tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31263029897916046082024-03-13T21:52:39.252+08:00My JET Experienceand everything about it: the application, preparation, and being there as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Osaka City itself!starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-65689778952979891652010-08-07T23:08:00.002+08:002014-06-13T16:29:06.974+08:00My new space<div dir="ltr">
My new blog is <a href="http://iroirodori.wordpress.com/">here</a>, and it picks up on my life after Japan. After JET, I returned home for two and a half years before moving to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where I've been for more than a year. </div>
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It's been some time since I was on the JET Programme, but I'm always happy to answer any questions about JET and its application process. </div>
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I'm also most willing to trade stories about living in a foreign country, although I know that my situation is hardly unique. Just drop me a comment <u>with your email address</u> and I promise to get right back to you :) </div>
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-- June 2014</div>
starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-12856837921525112852010-08-06T20:54:00.000+08:002010-08-07T23:10:13.880+08:00sayonara osaka, sayonara japani will be leaving japan early monday, and im really sad to be saying goodbye.<br /><br />i was trying to find work here but plans fell through; the news came only yesterday, and it was interesting to realise how much the hope that i will be staying kept the realities of the potentially imminent departure for good at bay.<br /><br />knowing that i will be gone for good, with only 2 days left to spare, changed how everything looked. gah. there will be so many things that will miss! iced milk coffee in a can.. fried tofu from the supermarket.. sugar free cold bottled tea.. the orderliness.. the gaijin status that gave me certain advantages.. having my own apartment.. cycling around.. boo.<br /><br />i'm not sure if i will continue blogging somewhere else when i'm back in singapore - i'm not sure whats in store and if i will have things to say or anything that's of interest to people the way JET is. but there will be still more posts after this, with pictures of some other stuff like those from my trips to sendai and hokkaido. of course, anyone who'd like to get in touch regarding japan or the JET programme are welcome to drop me a line!<br /><br />all the best to you who's reading this. a wonderful chapter of my life has come to an end.starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-72769197026791816582010-08-03T23:49:00.001+08:002010-08-03T23:49:15.196+08:00sendai, matsushima and shiogama<p><em><font size="2">(check out more photos </font></em><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33669&id=227700278&l=8279db69d6"><em><font size="2">here</font></em></a><em><font size="2"> on facebook)</font></em></p> <p>i was in sendai about 1 month ago during the lull in school where students have tests and ALTs are not needed. </p> <p>sendai is really cheap by night bus – i think i paid about 10900yen return with Willer Express. Unfortunately the journey is very long (12 hours) and the bus had no toilet – 4 breaks every 3 hours or so, which were necessary anyway to stretch the legs. </p> <p>the first stop was Shiogama, a port town famous for its shrine and its port festival i think. </p> <p>here’s the main entrance to the shrine – the steep steps were really scary walking down!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg47PIoLZI/AAAAAAAAILs/7FAjGEKwCxw/s1600-h/Sendai%20039%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 039" border="0" alt="Sendai 039" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg48DBuEUI/AAAAAAAAILw/qanLmyYw72Y/Sendai%20039_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="357" /></a> </p> <p>shiogama is really quiet – this is its Honmachi, a far cry from Osaka’s:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg48_puw4I/AAAAAAAAIL0/VQA_LGsZAPg/s1600-h/Sendai%20007%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 007" border="0" alt="Sendai 007" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg49n0-RbI/AAAAAAAAIL4/oiegaI3cHxc/Sendai%20007_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="352" /></a> </p> <p>i didnt find there much to shiogama; perhaps i should have gone over to the port area but it was hot and i was more interested in getting to Matsushima. </p> <p>Matsushima is considered one of the top 3 best views in Japan. The tourist office recommended this particular park and its observation platform about 20min walk from the station. I went along that route, and this is the “stunning and spectacular view” of the bay i got:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg4-dhOrdI/AAAAAAAAIL8/w0XabCr_MNs/s1600-h/Sendai%20049%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 049" border="0" alt="Sendai 049" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg4_Dr-2sI/AAAAAAAAIMA/YyBeptpsvxI/Sendai%20049_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="365" /></a> </p> <p>trees! and not even a panoramic view of the bay. please do NOT bother to climb all the way up. It’s steepish and hot and completely not worth it at all. </p> <p>honestly matsushima bay wasnt that fantastic. it was pretty enough, but definitely nothing worthy of Top 3 status. The seafood there is expensive too! there are some famous red bridges linking 3 smaller islands to the shore:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg5AEjUPeI/AAAAAAAAIME/LDnIm0b6LlY/s1600-h/Sendai%20054%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 054" border="0" alt="Sendai 054" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg5A8ivZzI/AAAAAAAAIMI/QWsQagQxSFM/Sendai%20054_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="365" /></a> </p> <p>and the main temple with its mossy undergrowth</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg5BiuluuI/AAAAAAAAIMM/ptX7r5ElniE/s1600-h/Sendai%20074%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 074" border="0" alt="Sendai 074" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6QN95-wI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/joWKWGxqGlw/Sendai%20074_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="365" /></a> </p> <p>it was tanabata season too, and the lanterns were beautiful:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6Q56pDRI/AAAAAAAAIMU/s2_M2UavgE0/s1600-h/Sendai%20077%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 077" border="0" alt="Sendai 077" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6RuPXyPI/AAAAAAAAIMY/-cM5vaG1e3k/Sendai%20077_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="365" /></a> </p> <p>i was told that people from miyagi prefecture – where sendai and matsushima are – like to take things easy, and can find osakans brusque and rude or too direct. my sendai friend, LS, confirmed that miyagi people and osaka people are kinda the two extremes of japanese people. it was interesting actually, because i noticed that schoolgirls on the train spoke softly, which is something you dont get at all in Osaka. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>sendai was nice. it’s proper urban near the JR station, but its shotengais are wide and the area near the Sendai Castle ruins has some beautiful foliage. </p> <p>i found this hilarious and somewhat ridiculous:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6SXYsszI/AAAAAAAAIMc/LogUWOPeBd8/s1600-h/Sendai%20090%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 090" border="0" alt="Sendai 090" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6TK7C4BI/AAAAAAAAIMg/APq8eVpNZl8/Sendai%20090_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="365" /></a> </p> <p>the shotengai – its double the width of that in shinsaibashi/namba!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6T3NR4zI/AAAAAAAAIMk/7QRhegCoj68/s1600-h/Photo-0067%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Photo-0067" border="0" alt="Photo-0067" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6Utk6DbI/AAAAAAAAIMo/2xaY07DCZhE/Photo-0067_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="409" /></a> </p> <p>Sendai has the Loople Bus, which is a rather convenient way to visit the main sights if you purchase the 1-day pass:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6VdLlNfI/AAAAAAAAIMs/il4UiPVyNxg/s1600-h/Photo-0058%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Photo-0058" border="0" alt="Photo-0058" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6V-T9UwI/AAAAAAAAIMw/E2M18Mz4dlI/Photo-0058_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="409" /></a> </p> <p>i didnt have much time for sightseeing as i was there for 2 nights only, so i went to the Tohoku University’s museum of natural history cos i wanted to see this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6Wlp1p1I/AAAAAAAAIM0/em3PCUw9iUo/s1600-h/Sendai%20092%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 092" border="0" alt="Sendai 092" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6XkN4IgI/AAAAAAAAIM4/oR8pta_kgc4/Sendai%20092_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="365" /></a> </p> <p>it’s been a long time since i’ve seen dinosaur bones and fossils, and it was a good decision cos i really enjoyed the exhibits in this small but interesting museum:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6YEUwcBI/AAAAAAAAIM8/RDltTyrxndA/s1600-h/Sendai%20097%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 097" border="0" alt="Sendai 097" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6YxFnhjI/AAAAAAAAINA/oimsNT0HExo/Sendai%20097_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="365" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6ZnBYwCI/AAAAAAAAINE/ATbydn3MQyo/s1600-h/Sendai%20106%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 106" border="0" alt="Sendai 106" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6aa9PMRI/AAAAAAAAINI/4m_k6cRlTSQ/Sendai%20106_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>sendai has lots of trees, which you dont really get in japan. it also has this really nice building which is a central location for information on the arts:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6bM84nNI/AAAAAAAAINM/378CLjlddkQ/s1600-h/Sendai%20132%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sendai 132" border="0" alt="Sendai 132" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6c1kgQ3I/AAAAAAAAINQ/d5dFwlgMG5Y/Sendai%20132_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="357" /></a> </p> <p>and of course, no visit to sendai would be complete without trying gyutan, or cow’s tongue. It’s pretty tasty and has a slightly chewy texture - the Rikyu chain of restaurants (there’s one on the 2nd floor of Sendai station) offers a set meal with gyutan, tasty oxtail soup and rice for 1500yen:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6dmankTI/AAAAAAAAINU/TW1PV-kBNBA/s1600-h/Photo-0069%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Photo-0069" border="0" alt="Photo-0069" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TFg6eY1DguI/AAAAAAAAINY/GjX5TS2UPFs/Photo-0069_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="409" /></a> </p> <p>there are more photos on facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1297240&l=106cc400a1&id=227700278">here</a> too! </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-66895494307129614262010-07-31T17:24:00.000+08:002010-07-31T21:16:02.736+08:00Why do you like Haruki Murakami?<p>I tried finding out on facebook, but i suppose i must have asked the question wrongly, because the response was disappointing indeed. so i’ve decided to leave this post up <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2009/10/wakayama-city-and-wakayama-castle.html">here</a> for the next month, even though i dont think i have good enough a readership to receive much response. </p><p>i’ve recently finished “Norwegian Wood”, and it’s my third book of his (kinda), but I’m still puzzled as to why so many people like Murakami – and so many consider him their favourite author too – and hold him in such critical acclaim. i also dont know why Norwegian Wood has received such high praise, mainly because i didnt think much of the book at all. </p><p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">please share with me your thoughts if you’re a Murakami fan, because i’d really like to know!</span> </p><p> </p><p></p><p>i’d previously read “A Wild Sheep’s Chase” and tried to read “Kafka on the Shore”. So so so many people rave about Kafka on the Shore, but i couldnt finish it because i was <strong>bored</strong>. That’s right, i got so bored reading the same thing over and over again; teenage boy reading and thinking and wanking, and ‘crazy’ middle aged guy (or was he elderly?) talking to cats and hitchhiking across japan. </p><p>A Wild Sheep’s Chase was pretty okay, but Kafka.. it’s kinda like, yes I know teenagers have <em>issues</em> and many (most?) teenage boys have masturbation as a hobby, but it doesnt mean I want to – or need to – read about it. And Norwegian Wood I felt was just a book about people having sex. I’m okay with sex in books, but even if sex is, for some, a coping mechanism and is a part of life, I didnt feel that there was anything else to the book. Before I left for JET, a friend recommended I read it while in Japan, but well.. Murakami’s books could well be set anywhere, can’t they? It’s not like there’s much in his books that are location-specific. </p><p>I’m even more intrigued by why Murakami is really popular among English-readers. I feel that Japanese doesnt translate well into English to begin with, so Murakami is nothing special in terms of the quality of his writing. There are writers who move you because of their ability to put the right words in the right order but Murakami isnt that. </p><p>I would like to know what people who like his writing think, because i wonder if me being completely unimpressed – and this isnt an exaggeration – by his books is solely due to them not being my style. Bizarre and out-of-this-world-like books arent really my thing although I love fantasy and real-world parallels (read: the great Terry Prachett). </p><p>please tell me what you like about Murakami! Thank you!</p>starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-33346810329851400502010-07-18T16:26:00.001+08:002010-07-18T16:29:03.727+08:00my favourite restaurant – Pomodoro Fresca<p>i blogged <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2010/07/best-of.html">here</a> about this Italian restaurant having some of the most delicious food around – it’s called Pomodoro Fresca and I finally made my way there for lunch today for the first time in several months. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6rV8UTfI/AAAAAAAAIKA/_orEp2k4W4s/s1600-h/DSCF0030%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0030" border="0" alt="DSCF0030" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6sHrE4fI/AAAAAAAAIKE/0UTky7nJ96A/DSCF0030_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="374" /></a> </p> <p>its interior is simple and homely, and pastas range from 950yen for aglio olio to 1580yen for beef ragu. i love that it’s quiet and never really too busy, and your table gets a tall glass bottle of water to pour out on your own. it’s the perfect place for a simple yet still romantic dinner date, and there’s a proper italian-style pizza oven that overlooks half the seats in the restaurant. </p> <p>for lunch, your order of pizza comes with soup and salad, while the pasta is preceded by salad and a piece of delicious and slightly chewy bread:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6swqj5oI/AAAAAAAAIKI/qFJZv9eeywo/s1600-h/DSCF0022%20%282%29%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0022 (2)" border="0" alt="DSCF0022 (2)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6tyavG1I/AAAAAAAAIKM/z98uvCVcShc/DSCF0022%20%282%29_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" height="321" /></a> </p> <p>my favourite pastas there are their beef ragu and anything with tomato cream sauce, but these run out quickly, so be sure to get there in the earlier half of the lunch period (11.30am – 3pm, last order 2.30pm). </p> <p>i tried their vongole bianca (they also serve the clams in tomato sauce) today – it was just nice, although i personally prefer heavier tasting sauces. for that reason, their carbonara is always an excellent choice as it comes with a thick, creamy, lip-smacking sauce. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6u8WclAI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/udnmRqHuasY/s1600-h/DSCF0029%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0029" border="0" alt="DSCF0029" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6vhGkutI/AAAAAAAAIKU/5nYCDbnxgXA/DSCF0029_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="262" /></a> </p> <p>lots of clams in white wine sauce; chunks of tasty bacon with sweet, soft onions. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6wvaXFDI/AAAAAAAAIKY/LfB5urTbCn0/s1600-h/DSCF0027%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0027" border="0" alt="DSCF0027" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6xMeWzWI/AAAAAAAAIKc/FTbFTM8-xkU/DSCF0027_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="285" /></a></p> <p>the carbonara sauce is so deliciously thick and creamy that small eaters are advised to go with a friend, order a lighter pasta and a carbonara and share both with each other – the vongole bianca/carbonara combination might actually work well as the former has a smaller serving of pasta. i’m a pretty big eater (i know few girls who eat as much as i do) and the carbonara always leaves me happily stuffed :)</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>i’m hoping to return for dinner one night before i leave to have their ragu again, so hopefully there’ll be more pictures of this amazing place in heart-warming Momodani! </p> <p> </p> <p>Directions:</p> <p>Take the JR loop line to Momodani Station. Go out the exit facing the road, and head down the street with Lawsons. The Lawsons is visible from inside the gates, so you can’t possibly get lost! See <a href="http://pomodoro-fresca.com/about">here</a> for a map. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6x6erh6I/AAAAAAAAIKg/c8b00Ajpz0U/s1600-h/DSCF0031%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0031" border="0" alt="DSCF0031" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TEK6yv4e5YI/AAAAAAAAIKk/5ySAoXqNE0c/DSCF0031_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="337" /></a></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-54937502561839659812010-07-18T11:27:00.002+08:002010-07-18T11:30:11.878+08:00neighbourhood shrine festival<p>i stumbled on the festival for the Yasaka Shrine in my neighbourhood yesterday. </p><p>i saw it last year too, actually, but happened to have my camera with me this time. these danjiri make their way around the neighbourhood (or at least the immediate area around the shrine) and attract lots of attention. </p><p><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/524854382728"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/524854382728" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></p>starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-11110149493839215152010-07-15T16:30:00.001+08:002010-07-15T16:30:50.985+08:00moving from japan 2 – shipping<p>i previously made a post <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2010/07/moving-from-japan-shipping-and-softbank.html">here</a> about shipping items using the post office, and i stand corrected:</p> <p><strong>the post office DOES do pick-ups.</strong> </p> <p>i discovered this entirely by chance when purchasing boxes from the branch near my house; once again this has proven that JPO has some incompetent people in their employ, at the officers at the City Hall branch informed me that there’s no such service and that i’ll have to rely on one of the private <em>takuhaibin</em> companies for this. </p> <p>anyway, pick-up service is called <i>shuuka </i>in Japanese (集荷), and the website is <a href="http://www.post.japanpost.jp/syuka/index.html">here</a>. It’s in Japanese and I dont think there's English service available. </p> <p>You can arrange for a pick-up online, or call <b>0800-0800-111</b>. The service is available from 8am - 9pm daily. I believe the pick-up schedule is the same as for the redelivery service with 4 different time periods to choose from; basically you can call before noon to have them come pick up your boxes that very afternoon/evening. </p> <p>Do also inform them while scheduling the pick-up that you will require customs labels (<i>raberu</i>; 1 for each box) or get them in person at a post office near you. I don't think there's an extra charge for this pick-up service, which is awesome.</p> <p>I’m really happy my Fukushima-ku post office had this great, helpful person present. Although he gave me the wrong number to call, at least he equipped me with labels etc to go with my box – which led to questions from me that resulted in today’s important discovery - which the people at the City Hall branch didnt. I’m not sure why they didnt, since you have to affix labels on to box for both domestic and international deliveries anyway. </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-22222345463003415892010-07-14T18:21:00.001+08:002010-07-14T18:30:08.248+08:00The best of~*<p>the previous post is actually a very lengthy preface to an activity we did with the JHS 3rd years yesterday – my very last class with the loveliest bunch of students. they asked me a variety of questions using superlatives and got me thinking a little about some things i just wanna note down or share:</p> <p><strong>1. What food did you eat the most in Japan?</strong> – It has to be tuna mayo onigiri, perfect for a snack or when you’re in a rush. i prefer the ebi mayo (prawn) version but it’s not as common. Next will have to be <em>kare raisu</em> (Japanese curry rice) and omurice I think. </p> <p><strong>2. What was the most delicious food in Japan?</strong> – The students are actually only referring to Japanese food, which is hard because i like most Japanese food and what i choose to eat depends only on what i’m in the mood for. I’ve really enjoyed the food i had at previous school enkais (at a hotel near USJ and another at the Imperial), the meal that a Japanese teacher’s Kyoto-wife prepared for us, <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-i-will-miss.html">kani cream pasta</a> and this amazing Italian restaurant near Momodani station on the JR loop line. </p> <p><strong>3. Which place did you visit the most in Japan?</strong> – It’s probably the Umeda Sky Building, which is also my favourite place in Osaka. For non-tourist attractions, it’s a fight between the Toho Cinema in Umeda, the izakaya Za-watami at Nodahanshin and another izakaya behind El Panchos. actually, El Panchos (Mexican restaurant) and the Dutch restaurant on Nakanoshima might be in the running too, although i havent been to either in the longest time.</p> <p><strong>4. Which was the most beautiful place in Japan?</strong> – I don’t know the answer to this, but i recall being really fascinated by the mist that formed in the valley below the highway while travelling back from Takayama. i’m only thinking about the places i’ve been to while on JET, otherwise i’m sure Hokkaido will make this list – i will soon find out if my first impressions are correct! *excited* I also think everywhere in autumn is gorgeous when the leaves change colour.</p> <p><strong>5. Where in Japan do you want to return to the most?</strong> – Since i’m going back to Hokkaido it’ll have to be Okinawa. i want to spend more time driving (i.e. being driven) along the coast and to visit Iriomote too. I think Yakushima is considered part of Kyushu, but i’d like to go there too. Okinawa food is amazing! </p> <p><strong>6. What was the most interesting/surprising thing about Japan?</strong> – The most interesting thing I think has to be the <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2010/05/phenomenally-educational-night-out.html">host boys</a> along the Dotonbori bridge. As for most surprising, perhaps that people queue to get on the trains, or that women use Otohime** in the toilets. However, many of the female students don’t know what Otohime is (the boys definitely dont know cos male toilets arent equipped with them), which i find even more surprising. </p> <p> </p> <p>and here are a few which i thought of:</p> <p><strong>7. What are some of the best places to visit?</strong> – I love Nara Park; now that I think of it, it’s most probably the place i’ve been to the most. <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2009/10/asuka-nara-prefecture.html">Asuka</a> in Nara Prefecture is great too, especially nearing autumn. I also especially recommend <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2009/05/taketomi-island-okinawa.html">Taketomi</a> island in Okinawa and <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2010/04/sakura-in-kamakura.html">Kamakura</a> in spring. other nice places to visit would be Miyajima, Koya-san (wakayama), Arashiyama in Kyoto and Hida-no-Sato in Takayama.</p> <p><strong>8. What are some of the most overrated places/events in Japan?</strong> – oooh. <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2010/04/yoshino-alternative-viewpoint.html">Yoshino</a> for sakura wins hands down; others include Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama (too crowded) and Matsushima Bay near Sendai (pretty but definitely not top 3 most scenic material). I’d include Harajuku too, though perhaps not for the first timer to Japan. As for events, Kyoto’s Daimonji is rubbish, and there’s this other fire festival in Nara (a side of the mountain is set alight) that i heard was a huge letdown too. i’m personally not a fan of festivals at all – too crowded, too hot and generally not all that enjoyable. Go once or twice and that’s enough!</p> <p><strong>9. What are the best things to do in Japan?</strong> – Go around the temples in autumn! it’s the most beautiful season in Japan, and temples often open till late for night illuminations. That said, go to all the illumination events there are: Kobe’s Illuminarie, Kyoto’s Higashimaya <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2009/03/kyoto-higashiyama-hanatouro-2009.html">Hanatouro</a>, Osaka’s <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-in-osaka.html">Nakanoshima Christmas Light up</a>, <a href="http://my-jet-experience.blogspot.com/2009/08/nara-to-kae-light-festival.html">Nara-to-kae</a>, etc. Try also to spend a night in a proper Japanese ryokan with a full kaiseki meal – you won’t regret the cost one bit. Sakura viewing is a must too, of course. </p> <p><strong>10. What will you miss the most about Japan?</strong> – The four seasons with their accompanying hype (eg crabs in winter, mango and pineapples in summer), seasonal Kit Kat, omurice, bukkake udon, delicious fried tofu, cheap and fresh sushi and widely available cocktails. For non-food related aspects (i’m making an effort here!) – buses and trains that’re usually on time, buses telling you what stop is coming up next and the convenience of combinis/vending machines.  Maybe also the presence of strange/interesting people on the street. </p> <p> </p> <p>What are some of your best ofs~? </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="2">*: i dont watch TV, but if I did, the show “The Best House, 1,2,3” would be top on my list of must-watch shows. each week, about 4 tv personalities present the Best (or most amazing, unbelievable, beautiful, etc) 3 things in a theme of their choice. Past themes include mosaics, transvestites, weight loss stories and inventions.</font></p> <p><font size="2">**: Otohime translates to ‘sound princess’. For some reason women in japan are uncomfortable having their toilet sounds overheard by other toilet users, and used to flush in order to cover those sounds. it was declared a waste of water and all toilets (except those in schools, train stations and Osaka City Hall) are now equipped with Otohime – you press a button (sometimes it’s automatic and hence really annoying) and a loud flushing sound will be played for about 25seconds.</font></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-569447526693811702010-07-14T17:50:00.001+08:002010-07-14T17:50:06.786+08:00thoughts on the nearing of the end<p>(this was actually triggered by the next post, so go read that one – it’s more interesting anyway!)</p> <p>it’s only slightly less than 3 weeks left till the end of this JET experience. i feel like i ought to get reflective on the past 2 years that i’ve spent in this country, but for some reason i’m not really thinking about much at all. </p> <p>for one, i’m not sure whether this will indeed be the end of Japan – i’m still interviewing for a job (note the ‘a’: jobs are hard to find here if you’re not interested in teaching, have no experience beyond JET and are less than highly fluent in Japanese) and if i succeed i’ll be coming back to Osaka really soon. </p> <p>also, the ‘T’ part of JET had more or less died a long time ago. I think i’ve tuned out the teaching aspect (or lack thereof) in order to maintain my sanity ever since the disillusionment started a little more than a year ago, so there won’t be any reflections on that count either. i’m happy to be done with teaching English in Japan; i don’t think i ever want to do it again (even taking on private students), although if i’m going home for good i do intend to set up some language exchange with one or two of the many Japanese people in Singapore. </p> <p>plus, i’m more than ready to move on to doing something different – teaching English here was challenging, in a way, but i’m looking forward to something that will push my limits in a good way; something that’ll develop new skills and hone existing ones. i want to do something that will keep me engaged and interested; i want to get that excitement and adrenaline from actually working and moving and thinking. </p> <p>perhaps i sound rather unhappy being on JET; that’s quite far from being the case though. the JET Programme is what gave me the chance to be here in the nice country that is Japan, in the wonderful city of Osaka – it’s what opened my eyes to so many sights and sounds and tastes.</p> <p>interestingly, i dont feel like i’ve learnt the most about Japan – of course i have discovered a lot about the country that can only be gleaned from being here, but ultimately Japan isn’t <em>that</em> culturally different from Singapore; the sociocultural quirks of Japan do not irk me half as much as they do some other JETs*. instead, JET has been more like my discovery of the ‘west’ and exposure to the greater world beyond – despite what some friends back home might think of me, i’m still terribly <strong><u>A</u></strong>sian when put beside someone who’d been brought up in the ‘west’. </p> <p>another huge reason why i’m not reflecting on these past 2 years in Japan is because to do so i will have to compare it to what life will be <u>after</u> this** – and the thought of that so far has mainly resulted in tears, sadness and horror. If i’m going back to Singapore, it’ll be back to living with the family again (*shudder*); either way it’s gonna be being oceans away from The Boy who’s also going home himself. “No problem shall be faced'/ Until the problem is”; i have taken Thom Gunn’s words to heart and am intent on spending the rest of my days here as a JET happily. </p> <p>perhaps i will do more reflection after i’ve left Japan!</p> <p> </p> <p><font size="2">*: often, i also wonder if Singaporeans might be just a little bit more adaptable to cultural differences too (i do know of several Singaporeans do certainly think so), in that we just don’t get so bothered about some things. for example, the Brit finds it rather perplexing that classrooms tend to have the curtains drawn and the artificial lights on, when it’s really nice and bright outside so the curtains should be open and the lights off instead. he can sometimes go mental in a classroom that’s like that. Him and some others also get really bothered by the extra bright lighting inside conbinis; to be honest i never noticed it until i heard them talking about it.</font> </p> <p><font size="2">**: of course i can and should also look at what life was <u>before</u> JET. now i have money, life in Japan is great and i love living alone – even if i werent one who doesn’t look back on things, there really isn’t much more to compare here!</font></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-37683435379765252802010-07-08T21:35:00.001+08:002010-07-08T21:35:17.797+08:00nagahama, shiga<p>i was in sendai for the past few days, but here’re some pictures from Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture from about a month ago. </p> <p>nagahama is famous for glass; this says “Nagahama Eki (station)”</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTW3xmziI/AAAAAAAAIGc/KiGCQPyR9k8/s1600-h/DSCF0002%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0002" border="0" alt="DSCF0002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTYIqjlFI/AAAAAAAAIGg/I5w302O_9UU/DSCF0002_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>i think the kanji for shiga is beautiful:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTYwcO3wI/AAAAAAAAIGk/gsHVi7Y9SAk/s1600-h/DSCF0003%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0003" border="0" alt="DSCF0003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTZke3oVI/AAAAAAAAIGo/IoTJfDGkcRw/DSCF0003_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>Nagahama Castle overlooking a park:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTacbiA2I/AAAAAAAAIGs/Zqfo5n8-hPg/s1600-h/DSCF0005%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0005" border="0" alt="DSCF0005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTbf27MtI/AAAAAAAAIGw/Qv5pvkU6-mw/DSCF0005_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTcIUNqjI/AAAAAAAAIG0/rK6dje9igow/s1600-h/DSCF0007%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0007" border="0" alt="DSCF0007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTcxYrb4I/AAAAAAAAIG4/6vOoMk5zv7U/DSCF0007_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p> i got a little carried away with pictures of this pretty stone lamp and Lake Biwa:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTdz__lGI/AAAAAAAAIG8/XfqH2rB3Fi4/s1600-h/DSCF0011%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0011" border="0" alt="DSCF0011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTelQkEII/AAAAAAAAIHA/DXLl9OnKCzM/DSCF0011_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTfWor2GI/AAAAAAAAIHE/q-6d3HM-_1Y/s1600-h/DSCF0012%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0012" border="0" alt="DSCF0012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTgFtHn0I/AAAAAAAAIHI/h-YFw-zXwpY/DSCF0012_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXThAbj9pI/AAAAAAAAIHM/Q1neynOTI3g/s1600-h/DSCF0016%20%282%29%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0016 (2)" border="0" alt="DSCF0016 (2)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTiF33mGI/AAAAAAAAIHQ/p3Dhq4KTIEk/DSCF0016%20%282%29_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>Lake Biwa is pretty from afar, but really dirty and gross up close:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTi4URbTI/AAAAAAAAIHU/c_JI6AG2QvM/s1600-h/DSCF0014%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0014" border="0" alt="DSCF0014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTj-JYCBI/AAAAAAAAIHY/ATCaWYkCuIw/DSCF0014_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>cool glass design at the station:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTknOI77I/AAAAAAAAIHc/3UhaJouvCQo/s1600-h/DSCF0019%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0019" border="0" alt="DSCF0019" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTlkdfL-I/AAAAAAAAIHg/p51MFMwBN9s/DSCF0019_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="361" /></a> </p> <p>kawaii!:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTmZH49gI/AAAAAAAAIHk/gvl7pxcCgoA/s1600-h/DSCF0021%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0021" border="0" alt="DSCF0021" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTnEylpUI/AAAAAAAAIHo/ZVRcCJJEpdw/DSCF0021_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>the corner of Kurokabe Square and the main shotengai:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXToK9IGmI/AAAAAAAAIHs/AHZ4EDN4FNw/s1600-h/DSCF0023%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0023" border="0" alt="DSCF0023" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTpHZu3tI/AAAAAAAAIHw/jDERk5zjw_E/DSCF0023_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>Awesome stuff – i’m gonna watch kabuki this saturday, and i’m pretty excited about it:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTp3TZ4BI/AAAAAAAAIH0/4DwrFENNI5Q/s1600-h/DSCF0024%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0024" border="0" alt="DSCF0024" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTqgM8dcI/AAAAAAAAIH4/uXUHaH7-Qmo/DSCF0024_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>pretty glass studio:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTreDbYVI/AAAAAAAAIH8/e06NRFCPIyg/s1600-h/DSCF0025%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0025" border="0" alt="DSCF0025" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTr8tLnTI/AAAAAAAAIIA/V6mQvMFzJYE/DSCF0025_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>this was rather cool:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTswct-vI/AAAAAAAAIIE/ocOZqJ8yDqk/s1600-h/DSCF0026%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0026" border="0" alt="DSCF0026" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTtnIkFwI/AAAAAAAAIII/6R6HsxzGsW0/DSCF0026_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTuP01BoI/AAAAAAAAIIM/s4_rS2EYIJo/s1600-h/DSCF0028%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0028" border="0" alt="DSCF0028" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTvM_EGMI/AAAAAAAAIIQ/16HlEAJgiEY/DSCF0028_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>i dont really know what this sculpture was meant to be about – it’s a kitsune in some strange looking sack thingy, which reminds me a little of those body suits some japanese comedians wear on tv:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTv0iqW_I/AAAAAAAAIIU/PXwZr16-k08/s1600-h/DSCF0031%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0031" border="0" alt="DSCF0031" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTw0rB16I/AAAAAAAAIIY/KCM1FrohU8Y/DSCF0031_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>tranquil sights:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTxvC2ZJI/AAAAAAAAIIc/jXvn2Kuh3sA/s1600-h/DSCF0034%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0034" border="0" alt="DSCF0034" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTypDccJI/AAAAAAAAIIg/BPLq5ZykWEk/DSCF0034_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXTzZZOHfI/AAAAAAAAIIk/RKsPbgsfczc/s1600-h/DSCF0035%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0035" border="0" alt="DSCF0035" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT0LSwiqI/AAAAAAAAIIo/C35nkbZVnwM/DSCF0035_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="361" /></a></p> <p>i visited the biggest temple in the main town square area; there were students there on a school excursion, and the most life-like dragon carving i’ve seen so far:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT07YW5WI/AAAAAAAAIIs/O4YmEtmtsK8/s1600-h/DSCF0038%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0038" border="0" alt="DSCF0038" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT1-KJzHI/AAAAAAAAIIw/hH1CTUxVHNQ/DSCF0038_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT2lCKVWI/AAAAAAAAII0/cjVm2Ms91sU/s1600-h/DSCF0040%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0040" border="0" alt="DSCF0040" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT3fxqCII/AAAAAAAAII4/ygfE0ydR-wE/DSCF0040_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT4WEHKvI/AAAAAAAAII8/MEcwWc8FwiM/s1600-h/DSCF0041%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0041" border="0" alt="DSCF0041" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT5LALmkI/AAAAAAAAIJA/TWAQmXzHVsY/DSCF0041_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT51IKHgI/AAAAAAAAIJE/LDGE3H6AioE/s1600-h/DSCF0042%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0042" border="0" alt="DSCF0042" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT67xan4I/AAAAAAAAIJI/rkYs_QtJv1A/DSCF0042_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>there’s a giant kaleidoscope in Nagahama; Nagahama is meant to be the most popular tourist destination in Shiga too:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT7pvyDCI/AAAAAAAAIJM/u9VQeo6aHmM/s1600-h/DSCF0048%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0048" border="0" alt="DSCF0048" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT8obdEYI/AAAAAAAAIJQ/7nAR1VAcTaI/DSCF0048_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT9flLibI/AAAAAAAAIJU/DTxCe0ksjy0/s1600-h/DSCF0044%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0044" border="0" alt="DSCF0044" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT-Ar73eI/AAAAAAAAIJY/WvJ4XCVxa7A/DSCF0044_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>there were some strange statues, sculptures and a stalls in the area surrounding the kaleidoscope too:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT-0mx2lI/AAAAAAAAIJc/subbTkPPGkQ/s1600-h/DSCF0045%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0045" border="0" alt="DSCF0045" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXT_hq2iYI/AAAAAAAAIJg/yqDt4yupPKg/DSCF0045_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXUAr6fIoI/AAAAAAAAIJk/ap3j0w7CIUU/s1600-h/DSCF0047%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0047" border="0" alt="DSCF0047" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXUBWJxD6I/AAAAAAAAIJo/DBZoQ3KMOoA/DSCF0047_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXUCUKXkMI/AAAAAAAAIJs/aYIHdCgsK8c/s1600-h/DSCF0054%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0054" border="0" alt="DSCF0054" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXUDB_zwWI/AAAAAAAAIJ0/HgrH2b4N1ug/DSCF0054_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>i really liked the side of this building too:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXUEX58FPI/AAAAAAAAIJ4/8WxTXNF7kNM/s1600-h/DSCF0064%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0064" border="0" alt="DSCF0064" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TDXUFJsb1yI/AAAAAAAAIJ8/B_k1m3KNjN4/DSCF0064_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>the verdict is that Nagahama is quite a nice place to head to for a short daytrip, although it’s definitely not on the list of must go places, as there really isn’t that much to see. It apparently can get a little busy on weekends; it certainly wasn’t <em>empty</em> when i was there on a weekday. The glass goods there aren’t that varied (i think there were more in Takayama), and if you’ve been in Japan long enough, most of the ‘japanese souvenirs’ there wouldnt be too different from what you’ve seen elsewhere in Kyoto, for example. </p> <p>Nagahama’s rather pretty though, and if you find yourself wanting to visit Shiga – like i was – it’s certainly not a bad choice! </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-85683621921447136002010-07-04T20:27:00.001+08:002010-07-04T20:27:47.202+08:00moving from japan – shipping and softbank<p>i’m finally, and somewhat belatedly, starting to get ready to relocate – where exactly i’m relocating to i’m not sure yet. but seeing as i definitely have to move house, preparations have begun, and what i’ve discovered is somewhat disappointing. </p> <p>firstly, <strong>shipping</strong>. the cheapest option is still, of course, the post office. Japan Post has this SAL option where items are shipped via surface mail domestically but via airmail between countries. it’s faster than seamail but cheaper than airmail – 2 weeks for SAL compared to 2 months for seamail to Singapore, and only 5000yen more! </p> <p>unfortunately, the post office doesnt do pick-ups from your house. which means that you either have to call a delivery service to send your items to the post office – how you’re gonna pay for the shipping in that case i’m not sure, but that’s what the post office pple suggested – or you bring them there on your own. </p> <p>i’d suggest not bothering with those larger moving/shipping companies, as all who’ve responded so far have told me that the amount i want to ship is way below their minimum shipping volume. in other words, because i’m not moving my entire house per se, they’re gonna be much more expensive than the post office. </p> <p>PAKMAIL is a moving company that advertises in Kansai Scene. They don’t provide boxes and are slightly more expensive than the post office, but they have pick-up service from your house for a charge. they have English services, but i’m still not sure whether i’ll choose them over the post office. we shall see about that i suppose. </p> <p>now, for my <strong>softbank</strong> mobile phoneline. i’m rather annoyed by them actually, as i have to go down to a softbank shop – note that yodobashi camera and big camera aren’t allowed – personally to cancel my phoneline. the day that i go down to the shop is the day that i cancel my phoneline, because i have to return my SIM card to them. </p> <p>i find that really dumb cos it’s not like they dont have the capabilities to lock my SIM card and prevent me from using the softbank service past a certain date. i mean, people cancel phonelines all the time back home, and i’ve never ever heard of them having to go down personally to a shop to cancel it, without being able to choose a date of cancellation in advance. </p> <p>plus, i’m cancelling my internet before i leave, so my phone is my only means of communication with anyone once my internet is gone. yet, in this day and age where everyone in the developed world is so highly connected, softbank is forcing me to be disconnected from others by making me cancel my phoneline before i actually leave japan. </p> <p>gah. i’m so not looking forward to deal with these kind of little annoying things in the last few days before i leave japan, when all i want to do is to relax and enjoy the last of my time here. especially when these things, really, shouldnt be so troublesome and such a hassle to settle. and im going to be totally uncontactable sometime in the day of the 1st of August, so if you want to say goodbye, please do so before then. </p> <p>**** softbank. </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-82571738879332305502010-06-30T21:30:00.001+08:002010-06-30T21:33:25.450+08:00out and about<p>i can say that i’ve sat on all the subway lines in Osaka, after I took the orange Imasato-line the other day. i find it a rather obscure line as it goes from Imasato – one stop east of Tsuruhashi – to somewhere north of the Yodogawa. it’s a very new train line though, and i was quite taken in by how clean and new the station and train looked:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtG6DxmRLI/AAAAAAAAIF0/zz5np2p4ZBE/s1600-h/Photo-0035%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Photo-0035" border="0" alt="Photo-0035" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtG7uPMNBI/AAAAAAAAIF4/gw0jIS37EVo/Photo-0035_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="409" /></a> </p> <p>i was happy to see this on the door of the handicapped toilet, with the lower sign stating that anyone is welcome to use the facilities. i find that most people in Japan are unwilling to use toilets for disabled people, and will stand in a long, long line for the regular toilets even though there might be a vacant cubicle for disabled people nearby. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtG89jbbcI/AAAAAAAAIF8/kjknMiyPD4I/s1600-h/Photo-0034%20%282%29%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Photo-0034 (2)" border="0" alt="Photo-0034 (2)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtG9rdjhII/AAAAAAAAIGA/hy1ok8d6ZTg/Photo-0034%20%282%29_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>i also spotted an advertisement for the ECC language school, with 2 of the creepiest gaijin men i’ve ever seen:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtG-qSopiI/AAAAAAAAIGE/RTxBwdFZzwg/s1600-h/Photo-0037%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Photo-0037" border="0" alt="Photo-0037" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtG_QD16cI/AAAAAAAAIGI/DlPeorHpVNk/Photo-0037_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>i wonder if Beat Takeshi even speaks a word of english? </p> <p>anyhow, the janitors at my school were plucking these little berries off the shrubs the other day – they had a bowl full of them, and offered me one:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtHACNWhZI/AAAAAAAAIGM/WWF58gd-xis/s1600-h/Photo-0038%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Photo-0038" border="0" alt="Photo-0038" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtHAsh2g9I/AAAAAAAAIGQ/qwW-uFCEN7w/Photo-0038_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="307" /></a> </p> <p>they’re apparently called <em>yama momo</em>, or mountain peach, and are sourish with a seed inside:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtHBZY9x4I/AAAAAAAAIGU/t9msqb9pthM/s1600-h/Photo-0040%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Photo-0040" border="0" alt="Photo-0040" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCtHCPoG97I/AAAAAAAAIGY/bv4N4N2y170/Photo-0040_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="299" /></a> </p> <p>i’m very impressed by the flowers and shrubs that are grown in school. i never really noticed those shrubs before i saw the janitors plucking these fruits off them that day, and i love how we get daffodils, hydrangeas, tulips and a variety of other flowers depending on the time of year. One type of flower blooms, and then it fades, and then another type goes into bloom again – it’s lovely to be able to appreciate one variety at one time. </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-73213259916601196372010-06-30T21:13:00.001+08:002010-06-30T21:13:04.975+08:00Blue Samurais<p>it’s still slightly unbelievable that I stayed up till 2am last night to watch Japan play against Paraguay in what was nothing but a disappointing match all round. </p> <p>deciding who wins based on penalties is painful and awful, but frankly i’m less disappointed by the fact that Japan is out of the World Cup than i am by their poor playing. both teams were bad, but it was highly frustrating seeing Japan play exactly the same way as they did in their past matches, with all the same flaws. </p> <p>everyone on facebook has been posting really positive status updates, saying that Japan did really well and they tried their best and they played a great match and so on – which i find really puzzling. </p> <p>really - dangerous and reckless tackles (Endo, did you really need to get a 2nd yellow card which would have made you miss the quarter finals had Japan won?), poor poor passing, the constant lobbing of a high long ball that <em>bounces</em> into nowhere and towards no one in particular (except perhaps the opposing team’s player), insistence in passing towards a heavily guarded player in the centre when there’s a free man at the wing, the numerous times they lost possession of the ball when they really shouldnt have – how can anyone call that doing a good job or playing good football? </p> <p>i’ve never watched much football till this year, but just by seeing some of the other teams play, it’s pretty obvious that Japan isn’t quite in the same league as some of the rest are. It didnt help that the referee was really inconsistent in his free kicks and yellow cards – i really think a bad tackle deserves a yellow card more than an accidental handball – but well. there’s no one for me to support in the World Cup anymore, and no Beckham to catch glimpses of either. </p> <p>maybe i’ll cheer for Germany now. </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-48882809202959552672010-06-27T15:00:00.001+08:002010-06-27T15:00:36.461+08:00YAYYYYYYYY!~<p>I’m not much of a soccer fan, but boy am i glad that the two teams that i was rooting for to <u><strong>NOT</strong></u> get into the next stage have been knocked out of the world cup. </p> <p>woohoo! </p> <p>well done, uruguay and ghana! </p> <p><img src="http://scrapetv.com/News/News Pages/Everyone Else/images/Flag-of-uruguay.png" width="138" height="93" />  <img src="http://www.funbumperstickers.com/images/ghana_flag_wave2.jpg" width="94" height="92" /></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-79902394478888022010-06-26T18:58:00.001+08:002010-06-26T18:58:10.503+08:00good public behaviour<p>japan has a series of posters educating people on what is good public behaviour. most of those that i’ve seen are </p> <p>with regard to the inconsiderate nature of smoking, but here’s something interesting:</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCXdI1JiqNI/AAAAAAAAIFk/GPyAZ9zPOX8/s1600-h/DSCF0015%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0015" border="0" alt="DSCF0015" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCXdLYIqiCI/AAAAAAAAIFo/t6vavhITNOk/DSCF0015_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="411" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>here’s another sign on JR trains that i’ve only spotted recently:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCXdNbuVQoI/AAAAAAAAIFs/6RAyHv4qCq8/s1600-h/DSCF0066%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0066" border="0" alt="DSCF0066" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TCXdQBtp35I/AAAAAAAAIFw/0KfQklzSd9Y/DSCF0066_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-61146625332924678142010-06-18T23:09:00.001+08:002010-06-18T23:09:05.035+08:00words of caution<p>it’s one week into world cup season, and unfortunately after the first few matches – south africa-mexico, england-usa, japan-cameroon and brazil-north korea (which i couldnt watch) – my interest has died somewhat. still, i’ve seen more football this year than i ever have in four lifetimes combined, so i’d actually consider it something of an achievement! </p> <p>i spotted this in Family Mart the other day, and it looks really tempting but i’m not sure i dare to try:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBuL_QOk73I/AAAAAAAAIFM/Y3Wh5y3pEyY/s1600-h/Photo-0032%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Photo-0032" border="0" alt="Photo-0032" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBuMAOrBZwI/AAAAAAAAIFQ/CWSdyziUVZE/Photo-0032_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="377" /></a> </p> <p>curry in japan is very mild – i always buy the hottest available (大辛)at the supermarket, but most of them still have hardly any spice. I’ve had <strong>LEE 20 </strong>and it’s indeed spicy; enough so that my nose drips a little and i need a drink with my meal – proper spice :) i’m scared of this LEE 30 however, since LEE 20 is just within comfort level; any spicier and i don’t think i’ll be able to enjoy it anymore. </p> <p>if anyone tries this, please tell me how it went down! </p> <p>I also picked up two very attractive looking drinks at that same family mart:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBuMBHAXIZI/AAAAAAAAIFU/SyKWACfQhFE/s1600-h/Photo-0035%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Photo-0035" border="0" alt="Photo-0035" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBuMCR7oJtI/AAAAAAAAIFY/DaXOUHYdlK0/Photo-0035_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="354" /></a>  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBuMDFxx29I/AAAAAAAAIFc/LdJTRA16ARY/s1600-h/Photo-0034%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Photo-0034" border="0" alt="Photo-0034" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBuMDwpqpTI/AAAAAAAAIFg/ODcitk9tuPA/Photo-0034_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="274" height="360" /></a> </p> <p>unfortunately, they were <strong>very disappointing</strong>! i didnt realise that the former had apple juice in it – see the tiny words on the bottom left corner – but no matter what, the drink tasted more like liquid watermelon bubblegum than real watermelon juice; supremely sweet and artificial. that coming from a sugar-loving person too! despite what the little boy on the packet claims, it’s definitely NOT the drink for summer. </p> <p>as for the mango and pineapple flavoured tea.. japan has lots of fruit-flavoured tea drinks. my favourite are apple tea, peach tea and orange tea – they’re really nice cold, and lipton and just tea (i think that’s the brand) do good ones. i think that some fruits just dont go well with tea though – mango and pineapple being two of them, with pink grapefruit (which i tried several days ago) being another. it was a little too sweet too; cloying and not refreshing like proper cold, fruit-flavoured teas should be. it’s a pity, because i love the mango-pineapple combination in other drinks! </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-79211420484991957882010-06-16T19:42:00.001+08:002010-06-16T19:52:05.616+08:00weather forecast<p>in case one wasnt aware that tsuyu - the japanese rainy season - is here, the week’s forecast from friday makes it all too clear:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBi4kVX1goI/AAAAAAAAIFE/KG_hMTQEN28/s1600-h/weather%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="weather" border="0" alt="weather" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TBi4lNb027I/AAAAAAAAIFI/igCNezNGmwo/weather_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="134" /></a> </p> <p>help! </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-29152029761836142582010-06-11T14:49:00.001+08:002010-06-11T14:49:56.656+08:002 hours<p>that’s how long i’d spent at JTB today. </p> <p>it has been a frustrating experience trying to book tickets for my flight home. and i’d typed out a nice, long, ranty post – worthy of the 2 hours i’d waited – recounting the emails that were never replied, phonecalls that were never returned and broken promises by travel agents to get back to me, but lost it all just now when something happened to my computer. </p> <p>the complaints are out of my system now, at least, and tickets have been booked. i still dont understand why my BOE gave me the contact information which they did, but well. </p> <p>the JET journey ends 2nd August, via Singapore Airlines* which started the experience. </p> <p>let’s enjoy what’s left of the time in Japan. </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="2">*: i’m surprised i actually managed to get tickets on SIA; when i checked online, the only flights within the price range i was given was malaysia airlines :P </font></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-14767220024314648242010-06-08T17:21:00.000+08:002010-05-08T17:23:20.111+08:00Sayonara book sale<p>A few of us are getting together to sell our books as we’re leaving Japan – used English books are from 300yen each! Books for Japanese study are available too. </p> <p>Do take a look if you’re in Japan: <a title="http://sayonarabooksale.blogspot.com/" href="http://sayonarabooksale.blogspot.com/">http://sayonarabooksale.blogspot.com/</a> </p> <p>More books will be added as we go along, so do check every now and then and spread the word! </p>starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-44511110101778087582010-06-07T20:08:00.001+08:002010-06-07T20:08:31.043+08:00slacking off..<p>i somehow found this rather amusing</p> <p> </p> <a href="http://myfoodlooksfunny.com/2010/05/28/funny-food-photos-strawberry-star/"><img title="funny food photos - I Always Knew I Could Be a Star" alt="funny food photos - I Always Knew I Could Be a Star" src="http://myfoodlooksfunny.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/129193032387927504.jpg" width="374" height="390" /></a> <br /><a href="http://myfoodlooksfunny.com"></a> <p> </p> <p>and this fairly disturbing.. </p> <p> </p> <a href="http://myfoodlooksfunny.com/2010/06/04/funny-food-photos-mylittlepony-meat/"><img title="funny food photos - No! Not a Desert Rose Sammich!" alt="funny food photos - No! Not a Desert Rose Sammich!" src="http://myfoodlooksfunny.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/129186718358240590.jpg" /></a> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-90790716278033830392010-06-06T15:16:00.001+08:002010-06-06T15:16:23.323+08:00sigh<p>it’s one of those times where i’m longing for the safe, comfortable embrace of home. </p> <p>home is where i understand the jokes and the sense of humour. where people are a little more restrained when ragging others about stuff. where people seem to be a bit more sensitive towards the limits of others and moderate their behaviour and attitudes accordingly. where everyone else shares more or less the same socio-cultural norms as i do. where i roll my eyes at lame jokes, rather than feeling myself reach the limit (and i think i have a fairly high tolerance too) of enduring dirty (ie, sexual) humour. where people don’t seem to feel the need to play the fool or adopt a strong ‘public persona’ to get others to laugh with them; where there isn’t such a huge pressure to appear ‘cool’ in order to be accepted. </p> <p>i’m just feeling so worn out from some of the superficial and foreign interactions that i’m experiencing here. it’s unfortunate and hard to believe that it’s almost 2 years now, yet i haven’t gotten used to some of the things that go on around me. </p> <p>if only i could fly back for a few days, meet up with a few friends, pull the blanket of familiarity snug around me like armour and return here, recharged, renewed and ready to take on whatever else is thrown my way. </p> <p>しかし、できへんなぁ。このまま頑張ることしかない。たった短い2ヶ月しか残ってなくて、大事にするべきなのに・・・帰りたくないけど、本当に帰りたい気持ちもある。この1年半、2年間、一体何のためだったんだろう?</p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-68753231541163853662010-06-03T22:21:00.001+08:002010-06-03T22:21:02.858+08:00hikone and castle, shiga<p>i’ve been to shiga twice before – once as part of an english summer camp, and the other for my translation/interpretation course – but never had the chance to sightsee in the prefecture. </p> <p>i made my way to hikone, the town famous for Hikone Castle, one of the few original remaining castles left in japan (most of them, like the garish Osaka Castle, were all rebuilt, and some fairly recently too). </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5wjm6U9I/AAAAAAAAIBs/kLciuKtTQeQ/s1600-h/DSCF0080%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0080" border="0" alt="DSCF0080" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5xcCBfvI/AAAAAAAAIBw/H2jJl-RuFbs/DSCF0080_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>And the castle pretty much is the only thing in the town worth seeing. Hikone seemed really quiet; i was there around 3.30pm but there was hardly anyone (much less tourists) about. Most of the people I saw were students jogging around the castle’s moat. </p> <p>just outside Hikone JR station, you’ll first come across this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5yDAg1dI/AAAAAAAAIB0/d7xlLYPdWHI/s1600-h/DSCF0069%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0069" border="0" alt="DSCF0069" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5y8-33vI/AAAAAAAAIB4/uSgiKnqzkp0/DSCF0069_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>note the really cute miniature model of the castle, and the samurai’s helmet, whose look i assume is what Hikonyan, the uber cute mascot of Hikone, is based on:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5zW-vQqI/AAAAAAAAIB8/Km8NAN6LpV0/s1600-h/DSCF0068%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0068" border="0" alt="DSCF0068" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe50OE0-hI/AAAAAAAAICA/5YRxWpYXGEg/DSCF0068_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe50_7v77I/AAAAAAAAICE/F1qQFck6hZc/s1600-h/DSCF0071%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0071" border="0" alt="DSCF0071" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe51az1BXI/AAAAAAAAICI/U5xFtEQDXSc/DSCF0071_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>see the cat figure on the right of Hikonyan? he’s one of the sidekicks; the tourist information office below the station sells cups featuring each member of the Hikonyan + sidekicks crew! i’d always thought that Hikonyan was a solo act. </p> <p>just before entering the castle compound, i came across this shrine which had an uncommon feature:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe52MlnfyI/AAAAAAAAICM/H9RgJRw4LNA/s1600-h/DSCF0073%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0073" border="0" alt="DSCF0073" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe52mxQClI/AAAAAAAAICQ/4SSPLF8PcCk/DSCF0073_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a>  </p> <p>there was a little corner dedicated to peace statues and memorials – i’ve seen a fair number of these in various temples and shrines, but they’re usually just a simple plaque like the one in the following picture or a bell; never have they ever featured a human face of war. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe53eftHJI/AAAAAAAAICU/LGDU1AlX0jk/s1600-h/DSCF0074%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0074" border="0" alt="DSCF0074" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe53_Lz-HI/AAAAAAAAICY/ZdwoZ-Oa128/DSCF0074_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe54ujm0ZI/AAAAAAAAICc/9YAPFE-55xQ/s1600-h/DSCF0072%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0072" border="0" alt="DSCF0072" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe55U111KI/AAAAAAAAICg/QJb1J8Io2h0/DSCF0072_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>Hikonyan is there to greet you right outside the castle’s admission ticket booths. this is my favourite position of his:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe55012LnI/AAAAAAAAICk/W1biSG6VVc0/s1600-h/DSCF0076%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0076" border="0" alt="DSCF0076" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe56vFtrqI/AAAAAAAAICo/me03hN-3_bc/DSCF0076_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>some pics of the castle’s exterior:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe57fODM2I/AAAAAAAAICs/8c7HxVPMeVw/s1600-h/DSCF0088%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0088" border="0" alt="DSCF0088" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe58cb0SPI/AAAAAAAAICw/aO8nsJohUto/DSCF0088_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe59HzdS1I/AAAAAAAAIC0/18CIqtf30Uo/s1600-h/DSCF0078%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0078" border="0" alt="DSCF0078" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe59jMJD0I/AAAAAAAAIC4/y1ZPw6YFhNY/DSCF0078_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5-H5wiGI/AAAAAAAAIC8/o9saJ1IyXHc/s1600-h/DSCF0082%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0082" border="0" alt="DSCF0082" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5-3evytI/AAAAAAAAIDA/cg3nbimOJTk/DSCF0082_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="349" /></a> </p> <p>the view from just outside the castle – i heard a guide telling a trio of ladies that you can see lake biwa from where we were, but i spotted no sign of it:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe5_qKR5kI/AAAAAAAAIDE/8t6lJVlSbI8/s1600-h/DSCF0083%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0083" border="0" alt="DSCF0083" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6AUqnVVI/AAAAAAAAIDI/QV0NXfU9mbI/DSCF0083_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6BJLA_YI/AAAAAAAAIDM/24dDijjQJ-M/s1600-h/DSCF0084%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0084" border="0" alt="DSCF0084" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6BhRDjWI/AAAAAAAAIDQ/nR4FD3pycEA/DSCF0084_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>ruins of a wall – can you spot the kitty?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6Cczi3ZI/AAAAAAAAIDU/2QzzPH4LOpo/s1600-h/DSCF0086%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0086" border="0" alt="DSCF0086" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6DGHSDQI/AAAAAAAAIDY/j8-xz9jNhSM/DSCF0086_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>Hikone castle is surprisingly small. It was only 3 stories high, and not very spacious either. It looks a lot bigger than it actually is, as you have to climb up some fairly steep steps before reaching the inner castle grounds. Inside the castle are some of the steepest and narrowest flights of stairs i’ve ever seen too:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6D-9acLI/AAAAAAAAIDc/fdEgc2MSooQ/s1600-h/DSCF0091%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0091" border="0" alt="DSCF0091" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6ERUdxcI/AAAAAAAAIDg/8scqyCRn-s4/DSCF0091_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6FLnRZNI/AAAAAAAAIDk/voufYNoLpi8/s1600-h/DSCF0093%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0093" border="0" alt="DSCF0093" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6FhICoDI/AAAAAAAAIDo/i-VjzQh-dyI/DSCF0093_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>i was a little nervous as i took the above shot. if you’ve been to himeji castle and thought that the stairs were bad, these are far worse. good thing there’re only a few of them; i still wouldnt recommend Hikone castle for people my parent's age though.. </p> <p>adjacent to the castle is Genkyu-en, a pretty little garden that is meant to contain the 8 scenic spots of Lake Biwa in the form of rock formations. I couldnt identify any – mainly cos i dont know what the 8 spots are, besides Hikone Castle – but it made a pleasant enough stroll. Admission to the garden is in the same ticket as that to the castle, so it’s very much worth seeing. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6GQ7hygI/AAAAAAAAIDs/ImReD0bfyhE/s1600-h/DSCF0096%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0096" border="0" alt="DSCF0096" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6G_YbnLI/AAAAAAAAIDw/oPXycPUmdvg/DSCF0096_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6HpEnfgI/AAAAAAAAID0/CqCx9knSaS0/s1600-h/DSCF0094%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0094" border="0" alt="DSCF0094" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6IS6VKPI/AAAAAAAAID4/-5ZC2vCQpE4/DSCF0094_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6JDxJFjI/AAAAAAAAID8/qC9J1nhRyE8/s1600-h/DSCF0095%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0095" border="0" alt="DSCF0095" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6JygNQzI/AAAAAAAAIEA/vy7B7qnJCh4/DSCF0095_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>there was this interesting bridge made entirely out of reeds; most bridges i’ve seen here are either wooden, concrete or stone:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6KslzyOI/AAAAAAAAIEE/tnC7Rpt12OE/s1600-h/DSCF0097%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0097" border="0" alt="DSCF0097" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6LOXiaqI/AAAAAAAAIEI/wq9RdA4WaTw/DSCF0097_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>more views of the garden – the sun was out that day, and the foliage looked to me almost exactly the same colour as they’ve turned out in the pictures!:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6LwT8ipI/AAAAAAAAIEM/ORLCjMJ8gdE/s1600-h/DSCF0098%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0098" border="0" alt="DSCF0098" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6MvxNX3I/AAAAAAAAIEQ/2htHcMq8rBg/DSCF0098_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6NUatvGI/AAAAAAAAIEU/8El4PLVIeas/s1600-h/DSCF0099%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0099" border="0" alt="DSCF0099" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6OJP5tWI/AAAAAAAAIEY/RSeTk-JgQpA/DSCF0099_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>heading out from the castle’s main gate, you will come across Yume Kyobashi - a stretch of touristy but traditional-looking shops on both sides of a road leading out from the castle’s main gate. Guidebooks might recommend it, but I’d suggest you skip that bit entirely, as the shops arent as interesting as those you can find anywhere else near tourist attractions in Japan, and that it requires a detour away from the train station. </p> <p>i saw an interesting sign along that street though:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6OkHm2YI/AAAAAAAAIEc/7jU2QRZ06jk/s1600-h/DSCF0101%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0101" border="0" alt="DSCF0101" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6PV5d7wI/AAAAAAAAIEg/mKzPo5wEYhs/DSCF0101_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>the area around Yume Kyobashi seems to have been revitalised recently; there was a plaque with the tagline “New Old Town”. Indeed there were some pretty and new buildings; some sections even seemed un-japanese, with european-style beautiful signs hanging perpendicular to the building above the shop. </p> <p>i suppose the area is nice enough to wander around in, but it’s a bit harder to navigate as it doesnt have any T-junctions. Roads come up straight against a row of buildings, so you can never see where you’re going beyond what’s perhaps 50-100m ahead of you - “unique characteristics of a castle town”, as a sign informed me, without actually pointing me in the direction of the train station :P </p> <p>that little wander (and getting lost) around Yume Kyobashi yielded me this – i find signs in Japan a mixture of the funny and slightly disturbing:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6QGZ89oI/AAAAAAAAIEk/cIGrH-Ed5Zs/s1600-h/DSCF0103%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0103" border="0" alt="DSCF0103" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6QwpcwpI/AAAAAAAAIEs/r9VRUUvERsw/DSCF0103_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a> </p> <p>as well as a photo-op of Hikonyan and two of his ultra cute sidekicks in a shop window:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6RhPbB2I/AAAAAAAAIEw/Ciw9yLlCM0g/s1600-h/DSCF0104%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0104" border="0" alt="DSCF0104" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6SCF6AGI/AAAAAAAAIE0/Rp17U2dVF_I/DSCF0104_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a> </p> <p>i think Hikonyan is the cutest ever Japanese mascot, and his friends pack a pretty punch too. now, if only the mascot i see the most – Sento-kun – was half as appealing as Hikonyan…. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6SlRvQoI/AAAAAAAAIE4/M_lDrIFz6q8/s1600-h/DSCF0102%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0102" border="0" alt="DSCF0102" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAe6Tcgok0I/AAAAAAAAIE8/URdN3-kabrk/DSCF0102_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="364" /></a></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-62153442689012582902010-06-01T20:28:00.001+08:002010-06-01T20:28:34.982+08:00job hunting<p>i stumbled upon this ridiculous job advertisement the other day, and wonder if there’s anyone who would actually fit those requirements AND would be willing to work for such miniscule pay:</p> <blockquote> <p><b>Job Vacancy Description:</b> </p> <p>Document Checker with Korean/Japanese/Manadarin/Cantonese </p> <p> <br />1 Week Booking (start 18/1/10) <br />£9-11 per hour <br />9am-6pm <br />City of London, Central London </p> <p> <br />THE ROLE <br />My client is a specialist data recovery and court services provider and requires someone with excellent proficiency in Korean, Japanese AND Cantonese/Mandarin to assist them with identifying the origination of 17,000 documents for various court cases. </p> <p> <br />Get in touch asap if you are proficient with all these languages and can start immediately!</p> </blockquote> <p>i mean, really, you want someone with “excellent proficiency” in three languages BESIDES english, and all you’re offering is a part-time job paying ONLY double the minimum wage? people with such good language skills arent going to be just sitting around doing nothing you know – they’re gonna be working in a far higher paying job! </p> <p>and i bet that vacancy is available only to people who already have the right to work in the UK, as if most pple fluent in the three east-asian languages are gonna be EU citizens, or just happen to be studying/have studied in the UK. </p> <p>i wonder who will be the person to fill that opening. </p> <p align="center">*  *  * </p> <p align="left">i also came across this other advertisement for a Japanese-speaking nanny. the job description isn’t ridiculous, but i wonder at how extremely well-off the family that’s hiring is, and what they did to become so rich:</p> <blockquote> <p align="left">“This family is looking for a Japanese nanny to care for their children. The nanny <em>will work alongside another nanny</em>, in the care of <em>4 children</em> of 5, 4, 2 years old and a baby of 9 months. This could be a live out or a live in position. The accomodation offered is <em>own room, en suite bathroom and kitchenette</em>. Only nursery duties required, no cleaning since <em>the family has 2 cleaners</em>. The position starts as soon as possible. Salary offered is £8-10net per hour. The ideal candidate should have health and safety knowledge, be able to establish a routine and be professional.”</p> </blockquote> <p align="left">oh my goodness. own ensuite room PLUS kitchenette? just for a nanny? and two cleaners, one nanny and looking for another nanny?!? </p> <p align="left">sugoi!</p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-61580720124396774022010-05-30T15:18:00.001+08:002010-05-30T15:22:03.991+08:00what i will miss..<p>… when i leave japan, are all the amazing food places that i’ve been to while here. eating is a huge hobby of mine; while i come from a country that has lots of good and cheap food, i dont think i’ve ever eaten as well as i do in japan. </p> <p>it’s probably because this is my first job - and a well-paying one too – that i have the opportunity to just spend money on food. but apart from the cheap ticket-vending-machine places and the japanese-style (和風)pasta joints (they’re just not to my taste), i havent really had bad food in japan. </p> <p>i also find that more effort is put into preparing and serving food in japan. there’s also more fresh ingredients; japan has many cheap italian places too, unlike singapore – i’ve discovered that i love italian food. not to mention indian curry restaurants (i eat more indian food here than back home) and all those marvellous cafes. </p> <p>i want to introduce two places i really like – Marylebone Cafe and Kobe Ninnikuya Restaurant:</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">*  *  * </p> <p align="left"><strong><u>Marylebone Cafe</u></strong></p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="left">English-style cafes are fairly popular in japan, and there are many dotted around osaka. my favourite is Marylebone, because there’s one near my house at Noda station (hanshin line)/ Nodahanshin subway station. </p> <p align="left">Marylebone has very delicious cakes, big sandwiches and good coffee served in huge cups – i’ve seen soup served in smaller cups than those used here:</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAIRJRFWWwI/AAAAAAAAIBM/FFGEIuTAZAg/s1600-h/Photo-0031%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Photo-0031" border="0" alt="Photo-0031" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAIRKEaPYsI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/P7bUQEwaMXU/Photo-0031_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="380" /></a> </p> <p align="left">my favourite cakes at marylebone are their cheesecake and mixed berries short cake. the latter has really delicious as it has sweet berries, very fresh cream and light sponge. you can see it below – 2nd from the left on the bottom shelf:</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAISE6HLHSI/AAAAAAAAIBc/DgsZiupqiMM/s1600-h/1317s%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="1317s" border="0" alt="1317s" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAISFf0fN0I/AAAAAAAAIBg/twksUrYVAsU/1317s_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="471" height="358" /></a> </p> <p align="left">if you like berries, i also spotted someone having a mixed berries french toast. the concept seems a little odd to me, with the sweet and salty mixture, but it looks amazing!:</p> <p align="left"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAISF_iLY3I/AAAAAAAAIBk/8K5Rl4AdpcA/s1600-h/DSCF6106_R%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF6106_R" border="0" alt="DSCF6106_R" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAISGiuxJdI/AAAAAAAAIBo/IfPrq9LAYMM/DSCF6106_R_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="258" /></a> </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://r.tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270108/27002766/dtlmap/">here’s</a> the map to the marylebone outlet which I frequent. there’s another branch in Whity Umeda – map <a href="http://r.tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270101/27013665/dtlmap/">here</a>. </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="center">*  *  * </p> <p><strong><u>Kobe Ninnikuya </u></strong></p> <p>I was brought here for the first time for an enkai, and the food is really good. I only return for one thing, really, which is their fantastic crab cream pasta. check out its picture in their official banner:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAIRKyL4tMI/AAAAAAAAIBU/uSTpwx7nLDM/s1600-h/k136514w%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="k136514w" border="0" alt="k136514w" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_X4SWiXvnUOs/TAIRLv5S54I/AAAAAAAAIBY/ooYDHe_5JRQ/k136514w_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="564" height="228" /></a> </p> <p>The pasta (¥1291) comes decorated with half a crab's shell, and the sauce is rich, creamy and bursting with the sweet flavour of crab meat. It's so good that I never fail to want more after I'm done with the dish. </p> <p>Their pizzas, though having very thin crusts, are delicious too, and so is the black pepper chicken dish. </p> <p>Don't be put off by the "ninniku" (garlic) in this restaurant's name - most of their dishes come without garlic, and even if they do, you're given mints as you leave to freshen up your breath. </p> <p>I also found this amazing picture of their spicy prawn cabonara pasta – doesnt it look so fantastically delicious? the sauce seems so heart attack-inducing creamy and rich…. *slurp*!:</p> <p><img src="http://clickmyheart.blog.so-net.ne.jp/_images/blog/_e7c/clickmyheart/E381ABE38293E381ABE3818FE38284.jpg" width="345" height="257" /> </p> <p>ohhh i can’t wait to go back; i havent been there in the longest time! the one i visit is at Fukushima station (JR, Hanshin), but there’re quite a lot of other branches all over Osaka and kobe. please visit one near you! </p> <p> <br /><b>Directions</b>: <br />From Fukushima JR station, cross the road directly in front of the station exit. Head right to Hotel Hanshin and go down the stairs to Basement 1. The restaurant will be on your left. </p> <p><iframe height="300" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Fukushima-ku,+Fukushima+5-6-16&sll=34.70254,135.502315&sspn=0.035211,0.077162&ie=UTF8&hq=Fukushima+5-6-16&hnear=Fukushima+Ward,+%C5%8Csaka+City,+%C5%8Csaka+Prefecture,+Japan&ll=34.696955,135.48769&spn=0.010585,0.012875&z=15&iwloc=A&output=embed" frameborder="0" width="300" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p>(photos from <a href="http://1715096.blog120.fc2.com/blog-category-12.html">here</a>, <a href="http://actress234.blog94.fc2.com/blog-entry-170.html">here</a>, <a href="http://r.gnavi.co.jp/k136514/">here</a> and <a href="http://www.osaka-asoblog.jp/XP/fd8426.html">here</a>) <br /></p> <p><font color="#0000ff" size="2"></font></p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126302989791604608.post-31817823114189202852010-05-28T13:38:00.001+08:002010-05-28T13:38:52.922+08:00soccer, school fees and silly banks<p>friendly matches leading up to the world cup have begun – south korea played japan on monday and won 2-0. i watched the match, but it was only today that i learned that the japanese men’s team is called “Samurai Blue”, while the women’s team is known as “Nadeshiko Japan” – nadeshiko coming from the japanese word <em>yamato nadeshiko</em>, which according to wikipedia means “"personification of an idealized Japanese woman". </p> <p>the match was quite a bad one, as both teams played poorly and nothing really happened during the game. the first goal was scored in within 15min of kick-off, i believe, while the second was scored in extra time. unfortunately, the south koreans were significantly better than the japanese; my JTE said that a south korean reporter had declared post-match that korea now has nothing to fear from Japan. </p> <p>such harsh words! </p> <p> </p> <p align="center">*  *  * </p> <p align="left">i also learned today that school fees for senior high schools in japan have been removed since April this year; a promise apparently made by Hatoyama’s government. before that, students were paying a whopping 140,000yen per year for an education in public senior high schools!! that’s so much! </p> <p align="left">my american ALT colleague (i have 2 at my school) says that it’s a lot less where she comes from; i’m pretty sure we pay less than $100 per month in singapore? if anyone knows exactly how much JC school fees are, please let me know cos i’m really interested to find out now! </p> <p align="left"> </p> <p align="center">*  *  * </p> <p>preparations to head home – or at least leave JET – are slowly getting underway, but i’ve recently discovered that my bank, Mitsui Sumitomo, is no longer issuing international cash cards - this means that there is no way for me to withdraw money from this account once i leave japan. it’s the same thing for the Japan Post Bank; both these banks are pretty big banks too, at least in the kansai region for SMBC. </p> <p>it’s really stupid, cos what kind of bank doesnt allow its customers to get money once they’re overseas? the japanese banking sector is such that it doesnt really integrate well internationally – at least from a user’s viewpoint – which doesnt make sense because it’s not as if japanese people dont travel around and spend money overseas. guess it means that japanese tourists are reliant on credit cards when they’re overseas to <em>borrow</em> money from their banks. </p> <p>the option for me, as well as the other returning JETs in the city, is to either close our accounts when we leave and have our pension money + transport reimbursement transferred into our home country bank accounts in 6 months to a year’s time, or to open an account with another as yet unknown bank that issues an international cash card. troublesome troublesome. </p> starduest~http://www.blogger.com/profile/11391325479958956597noreply@blogger.com1