9 different microbrewed beers for sale at the same time in the same supermarket! WHAT! Seriously! Is this still Japan! I'm blown away. Literally.
The three on the left I've all had before, Yona Yona Ale being the best. No clue about the rest but there's a porter in there! Yummmmm porter!
Thank you Hankyu Oasis! Thank you!
Too bad I'm still too sick to drink any of them! Argh!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Amazing!
Sometimes the worst looking food tastes the best.
Tonight's dinner is a Sanda beef burrito featuring:
-sour cream (oh my god?!!)
-onion
-homemade salsa (tomato, garlic, some sort of green pepper from Kumamoto, garlic, green onion, onion, salt, lemon juice)
-homemade guacamole
-cheese (added after photo was taken)
Sunday, July 08, 2007
M-oref-unE-ngrish©
I'm not too sure what they were thinking, or drinking, when they wrote this sign. I understand there are no spaces in Japanese but dashes in the wrong place with massive misspelling?
But then again who can turn down prityw-omen?
Friday, July 06, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
little people, rivers, and wood
When I first went to college I studied art and photography. For a short time I even had a darkroom setup in my basement. That didn't last long as my interests moved to geography. I continued to paint on and off until I moved to Japan where I lack the equipment and time. Before this blog I had a website with my portfolio on it. I uploaded those images the portfolio collection on my flickr account and you are welcome to check them out here.
The themes of my paintings where either abstractions of the landscape,
or my little character who was a representation of myself who eventually evolved into various monsters who symbolized the way I would worry about things.
My photography was more about experimenting with the photographic processes, something that still amazes me. Getting the perfect print was never important to me. Photography in general was too much about perfection and realism----I wanted my photographs to be unrealistic as possible.
I hope you like my artwork.
The themes of my paintings where either abstractions of the landscape,
or my little character who was a representation of myself who eventually evolved into various monsters who symbolized the way I would worry about things.
My photography was more about experimenting with the photographic processes, something that still amazes me. Getting the perfect print was never important to me. Photography in general was too much about perfection and realism----I wanted my photographs to be unrealistic as possible.
I hope you like my artwork.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
淡路島日帰り
I got a long weekend off from work so I rented a car for the weekend. Fun stuff. Well, on Saturday I went to Awaji island with my co-worker Joe and his lovely wife Izumi. We went to a strange English farm themed park where the main draw is Koala bears, who are dressed up in suits with English flags on them. We got to play around there, see some animals, pick potatoes, do archery, drive go-karts. Overall it was pretty good. After that we continued to drive around the island to find a place to watch the sunset and smoke a cigar. I also wanted to go swimming but as it's not summer yet I was afraid the water would be cold, but it wasn't at all. This was the first time I've gone swimming in the ocean in Japan and it was great. I want to go back! The other Japanese on the beach sure got a kick out of the crazy swimming gaijin too. After that we hit up an onsen and I was able to get Joe to go in with me, but Izumi declined. We went there on the Takoferry (octopusferry), but came back driving over the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge--the world's longest suspension bridge. Quite an amazing experience. Thanks to Joe and Izumi for coming out. I had a great time and I think they did too.
Other glory:
A grumpy pink pelican who would munch on the kangaroos who would came by him.
Engrish!
Engrish 2 times!
Joe loosing at pinball.
Engrish!
Engrish 2 times!
Joe loosing at pinball.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
I had lunch!
Not a normal lunch however. I had lunch! One of Yuko's old customers won a heap of money betting on horses and gave some to Yuko and her sister with instructions to go out for a good lunch. Well we had a good lunch. A really good lunch.
And dessert.
And dessert.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Ah! A snake!
Coming into work yesterday morning check out what I found sunning its green body where I like to park my bike. A cute green snake. First one I’ve seen in Japan.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Kansai Onsen Review is up!
I finally set it all up, the blog I've been working on to the neglect of this one. Kansai Onsen Review is a blog where I will post reviews, explanations, history, culture and anything else that's related to bathing and hot springs.
All of my additional information about how to take a bath and stuff like that is still in the works but my reviews have started. Three reviews are up now with more to come. I've been to at least 50 around Kansai so there's a backlog of them to get posted. I'm still working on going back to the ones which I haven't taken decent photos of also.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks!
http://kansaionsen.blogspot.com/
p.s. I'll keep updating this blog with random other non onsen related junk just like always too!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Public housing options in Japan
Where can you find land to build public housing? Next to the cemetery.
I think these blocks were built in the 70's well before the it became the affluent area it is now.
I think these blocks were built in the 70's well before the it became the affluent area it is now.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The pedals have fallen in Nishinomiya
The hanami season is over and the sakura (cherry blossoms) have begun to fall into the rivers turning them pink. I enjoy this time even more than the hight hanami season because it's more symbolic of the sakura's fleeting life. Their beauty in death is more beautiful than it was when they were in their prime. I posted a set of photos taken last week along the Shukugawa river in Nishinomiya to my flickr. Please enjoy them.
It's election time!
How elections work in Japan... loudspeaker cars, and poster walls.
Here we have a speech given from the roof of a campaign bus in front of Akashi station. Below we see a wall in a residential area with designated spaces for the various candidates.
Here we have a speech given from the roof of a campaign bus in front of Akashi station. Below we see a wall in a residential area with designated spaces for the various candidates.
No Parking! YAY!
Here the coach for the Hanshin Tigers, along with the wife of the "new foreign pitcher" remind everyone that there is no parking at Koshien Stadium. I'll be sure to remember that now that she's informed me.
Click on the image for a larger version.
Click on the image for a larger version.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Don't move the freeway, put a hole the building
This might be my favorite building in Osaka. I wonder how it was built. Was the freeway ramp active while they built the building? I've never seen anyone go in or out of this building and it looks under used... I'm not surprised.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
恵美寿湯の散歩
Even more photos. These from a few weeks ago when I went to Akashi to get my being the process of getting my Japanese drivers license. Well, I was denied because I didn’t have the correct paper work, opps. Still working on that. Anyhow, I used the opportunity to hit up another onsen down in that part of Hyogo as going there on a whim is prohibitively expensive. The place I found was Ebisu onsen in a neighborhood of factories, old housing projects, and new single family houses. There were many things about the Japanese landscape that stood out to me on this walk. I’ll point out a few. The onsen was one of the most amazing I’ve been to. The outdoor bath was mineral rich and completely amazing. The owner even gave me a free bathtowel when I told her about my hobby of going to onsen and collecting the towels. I’ll be going back there eventually.
恵美寿湯 湧昇の湯
兵庫県明石市貴崎４−６−１２
www.geocities.jp/syoujinobuo/ebisuyu.html
www.ne.jp/asahi/world/hopper/onsen/hyogo/ebisu/ebisu.htm
The houses next to the factory place laundry poles and potted plants next to the wall making use of the space and breaking up the monotony of a solid wall.
Many houses have a few potted plants out front, this family has one of the largest, if not the largest, collection of plants I've seen in front of one house.
The garbage behind some sort of machinist workshop.
恵美寿湯 湧昇の湯
兵庫県明石市貴崎４−６−１２
www.geocities.jp/syoujinobuo/ebisuyu.html
www.ne.jp/asahi/world/hopper/onsen/hyogo/ebisu/ebisu.htm
The houses next to the factory place laundry poles and potted plants next to the wall making use of the space and breaking up the monotony of a solid wall.
Many houses have a few potted plants out front, this family has one of the largest, if not the largest, collection of plants I've seen in front of one house.
The garbage behind some sort of machinist workshop.
Monday, April 02, 2007
What is, never could be, and will be.
The existing landscape is blocked by a construction barrier depicting an idealized landscape that never could never exist there, and the plans to turn it into a new constructed landscape devoid of those trees.
Gualariva's Hanami Party
Hanami season is here! And like last year I plan on enjoying it as much as possible so why not start it off with a bang? I joined the Gualariva regulars and a few new people for an adult hanami, we had catered French food, a selection of fine wine, and a portable classic record player... Plus a little rain. I’ve posted a set of photos on my Flickr which you can check out here. Besides the food, which was to die for, it was great when all the old grandmothers came buy to check out the record player.
The record player
After the eating and drinking was done
After the eating and drinking was done
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A day of great food!
A old teacher from my school is in town so we went to a buffet then sang some karaoke. So I thought I'd show you all what a Japanese organic/natural food buffet menu looks like.
http://www.roan.cc/news.htm
It was super super good...
Dinner was great but so was lunch. I ate this
DSC00250" height="180" width="240">
Pork katsu served at a restaurant attached to a sake brewer's museum. Super good sake too.
It was super super good...
Dinner was great but so was lunch. I ate this
DSC00250" height="180" width="240">Pork katsu served at a restaurant attached to a sake brewer's museum. Super good sake too.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Collect These...
...and win beer!
Most drink companies have these sticker/postcard based campaigns for winning free beer, electronics, travel, toys... I always thought that no matter how many I sent in I'd never win anything, But last Friday night I found a notice from the delivery guy, I had a package. So on Saturday I called the driver and had him deliver it to my job. I won two bottles of special Kirin beer. It seems a bit more foamy and sour than typical Kirin, more Belgium-beer-like. I like it. Not to mention it was FREE!
Most drink companies have these sticker/postcard based campaigns for winning free beer, electronics, travel, toys... I always thought that no matter how many I sent in I'd never win anything, But last Friday night I found a notice from the delivery guy, I had a package. So on Saturday I called the driver and had him deliver it to my job. I won two bottles of special Kirin beer. It seems a bit more foamy and sour than typical Kirin, more Belgium-beer-like. I like it. Not to mention it was FREE!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Golfin' and Bathin'
Last Sunday the weather was great and I made my way out to Arimafuji Onsen about 20-30 min or so by bus from my house. Arimafuji Onsen is quite unique as it’s a combination supersento and golf practice range--one of the two story wacky Japanese kind. While I haven’t played golf for years, I decided to check it out. As a teenager my father got me into golf, which I enjoyed, but I hated the rampant racism, misogyny, and typical upper middle class mindset exposed by the players--including my father. So, I soon left the sport go when I graduated college. That said, I had a great time whacking balls with a rented 3 iron. Funny thing however, to get my balls I had to by a card from a ticket machine in the lobby, but to rent my club I had to pay the lady at the counter. After getting my gear I walked to my spot, second story at the far end. I don’t know wether the lady placed me there because I’m a gaijin or because I’m left handed... Either way, I liked spot. The first few balls totally sucked, but near the end of the bucket I got my groove back on. I even sliced two over the fence! HAHA! Oh yea, the onsen attached, while small, had a great outdoor bath that on that cool sunlit late winter afternoon really felt great!
Arimafuji Onsen Hanayama no yu
有馬富士温泉 花山乃湯
www.hanayamanoyu.com
兵庫県三田市尼寺835-1
I hit two over that left fence.
The ball vending machine
Arimafuji Onsen Hanayama no yu
有馬富士温泉 花山乃湯
www.hanayamanoyu.com
兵庫県三田市尼寺835-1
I hit two over that left fence.
The ball vending machine
Monday, March 05, 2007
Emergency Exit Shadows
非常口 means emergency exit in Japanese, so if you ever need to escape, that's the place.
Taken on the 神姫バス (Shinki Bus) in 三田 (Sanda).
Taken on the 神姫バス (Shinki Bus) in 三田 (Sanda).
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