2009年07月30日 Back and Leg Pain

Advice of the Day
I realized you should never self-diagnose yourself  using the internet. It can get you paranoid. We always assume the worse. Anyways…

The Update
The pain from my lower back is radiating down my leg which warranted a visit to my doctor. I’ve never been to the doctor so much in one year! But well, sh*t happens.

My doctor thinks I may have a nerve compression; something on the lines of sciatica. He gave me yet another injection in my back of muscle relaxant, which I wasn’t too excited on having cause I just imagine myself getting paralized if the needle slips. He also gave me some anti-inflammatory medication.

I have to wait a week or two to see if there is improvement. If not, I will have to make an appointment for an MRI and go from there.

I think the one thing that bothers me about this whole ordeal is that old ladies pass me at the train station… the stairs, the street. Walking has become such a chore. A few meters seems like forever. Things like putting on socks and getting out of bed are small battles in themselves. It’s been a bumming experience to say the least. Most of the time I’m in constant pain; from my lowerback and down my left leg.

Though from this,  just today some of my elementary kids saw me at the station and helped me up the stairs to the train platform cause I told in my broken Japanese what happened…. But don’t be expecting no merit badges for helping the elderly!!!  I don’t play that!

Sidenote: Watch the movie UP and watch Russell attempt to help the elderly for his final badge. Mr. Frederickson is not having it either! LOL It’s a cute movie.

I expect I have a few weeks to go if I am to get better soon. I’ve missed out on a lot of hanabi excursions and chances to wear my yukata already!

2009年07月23日 Green Elf Shoes

Oh No They Didn’t!
Walking around Shinjuku somewhere I came across these shoes! Looks like something Tingle from The Legend of Zelda might enjoy… Not-to-mention some funky Harajuku type! God they were hideous! They make my eyes hurt! @_@

But hey, if you like them they were 50% off! Try not to trip!

Green Elf Shoes -  ￥125,000 (over $1300)… Luckily they’re 50% off! ;)

2009年07月22日 Dealing With Back Problems

My Back
I recently threw out my back yet again. It was either from lying in an unsupportive bed or trying to ride a back while balancing a passenger on the back. In either case it’s something I’ve lived with since I was a teenager, but in recent months the frequency of strain and intensity seems to be increasing. Since I can remember my dad was the same way. Maybe it’s a hereditary thing.

It’s a reoccurring theme in my blogs. I have even learned the Japanese word and kanji  for it in order to identify medications and things of that nature. Usually I just complain about it, but I wanted to talk about how I try to relieve the pain of lumbago (or pain of the lower back).

• Whenever I start getting pain I always try to lay down flat when sleeping. A firm bed is ideal and a comfortable pillow that supports your head and neck is a necessity.

• Walking on my tiptoes seems to reduce the pressure on my back, though not entirely practical.

• I try to keep as active as I can, back strengthening exercises are things I try to apply.

• Massage can be a reliever if done correctly.

• I try using pain relievers like hot or cold compresses or creams. Currently I’m using what’s available to me in Japan – ユノパップID is something I picked up at the drugstore based on the picture.^^ Suffice to say I wish I had some Bengay at my disposal.

• I try to use anti-inflammatory medication. Things like Tylenol or Advil are good to have. But again being in Japan such medication are not readily available. My doctor prescribed Lorcam 4mg tablets which help a little with the pain and inflammation associated with lumbago. Sometimes I feel it works, but it maybe just my mind.

• And of course go see a doctor. Last time I saw my doctor for this problem he stuck a lovely needle full of muscle relaxant into my back. Though unpleasant it actually did help for a period.

In all, the best advice I can give is to not strain yourself. Try to be preventative and don’t push yourself if you are prone to back problems. Strengthen your back by doing small stretches without overdoing it. For me, I recover from back aches in a few weeks.

How I Hurt My Back Originally

2009年07月21日 Stitch Juice

I ♥ Stitch
The other day I was in  the supermarket and I saw a bottle of Dove body wash sporting Stitch on the label. I thought it was kind of cute, but didn’t think to take a picture of it. However I was in 7-Eleven the other day and saw Stitch on another item for sale. I’m sucker for cute package design not-to-mention furry little space koalas. ;P

マンゴーミクス　Mango Mix Juice from Suntory featuring Stitch

2009年07月16日 Jakarta

Jakarta
After a few days in Bali me and my friend Ricky flew to Jakarta. We took AirAsia, a budget airline, which shows! It wasn’t a terrible flight, but as they say, you get what you pay for.

We arrived in Jakarta in the evening. Jakarta for me reminded me when I was 10 years old in Manila. It was humid, but living in Japan I was used to it, though Tokyo has nothing on Jakarta’s weather.

My time in Indonesia was spent trying to convince people that I did not speak Bahasa Indonesia. While in Bali one girl found it hard to believe that I wasn’t Indonesian or at least a mix of it. “You’re lying! Your not from Canada, your from Indonesia!”  It made it a little difficult for me cause many Indonesians can communicate in English, but with me they hardly ever did.

Jakarta is a busy city. The traffic is murder! I guess in part because the public transportation system is poor at best! Jakarta is a good place to shop. They have giant mixed development properties that house large shopping complexes. A city of contrast would describe it best.

The view from Ricky’s apartment of Jakarta.

The Statue of Welcome (known locally as Hansel & Gretel) standing at Jalan M.H. Thamrin Traffic Circle, one of Jakarta’s busiest roundabouts.

A bajaj – a three-wheeled local transportation vehicle.

Drinking my avocado shake at a restaurant called Foodism.

A long line-up at Carrefour a hypermart store.

Indah Seafood 21 – A good place to eat seafood in the city.

We personally choose this crab for our dinner.

Bringing a little bit of Japan at the The Monument Nasional (or Tugu Monas) a symbol of Indonesia’s independence.

At the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

Senayan City – a mixed development property known mostly for its shopping.

A typical scene during rush hour! You have to be a pretty aggressive driver to drive in Jakarta.

The Presidential Palace. The next day the palace was surrounded by barbed wire as precaution during the election.

2009年07月15日 Bali

Indonesia
For the longest time I have been trying to upload pictures to my Facebook account without success. However, you can view all the pictures from my trip here. So with that out of the way, let’s begin the recap.

The Hong Kong Airport
I arrived in Bali after a night in the Hong Kong airport. I had a layover in Hong Kong for 12 hours, so I just hung around the airport until then since trains off the island had stop running by this time. It wasn’t that bad sleeping in the airport terminal. The airport is quite huge and once the stores open there’s lots of shopping opportunities to pass the time.

Outside the airport. It had just stopped raining and was a bit on the humid side, but that’s to be expected.

I discovered a Popeye’s Chicken joint and had to buy myself a biscuit 20 minutes before boarding the plane, but of course there was a line-up! There’s always some family with too many kids ahead of the line! I haven’t had Popeye’s since I was living in Canada so it was crucial to have a biscuit.

Arriving in Bali
Immigration at Denpasar airport in Bali is a mess. Be sure to bring extra money for airport taxes and your visa. Same goes for your departure. The lines are needlessly long and I’m sure there’s a better way of organizing entrants, which has yet to be discovered.

I stayed at the Hotel Miki. It was a pretty nice and inexpensive place, drawback being it’s aways from Kuta beach, but a relaxing diversion from the sometimes noisy tourist spots.

What I Did
I arrived in the afternoon and took a taxi to the beach. My friend Ricky hadn’t arrived yet so I had hours to explore on my own. I found myself walking the beach when this guy approaches me. Of course, I’m kind of standoffish, I mean “I don’t know you!” I’m thinking. But despite all else I agree to let him show me around Kuta, on this motorbike no less! Apparently, he works at one of the local bars, which I later visited with Ricky and watched men in drag performing diva hits!

Somewhere north of Kuta Beach at dusk.

Legian Street off Kuta beach at the 2002 Bali Bombing Memorial

I managed to hit in some tanning time on the beach and managed to get my watch repaired after many months. Did some window shopping and sampled the local cuisine. The typical touristy stuff. I even got a Balinese body massage!

Later in Bali
There are many sides to Bali. Ricky recommended we head to Ubud to see the Sacred Monkey Forest. Ubud is a more relaxed town in comparison to Kuta. It was a welcome change especially after having old Balinese ladies push me to buy sarongs all day while in Kuta.

At one of the entrances to the Monkey Forest

Someone gave this monkey a water bottle. It was amusing to see him try and open the thing.

The Monkey Forest is a must see. Some of those monkeys go nuts for the bananas! The monkeys were EVERYWHERE! I thought I might step on one by accident. On the way to Ubud I got to visit a coffee tasting villa and even got to see a traditional Balinese village and Balinese temple.

Along the main street in Ubud.

Me roasting coffee beans at the villa. It smelled like Sugar Crisp cereal!

At a traditional Balinese village site.

Offerings are often found around the entraces of stores and homes to ward of demons.

Walking around the traditional village.

At the Balinese Temple Desa Adat Batuan

Me and an elephant statue.

Me doing as the locals might.

Exploring the grounds of the temple.

Outside of Ubud along the rice paddies.

One of the many sarongs I didn’t want to purchase.

See more pictures by clicking here - Indonesia (2009/07/04)