2010年03月31日 Ueno Zoo

Ueno Zoo
I’ve never been to Ueno Zoo. I used to live practically next door to the zoo and never went until recently. Keisuke was visiting from Osaka and we went to the zoo together. It’s been years since I’ve been to the zoo so it was like being a kid again.

Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to see all the animals cause the park was closing and partly because I was documenting and practically cataloging every animal with my camera. ^^ We missed out on a few of the more the iconic animals – giraffe, hippo, zebra and rhinos, but all-in-all it was enjoyable.

Outside Ueno Park main gate. It was kind of busy that day because it was a long weekend.

Tickets are 600 yen for adults. At the ticket machine there are notices letting people know that they’re no giant pandas anymore as they died last year. There are no plans to replace them I hear. Surprisingly panda souvenirs are still sold at the zoo even though the zoo’s stars have departed.

A tiger and its bone. I wonder what animal that bone is from.

After leaving the tiger pen we were walking along the path and saw this tiger that startled us at first until we realized it was a fake. I thought a tiger had escaped or something! I would make a delicious meal I think.  I’m pretty meaty! ^^

In Japan they are called lesser pandas (I guess they didn’t make the grade to be full pandas). But these red pandas are a new favorite of mine. They are too cute! This one is cleaning itself with its leg’s crossed.

Sea lions basking in the sun… though there hasn’t been much sun these past weeks.

These 3 penguins were standing in the same spot for what seemed like forever. I guess they had so much time on their hands they didn’t know what do but to stand and daydream.

Playing around at the one of the souvenir stands with my red panda ears. I never buy souvenirs. I prefer taking pictures. Taking pictures with souvenirs is just as good for me. You never think twice as to why you bought a cheesy souvenir in the first place.

Keisuke and a velcro panda. Many of the stuffed animals were quite cute and would actually make a cute souvenir, especially for kids.

2010年03月28日 Canada Fever in Japan

Vancouver Olympics
The Olympics always seems to be a big thing and it seemed that everyone found a new found interest in Canada too. Around the time the Olympics was going on people would ask me all sorts of things about Vancouver. Too bad I’m not from Vancouver… I’m from Toronto and only been in the Vancouver Airport for transfers to & from Japan.

Anyways, around the same time I noticed a lot of pro-Canadian products pop up. No doubt taking advantage of the popularity. Here are a few examples that I had came across.

This onigiri (rice ball) claims to be from Canada and made with crab (which is more-often-than-not not even real crab).

I think I was outside a Yoshinoya restaurant (just before having one of my interviews). This advertisement shows Canadian kalbi beef being sold.

Maple Milk Tea – Everything maple syrup is automatically Canadian. For the record this drink was not good.

Maple Syrup Kit Kat – It was pretty good so I had to share them so I could get everyone fat!

2010年03月25日 Abunai Desu Kara…

O_O!!!
After leaving Shinagawa for a fun reunion with some of the old Tokyo gang; Kristel and I caught the Yamanote Line to head back home. After I parted ways with Kristel at Gotanda I continued to Ebisu to transfer trains.

You always hear about it, but think you would never actually see it happen! While waiting for my train on the adjacent platform I see an older businessman plummet onto the tracks! Whether he jumped or tripped I can’t be sure. I just saw him fall on the tracks and I was a bit horrified by what I saw. Luckily someone pushed the emergency train stop button in time before anything disastrous happened.

I was quite impressed at the response time of the JR Ebisu Station staff. They got the man off the tracks relatively quick and he seemed to be OK.

Many onlookers were staring from both sides of the platform to see if the man was fine. Rescue staff managed to rescue him from the track. The Saikyo and Yamanote Lines were stopped for a few minutes but with minimal delay.

In case of emergencies, be sure to press the emergency train stop button found throughout the platform.  Also, listen to the station warnings too. Abunai desu kara kiiroi-sen made osagari kudasai may sound like jibberish to non-Japanese speakers, but it’s sound advice to stay behind the yellow line as it may be unsafe otherwise.

2010年03月25日 Kristel the Jetsetter

My Face is in the Butter!
Sorry for the delay everyone. As always I was waiting on getting pictures for my blog, but people tend to be slow uploading their pics. I’ve made it a point to bring my own camera now.

Now down to business… My old roommate Ivan had told me that his sister (and also my friend) Kristel would be visiting Japan. That was a few weeks back and it had totally slipped my mind and it goes to show you how time flies! After work I got a text to come out to Shinagawa. So of course I had to make time, even though I was so tired from preschool teaching.

The Shinagawa Prince Hotel Bowling Center was where we often would go bowling with the old gang back when I first came to Japan. So it was totally natsukashi (nostalgic)!

Our bowling team! – Sam, Yosuke, Kristel and Me.
(Kristel hasn’t given me the pic yet)

I scored 112 which was the 3rd highest score of the night I think. I’m just happy I scored triple digits!

The night ended with taking pictures at a ghetto purikura (which gave us no time to decorate) we also talked to some random junior high school boys while we cut out our sticker pics. It was definitely like old times where we encounter strangers in Shinagawa and just started talking to them. Last time Kristel had a bag full of candy and floss (because flossing is important) and giving it to randoms outside the Prince Hotel. LOL good times!

Kristel said I lost weight, which was the second most important thing of the night after seeing Kristel. :P  And if you’re wondering why I said in the beginning My Face is in the Butter, well it’s a reference to that Hugh Grant movie Music & Lyrics. We had a sleepover once and were drunk as hell and thought it was mad funny… In retrospect it isn’t THAT funny.

2010年03月14日 Tokyo’s Morning Rush

Morning Rush
Now that I have a job in the city I get to experience firsthand the morning rush into Tokyo… so joyful.

In the past, I have always worked in the opposite direction of the rush and until now I have taken it for granted. Ginny says I will get used to it and I’m sure that’s true. But a Monday morning sardine canned into a train car spooning some strange businessman as we approach Shinjuku is not exactly how I want to start my day!

This is how some mornings can go during Tokyo rush hour.

2010年03月14日 It’s Preschool!

Preschool Teacher 保育園の先生
So it’s official, I changed jobs and like I promised I’m blogging about it. My contract was up so it was the perfect time to switch over. I would have loved to stay where I was, but I cannot survive another contract where 3 months I have UNPAID vacation… Though it WAS nice, it’s not practical. I really screwed myself over financially after summer vacation was over last year. I would have loved to return to teach English at my elementary schools, but I have to look out for number one.

I managed to score a job as a preschool teacher at an international preschool in Tokyo. The day after my trial they offered me the job. So-far-so-good. I’ve worked half a week already and I have orientation this Monday. Bonus is I have a wicked train pass into Tokyo which is paid by the school. Though having a new job is cool I still have a lot of things on my mind, but I think I’ve made a good decision and that’s all I can ask for. The change of environment does take getting used to, but  so far I’m liking it.

2010年03月13日 California Burger

California Burger
The last burger of the campaign is the California burger. It tasted a bit like a Burger King Whooper to me. Coming with a beefy patty, Monteray Jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and special sauce (made of red wine according to one website) and topped off with an Artisan bun, I think this is my favorite burger of the 4… Though I’d be happy just eating a Big Mac. :P And am I the only one who finds it questionable that the special sauce is made with wine?

Apparently in California everyone skates along palm tree-lined streets. Commercials in Japan are usually about 15 seconds FYI.

Never like the advertisements, but I’m satisfied.

2010年03月13日 Hawaiian Burger

Hawaiian Burger
I’ve been kind of reporting on the Big America Campaign happening at McDonald’s across Japan. First there were the Texas and New York burgers. Afterwards there came the Hawaiian burger which I didn’t have a chance to try, but I suspect tastes a lot like a regular burger with bacon and one of those eggs you get in a McMuffin during breakfast. Apparently McDonald’s Hawaiian burger is modeled after the locally famous dish – the Loco Moco. I found a video on youtube of taste-testers trying the burger. And since I didn’t get a chance to try it please watch some Hawaiians judge for themselves.

I agree, Spam would be good!… And don’t you dare judge Spam unless you have tried it! People always hating on Spam and never trying it! Try it, then form an opinion thank you.

Nothing says Hawaii like Hula dancers!

2010年03月07日 Kecap Manis

Indonesia’s Favorite Condiment While I was in Indonesia, one of the best discoveries I came across was kecap manis. I loved this Indonesian condiment so much that I bought a bottle of it to bring back to Japan. Kecap manis is a sweet soy sauce which is kind of syrupy in consistency. It is made with palm sugar and seasoned with star aniseand garlic. It is a popular tool in Indonesian cooking. You can find it everywhere in Indonesian restaurants. It’s just as common as ketchup I think.Well that bottle has since been long finished and in recent days I was considering ordering another bottle online. I have been sooo jonesing for this sauce! The other day I was walking through the mall and so stumbled upon a big bottle of it at Kaldi! I was soo surprised and bought it right away. I was so excited once I got home that I was pouring it on everything. I was so excited that I knocked over the bottle and shattered a plate. But luckily the bottle didn’t break cause I can always buy a new plate from the 100 yen shop.

2010年03月07日 Valentmas Pugsday

Valentmas Pugsday
Last weekend we all got together at Anna’s nice and relatively new place in Kami-Shakuji which is a part of Tokyo I don’t venture out to often. Though I had the opportunity this past summer during Anna’s housewarming to go, but didn’t go cause I was still in immense pain from my slipped disc.

This get-together was an excuse for those who hadn’t done Christmas exchange to exchange gifts or just exchange gifts in general for Valentine’s Day and recently past birthdays. I of which STILL need to buy a few people gifts. ^^ But I’m working on it!

It was also a thank you party for Andrew who more times than none plans our parties and how we appreciate his efforts. Anna had a cute idea to make creative gifts for Andrew to show our appreciation… how corny it may sound. We ordered pizza and drank beers. It was a nice way to wind down the weekend.

As my creative gift I took inspiration from the fans that were bought for Heather’s birthday party and customized one with a little Valentine’s fusion. Ya I know, it’s corny! But I thought it was a fun idea.