Okay. Third post of the day. But this one is a short one, and it's just to tell you to read this ebay auction page.
Very funny.
Friday, 24 August 2007
Mt Takao
Well, aren't I feeling inspired? Two posts in one day!
A couple of weeks ago I came to the realisation that I'd settled into life in Japan a little too much, and was now living an existence of working, then spending my weekends bumming around home or my little town waiting to start work on Thursday. In short, I'd forgotten why I'd come here, which was to travel. I'm not here for work, my job is simply providing me the means to live in Japan - and while I'm here I should be seeing as much of the country and culture as I can. So to remedy this situation I decided to climb a mountain.
Okay, so Mt Takao isn't a huge mountain, and when I say "climb" I really mean "walk up". My point is, it got me out of the city for the day, seeing nature and just relaxing. Of course, I chose one of the hottest days for this expedition, and instead of taking the cable car or ropeway halfway up the mountain as most people do, I decided to climb the first part. Thus the first part of my walk was spent wiping sweat from my eyes while "konnichiwa"-ing the Japanese people walking DOWN the very steep road, while I walked up, eternally grateful for the "wifebeater" I'd decided to bring "in case it got hot". Yes I'm sure I looked like a yobbo, but they don't know what they are here so it's okay.
Anyway, here are some photos.
The giant torii over the entrance to the parking lot - I guess to cleanse your car's spirit as you enter?
The suspension bridge along one of the paths - on the map it looked a lot more impressive.
The path up the mountain. Well, one of the paths. There were about 6 or 7 different ways to get up the mountain, and when you're as indecisive as me, choice is not your friend, it can lead to hyperventilation and tears. I think I flipped a coin.
The view from the top. There were many views depending on which way you looked. Obviously.
Plums drying outside a restaurant at the top.
Lunch. I mentioned it was one of the hottest days, right? So you'd think I'd order something cool for lunch, wouldn't you? And the restaurant did have cold soba noodles, which would have been delicious. So why did I order the hot soba noodles in soup? I panicked. The waiter came to take my order, I pointed at the first picture I saw that looked edible. And so spent the next 15 minutes sweating even more while eating my delicious hot soba noodles.
The intricate carvings on the outside of the temple on Takao.
A rather foreboding face on the outside of the temple. Certainly makes one feel judged.
This shrine is perhaps devoted to the cool wooden sandals worn by the priests?
More shoes. These ones are protected!
The emergency slide from the second story of a building on the trip back down the mountain. Why walk when you can slide? I've since seen similar spiral slides down apartment buildings.
I mentioned there were a number of paths up and down the mountain - on the way down I decided to take path #2, which supposedly went past a waterfall. While the waterfall was pretty, what I could see of it, the path took me to almost the other side of the mountain, and so I spent the next hour walking through the town to find the train station. On the way I saw a crane - so Dad, this photo is for you.
A neat structure I saw on the way through town. Reminded me of something from Star Wars. Perhaps Chris can help me this?
I also found a dead dragonfly. I could wax poetic about the fragility of life, but I suck at poetry, so I won't.
----------------
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)
A couple of weeks ago I came to the realisation that I'd settled into life in Japan a little too much, and was now living an existence of working, then spending my weekends bumming around home or my little town waiting to start work on Thursday. In short, I'd forgotten why I'd come here, which was to travel. I'm not here for work, my job is simply providing me the means to live in Japan - and while I'm here I should be seeing as much of the country and culture as I can. So to remedy this situation I decided to climb a mountain.
Okay, so Mt Takao isn't a huge mountain, and when I say "climb" I really mean "walk up". My point is, it got me out of the city for the day, seeing nature and just relaxing. Of course, I chose one of the hottest days for this expedition, and instead of taking the cable car or ropeway halfway up the mountain as most people do, I decided to climb the first part. Thus the first part of my walk was spent wiping sweat from my eyes while "konnichiwa"-ing the Japanese people walking DOWN the very steep road, while I walked up, eternally grateful for the "wifebeater" I'd decided to bring "in case it got hot". Yes I'm sure I looked like a yobbo, but they don't know what they are here so it's okay.
Anyway, here are some photos.
The giant torii over the entrance to the parking lot - I guess to cleanse your car's spirit as you enter?
The suspension bridge along one of the paths - on the map it looked a lot more impressive.
The path up the mountain. Well, one of the paths. There were about 6 or 7 different ways to get up the mountain, and when you're as indecisive as me, choice is not your friend, it can lead to hyperventilation and tears. I think I flipped a coin.
The view from the top. There were many views depending on which way you looked. Obviously.
Plums drying outside a restaurant at the top.
Lunch. I mentioned it was one of the hottest days, right? So you'd think I'd order something cool for lunch, wouldn't you? And the restaurant did have cold soba noodles, which would have been delicious. So why did I order the hot soba noodles in soup? I panicked. The waiter came to take my order, I pointed at the first picture I saw that looked edible. And so spent the next 15 minutes sweating even more while eating my delicious hot soba noodles.
The intricate carvings on the outside of the temple on Takao.
A rather foreboding face on the outside of the temple. Certainly makes one feel judged.
This shrine is perhaps devoted to the cool wooden sandals worn by the priests?
More shoes. These ones are protected!
The emergency slide from the second story of a building on the trip back down the mountain. Why walk when you can slide? I've since seen similar spiral slides down apartment buildings.
I mentioned there were a number of paths up and down the mountain - on the way down I decided to take path #2, which supposedly went past a waterfall. While the waterfall was pretty, what I could see of it, the path took me to almost the other side of the mountain, and so I spent the next hour walking through the town to find the train station. On the way I saw a crane - so Dad, this photo is for you.
A neat structure I saw on the way through town. Reminded me of something from Star Wars. Perhaps Chris can help me this?
I also found a dead dragonfly. I could wax poetic about the fragility of life, but I suck at poetry, so I won't.
----------------
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)
The musical adventures of Tyrone
In the past two weeks I've bought two musical instruments.
Firstly, I bought an ocarina at a little store in Chinatown in Yokohama. 1000 yen for the ability to make music! The first tune I played was the theme from Rocky :)
While there I also bought a new pet - a gay panda called Ping. He was only 400 yen, how could I resist?
Then last Tuesday I bought a keyboard!
So I'm slowly remembering how to read music - 12 years away from the keyboard, in which time I've played trumpet for 5 years and then nothing for 7 has meant that my musical skills are lacking, but they're slowly coming back. The biggest challenge is learning how to play with both hands again. When I learnt keyboard last I seem to remember only using one finger at a time on my right hand and playing chords with my left hand. Now I'm learning from piano books, and so I have to use both hands to play many notes. 'Tis tough, but I'm getting there, and it's giving my brain a workout, which is what it needed.
Anyway, I thought now was a perfect time to show you my new home. Wonder at it's storage space - a desk! A set of drawers! A wardrobe!
Marvel at the bookcase! Even my bed (yes! a real bed!) has drawers underneath it!
See the Great Wall of Photos! (haha and yes that is the Under the Pink sheet music - optimistic, yes, but I can already play the opening part of Pretty Good Year).
Compare this to the first room I stayed in upon arriving in Japan, which had only a small set of drawers and a clothes rack. And I pay less rent for this place, which has a much larger kitchen, shower and better housemates.
Okay. Will start writing entries showing off some of the places I've visited lately.
But just quickly - I've decided to leave Japan by May or June next year, and will be heading to London. So in the next 8 months or so I've got many people visiting and many places to visit myself. In the next month and a half I plan to climb Mt Fuji, and am taking a trip to Kyushu, where I will visit Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and hopefully climb Unzendake, a volcano that last erupted in 1995. Excitement! Also, at this stage it looks like I may be spending Christmas in Hokkaido with my housemate Jasmine and her friends - so I'll pretty much be guaranteed a white Christmas!
In early September Verity and Lauren are coming to Tokyo for a day or so, at the end of September my cousin Jared is coming with his schoolgroup, and then in December Anita is staying for a couple of weeks. Also, in November I may be going to Thailand with my housemate Sara. Then in February, Mum and Ayla are coming, and Moo is planning to come in March. And that should be it till I leave in May. In that time I also have to see Hiroshima, Niko, and Nara - but I might try to do these when I have visitors.
So the next 8 months are going to be very busy! But I'm very excited by it all :)
----------------
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!
Firstly, I bought an ocarina at a little store in Chinatown in Yokohama. 1000 yen for the ability to make music! The first tune I played was the theme from Rocky :)
While there I also bought a new pet - a gay panda called Ping. He was only 400 yen, how could I resist?
Then last Tuesday I bought a keyboard!
So I'm slowly remembering how to read music - 12 years away from the keyboard, in which time I've played trumpet for 5 years and then nothing for 7 has meant that my musical skills are lacking, but they're slowly coming back. The biggest challenge is learning how to play with both hands again. When I learnt keyboard last I seem to remember only using one finger at a time on my right hand and playing chords with my left hand. Now I'm learning from piano books, and so I have to use both hands to play many notes. 'Tis tough, but I'm getting there, and it's giving my brain a workout, which is what it needed.
Anyway, I thought now was a perfect time to show you my new home. Wonder at it's storage space - a desk! A set of drawers! A wardrobe!
Marvel at the bookcase! Even my bed (yes! a real bed!) has drawers underneath it!
See the Great Wall of Photos! (haha and yes that is the Under the Pink sheet music - optimistic, yes, but I can already play the opening part of Pretty Good Year).
Compare this to the first room I stayed in upon arriving in Japan, which had only a small set of drawers and a clothes rack. And I pay less rent for this place, which has a much larger kitchen, shower and better housemates.
Okay. Will start writing entries showing off some of the places I've visited lately.
But just quickly - I've decided to leave Japan by May or June next year, and will be heading to London. So in the next 8 months or so I've got many people visiting and many places to visit myself. In the next month and a half I plan to climb Mt Fuji, and am taking a trip to Kyushu, where I will visit Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and hopefully climb Unzendake, a volcano that last erupted in 1995. Excitement! Also, at this stage it looks like I may be spending Christmas in Hokkaido with my housemate Jasmine and her friends - so I'll pretty much be guaranteed a white Christmas!
In early September Verity and Lauren are coming to Tokyo for a day or so, at the end of September my cousin Jared is coming with his schoolgroup, and then in December Anita is staying for a couple of weeks. Also, in November I may be going to Thailand with my housemate Sara. Then in February, Mum and Ayla are coming, and Moo is planning to come in March. And that should be it till I leave in May. In that time I also have to see Hiroshima, Niko, and Nara - but I might try to do these when I have visitors.
So the next 8 months are going to be very busy! But I'm very excited by it all :)
----------------
Now playing: Sufjan Stevens - All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!
Friday, 17 August 2007
Hot Town, Summer in the City
Today was apparently the hottest day in Tokyo in 70 years. I'll believe that.
This is a photo of the indoor wave pool area at Tokyo Summerland in Hachioji (from Japan Today).
This is a photo of the indoor wave pool area at Tokyo Summerland in Hachioji (from Japan Today).
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
More Hanabi, and Patrick.
Hanabi seems like an excuse for everyone to wear yukatas (summer kimonos), drink beer and eat fried chicken (well, okay, maybe I'm the only one who used it as an excuse to eat fried chicken. The chicken was so greasy, it was GREAT) with friends.
So here are some more photos from hanabi.
Some yukatas - 'tis very pretty watching everyone walk around wearing them.
A beautiful sunset - who needs fireworks?
I also saw hanabi a couple of Saturdays ago, with my housemate Jasmine and her friends. Very nice people. The fireworks were amazing! They went for about an hour and twenty minutes, and were the most beautiful fireworks I've ever seen. Much fried chicken and edamame was consumed by all.
Not sure why I'm making this face...
... but I'm not the only one, Jasmine also makes odd faces.
The many strange faces of Tyrone and Jasmine.
Rachel is also quite good at posing (Claire was maybe caught off guard?).
Rachel, Jasmine and Adam - the people I usually go climbing with (I've been thrice now! I'm slowly getting better - overhangs are tricky things.)
Also, finally, here is a photo from the Patrick Wolf concert I went to - the only decent one according to the photographer. Yes, those are lederhosen he's wearing. Isn't that great?
I've been quite busy the last couple of weeks, last week I climbed (okay, walked up) Mt Takao. Yesterday we went to Onjuku Beach, and today we went to Yokohama (where I bought an ocarina!!!). So many photos to sort through. So, will be updating soon.
So here are some more photos from hanabi.
Some yukatas - 'tis very pretty watching everyone walk around wearing them.
A beautiful sunset - who needs fireworks?
I also saw hanabi a couple of Saturdays ago, with my housemate Jasmine and her friends. Very nice people. The fireworks were amazing! They went for about an hour and twenty minutes, and were the most beautiful fireworks I've ever seen. Much fried chicken and edamame was consumed by all.
Not sure why I'm making this face...
... but I'm not the only one, Jasmine also makes odd faces.
The many strange faces of Tyrone and Jasmine.
Rachel is also quite good at posing (Claire was maybe caught off guard?).
Rachel, Jasmine and Adam - the people I usually go climbing with (I've been thrice now! I'm slowly getting better - overhangs are tricky things.)
Also, finally, here is a photo from the Patrick Wolf concert I went to - the only decent one according to the photographer. Yes, those are lederhosen he's wearing. Isn't that great?
I've been quite busy the last couple of weeks, last week I climbed (okay, walked up) Mt Takao. Yesterday we went to Onjuku Beach, and today we went to Yokohama (where I bought an ocarina!!!). So many photos to sort through. So, will be updating soon.
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Hanabi on the Edogawa
Tonight I saw the hanabi (fireworks, or literally "fireflowers", or "flowerfire" I guess - "hana" can also mean "nose", so I joked with some of my students last week I was going to see "nosefire") on the Edogawa River in Funabashi. I managed to record some of it on my phone, which I then uploaded to YouTube - dodgy quality, but who's gonna complain? Nobody, that's who.
Prior to watching the fireworks I went shopping at Lalaport, where they have a whole store devoted to tea. Tea and fireworks make for a happy Ty.
Prior to watching the fireworks I went shopping at Lalaport, where they have a whole store devoted to tea. Tea and fireworks make for a happy Ty.
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
fuckin' go (aka Music is my Therapy)
edit: Sleep to Dream also works a treat.
And because too much anger isn't always helpful, Paper Bag has a serenity and sense of resignation that is very soothing (as well as a charming filmclip). Thank you Dr Apple. You made last week much more bearable.
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