Shadow goes to Japan

Just in case I've missed yet more people, I'll say it here where everyone on the intarweb can see: I AM GOING TO JAPAN. K. Now everyone knows, no excuses.

Hey look, photos. Belated is my middle name.

Busking in Tokyo. This is an example of how much bigger and fancier Tokyo is than Hobart. Near as I could tell, these dudes were just straight up busking. No endorsements, no ads, just busking. Have you seen that latin band that busks in salamanca when the markets on? They're pretty impressive. Can't say I have. I'll check it out sometime.

Japan is a Long Way Away Japan is on the same tectonic plate and therefore doesn't count as far away

Count the steps if you don't believe me. It's further than Melbourne, further than Sydney, further even than Perth. I won't be getting a job there, it's just a holiday, so it doesn't really count the same as Lambeaux, Pazu and J-Dawgg. But it will be for 6 weeks, and hopefully I'll get a chance to find an internet cafe or 2 and post some updates. And hopefully they'll be in English.

I'll also be stopping in Malaysia on the way there, and Sydney on the way back. Just to prove that Japan is further away than Sydney. Hopefully Definitely will see Captain Pazuzu and have some alot of drinks.

K then, well I'll be arriving in Sydney tomorrow. Was hoping to contact the good Captain a little earlier but I couldn't get a computer anywhere. I do have my mobile, so once in Sydney I should be able to send you a message to see if we can organise anything. I'll be leaving Sydney on the 19th (Friday), which might make things a little difficult. Anyways I'd better go spend the last of my yens before we leave the 'pan.

25th Nov

Shadow is in Malaysia. It is FUCKING hot. If the wiki gets hacked, then this hotel internet has a keylogger. Wooo!

Um, yeah. Not much else to report at this stage. Except Wooo! Oh, and duty free 1 litre bottles of vodka. Awesome way to kill a budget.

27th Nov

Leaving Malaysia tonight for Tokyo. Been haggled every way imaginable, seen more filth than I thought I ever would. Getting smashed and walking in a random direction in Kuala Lumpur is....interesting.

To expand on that a bit, we had a litre bottle of Smirnoff, and we drank about 3/4 of that between two of us on the night of the 26th. Finished that off at about 1am, then thought that going for a walk to see the city was a good idea. Should probably also mention that as Malaysia is a Muslim country (although not particularly strict, not in KL anyway) alcohol is basically unheard of. We were certainly the only 2 pissed people we saw anywhere.

So we wandered for a couple of hours, found all sorts of interesting buildings (and for some reason masses of Australian flags, hanging on the side of the street. We stopped and saluted probably the first dozen, crossing the street each time to get both sides, before we got a bit tired). Eventually we got a bit tired and decided to head back - except one of us said the hotel was in one direction, and the other said it was in the other direction. So first we walked one way, didn't recognise anything, then walked the other way, didn't recognise anything, then just sort of wandered around. We'd deliberately left everything in the hotel except for the hotel keycard, so we couldn't get a taxi (teksi), although we did stop a few to ask for directions (they weren't happy about it either, people are more than happy to waste your time to try to get a sale, but they really don't like you wasting their time if you're not going to pay). We made it back to the hotel at 6:07 am, pretty much on the point of passing out. But it was good, we saw a lot, and we were only accosted once by a policeman asking us where the hell we were going (we accidentally ended up walking along a road that led only to the main police station in the city).

Hahah did the policeman give you directions?

Yeah he did, told us to go back the way we came.

KL is a big, hot, filthy place.

28th Nov

Well, Tokyo now.

Due to aforementioned exploits, and an economy class night flight the night after, most of the trip so far has been me sleeping on trains. Uni has trained me well for how to handle all-nighters.

I'm using a Mac right now, one of the old school CRT things that used to be in the downstairs mac lab. With Japanese characters in addition to the English, but still qwerty, so no problem.

I guess my impressions so far can be summed up as: It's a big city.

29th Nov

Bizarre that I've written something for every day bar one. My associates here are sick at the moment, from dodgy KL food, so we can't move too far away from the hotel. Plus we have to get on the net to sort stuff out.

Still not too much to report. Too many awesome things to put down. Watched a Constrictor kill a chicken at the Malaysian National Zoo. That stands out as the highlight so far.

7th Dec

Far too much to recall all at once. Akihabara is my new favourite place in the world. I've eaten some very weird shit (but it's all been awesome so far). Everything automated here talks. Trucks say "turning left" when they turn. ATMs talk in Japanese or English. Toilets range from hole-in-the-ground to multi-function covered-in-buttons facilities. Everyone is insanely polite. Many are just insane. Went to a beer factory today. Couldn't understand a bloody thing the guide was saying, but it was free and they gave us beer. And they gave us beer glasses for some reason. Been to zoos, museums, parks (a rare thing), all sorts of shops. When I have time I'll sit down a go through it all.

Going to the Emperor's Palace tomorrow, and drinking afterwards. Should be a good day.

9th Dec

Guess who got a scholarship fuckers? Hurrah, an office mate who BELIEVES!

23rd Jan 07

Where the fuck is our lengthy update, detailing your sordid trip through a different culture. And have you booked flights and everything for BDO and Muse?

Right right right, I've been busy. Well shit. Too much stuff to be able to get it all out at once, but I'll give it a shot. General topics of discussion will be:

• Fuji-Q Highland - world class amusement park
• Tokyo - well, it's Tokyo, and it's awesome
• Snow and cold - snow is cool
• Lots of people - over 12 million in Tokyo alone
• Tokyo Disneyland - over 12 million people IN EVERY DAMN QUEUE
• Arcades - lots of arcades
• Ridiculous games and gambling
• Alcohol so cheap you have to wonder how the hell it costs so much here
• Incredibly good food
• Incredibly weird food
• Izakaya - the Japanese bar/pub
• Karaoke - Excellent fun with slight embarassment. Very Japanese and very good
• Hiroshima - it got nuked
• Countless castles
• Awesome temples
• Overwhelming hospitality and politeness
• Internet cafes - second cheapest accomodation in Tokyo
• Doorways can be small
• Japanese TV is pretty awesome
• A Japanese super cold - fought with super cold medicine
• Kuala Lumpur - heat, filth, and no respect at all
• Sydney too, but I'm sure Captain Pazuzu can provide details of Sydney on request
• And who knows what else will randomly occur to me

If people have realistic requests for stuff I may be able to bring things back with me (just don't expect me to bring back the Emperor's firstborn child or anything). Or maybe I should take photos of certain things, or perform certain acts, or souvenir certain items? In fact I recommend you do give me suggestions cause I may actually need things to do while over there, after I've run out of money.

Requests?

for serious:

• MXPX - Lost in Japan from HMV failed
• MXPX - Ten years and running (Japan Edit) Check.

(send him an email and he can bank deposit to you)

I'll give it a crack, no promises though. Might have a better chance once I get used to this place.

for not-so serious

• Not attempt to kidnap the EmperorCheck.
• Avoiding trying to crash the PS3 launch partyCheck.
• Pet Godzilla failed. Played Godzilla Pachinko though
• Go to the drum museum in Tokyo Missed this one
• Is a drunken orgy with travel-partners out of the question? How about a tape/poster/autograph of these guys?What is it with you and drunken orgies recently? :P If I see them I'll be sure to get a photo. God that looks uncomfortable. I just thought drunken orgies was the thing to do when travelling with a couple...
• Photos of you playing DDR in every arcade you visit!(kind of) CheckDDR does not exist here any more. I`ve been to more arcades than I can count, it`s not in any. Guitar Freaks 2 does exist though.
• A useless piece of unlawfully gained memorabilia from every arcade you visit! 'cos that's all they have in Japan anyway.Everything is bolted down. I`ve got one more chance I reckon, I`ll see what can be done.
• Pocky!Check.
• A Ming Vase (This is probably actually Chinese but what the hey)
• NinjasWell I bought a replica Ninja katana.
• A kikoman komodo I assume you mean kimono? I don't think the kikkoman has a pet Komodo Dragon, and it'd be difficult to acquire if he did. But a kikkomoan kimono might be achievable, so I'll keep an eye out.
• On a serious note - you HAVE to go to the ghibli museum in tokyo - and also akihabaraCheck and Check. Both awesome.
• Go to a Maid Cafe (although not allowed to take photos apparently)Check. Went to a military nurse maid cafe. Photos strictly forbidden. They give you a lengthy warning against getting your mobile phone out.
• ...Ian had a lot of suggestions, and that's the only one I can remember. Actually I think I prefer it that way. Ian said a lot of things I don't want to remember.
• A Piece of a WWII nuclear bombWell I saw bits of crashed B29s, and saw a Zero. And an Ooka, which I hadn`t heard of before. Kamikaze plane which is basically just a manned missile. Strapped onto another plane to get it into the air, then released and the pilot guides it into an enemy ship. Totally one way trip. There was some insane shit here. I went to Hiroshima, saw the dome and the Peace Memorial. It certainly changes your perspective on things.
• A samurai warriorHmmm....saw guys dressed as samurai. Been to a couple of of castles. Seen some 400 year old swords that were so well made, that although the handle is rusted to buggery, the blade still looks sharp enough to slice you in half. Saw plenty of samurai armour.
• Go on a Japanese game show that we see where they like dress up in chicken suits, strap raw meat to themselves and run through crocodile pools.The game shows seem to be more reality TV styled now. They still do insane stuff, but mostly embarassing things in public places rather than life threatening stunts.

Drum Museum (Taikokan)

2-1-1 Nishi-Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

Tel: 03/3842-5622

Well. Japanese hospitality has to be experienced to be believed I think. More on that later.

Shadow is also now officially poor.