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Japan Trip 2010: Let me tell you my adventures
My adventures, let me tell you them!
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Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-28, 07:55 #1
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Subject: Japan Trip 2010: Let me tell you my adventures
Arrived at the airport to find no lineup for check-in, and were through in about 90 seconds.  At domestic security I overheard one security guy say 'kaboom' and I asked him why he could say it, but I couldn't.  He assured me that I could say it if I wanted to, but that I should get it out of my system - quietly - before reaching the secure area.  He said the only kind they allowed there was the flatulent kind.

International security confiscated my toothpaste.  It was the last 25% of a 175ml tube, and the limit is 100ml.  Certainly I had about 50ml left, right?  No luck, they go by what's written on the tube.  I wonder what would happen if it was empty, would they take it still?  I squirted some on my brush and went through immigration with my toothbrush in one hand and passport in the other.  No one asked me why.

And I need to send Apple a thank-you letter.  Last night we packed and prepped with music from the iPhone blasting through the stereo.  This afternoon, with earphones in and iPhone ready, there was no music on the fucking thing.  Very impressed.  That's the sort of security that wins repeat customers and friends.  The iPhone happily assured me that, if I were within range of the internets, I could buy some more.

Our flight was largely empty.  We both had four seats to ourselves, and we napped and ate our picnic lunch (no free meal on JetStar) and watched TopGear on the iphone, the only content to survive iTunes last capricious syncing. 

When we arrived, our tiny band of fellow travellers (I reckon the plane was about 15% full, if that.  Every single person on that plane had a row to themselves) whisked through immigration, and our bag was already on the belt when we got there. 

The new Skyliner to Ueno is great, doesn't smell like moist anymore, and takes only 40 minutes to reach the heart of Tokyo.  40 minutes more on an express to Kuki, and we're home.  Some crazy old man accosted us outside seven eleven (Heretoforafter referred to as Sev) and wanted to tell us all about his daughter studying in New York.  Nice guy, but we're busy man!

Very tired by the time we got home.  Had just enough time to say hi to Zumi's mom, check out my server (dead PSU) and make the bed.  Crashed hard, slept like a stone.
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-29, 09:47 #2
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Subject: Japan: Day Two
Day two was all about shopping for our four weeks down at the ocean.  We'll be a long way from convenient civilization (saying that, we'll still be a lot nearer than Brisbane is!) so we stocked up on essentials.  Toiletries, accessories, LAN cables...  The vital stuff, you know?

We also did a Hard Off run, and I found that there are a lot more retro games available now than there were when I was last here ~3 years ago.  If you're not familiar with Hard Off, a chain of used hardware stores, here's how I described it to someone else:  " [I found] a PC Engine Duo R, PC-FX, PSX, PS2, PS3, x360, xbox, $10 gamecubes, a Twin Famicom, several Game & Watches, and at least 20 DS units, in a mix of DS, DSlite, DSi and DSi LL. Add to this all manner of exotic and antique computers, media, monitors, accessories, musical instruments and - in the back - porn."  If you like hardware, of any description, they've got you covered.  Every shop also has a 'junk' section.  No warranty, but incredible bargains to be found.  Bin after bin after bin of cables and controllers and consoles and videos and laserdiscs and cameras and computer parts... 

Checked out a dollar shop and stocked up on dishes and kitchenware for Australia, at prices you just can't understand.  It really seems that Australia saw China as a chance to rip people off, make massive profits importing the crappiest, barely-acceptable junk they could find.  Japan seems to have driven hard for lower prices with the same high quality they used to get from domestic products.  Stuff here is cheap, but it's still high quality.

Checked out four or five Sevs, bought all manner of strange chips and drinks before I remembered I don't eat chips much anymore...  I'll make an exception for anything made of habanero peppers tho.  ;)

MOS for breakfast, Sev for lunch, and finally went out for dinner with the family: yakiniku (korean BBQ).  Delicious.

Ended the day by going for a walk across town, looking for a replacement power supply for my server.  Couldn't find one, Yamada Denki has stopped selling components, and has replaced their toys and airsoft section with food and cosmetics.  You're no longer an electronics shop when you're selling 2-litre bottles of tea, can we agree on that?  Geez, what a disappointment.
BLEARGH
Author name 2010-07-29, 11:16 #3
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The quality of their products is so much better because they had to make high quality products to get rid of their stereotype for having lousy quality back in the day, which means because of the inovations they made in that area all products are now medium to high quality. Also as they now have most of their products made in Thailand, Vietnam etc. it's much cheaper to have things produced...i love what i learn from a business degree.

P.S. i want melon bread, dekavita c and fanta jelly...as well as a $20 ps3...if that's possible...which we all know should be as it's japan... =D
money cake..ayumyumyumyumyumyum
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-29, 16:51 #4
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Your theory is illogical.  "They had to create better quality products because they had shoddy products" makes no sense.  Maybe they wanted to but they certainly didn't have to, especially to eradicate a bad reputation.  More likely they wanted more money and increased quality with that in mind.  Also, pride, etc.

And that doesn't explain what I'm talking about anyway: Australia's stuffed with shit the Japanese wouldn't buy, and you explain that by saying the Japanese simply had to increase quality because their reputation was poor?  That's totally irrelevant.  Go back to class and earn that degree.  =P
BLEARGH
Author name 2010-07-29, 17:47 #5
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Quote by NFG:
Your theory is illogical.  "They had to create better quality products because they had shoddy products" makes no sense.  Maybe they wanted to but they certainly didn't have to, especially to eradicate a bad reputation.

It's because previous to the current era Japan, the country was known for having product quality akin to that of nowday China (would you buy a "great wall" car??). Countries such as Australia and America would actually try and stay away from Japanese products due to the conception of poor quality, to sell products and fix their image they had to increase the quality of the product.
money cake..ayumyumyumyumyumyum
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-29, 22:01 #6
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Well that much is commonly known, and frankly, pretty obvious.  But it's got nothing to do with the conversation at hand.  Besides, the stuff being sold in Japan is just as likely to be made in China as the stuff being sold in Australia, so what's the deal there?  What does Japan's efforts to better itself and move away from the 'Jap Crap' label have to do with the fact that the stuff sold here is cheaper and better than the stuff sold in Australia?  Today?  Right now?  It all comes from China.

There are three things at play here, IMO: Australians make more money (higher minimum wage) and can pay more, Australians pay a shocking amount of tax (Australia's GST is double Japan's consumption tax), and Australians are too placid to kick up a stink when they're getting screwed. 

Japan's historical efforts to improve its output are irrelevant right now, aren't they?
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-29, 22:12 #7
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Today was fun.  No shops near us sell PC components, so we had to drive to Oomiya to get a power supply and a SATA cable.  I also picked up some silver compound 'cause it was cheap and they had it on the shelf.

Checked out a few more Hard Offs, and found stacks more consoles and cool shit, but didn't buy any of it. 

It rained most of the day, but it didn't bother us too much. 

Lunch was Belparosso, a lovely Italian-themed restaurant with the most fantastic pizzas and deserts that look like catalogue samples.  Absolutely perfect.  Dinner at mom's, slabs of pan-fried salmon, with garlic and olive oil and butter...  Mmmm!!  Delicious.

Breakfast tomorrow: another brand of milk coffee and a strange circular strawberry danish.

Finally, got a local SIM card.  Had some fun looking at the local hardware.  Good god, the iPhone is a piece of fucking trash compared to the stuff on offer here.  Huge silver monochrome screens on the outside of a flip phone that opens to reveal a screen so high-res I cannot see the pixels, plays live TV, and does a million other things as well.  I am disgusted to even own an iPhone, but I recognize the point where Apple's piece of crap became the only option for me: apps.  Japanese phones do a zillion things out of the box, but add-ons for them are nowhere near as multitudinous nor varied as what Apple's got.

Ah well.  If they ask me, I'll tell 'em what to do.  =)
BLEARGH
Author name 2010-07-30, 02:55 #8
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Member since Apr 2009 · 59 posts · Location: Bendigo
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Lol, i'm logged in as Cam.


YAAAAAAAAAAY JAPAN AM GOING THERE IN JANUARY I HAVE INTERNET I LIKE NFG.


The end.


[Edit] Flynn by the way [/Edit]
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-30, 19:16 #9
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What a day.  Up at 6, out the door by 9 with all our gear, packed up for a month down in Izu.  Train'd to Tokyo, Shinkansen'd to somewhere south of there, and then took a local train (with tiered seating in the first car, for an awesome view) to Shimoda where we were picked up.  Total travel time: 3 hours or so.  Beats driving, which can take up to 8 hours.

We hit the shops for a few days of groceries, then drove to our home for the next four weeks: a gorgeous house about 2km up the side of a mountain from the ocean.  Great view, with a green canopy so dense you have to simply assume the ground exists, 'cause you cannae see it.

Got some great pics, will upload shortly.
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-30, 19:58 #10
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Subject: Photos from Japan
Pics!

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5486.jpg]
The view from the Shinkansen.   It's fast.

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5495.jpg]
This tourist-friendly train has a great view.

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5513.jpg]
A very small station way, way away from Tokyo.

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5522.jpg]
There are a lot of tunnels. 
We're in one, and can see a third through a second.

And here are some pictures of the 2km drive from the ocean up to the place we're staying.  Single-track driving FTW!

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5543.jpg]

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5548.jpg]

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5552.jpg]
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-31, 11:13 #11
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Subject: Our cook this month is a nonagenarian.
For the four weeks we'll be down here at the ocean, our dinner cook will be a 90-year-old woman.  Apparently she likes me more than her own family and is intentionally choosing things I like that they actively don't.

And she's apparently a bit of a random cook, quality-wise.  Last night's meal was great, but I've been repeatedly warned to expect many meals that aren't.
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-07-31, 20:18 #12
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Subject: It's hot.  I may die.
Not much happened today.  Since this is a work holiday (we're the cleaning crew for a 14-room pension) we started work today.  We only had one room to do 'cause the season hasn't fully started yet, and it only took about 20 minutes, most of that time spent showing me the ropes.  The rest of the day was spent under the air conditioner.

But I can't really sit around all day, so I went out and trimmed the vegetation from the road near here.  It was up to a meter into the driving space, and it was a lot of hot sweaty work trimming it back.  After that hour of hard labour ....  well, nothing.   A dull day, actually.

Last night I fished a small stag beetle out of the pool, but the bug action has been otherwise unremarkable.  Well, aside from the 3-inch dragonflies and black butterflies large enough to be confused for small bats.  Haven't managed to catch either, but TBH it's too hot to try.

Tonight's dinner was a curry.  It wasn't the best I'd ever had, but I enjoyed it.
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-08-01, 21:24 #13
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Subject: Sunday Picture
Today was hot, just a stinker of a day, with extreme humidity and 35C+ temperatures.  Leaving the airconditioned room was like being mugged by the oppressive weather.  We did all five rooms as quickly as possible, and then headed into town for a MOSburger lunch, followed by a little shopping.  I bought lots of beverages and a few snacks - coffee-flavoured cream melon bread?  Yes please!

Took some pictures too.  As you can see it's very hazy.  You can't see the ocean, tho on some days you can tell that it's a little bluer down where you think the ocean is than it is looking skyward...  But there's absolutely no boundary between the two.  It's easy to tell when things are farther away - they're paler.  Here's a view from the balcony, looking across the (unused) pool. 

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5600.jpg]

Dinner tonight was a tasty mix of vegetables, rice and some sort of gyouza-like steamed things.

The only guest here tonight was an interesting couple - Japanese wife, Brazilian husband, from Kawasaki near Tokyo.  He speaks little or no Japanese, both spoke fluent English.  Talked to them for half an hour, about travel and Japan and a few other things.  Very enjoyable, and it was fun speaking to non-Zumi people in English.  =)
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-08-02, 11:51 #14
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The busy season hasn't started in full yet, and business is down for the region, so the pre-season is a lot less busy than normal.   We've got no guests expected until Friday, leaving us with four days of not much to do.  After sorting out the one room this morning, I set to work sweeping around the pool and trimming some of the more ambitious plant life, including the orange tree sneaking onto the second floor balcony and the bushes trying to obscure the stairs. 

It's cooler than it has been, but still by 10 o'clock we were all done, showered and sitting under the aircon.

Apparently we're going for rolling sushi today, but I'm not expecting to enjoy it much.  I'm not into the more extreme, fishy, authentic sushi, so have been warned against expecting too much enjoyment.
BLEARGH
Author name (Administrator) 2010-08-02, 16:21 #15
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Subject: Oh, man!
that sushi was AWESOME.  Best sushi I've ever had.  Only ate nine plates though, I'm such a lightweight. 

Every time I come here for the busy season, there's talk of the water supply.  Basically, there's a feed from the creek nearby (where that comes from I have no idea, we're nearly at the top of the mountain and there are hardly glaciers up there) but it gets clogged with crud all the time.

It's apparently a massive chore to get to the water source.  It has been described to me as an hour long vertical jungle journey, featuring aggressive wild pigs, mud, stinging plants and bugs that sting and cause blisters as a matter of course.  I have been forbidden from attempting the trip without rubber boots and long pants, neither of which I normally bring to a mountain/beach holiday.  And besides, the boss has always been able to get up there himself and sort it.

Well, he's older now and so there was serious talk about having me do it.  But, as usual, I didn't have pants or boots...  But a quick trip to the local hardware shop found me a pair of both!

So, yay, adventure?  Bring cutting tools and prepare for some serious jungle journey-ing...  The bush around here is nigh impenetrable, I swear.  Check this out, a random view off the side of the road:

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/photos/Japan2010/NFG_5539.jpg]

You can't see the ground 'cause it's basically forty-five degrees sloping away from me.  If I were facing the other way, you'd see a riot of green grass and vines, but still - no ground.
BLEARGH
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