Monday 11 October 2010

いま しゅくだいしています。 めんどくせ

こんや は すこし 日本語のしゅくだいしています。 
mainly because last week i went to my Japanese class and i was embarrassed at how much i had forgotten.
 だから がんばりしています。
though i find it hard to put much effort in now because i was really focused before i went to Japan as i had little time but now i feel i have more time so im being very lazy. Also たくさん しごと が ありますかから いつも つかれた which means i dont have the energy to study in the evening. でも きょう は 8じ から 8じまで はたらきましたが しゅくだいしています。



Wednesday 6 October 2010

ソアス だいがくへかえれました

さいきん わ 日本語 が ぜんぜん べんきょしません。 しごとが たくさん ありまから。
でも きょう わ ちょうっと うれしですよ。 また ソアス だいがくで 日本語 べんきょうします。
とても たのしかったです。あたらし がっくせ に あいました。

じゃあ また 

Saturday 18 September 2010

Japan Matsuri in London

There is a annual Japan Matsuri in London, this year it was held today and it was probably fantastic. Why probably ? because i didnt go haha so i dont know- i wanted to go but ive had an upset tummy for the past few days and i felt kind of drained today.
So its nearly 7pm and i have finally managed to get myself together. What to do, what to do ? London is a crazy large place there must be something to do.........

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Get back to work u lazy sod !!!

So im back in the UK after my  3 weeks sojourn in Japan. The jet lag is still bugging me but its kinda cool coz im waking up everyday around 4am which means i have plenty of time to get ready for work.

What's my final thoughts about Japan ? i guess it was everything i thought it would be and a lot of the glamour and mystique has disappeared, especially some of the myths and sensationalist facts about Japan. I didn't find it really busy having lived in London all my life and rush hour is the same in any large city. The fact that Japan is really clean and orderly actually gives the impression that its not busy or crowded at all.

Well the food was supreme - and i just wonder how the British continue to eat the slop served up in UK eateries. The extreme politeness can get on ones nerves but just after a week i was bowing my head and doing all sorts of absurd polite gestures. In general i found the Japanese people the same as any other people in other place, but with extra politeness, cleanliness and the ability to do some hard grafting.
Though i never understood the Otaku culture - i guess the whole manga and anime scene is where the Japanese excel compared to any other nation and really let their imagination flow. This surge of imagination must be in my opinion due to the fact that they are a reserved and polite people and thus need a outlet and as such the crazy Otaku/Cosplay/Anime/Manga thing is a result of this venting.

The weather was outrageously hot and humid - August/September time are definitely not the months to be walking the roads of Japan. Spring and Autumn are probably a lot better dates.

One thing i found odd was that a lot of the Japanese men were outrageously skinny, its one thing for the girls to be skinny (this is an issue in all countries) but the men to be built like adolescent teenage boys was eerie to be honest.

Japan is expensive and for the first time traveller will be expensive unless you know the in's and out's of Japan. This is usually not something that comes easy or is readily learnt. I guess this brings us to the fact to enjoy Japan one must have some inkling of the Japanese language- otherwise the unprepared tourist will be totally lost and will not know from left to right and almost anything can be intimidating. Thus learning the basics of the Japanese language is essential and can result in a more complete and fun packed time. Also having local friends helps a great deal.

Though getting lost in Tokyo is not a problem as the underground train system is all in English and there is the helpful police officer on some street corner to help - in essence there is almost no crime in Japan and it is really safe in Japan and whatever crime happens in Japan is so tame to be almost sweet compared to the shit that goes down in the UK and US. Due to this the main function of Japanese police officers is to give direction to lost citizens or helpless tourists.

All in all Japan is a great place to visit with thousands of years of culture to see and safe for families/children/women, and definitely not a place for someone looking for a lads holiday or a traditional British booze up like Tenerife. Will I return anytime soon ? of course i cant wait !!!!. Though next time i definitely would like to see Okinawa and improve my Japanese before i go.

Watch out for my 'Return to Japan' blog to start very soon.

Sunday 12 September 2010

Ohayo Rondon !!!! My 3 weeks are up !!!!




So my journey comes to an end. I decided to chill out in tokyo for the last few days - dont get up to much but went to Ageha on Friday night its a big club and it was loads of fun. Though i didnt like the fact the main arena was for Jazz music every one was practically sleeping !!!
But the other rooms were ok - a bit of House/RnB/HipHop and some Cheese haha (no pictures though)

Saturday ended up in Tokyo disneyland dont ask me how or why but i thought what the heck.

dont ask me who that guy is



Sunday is packing day - so sorted my gear out and headed off to Tsurutontan for some Sukiyaki Udon for lunch.

some suki-yaki wagyu beef udon
The meal was fabulous  - but i didnt finish the food - onaka ippai !!!

Thursday 9 September 2010

Worn out !!

So after having been marching up and down the roads of Japan for two weeks i can say officially that i am POOPED !!! but regardless.. for my ardent fans i managed to take one picture last night of my dinner


its a rice dish where the flavour of the ingredients soaks into the rice and takes about 30-40 minutes for the restaurants to make so its a good idea to order to order starters. I can't remember the name of the dish though ...:(

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Raining Cats and Dogs here

So its raining cats and dogs here which puts a bit of a damper on my travel plans so i think i will return to Tokyo and relax for a bit i cant take walking any more. Then again the rain brings a much needed cooling down of Tokyo, I haven't sweated this much in a long time.

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Nara - Big Buddah & Osaka Castle




So yesterday and today i explored a bit more of Kansai. Yesterday i went to Nara and did like a 4hrs of walking man my feet are sore.

on arriving to Nara your greeted by buddeer 
After which you get a greeting by Bambi himself

After which i decided to go to a park (cant remember the name belongs to some priest) which is free for Gaijin - as it was roasting and i needed to rest - man does the heat get to you.


After resting, I moved on to the great buddah himself. Though i had to fight a swarm of rampaging deer to get there.




Today it was a lot cooler today in Kansai - most likely due to the Typhoon approaching. Decided to go to Osaka even though its far to big a place for a day trip.
Some kids playing baseball in Osakajookoen

some red thingy growing in the moat
Osaka castle
the view from the top of the castle


    


Monday 6 September 2010

Kyoto Klubbing with Dubfire !!! @WorldClub on a Sunday Night

Had Yaki Niku (Barbecued meat) for dinner which was absolutely awesome - one of the best meals i've ever had, theres nothing like grilled meat straight off the grill into your mouth.

the barbecue grill 
Wagyu steaks
Loads of meat

After dinner i headed to the World club in downtown Kyoto - the club was a bit grotty and small but the sound system was better then decent - good baselines and some laser lights. Dubfire came on about 2am - he was ok and i enjoyed it but nothing awesome. But had great fun considering it was a sunday night and it was Kyoto and didnt expect anything at all to be there.

Sunday 5 September 2010

Kyoto !!!!! ara ma kirein na tokoro ne

ara ma !! what a change of place - arrived around 10:14 using a the Shinkansen - Hikari Superexpress taking about 2hrs and 40 minutes. Having a Japan rail pass is awesome. A one day kyoto 500yen bus pass will save you money as well.


Firstly i made some sweets - Wagashi zukuri taiken kyoushitsu. It was awesome but i did awful but the sweets were delicous.


walked around Kyoto for a bit and saw the Tougetsu bridge.


Tougetsu bridge
soba restaurant
the view from my table at the restaurant

herring udon for lunch


after which i went and so a Festival at Matsuo shrine .



Saturday 4 September 2010

Asakusa-->Odaiba-->Kobe Beef !!!

Today i went to Asakusa a different side to Tokyo with temples and streets lined with souvenir shops, followed by Tempura Udon for Lunch (proper udon not the crap you get at Wagamama)



After which i went to Odaiba which i think was a man made island area built on reclaimed land from which you can also see a famous Japanese TV studio Fuji TV



After surviving on supermarket food for 3 days i decided to have some proper food and eat some Wagyu beef steak more commonly known as Kobe Beef in the UK - only for £10 - jealous huh !!! THATS A HUNDRED BUCKS WORTH


Tomorrow im off to Kyoto so i'll see you in 3 days !!!

Friday 3 September 2010

Supermarket Bento !!! Oishiii !! Cheap !!!!

I managed to find my local supermarket and discovered  bento's (ready made food that you can just pop into the Microwave) its super cheap and super delirious - i love it. Dakara i have been living off the supermarket for the past two days -


kyohou - some super sized grapes grown in Japan - super delicious.



A lot of people say Tokyo is overcrowded and really busy but its no different from London especially around rush hour - as a matter of fact its actually easier to navigate here as the Japanese people are actually a lot more polite and orderly.

After 2 weeks of not going to the gym i am now a proud member of Gold's Gym Harajuku - its open 24 hours and has practically everything u need. Though it has one funny rule about taking your shoes off before entering the changing rooms (i guess thats Japanese culture making its way into the Gym as well)- mendokse.



Tonight im off to Ageha one of Tokyo's biggest clubs i think and entry is 5000 yen a bit steep but what the heck !!!

http://www.ageha.com/