Quirky Japanese

So on my way home tonight I stopped off at the store because I needed to see if I could find all the ingredients I need for taco salad. I was successful except for ranch dressing which I knew that I wouldn't find, but one can hope. Now I had got some bread also, and maybe it was that and the chips or the fact that I had meat and vegetables too, that when I got to the register and paid he gave me two bags and said, "二つ分けて下さい.", or in other words separate your groceries into two bags. It was like he was trying to tell me you cant put the bread in with the meat and all the other stuff. It was so weird, why would he make it a point to say such a thing. It made me want to stuff everything into one bag and go back and say here is your other bag, I don't need it. But the fact was that I had enough that I had to have two bags, so what was his point?

Crazy

Now I like bathing just as much as the other guy but this is going a little too far.

Actually these I am assuming Budhist priests or accolates are going through a purification ritual of course in the middle of winter and in freezing cold water. This is in Koyasan in Wakayama Prefecture. Click on the link to find out more.

Shirakunoyu 志楽の湯

As anoyone who knows me knows I love onsen! And in Japan the chance to soak in natural hot springs around the country is plentiful. Last night I made a new discovery almost right in my own backyard. Jason wanted to go to a bath so I suggested this place because I had heard that it was nice. Nice although is not a word that does this place justice. It is an oasis in the middle of a thriving metropolis. I actually felt like I had left the confines of this bustling city. Even if you can't read Japanese a look at their homepage will give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Below are a couple of pictures from that page. There are only 2 main baths but the size of the inside one alone is worth the trip. I would say you could probably get 50 to 100 people in it.

Then there is the outside bath.

Both of the baths are natural hot spring water and they were rather salty which was a bit of a surprise. And it was so calm and peaceful, I think Jason and I were the only ones talking. It just called for you to relax, be quiet, and enjoy the calm. I think it is goint to be a new retreat for me.

25 Random Things

1. I can speak 3 languages.
2. I have traveled in 21 countries.
3. I have lived in 3 countries.
4. I used to have a friend named Mike Wagner.
5. I have stood on the Equator.
6. I bungee jumped and survived to tell.
7. I love onsen!
8. Sushi is one of my favorite foods.
9. I love TV.
10. I am a Mac man, and doesn’t understand why everyone else isn’t.
11. I’d love to own a B&B in a historic house.
12. I have eaten haggis, and love it.
13. My “boom” is Japanese drumming.
14. I have a lazy eye and had to eye exercises as a kid.
15. When I was little I didn’t know trees had leaves. I thought they were just a green ball. (obviously this was before I got glasses)
16. I have worn glasses since I was in the 2nd grade.
17. I have traveled on one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
18. I love potato and mayonnaise on pizza.
19. I have lived abroad for over 20 years.
20. I have worn a longyi, and thought it was pretty cool.
21. Won an acting award for a part I played in a short Chinese play that was aired on TV in Taiwan.
22. I have eaten deer and horse raw.
23. I have been on a safari.
24. I have stood in a village that Marco Polo used to live.
25. I once got the rabbit nose in a stew in China.

Quirky Japanese

On my way home from church today I decided to stop at Shakey's for lunch. As I enjoyed my pizza, I sat listening for the sound of pizza being indicating a chance to rush off for a fresh slice. But I was surprised when the girl at the register sounded off with, "Nice cut!". I don't know how many times I've been to this restaurant, but I know this was something I had never heard before.

Me

My favorite hat and my funky scarf that my nephew laughed when he saw it, sorry but it works.

David Sedaris, English Language Mistakes

From his book, "When You are Engulfed in Flames".

January 31
What gets me are the mass-produced mistakes, the ones made at Lawson, for example. A huge, nationwide chain of novenience stores, and this is what's printed on the wrappers of their ready-made sandwiches: "We have sandwiches which you can enjoy different tastes. So you can find your favorite one from our sandwiches. We hope you can choose the best one for yourself."
It's not that horribly off the mark, but still you's think that someone, maybe someone in management, might say, "I've got a cousin who lives in America. What do you say I give him a call and run this by him before we slap it on tens of millions of wrappers?" But no.

This is so true last night I stopped at Subway for a sandwich and the have the serve yourself drink machines. On the machine they had posted a sign that said, "No Refuels". It always amazes me that in this land where electronic dictionaries and access to the web can even be had on your cell phone that mistakes like this go unnoticed.

Obama Headlines Around the World

Go here to see full size versions of front pages around the world.

Crowds

I was glad that I got a little glimpse of the events yesterday, but so many more people got the chance to see things first hand. It is hard to see here but the grey smudges are all people. For a better view go to Popular Science.

Be Inspired - Nick Vujicic

This is great! Enjoy

Commemoration

Thought this was pretty funny that you can make a picture like this, so in commemoration of the inaugural,  my Obama magazine look-a-like pic.

Healing Hands

Last week I went to get a massage at the public onsen near my house.  Regretably my regular guy was off and instead of just saying forget it I said anyone was ok.  I was a little worried that I would get the guy that I knew was no good, but the name that she wrote down wasn't his so I thought I would probably be safe.  Wrong!  Somehow I got the guy that I knew was going to give me a terrible message.  And it was worse than I imagined, I wanted to get away from it so quick when the torture was over that I almost left without my coat.

Today I went back and got my regular guy, Ono.  It is so unbelievable how 2 people can do the exact same massage and the results be 100% different.  I mean the other guy is so bad that I have been tempted to write a complaint to the management, and maybe even go so far as to say that he get retraining or get another job.

Ono san hits all the right spots and does it with such skill, I felt tons lighter and just all around refreshed when I was finished.  So different from just a week before.  No I know no matter what happens I will make sure that the magic hands of Ono san are the only ones that get to work on me. 

No Pants 2K9 NYC

Originally uploaded by katie sokoler

I have read about this before and thought it was pretty funny. The No Pants Subway Ride, has become an annual event in NYC and it seems it is getting bigger all the time with approximately 1,500 people participating this year.

Now just think what would happen if we tried this out in Tokyo.

Joy to the World

Christmas Candle Service 2008. Trio with Komatsu san and Jun for only practicing about 5 minutes it turned out pretty good.