Tokyo and Typhoons

I'm catching up on some of my blog entries - and this is 5 months late. But after re-naming my site after Japan, how could I not include pictures from Tokyo. The city where I experienced my first typhoon, my first spray 'n wipe toilet, my first bullet train, and my first trip to Disney in 22 years.

I learned in Tokyo that Singapore was not the cleanest country in the world. Japan has that title. There is no trash anywhere (or trashcans for that matter) and for a city with 22 million people, this continues to shock me. The roads look like they've all been paved yesterday and yet most people ride the trains or pre-WWII bicycles - the kind with the baskets in the front. The subway maps look like someone took a handful of colored spaghetti and threw down on a piece of paper - yet somehow the train stations are pretty easy to navigate.

The Japanese have a reputation for being deadly serious people. And that may be true...but Tokyo was where I first encountered their mad love affair with animation. Oftentimes goofy but always charming, the cartoons used in everyday signage clearly show the locals have a sense of humor - even if it doesn't look like it at first.

It's not just the animation; look at their clothes. You ever see a fashion show and think - "Who the hell wears that shit?" Go to Tokyo, and you'll find out. Next time I visit, I'm going to take more pictures of the Japanese people all dolled up in their latest fashions. By a long mile, the Japanese are the most fashionable people on the planet (at the parts that I've been to anyway). For better or for worse, the Japanese go all out in their fashion. Sometimes looking like goofy cartoon characters but most of the times just making you think how frumpy you look in your sweater and jeans.

I can see why Sofia Coppola made a movie about this place. Looking forward to going back.

Iwakuni

My home on the other side of the world, where the local girls told me that I looked like Harry Potter. When I said I was 30 years-old, they look surprised and said 25. That made me feel better about the Harry Potter comment.

Iwakuni has about 100,000 people and like most places in Japan, the town seems surrounded by mountains. It's most famous for the Kintai-kyo bridge, which has a lot of character, but I'd also add Iwakuni's castle as a memorable sight. I'd rank it among the best of all the castles I saw. It sits on top of one of the mountains overlooking the entire town.

After visiting the crowded craziness of other cities, it was always nice to come home to Iwakuni.

Octopus balls and other food

I ate pieces of octopus in balls of dough with a toothpick. I single-handedly gave more business to a candymaker called Pure than they probably had all year; those chewy sour candies were a daily treat. I grilled thinly sliced beef at my table and upon eating, I felt like Meg Ryan in "When Harry Met Sally." It was that good. I ate okonomiyaki at least five times and it was not enough. One of my most favorite experiences in one city was going to a place called Ramen Stadium. Down the street from our apartment, I adored a coffee shop run by an old man and woman; a place with 70's style decor, elderly patrons, Dr. Dre blasting from the sound system, and excellent kohi."

As I've said before, I'll give the "best breakfast" award to America, but the prizes for lunch and dinner go elsewhere hands down...and Japan is most definitely in the running.

Christmas in Hiroshima

Nothing says Christmas Day like a visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum. As good a day as any, my first visit to Hiroshima was very moving. The museum was terrific and seeing the ruins of the Atomic dome lit up at night was surreal. I took pictures from all angles.

Walking around the city, it's hard to imagine the horror that occurred on that day. It's a beautiful place and on Christmas, the streets were glowing with the most impressive light displays I'd ever seen. Some Japanese teenagers treated us like rock stars and asked for pictures.

We capped it all off with a five course Christmas dinner at an excellent Italian restaurant by the water. Yes, they serve Italian food in Japan. Yes, the Japanese were the ones cooking the food. And yes, it tasted just like the real thing.

Miyajima

Miyajima is an island famous for the Itsukushima Shrine, the 360-degree views from Mt. Misen, roaming deer & monkeys, and lots of freshly made Momiji manju (maple-leaf shaped pastries filled with custard, chocolate and sweet bean).

Also, it just so happens to be the home of the world's largest spoon.

Hanging with the Deer in Nara

Americans like to kill and eat their deer. The Japanese like to let them roam freely, while tempting them with special deer biscuits.

Apparently, in ancient pre-Buddhist Japan, deer were considered messengers of the gods, and so today, they are still treated as sacred creatures. In other words, you won't see venison on the menu and you won't see antlers mounted in someone's home.

Bambi would be happy here. I certainly was and couldn't get enough of all the deer just hanging around. Fyi...the costume character you see is the mascot of Nara, the original capital of Japan. It's half deer, half Buddha and totally strange.

New Name

How could I continue my blog "B-Rug in the Little Red Dot" when I no longer live in Singapore? Easy. Spend lots of time in Japan and change little red dot into BIG red dot.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I'm enjoying Japan!