Q Highland free pass (so you have unlimited rides) for 7,100yen.  Or pay the 1,700 yen each way for the bus on top of entrance fees.  Seats are reserved, phone 03-5376-2222 for Keio in Tokyo.
Fuji Q Highland:  Opens from 9am to 5pm everyday, and till 8pm on weekends in the warmer months of the year.  Summer vacation also extends the park hours to 8am to 9pm.  See their website for details.  Entrance to the park is 1,200 yen for adults and 800 yen for children.  This does not include rides.  Rides can be paid for separately, or a one day or two day free pass (all attractions included) can be bought.  A one day Free Pass for adults is 4,500yen, and 3,300yen for children.


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christmas and cooking

4 11 2008

well, its about a month and a half till Christmas is here, so shopping for cards, pressies and decorations have commenced.  Its very difficult to find presents for family and friends when you live overseas, primarily because you don’t have a good idea of what that person would like, being somewhat out of touch with their lives.  But I’m making an effort this year.  And starting in November is early for me.

One of the biggest annoyances about Christmas and Japan for me is Christmas cards.  Yes, you can buy cards, and I’ve already bought a few for my family and close friends, but you can’t find sets of cards.  I don’t mind spending $5 on a fancy card for my parents, but I certainly can’t afford to do that for everyone.  It seems my only solution is eBay, possibly Ikea (but I’m not going to travel and hour to buy cards…), or get my mother to send me a pack.

Last year I sent New Year Cards to everyone, which is the Japanese tradition, and I will do that this year too, however only to people who celebrate New Year (and I don’t mean celebrate as in go out and get drunk and be crazy, I mean as a religious(?) holiday) and family.  I like New Year’s cards, they are fun, you can make your own, but if I had thought about it earlier, maybe I could have made my own Christmas cards too.  Something to keep in mind for next year.

Last night I also decided to have a go at making Coconut Egg Custard (http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/recipes/sangkaya.html).  I’ve been on a bit of a food experimentation phase (soup, curry, soup, stew – gotta love winter foods). Unfortunately I didn’t have the right number of eggs, and the custard wouldn’t set.  But it’s still very sweet, and I think it will do as a sauce for a plain pound cake.  I’ll have to try again when I next time I buy coconut milk for curry (it’s only a matter of time).


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Iruma Base Airshow

4 11 2008

Yesterday was a public holiday here in Japan, and in Iruma Saitama there was an Air Show for the JASDF.  I’ve been to plenty of airshows in Australia, so it was interesting to see how a Japanese one was held.

My first impressions were surprising.  The train station (Inariyama-koen) was actually inside the base.  And this train line isn’t a special train line, it’s a regular line, which makes me question the base security.  None the less, it made it nice and easy to get to.  The other first impression I got was “wow, this is crowded”.  I estimated in the hundred’s of thousands, and today checking on their website (http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/iruma/kouhou/081104/index.html) it lists 230,000 people attended….  just to give you an idea –

 

I’m on the right, wearing a pink and grey striped hoodie.  good luck.

The base itself was very much like like any base, wide streets, accommodation buildings and hangers.  However it still felt like I was in Japan, just with wider streets.  Maybe it was all the people.

There were static displays, flying displays, entertainment (bands, etc) and stalls.  I was kinda disappointed with the static displays, as you couldn’t walk around most of the planes, or even look inside.  As it was I wasn’t able to even get close to the barriers to take pictures.

The flying displays weren’t too bad, even standing way back.  I missed the first two, but I did see one showing the capabilities of their helicopters and also the Blue Impulse display.  Blue Impulse are the JASDF’s formation flying team.  They were interesting, but not much I haven’t seen before. The only criticism I could have for them would be I don’t think they effectively used their airspace and timing.  There were some gaps in the show that I think could have been avoided with better planning.  Still, enjoyable.

I think the biggest kick out of the whole day was watching the Japanese behavior.  On the airfield people were sitting on their tarps or little fold away chairs eating lunch and playing cards.  Which seemed like a somewhat waste of space to me.  And while watching the aerobatics people would gasp and exclaim.  Maybe Im jaded, but really, the planes aren’t that close together folks!  There were also heaps of people with little step ladders and their pro-camera taking photos.  Which was annoying even for tall people as they blocked the view.  And people with dogs.  why?!?  WHY????  The poor things would get crushed.  I got crushed.  Stupid stupid people.

But, when all is said and done, I had a good time, saw some planes, and it was free!


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