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Guest house
Comfortable and convenient accommodation in Central London
Located just north of Hyde Park in the centre of London (zone 1), 72qt is a popular bed and breakfast guest house, conveniently positioned in the very heart of the city at 72 Queensborough Terrace, where a warm welcome and unique surroundings ensures a memorable visit and a comfortable stay.
This elegant, recently part-refurbished guesthouse, offers light, clean and basic accommodation, plus versatile spacious function rooms and a licensed bar. 72qt combines the perfect central London location with low-cost value-for-money lodgings in its 15 basic rooms (single & twin rooms) and one ensuite double (sleeps 2-4). Shared wc/shower rooms can be found on each of the 5 floors of this beautiful Georgian building
Function Rooms & Licensed Bar
72qt benefits from being able to offer two attractive and spacious function rooms, which can be hired for a variety of occasions such as luncheons, private dinners, wedding receptions, funeral teas and wakes, anniversary celebrations, Bar Mitzvahs, parties, business meetings and conferences.
In addition a well-stocked, competitively priced, licensed bar can be made available for functions and is open to guests from Thursday evening to Saturday evening.
Central London Location
Within just a short walk from 72qt guests will find a wide array of amenities and attractions including Hyde Park, The Natural History Museum, Regents Park, The Victoria and Albert Museum and Kensington Gardens, whilst Oxford Circus, Notting Hill, and the world famous West End Theatres can all be found within a 3 mile radius.
The nearest tube station is Queensway, on the Central Line, just a 3 minute walk from the guesthouse.


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There were four minor blasts at Pune on the evening of August 1,2012, which did not cause any fatalities. They injured two persons. The injuries do not appear to be of a serious nature.
2. According to information available so far, the four blasts took place one after the other----not simultaneously---within an interval of about 10 minutes. This might have required more than one perpetrator.
3.I am inclined to believe as of now that the blasts were not meant to be mass casualty strikes. If the perpetrators had wanted to cause more casualties or large-scale panic they would have used either a lethal explosive mixed with splinters or a large quantity of low-lethality explosive with splinters. They do not appear to have done so.
4. The indications till now are that the four were carefully-timed explosions that would have required some knowledge and prior experience in assembling the improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
5.My assessment on the basis of evidence available till now is that the blasts were meant to convey a message to the police that the organisation to which the perpetrators belonged was still alive and active. They were also meant to pep up the morale of the members of the organisation by demonstrating that the organisation is in a position to strike again and that they should not get demoralised.
6. While it would be very early to say which organisation might have been responsible, the initial needle of suspicion would point to the Indian Mujahideen (IM), which had in the past recruited some of its cadres in the Pune area and was alleged to have played a role in the Pune Bakery blast of February,2010.
7.There has been no terrorist act attributable to the IM since September last year. The IM would have wanted to remove any impression in the minds of the police and its followers that the absence of any act of terrorism since last September probably indicated an irreparable damage to the membership and infrastructure of the organisation.
8. One should be disinclined to connect the blasts with Shri S.K.Shinde taking over as the Home Minister yesterday. Though the blasts were not sophisticated, selecting the perpetrators, assembling the devices, identifying the spots and having the IEDs planted could not have been done so fast after Shri Shinde took over as the Home Minister.
9. A point to be investigated is whether the blasts could have been linked to Abu Jundal, of the IM, who had helped the Lashkar-e-Toibha in organising the 26/11 terrorist strikes in Mumbai, being brought to Mumbai for interrogation by the Maharashtra Police ( 1-8-12)
( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate, Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-Mail: email@example.com . Twitter: @SORBONNE75 )

subset: commoncrawl


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Student Records
The Office of the Registrar (Office of Student Records) at Indiana University East supports the educational purpose and institutional values of the University. In carrying out this mission, the Office is committed to the goals and policies of the Office of Academic Affairs and strives to serve the diverse and changing needs of the campus community by capturing, preserving and providing information in a manner consistent with ethical and legal standards.
The staff of the Office of Student Records is dedicated to promoting access to campus services and to maintaining timely and accurate records of the progress and accomplishments of all IU East students. In its role as custodian of educational records, the Office safeguards the integrity and security of those documents as well as the students' legitimate rights to access information from them. The Office of Student Records supports the instructional and administrative responsibilities of faculty, staff and administrators by gathering and disseminating needed data efficiently and expediently and by designing and implementing registration and course adjustment procedures that will insure the consistent, equitable application of institutional policies and regulations. In all areas, the Registrar and the Office of Student Records strives to investigate and utilize advanced technologies to accomplish its goals.


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Welcome to the Bristol Township School District (BTSD) Website. We are a District comprised of hard-working students, caring teachers, and a supportive community, staff, and administration.
At each grade level, The District has implemented a curriculum that will help equip students to be good citizens, knowledgeable employees, and effective leaders. Now, our focus is on innovation, technological proficiency, intellectual curiosity, physical fitness, and character building so that in the future our students will be well prepared to face the challenges of the 21stcentury.
Thank you for visiting our Website. We are proud of our accomplishments and we look forward to the future with optimism and confidence.
Melanie Gehrens, Ed.D.
Stacy B. Gerlach
Board President


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Need help reading our website?
We have added the world-leading digital inclusion software, Browsealoud, to our College Bank and Lower Falinge website – making our content more accessible with reading and translation support.
Click on the Browsealoud launchpad that appears on your screen (it's an orange button!) to launch the support toolbar. Then simply click on any text to hear it read out loud!
How does Browsealoud help?
Browsealoud offers a host of reading and translation support – helping you to access and understand our website better.
- text-to-speech: click on or select any text to hear it read aloud
- translation: written and spoken translations in multiple languages
- text magnification: enlarges text and reads it out loud
- mp3 generation: converts selected text into an MP3 audio file
- screen mask: blocks distractions on screen with a tinted mask
- web page simplifer: removes clutter from the screen, displaying only the main text
- settings: customise options to suit individual needs or preferences
All the features are accessed from an easy-to-use, floating toolbar – allowing you to drag and drop it anywhere on screen.


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Stamford woman has given gallons of blood to American Red Cross
STAMFORD -- Betsy Henry is a giving person. So giving that every eight weeks the Stamford resident drives to the American Red Cross in Norwalk, rolls up her sleeve and donates a pint of blood.
It's something she started doing as a teenager -- more than 40 years ago -- and something she has faithfully done since. On Saturday, she'll donate her 184th pint, bringing her grand total to 23 gallons.
"I've been donating blood since I was 17 years old," Henry said. "I donate every 56 days. That's the cutoff."
The 59-year-old medical assistant receives awards and recognitions from the Red Cross each year for her frequent donations and is one of the state's highest active donors.
"We are grateful to Betsy for her commitment to donating blood to the Red Cross and for her dedication to our life-saving mission," said Elaine St. Peter, spokesperson for the Red Cross. "As a 23-gallon donor, Betsy has achieved an impressive milestone.
"One blood donation can help up to three patients. By donating 184 times, Betsy has potentially helped save the lives of up to 552 patients."
Someone needs blood every two seconds, with more than 44,000 donations needed each day, according to the Red Cross. The average person has about 10 pints of blood and can replenish any missing blood within a few days. But Henry notes the Red Cross' 56-day donation policy is strict, and it will stop donors who are even a day early.
Henry was a Red Cross volunteer in high school, answering phones and doing other work, when she donated her first pint of blood. She says blood is something that can't be purchased or manufactured.
"I just decided this was something you can't buy," she said. "People need it. It's the gift of life."
When she's donating blood in Norwalk, Henry said she sees people walking by and thinks they've probably never donated. She said she's always trying to talk people into donating.
"I'm the only one," Henry said. "I try to recruit people to come, but nobody wants to do it. Nobody wants to give their time. You've gotta make time."
The entire process of giving blood -- which includes registration, answering some questions, a mini-physical exam and a snack -- takes about an hour and 15 minutes. After she donates, Henry said she feels better because she may have just saved a life.
"One pint of blood can save three people's lives," she said.
Since the recent hurricane, Henry said it's even more important that people donate blood; St. Peter agrees.
"Blood has a limited shelf life and must constantly be replenished," St. Peter said. "We are deeply grateful to all those who remember patients in need and for the overwhelming response that has helped make up the shortfall after Superstorm Sandy."
St. Peter said blood donors are encouraged to give during the holidays, a time when people are typically busy, as well as year-round.
But one person that she won't have to urge to donate is Henry, who was busy eating liver and pumpkin seeds this week to build up her iron and drinking lots of water.
"People stuck in the hospital with diseases such as sickle-cell anemia need blood on a regular basis and where are they gonna get it?" Henry asked. "They rely on regular donors."


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Yesterday, Ray Lewis made some eye-opening comments about the lockout. "Watch how much evil, which we call crime," he told Sal Paolantonio, "watch how much crime picks up, if you take away our game."
We contacted both the league and the players for comment, as you can see by clicking the screenshots below to enlarge. A nice lady in the league's communications office promptly wrote back. We'll redact her info because we know when we're being extra-dickish, and also, we sincerely appreciate the reply.
G/O Media may get a commission
We're still waiting to hear back from a player rep.


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Make Holiday Meals Smooth and Special
By Family Features
(Family Features) A holiday meal shared with family and friends is a special occasion, and it calls for special touches in the kitchen. Cooking with olive oil is one way to achieve exceptional flavors that taste as good as they are good for you.
Extra virgin is the highest quality of olive oil, meaning that the acidity level of the oil is low. Options range from light flavor profiles to more traditionally robust extra virgin varieties, depending on the type of dish you're planning.
Extra virgin olive oil contains antioxidants, polyphenols and no cholesterol, making it a great addition to (or substitution for butter in) recipes savory and sweet. The strong flavors of Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil are best suited for marinades, pastas and salad dressings. Alternatively, the smooth, fruity taste of new Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil is ideal for more subtle preparations such as sauteing, sauces and stir-frying.
Keep these tips in mind when shopping for olive oil:
- Select the oil for quality, not color. Olive oils come in a range of colors, from dark green to a light golden color, due to the type of olives included in the oil.
- Look at the label for quality indicators. For example, Pompeian is the first and only national brand to carry the U.S. Department of Agriculture Quality Monitored Seal for extra virgin olive oil, reflecting rigorous testing for sensory, quality, purity and origin to ensure a quality product in every bottle.
- Look for a bottle that's dark in color, which helps prevent oxidation, keeping oil fresher, longer. Keep oil in your pantry, away from heat and light.
Find more tips and recipes for a delicious holiday meal at pompeian.com.
Pork Tenderloin Braised with Cranberries, Shallots and Apples
- 2 pork tenderloins (2 pounds)
- sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 6 tablespoons Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 12 medium whole shallots, peeled
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into 3/4-inch thick slices
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- 1/2 cup Pompeian Burgundy Cooking Wine
- 3/4 cup cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Season pork tenderloins with salt and pepper. In large skillet over medium-high heat, add 3 tablespoons of Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add tenderloins one at a time and brown well on all sides. Transfer to medium-size, non-reactive baking pan.
- Add 2 more tablespoons of Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil to skillet. Stir in shallots and cook until lightly browned on all sides. Transfer shallots to baking pan. Add apples to skillet and brown on all sides. Transfer apples to small bowl and set aside. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in skillet and add garlic and thyme. Cook garlic until golden, then pour in cooking wine. Bring wine to a boil, scraping brown bits at bottom of pan. Add cranberry juice and cranberries. Bring back to a boil, then pour liquid over pork in baking pan.
- Transfer baking pan to oven, cover and braise for 15 minutes. Add apples to pan, cover and braise another 10-15 minutes, or until thermometer inserted into pork registers 155 F. Transfer pork to platter and return pan to oven for 10-15 minutes more, until shallots are tender.
- Cut pork into 1-inch thick slices and spoon shallots, apples and cranberry-wine sauce over pork.


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Last updated: 23rd May 2018
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In short, a cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer or mobile device to help ensure that you get the best possible experience when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used by website owners in order to make their websites work, or to work more efficiently, as well as to provide reporting information.
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December, at least for me, is the worst month in my practice. The schedule is usually half-empty as people try to postpone things to after the holidays ("maybe my right arm will start working before the new year"). Patients have a million things come up at the last minute and can't come in. Most irritatingly, my epilepsy patients always get so damn busy that they forget to take their pills, and then have a seizure, and then get angry at me because they can't drive for a month and go Christmas shopping. Like it's MY fault!
But the biggest office issue this time of year is food. The holidays offer a perfect storm.
Like many medical practices, my staff and I depend on drug reps to help supply our nutritive needs. We average 2-3 drug company lunches (occasionally breakfasts) per week, and with the leftovers get 5 days out of it. Sometimes even enough to take home.
But in December, that starts to vanish. Many reps take vacations, or have mandatory time-off. A lot of them find they've gone over-budget for the year, and so to balance it out they cut lunches in December. So we're left with the prospect (gasp!) of foraging for ourselves!
The converging issue that makes this worse is what does come to the office. Every MRI place, lab, physical therapist, pharmacist, and grateful patient sends us trays of stuff. And not healthy stuff, either. Cookies, cakes, pastries, candies, cupcakes, donuts, chocolate covered anything, and other stuff. By the boatload.
So we eat this shit instead. And with fewer patients, we have more time to hang out in the back and chat and eat. And since we are all trying to save money for holiday gifts, we don't want to go get something healthy (like at McD's or Taco Bell).
(There are other options- a diabetes specialist down the hall from me puts all the sweets out in his lobby for the patients. Really.)
So our lunches become a selection of cookies, a few chocolates, and maybe a piece of pie (hey! it's apple pie! Isn't that healthy?).
And it's in this condition that I have to face my evil arch-enemy, the Wii Fit Trainer, who just delights in telling me how much my weight has gone up.
Fortunately I have the new Wii Fit Plus. And so far I've been killed repeatedly by giant wrecking balls on the obstacle course. It's so depressing I'm going to go have a cookie.


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text: TV and Furniture Tipover Safety for Safety Professionals Did you know… Every three weeks a child dies from a TV tipping over? Over the past ten years, a child has visited the emergency room every 45 minutes because of a TV tipping over? Seven out of ten children injured by TV tip-overs are 5 or younger. Share these tips with parents and caregivers to ensure that the children in their care are safe: Check TVs - Do a quick check of the stability of all TVs in your home. Secure TVs - Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall to prevent them from toppling off stands. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure that you have a secure fit. If you have a large, heavy, old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TV, place it on a low, stable piece of furniture. Recycle Old TVs - If you no longer use your CRT TV, consider recycling it. To find a location to safely and easily recycle unwanted TVs, go to www.GreenerGadgets.org. Secure Furniture - Use brackets, braces or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall. Install stops on dresser drawers to prevent them from being pulled all the way out. Multiple open drawers can cause the weight to shift, making it easier for a dresser to fall. Rearrange Household Items - Keep heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers. Avoid placing remote controls, food, toys or other items in places where kids might be tempted to climb up or reach for them. Visit the following sites for more information and materials: Top Tips from Safe Kids Worldwide Special Report on Recycling TVs


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Story highlights
- Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland wins opening prologue in 2012 Tour de France
- Cancellara finishes seven seconds clear of race favorite Bradley Wiggins
- Wiggins gains valuable time on defending champion Cadel Evans
- Tony Martin of Germany hit by puncture midway around 6.4km course in Liege
Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland claimed the first yellow jersey in the 99th edition of the Tour de France with a commanding victory in the opening prologue in Liege Saturday.
Olympic champion Cancellara is a specialist against the clock and over a flat 6.4km course underlined his domination with a winning time of seven minutes 13.46 seconds.
It left him seven seconds clear of the pre-race favorite for overall honors, Britain's Bradley Wiggins, with Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel (Omega-Pharma) in third place.
Team Sky's Wiggins had edged out Chavanel by less than half a second to take the lead before RadioShack star Cancellara repeated his 2004 win in the Belgian city with another powerhouse performance.
It was a welcome return to form for Cancellara, who had struggled in the early part of this year and made little impression in the spring classics.
"It's great. I'm really proud to have won here today eight years after my first Tour victory in Liege," Cancellara told Eurosport.
"It hasn't been the best season for me, but this really helps make amends."
Despite his defeat, Wiggins is left well-placed after the opening exchanges, gaining nearly 10 seconds on reigning Tour de France champion Cadel Evans, whose BMC teammate Tejay Van Garderen finished a promising fourth place.
Giro d'Italia champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda) finished one second adrift of Evans, the same time as Italian Vincenzo Nibali, rated by many as the main rival to Wiggins and Evans.
But Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, who finished third overall last year, lost nearly half a minute to Wiggins, coming home 135th at 38 seconds behind teammate Cancellara.
Germany's Tony Martin, who took the world time trial title from Cancellara last year, was left to rue a puncture, having to change bike and still coming home just 23 seconds down.
Sunday's first stage takes in 198km from Liege to Seraing, with testing terrain likely to rule out the possibility of a bunch sprint.


text:
Zon by Gorowski
Album Description
TAGGED AS:techno, electronic, dance, downtempo, break beats, See More...
TAGGED AS:techno, electronic, dance, downtempo, break beats, chill-out, See Less...
Over the past 10 years, Gorowski has released four albums on the renowned Dutch netlabel WM Recordings. His music is described as "electronically diverse" and has been used in compilations and videos, including an independent film that was shortlisted for an award ("Petzold's Whistle"). He has received a number of positive reviews from bloggers, and in 2007 one of his albums was voted into the Top 5 Netlabel Releases for that year by Phlow Magazine.
This new release is a little special. It is a collection of all the tracks made by Gorowski over the last decade, but never released. It includes pieces from each period when the other albums were made, and some brand new tracks thrown in for good measure! They have all been carefully selected, rejigged and remastered for your ear time pleasure.
All tracks Arranged & Produced by Gorowski. Released under a Creative Commons Licence (free music).
Gorowski gives special musical thanks to Marco, Pork, Morghini, Buddha, Walt, all the artists who helped to inspire this album & all those who have supported him.
Artist: firstname.lastname@example.com
Label: firstname.lastname@example.com
» VIEW ALL"Zon" Fans
Track Info
"Ventriloquo" by lizb
Zon by Gorowski is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.


text:
I eat shabu shabu more often, but I think I really like yakinuku better.
Back in the old days I'd go to Gyukaku, but unfortunately a lot of the ones around Tokyo didn't do an "all you can eat" menu, or the cost would be kind of pricey. One of the other teachers once mentioned a place called Gut's Soul in Yoyogi that was incredibly cheap.
I'm a bit wary of yakiniku being too cheap after we went to one in Shinjuku ni-chome that had the worst fattiest pieces of meat you could imagine. Thankfully that little s*thole has closed down.
I'm happy to say that this place was MUCH better. The cheapest all you can eat is 1,280 yen for 90 minutes. Pretty amazing huh? This course didn't include beef so we "sized up" for the 1,580 yen one. Be careful not to over order though as you will be charged extra for the meat you can't eat!
My first impression was that the beef pieces were a little anaemic compared to other places I've tried but it tasted good. You can get salty or sauce flavoured meat. The pork and chicken also tasted real nice.
We went to the Yoyogi one. Make sure not to sit facing the window. The Yamanote line is very close to the window and passes by every few minutes. Seeing it speed past a million times gave me a bad sense of vertigo I didn't need.
It is a chain restaurant so you can also find Gut's Soul in Nakano, Koenji, and Takodanobaba. Yoyogi is easiest if you're in Shinjuku. It's only a stone's throw away.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Gut's Soul
I eat shabu shabu more often, but I think I really like yakinuku better.
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
Two Towers Part I - Going Up The Skytree
When it was being built I was sadly thinking I wasn't going to still be in Tokyo when it would be completed. For a Christmas present, I was gifted a ticket to finally go up and I have to say I was kind of excited!
Unfortunately you can't use a FOREIGN credit card to book a ticket. While I'd love to say this is because Japanese people are inherently racist, it's probably to stop tourists from booking it completely out every day. On this weekday it wasn't too long. It took about 40 minutes to get in. A ticket to the 350m level costs 2,000 yen. To go to the 450m level is an additional 1,000 yen and can only be purchased on the first observation deck.
So how was the view?
Pretty damn spectacular! From this height you are far above the city. While the 450m is nice, I don't think it's really worth the extra cost. The view is not so different. I was surprised to see Shinjuku almost in the dark. You can easily see Mt Fuji in the distance as the sun sets. Amazing!
The closest station to the Skytree is Tokyo Skytree Station or Oshiage station. I got off at Kinshicho station which was the cheapest way, but there's a bit of walk from there. Overall if you come to Tokyo you HAVE to come here.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
The 2nd Happiest Place On Earth?
Did you know there are TWO Disneylands in Tokyo? Although it's called collectively Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland and Disney Sea feel like completely different theme parks.
After whetting my appetite with Disneyland I had to try out Disney Sea a short time later.
It's been said that Disney Sea is the "adult" Disneyland. The rides are faster and more appealing to older "kids". To me it actually didn't feel like a Disneyland. The Disney characters are not as overtly in your face, and it looks really picturesque! Also it feels quite a bit larger than Disneyland. From the first walk around I was drained.
To get to the entrance from Maihama station you have to get the Mickey train. It's Disney-fied well with Mickey-shaped windows and grab handles.
As soon as you enter the park it's hard to miss the Tower of Terror. I was nervous about riding it. On arrival we got our first fast pass for Journey To The Center Of The Earth. While waiting we tried out 20 Thousand Leagues Under The Sea as there wasn't a line at all. I quite enjoyed it! The illusion of being underwater was really effective.
From there we went on Aquatopia. Looking at it I thought it would be enjoyable. It features a similar trackless system to Pooh's Hunny Hunt, but riding it felt pretty pointless.
The nearby Stormrider bears a resemblance to Star Tours being another simulation ride, but it was just so-so. Getting wet wasn't really necessary as it didn't make it any more believable to me.
The Indiana Jones ride was maybe too intentionally jerky for my tastes, but it was fairly memorable.
From here I was to face my fears of the Tower of Terror. This ride is pretty cool. The buildup story was excellent. Even without understanding much Japanese the storyline was fantastic giving the looming dread of what awaited us. The ride felt like it actually pulls you down faster than gravity. On the third drop I'm pretty sure I said "Not again", but I kind of regret not going on it one more time before leaving.
One thing that stands out here is Duffy. Do you know it? The Mickey-faced bear that it seemed every Japanese girl had. I got so sick of seeing them that I wanted to throw them on the ground and stomp on their faces. But seeing that I'm not a violent person I relented.
Anywhoo where was I?
Oh yes.. By now it was time for the "Journey" ride. Again, lots of animatronics. Not bad. The fast thrill at the end of ride was unexpected. Nice. Later on in the day we'd ride it again. Unfortunately repeated riding actually made me rate it less. YMMV
At this point I have to mention the big gyoza sausage bun. It's around this area so we gave it a try. For 420 yen it's a little pricey but not bad for a hungry stomach. Speaking of food, I got the curry popcorn again. I saw the mickey popcorn bucket that I couldn't find in Disneyland. Bit overpriced too, but it's cute. Handy for popcorn nights at home I suppose. Later I bought strawberry popcorn. The least favourite to me. Kind of wished I got black pepper instead.
The Arabian Coast was a little boring (but pretty!). We rode the Flying Carpets and Caravan Carousel.
Next fast pass was Raging Spirits. Some people don't like it much. I think it's because it's all over too soon. I didn't mind it and I liked the 360 loop. Fun.
Mermaid Lagoon is what Toontown is to Disneyland. This is where the younger kids rides are. Jumpin' Jellyfish was so short it felt like it finished before it began. The teacups-like Whirlpool would've been better if it didn't hit the groove on the track so hard on the centre of the figure 8 so much.
The longest wait of the day was easily Toy Story Mania. This was the best ride of the day for me. The 3D, the shooting game, the movement. Lots of fun. A close tie would be the Tower of Terror simply for the great storyline.
To end the day we took the Transit Steamer Line back to the Meditteranean Coast, and rode on the last gondolas of the day. Funny that it was my first time on one even though I'd been to Venice.
So which is better, Disneyland or Disney Sea?
Now that I've been to Disneyland I'd have to say Disney Sea. It just has more overall enjoyment (for adults). BUT like I said it doesn't feel like Disneyland. It mostly misses what Disneyland is about - the characters!
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
The Happiest Place On Earth
Before I came to Japan I didn't know there was a Disneyland in Tokyo. I never really thought to come here. One, I considered it a place really for kids (or for the weird J types obsessed with everything Disney). Two, I wanted to come here for a reason - a "special occasion" of sorts. It has been on my to do list recently. Well that occasion happened to be my birthday. It was given to me as a present so.. here we go!
The key to maximising your time is the fast pass. I researched a little what I wanted to do, and it was decided "Pooh's Honey Hunt" would be worthy of the first pass.
The line of "Haunted Mansion" wasn't too long so we went through there. One thing that kind of bothered me throughout the day is the lack of English on the rides. I know I'm in Japan but it would be nice to have maybe a headset to translate?
We waited in line for "Big Thunder Mountain" Nice. After that we got our fast pass for "Splash Mountain" and went to try out the Pooh ride.
Most people make a big deal of the trackless cars. They are pretty cool. As with most of the rides, it was too dark and speedy to take photos. The animatronics looks very new and modern, easily the best in the park. It's clear why this is one of the favourite rides here.
We went back towards the castle and had a popcorn break. I bought the curry flavour. It tastes great. It wasn't the last time I tried it. Later we had chocolate which tasted pretty good too.
"Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes" was a bit of hard work especially considering the mother and son in front of me decided to take extended breaks OFTEN. Ga! Lots of ducks around.
Next was "Pirates of the Caribbean". Although we didn't use a fast pass the line was not too long and moved quickly. I guess since it's an older ride people aren't as excited for it anymore. Still enjoyable enough.
It's hard to navigate around parades. I had to take the LONG way around to get to Captain EO. Along the way I managed to take some great photos. I bet when these happy people go home they are chain smoking and swearing. Parade people can't be happy like this ALL the time.
So, Captain EO.. This seems REALLY out of place and dated. The years have not been kind. I hated the pre-show video. It made the time feel even longer to go in (and there wasn't even a line!) I love the 80's and Michael Jackson's music but I don't see this attraction lasting too long.
In sharp contrast I LOVED Mickey's PhilharMagic. The 3D was infinitely better as well as the "special effects". Good thing too that Donald Duck is the main character and I can't understand him half the time in English so the story was quite understandable too. The songs were real nice too. We watched it twice. It was THAT good.
Before we saw this show we went on "Star Tours" and "StarJets". We strolled through Toontown riding "Gadget's Go Coaster" for a laugh.
Space Mountain had one of the biggest lines. For sheer thrill this was probably the best ride for me. Maybe too scary for young kids. This would suit Disney Sea quite well.
By now we were both quite tired. Peter Pan's Flight was "ok". I had stupid fun "racing" a mother and daughter on the Grand Circuit Raceway. Then we went on Dumbo's "Flying Elephants", "Castle Carousel" merry-go-round, and the Teacups "Alice's Tea Party" to be completists.
Finally to end the day we did the "Jungle Cruise" just before closing. Here again the jokes were completely lost on me being in Japanese.
We were here from virtually opening time till close, so it IS possible to do Disneyland in a day. This really is a place to take the kids, or maybe a date. You have to do it because it's DISNEYLAND. Right?
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tsukiji is one of those places that I was always meaning to get to but never got around to it.
Probably the early morning wake up had something to do with it. If you want to see the tuna auction you have to be there at 5am. There is no pre-registration so first come, first served. Unfortunately the time we finally got there all the places were gone.
The rest of the market doesn't open proper till 9am so what the **** are you supposed to do until then? *!&! Go and eat a sushi breakfast, that's what!
There was already a line building in front of Sushi Dai. Easily recognisable by the green curtains (and the queue). As the day progressed the line would only get bigger and bigger. I'm not into sushi that has tentacles or anything of that sort. No problem! The selection they gave me was all kinds of "normal" fish.
The basic set is 2,500 yen. Quite pricey but well worth it. This was the BEST sushi I have ever tasted. Each piece felt like it was melting in my mouth, so fresh and delicious!
While I was bummed (and really, really tired) that I missed the tuna auctions, I really enjoyed checking out the rest of the market once nine rolled around.
To call it a tourist attraction feels wrong. I felt that I, actually "we" didn't belong there. I always felt like I was in the way of one of the workers. The electric cars zoom by silently with no warning or apologies. Certainly not a place to bring kids. That's for sure.
Even in this uncomfortable air, I'm glad that we can have access to this place. The fish is so fresh that there is no smell like you get in a supermarket fish section. Watching and taking photos as they worked, cutting and preparing the fish for sale was really fascinating.
If you have the chance (and can get up early enough) this place is highly recommended. Just bring some good waterproof shoes and your manoeuvring skills.
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
And Justice For All
I woke up early so I rode to some shops beforehand. I had plenty of time, or so I thought.
Police do routine inspections for riders to check for stolen bikes. On every bike is a serial number on a yellow sticker. All bikes have to be registered as an anti-theft measure, and you're supposed to carry the registration proof to prove it's yours. I had the registration paper but my problem was it was under another name.
I'd bought the bike secondhand and didn't bother to change the name. Usually I hand the police the paper and they let me on my way. You might get the older cop that would just love to bust some ass. Unfortunately today was my turn.
What usually takes a few minutes turned into two hours of interrogation. Half an hour on the street, and the rest of the time at the police station. A free ride in a police car!
I explained I had to be at work. The officer (actually there was more than one because obviously this was serious! ) said "long time". That can't be good. Treated like a criminal, I was body and bag searched to help pass the time.
I was refused to call work to say I'd be a "little" late. The officer didn't believe I couldn't speak Japanese (Yeah I know, my bad), and seemed not to believe my story. The previous owner was back in his home country so it was hard to prove it wasn't stolen. Finally they decided to let me go with token apologies but it shook me up. A HUGE chunk of deja vu from this time.
This just reaffirms my feelings that a foreigner will never be treated with the deserved respect of a local. Sure I could've changed the name on the rego, but who steals a bike with the registration papers? Was the bike reported stolen? No.
Today's event was heavy-handed and unnecessary. I'd like to go home with good memories. This has put a very sour taste in my feelings for this country. Thinking of coming to Japan? Think twice.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 10:19 pm 2 comments
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Genki Sushi
It's one thing I'm going to really miss when I go home. I have my favourite ones to go to but I thought I'd try this one in Dogenzaka.
Funnily enough the place used to be a game arcade with a lot of UFO Catchers. Those days are all behind me. I haven't played in ages, touch wood. You can find this sushi bar here.
This is actually the second time I've been here. The first time I was a little disorientated, but it's pretty simple to work everything out.
After you've waited in a quick queue to you'll be handed a mini clipboard with a seating number (63 here). You'll find the seat number along the bottom of the monitor screen.
Here you can see a brown box. That's the pickled ginger. It tastes great to eat between sushi bites. Also too is the green tea jar and soy sauce.
First thing I was looking for was a cup for some green tea, and a soy dipping dish. They're up the top there to the left of the monitor! Ah, the monitor. If you're a bit shy to yell out "sumimasen!!" to get a sushi chefs attention, that little touch screen is a godsend. When I first came it wasn't working when I sat down, so they had to reboot it. Easy to use as it's got English too.
The maximum order at once is three. Soon enough a tray will come zipping out with your order. Quickly take your plates and push the yellow blinking angry face button to send the tray back home.
For Shibuya I'd recommend Sushi Daidokoya, a short stroll here around the corner from the Dogenzaka place. It costs slightly more but seems a little bit bigger and tastier. Ask for the Avocado-maki. It's pretty special. Only thing here, while they do have a conveyor belt, it's often better (and fresher) to get the chef's attention to make you a plate on the spot (yes, yell out "sumimasen!").
In Shinjuku I really like Ooedo Sushi. There are actually two very close to each other here (B and D on Google Maps. I like the B one better (It's to the left of the Taito game arcade). I've been here heaps of times. Cheap and cheerful, and satisfyingly filling.
Thursday, 26 September 2013
You might be surprised that after all these years I had never been to a sumo tournament. I don't know why really. I guess I just didn't find the time to go. But right now I'm getting my culture on and checking it out!
I watched a Youtube video of a recent match and found myself laughing. Near naked fat dudes pushing their weight onto each other to either knock the other out of the circle, or on the ground.
The place to see sumo is at Ryōgoku Kokugi-kan in Tokyo. (Sobu line, Ryōgoku station) Seeing it live was pretty cool. In my haste to get there, I forgot to load my charging battery in my camera, but she was using my old camera so not all bad.
I never realised how short each match is. There's quite a build up as the wrestlers psyche themselves up with some salt throwing, false starts, and butt and stomach slapping. Once the fists touch the ground the fight is often over within seconds.
The sumo hall isn't that large. I think every seat in the house will get you a good view of the action. The cheapest seats are less than 4,000 yen. I paid the second "worst" seat price of around 5,000 yen but I was happy where I was. Sure, closer is always better, unless a sumo wrestler falls on you of course.
This is my video of the final fight of the day. They go a bit longer than usual, so it was a good match. Stay watching for the pillow throwing!
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Cats And Lions
Today I went to have a look. It was interesting how the photos were juxtaposed with similar poses between the animals. If you enjoyed the Neko exhibition or if you're a fan of cats (and/or lions), I think there's much to like here.
It is being held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Ebisu until October 20th.
Thursday, 12 September 2013
Morito Beach
I didn't get to go the beach as often as my record high last year. I went "only" eight times this year. At least I didn't get the massive jellyfish stings from the previous Summer season.
I got a tipoff about a picturesque place located not too far from my favourite beach.
This one's called Morito beach. Because it requires a bus from the train station, it's a much more relaxed affair than Zushi's crowds. Being past the end of "swimming season" (end of August), is another reason the beach was practically deserted. Except for a photo shoot that was a nice extra surprise. Thank you.. really.
There are two parts to the beach split by a shrine. The first part is a fairly small patch of beach with a nice little man-made "jetty" made of blocks. The water was pretty clear. I could see quite a lot of fish and baby crabs scurrying along the wet blocks.
Just around the corner I was surprised by a nice stone beach which looked even better. In the distance there's a "floating" torii gate. Here the water was clear enough for some decent snorkeling. I wish I'd brought my mask!
With a slight fear brought on by last year's "attack" I stayed close to the shallows in my inflatable ring with a nicely balanced chu-hi to relax comfortably.
This is definitely one secret beach worth coming back to. I hope it stays this way. In the evening it was possible to see Mt Fuji.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
American Pop Art
It was an awful rainy day so a good time as any to check out the American Pop Art at the National Art Center in Roppongi.
I'm a bit divided on the merits of this art movement. Jasper Johns works left me unimpressed. Nothing that a school student couldn't do on any other day. Andy Warhol has his fans, but he just copied existing works (Campbell's cans) and photocopied prints. He had a good sense of colour though. I'll give him props for that.
I'm a big fan of Lichtenstein. His comic book style really does pop. I like someone that can really draw or paint. THAT is an artist.
I really liked Claes Oldenburg's Giant soft vinyl drum set. I was thinking it would look great in a living room to lie on while watching TV.
The exhibition is on till the 21st of October.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Akasaka Palace State Guesthouse
The closest station to the Akasaka guesthouse is Yotsuya station. Usually you can only see it from afar behind the gates, but on occasion it's possible to not only go a little bit closer but also inside.
I'd been inside the gates before on the 3rd of November last year, but was only allowed outside the front of the main building. If you make bookings in advance it is possible to be chosen to go on a tour of the rooms inside as well as viewing a limited fountain area behind the building.
Originally built as the Imperial Palace for the Crown Prince, now it is used as the official accomodation for visiting state dignitaries.
As you'd expect, security is quite high. They had set up airport style walk-through scanners. I brought my camera with my nice ultra-wide angle lens to take in the opulence of the rooms, but I was quite dismayed to soon find out that they didn't allow photos.
Why do they do this? I find out later they sell photo cards at the end of the tour. How convenient. I did manage to take a photo of the stairwell but sad to say it's not worth putting up here. If you'd like to see what you missed look here for a description of the rooms and their photos.
Tours inside are limited to 10 days a year and guests are chosen by lottery, so good luck if you get in. While it was kind of interesting to see what most people won't, you shouldn't lose too much sleep if you don't. From the first to the third of November there will be another open day. It is only outside, but pre-registration is not required.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Onjuku Beach
There are quite a few "juku" in Tokyo. You might have heard of some, Harajuku, Shinjuku for instance. How about Onjuku?
Onjuku Beach is about two hours from central Tokyo on the Chiba peninsula. Usual way is the JR Sobu line, which continues on the Sotobo line to Kazusa-Ichinomiya, then you take the local service to Onjuku station. The cost is 1,890 yen from the Shinjuku area.
Some friends wanted to go somewhere different, so it was decided to come here.
The weather was nice and there were a few waves, although quite lame. While you could do some simple bodysurfing, I'd be a little embarrassed bringing a surfboard here. Chiba faces the open sea so it is possible. (Kujikurihama comes to mind)
Instead of a surfboard, I brought along a floatie ring that I "found" in Enoshima. It was left behind before we left that day. I got a 105 yen air pump to blow it up but it was pretty useless. One of the beach hut guys inflated it for "free" seeing that we rented an umbrella (1,500 yen). Not very manly (especially in pink), but it did the job nicely allowing me to zone out a bit
The beach is a similar shape to Zushi. On arrival there are two camel statues greeting us at the entry. Strange. The sand is perhaps relatively cleaner, but the sea is much the same. Quite a lot of people with tats and tans around. I saw a girl with a butterfly tattoo on her chest. Not pretty.
If I lived in Chiba I'd frequent this beach more often, but for the time and money getting here, I'd say Kanagawa beaches are more worthwhile, as long as it's not loud and dirty Enoshima.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 11:59 am 0 comments
Friday, 16 August 2013
Sompo Building
One of the interesting building that you see in the west Skyscraper district of Shinjuku (Nishishinjuku) is the Sompo Building. It looks like this:
You'll notice the possibly even more interesting Mode Gakuen cocoon building on the right.
One reason you might like to go up the Sompo building is that there is an art museum on the 42nd floor. While I was there I saw the Jeux Surrealism exhibition. It is also possible to see one of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" paintings here. Another good reason is the view.
Pretty damn fine.
You may recognise the intersection on the left as the same as the background of my blog. If you look closely you can see Tokyo Tower, and even more closely the Tokyo Skytree.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Are you one of those people that watch all those Youtube cat videos?
Yes? Then you HAVE to go to the Neko exhibition. The photographer, Iwago Mitsuaki captures cats from around the world in different states of emotions and situations. I'm not a cat lover per se. I consider myself more of a dog person,
but I quite enjoyed it!
The exhibition is being held in the new Hikarie behind Shibuya station on the 8th floor. It's an interesting looking building, but the shops, mainly geared towards female clientele, are a tad boring to me.
Cost of entry is 800 yen, but here's a tip. Give them a photo of your cat and the entry is free! Mr. Mitsuaki also has another exhibition concurrently entitled "Cats and Lions" at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Ebisu. It looks very cool too. I'm planning to check that soon too.
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Katase Enoshima Eastside Beach
Although I did come to Enoshima beach, last time it was Katase Nishihama Beach (Westside). I was a bit confused with the names of the beaches around here. Was it Shonan, Katase or Enoshima beach?
After a bit of research and translating, Shonan refers to this coast of beaches, similar to how Kujikurihama covers the Chiba side. Some say Katase, and others says Katase-Enoshima so that's my conclusion!
Enoshima beach is split by Enoshima Island, which one day I might check out if I have enough time. It looks interesting.
To get here the cheapest way is via the Odakyu line (610 yen). From Shinjuku you can take a one hour rapid train to Fujisawa station, and then walk to the opposite side of the platform to get the local service which terminates at Katase-Enoshima station. From there you take a short walk across the footbridge and either go the Higashihama (east) side, or the Nishihama (west) side of the beach. Super easy.
Enoshima Beach feels very different from other beaches I've been to. Today was absolutely packed. The loudspeaker was blaring incredibly loud with horrible J-pop, and announcements that seemed to come every five minutes.
The crowd here were quite young. My first question I felt like asking was "How old are you?" in case I was chatting up some jailbait. Seriously! Also, once I got in the water I felt like there were many more guys than girls here :(
The water is quite shallow so this would be a good place for kids, although it's noticeably dirtier with tiny furry algae, and I noticed a used bandaid floating by. Ew. Maybe it was just today but I seemed to get stung by jellyfish particles more often than usual. Every now and then I heard someone say "Ittai" (ouch!).
By the time 5pm rolled around, they started playing the go home music ("Auld Lang Syne", the default closing time song in Japan). For a beach? That's pretty strange. Once that finished and people started going home, it was quite blissful hearing the natural sound of waves. Almost felt like a different beach!
A big disappointment though is this beach is SO dirty. A lot of people just leave their trash on the beach when they go home. Lots of blue tarps and empty bottles, cigarettes left behind. I saw a floatie ring that it seems like every girl has when they go to the beach.
I grabbed it to take next time. It was pretty difficult to let the air out though. That's probably why. Anyhow, it's mine now, and it's pink!
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Free Wifi in Tokyo
Years ago when I was travelling through Europe, internet access was paying 2 Euros for 30 minutes in some nondescript cafe to check emails and keep in contact with family (Yeah, that and "cheap" phone cards). Life was simple without Facebook. No doubt a better place :P
These days it's virtually a given that free wifi internet access is part of the deal with a lot of hotel rooms these days. BUT I don't really stay in that many hotels since I live here.
I never really liked Softbank's iPhone deal. Unlimited internet access and an iPhone! The phone was locked and these days Internet access is getting cheaper and cheaper. TIP: Bring your own unlocked smartphone, or buy a used one in Japan.
In the early days I DID have wifi on my phone and with some stealth ninja wardriving, I was able to find places where I could connect when I really needed to.
The fantastic news is that free Internet access is available now from a lot (not all at time of writing this) of JR and subway train stations. JR trains supposedly three hours at a time, and the subway for fifteen minutes (but you can log back in up to five times).
JR's access point is "JR-EAST_FREE_Wi-Fi", and Tokyo Metro is "Metro_Free_Wi-Fi". It requires that you register with an email address, but it's quick and painless (ie. English too), so if you're coming to Tokyo you won't be missing any Facebook updates. Ha Ha!
Incidently, there is also free wifi at Narita and Haneda Airports too.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 1:34 am 1 comments
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
ANA Maintenance Tour
Like the recent G-Cans excursion, I'm open to ideas that cost little or no money. Enter stage left, the ANA maintenance tour!
To get there you have to get the Tokyo monorail from Hamamatsucho to Shin Seibijo (470 yen). (Hamamatsucho is on the Yamanote line so it's really easy to find your way there.) From the station it's a five or so minute walk to the ANA building. It's NOT the ANA building you see as you exit the station. Give yourself at least one hour leaving from central Tokyo.
We arrived there for our 1pm tour. Most of the people were kids today. They commenced with a talk and video about the different kinds of aircraft and how planes fly. It's all in Japanese but I got the gist and the music was better than the other G-cans video presentation. I was getting a bit of Top Gun vibe here. This part lasted about forty minutes.
Next we were given hair nets and blue helmets to proceed to the maintenance area. All up the tour lasted about an hour and a half. The tour guides were very generous, allowing everyone time to take plenty of photos and didn't mind that we, meaning I, lagged behind a bit to take even more photos.
As a nice memento we were given a plastic airplane.
Like the G-Cans tour it is free, but MUST be pre-booked and gets booked out very heavily. Checking it now I see the first available day is in December! Don't give up hope though. There can be cancellations.
If you want to see something a little bit different this is an enjoyable day out. Not far away is the Haneda domestic airport so also a good (photo) opportunity for some plane spotting!
For reservations go to the ANA tour booking site (Japanese) here. Highly recommended.
Saturday, 27 July 2013
Ningen Gakki
Way back in 2011 I was in a music store and I attempted to try out this cute little toy. It's a Ningen Gakki which translates as "human instrument".
There are three modes. The first plays up to ten popular Japanese songs. Mode two is sound effects - animal noises, telephone rings etc., and the last one is a drum set.
To use it you hold one of the metal contacts on the little guy's hands or feet, and touch another person somewhere on the skin, even their face. One is a lonely number, and so using this by yourself is pretty useless.
Fast forward to today I was perusing one of my favourite Hardoff stores and I saw it in one of the junk boxes in its original box with the instruction booklet. Actually truth be told, I actually saw it the last time I was here, and wisely thought it was something I didn't really need. This time I was not so wise and decided to grab it.
It's made by Takara Tomy and even won some kind of toy of the year award here. I can imagine this would be fun to use after a few drinks, and a good excuse to poke people. I got it for a giveaway price. It's still available from Amazon Japan here.
Here's a good demo of it here. It's in Japanese but the way it works is pretty clear.
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Welcome To Japan
"I wonder what goes through a person's head before they snap. What are they thinking? Are they angry? Indifferent? Disillusioned? Does their blood pressure rise? Do their fingers shake? Do they question their place, their thoughts, their own mental makeup?
Does the universe seem infinitely small or inconsequentially large? Do they lay awake at night recounting the day? Or go through the day physically exhausted? Do they long for a vacation that seems to never come? Do they yearn for a peace that does not exist? Do the walls that protect them seem easily broken under the strength of anger?
What happens to a person mentally when they decide that enough is enough? The question of why we are where we are is of little use when it is used as a complaint, but can mean the world when used constructively.
The only thing more annoying than having to hear people kiss is having to hear them have sex. Just go to bed already, ffs. If what is put forth by nature would have its way at my annoyance, then perhaps it is I who must retire. Retire to my slumber or perhaps to my home. Chiba sucks. I want to go home.
It's all the same, no matter how far a person travels to be the person they dream to be, it's never enough just to be a well meaning voyager. One must also have heart to see past their own limitations. What a load of crock. It's no use to complain, but it is of great value to recognize that it is not what just I want in the world, but what everyone else wants as well.
We are all the same, we are all star stuff. We are on our own voyage through time, space, life, death, love, hate, work, and play. I don't claim to be the work of a creator, for in a universe set forth into motion by its own being then there is little for a creator to do. I am what I am, which is to say that you are you, and that I am you, and you are me, and we are we. Or us. I don't understand English, I just teach it. What a crazy thing to be alive."
I didn't write this, but I could totally relate to it. There are days when I scratch my head and think why did I come here, and why am I still here. There are things that I really HATE about Japan. It's like that significant other. The things that were once cute, become frustrating and annoying.
On the other hand I've had awesome moments and a few valued people around me that seem to make the fleeting insane times pass.
I would like to credit the writer but I think considering the content it's best that the person stays anonymous. I wanted to put it here in case it was eventually deleted. Some things should not be forgotten.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 11:59 pm 2 comments
Thursday, 11 July 2013
G Cans
G-cans (Otherwise known as the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel) is situated in Saitama.
It's on the Tobu Noda line and he closest station is Minamisakurai. From there it's a 30 minute walk to the complex amid acres of rice fields.
It's my day off today so I stupidly decided it'd be a good time to walk in 35 degree heat but having said that, underground it was a naturally pleasant 15 degrees.
Nothing prepares you for the first sight once you enter the "temple". Photos don't do justice how immense this place is. It's pretty huge. 25.4m high and 177 metres long. The feeling of this place gives you the impression of being on the set of Alien or Indiana Jones.
Unfortunately you only get ten minutes to take photos, and the area to look around is quite restricted. The majority of the time is spent watching a video (complete with cheesy music) explaining how the place works. The tour is all in Japanese, so they say you need someone who can translate for "security" reasons.
This place was used in this Land Rover commercial:
And also this music video by the band um.. Screw.
Oh and don't forget even Pharrell has been down here too. If that isn't enough of a recommend I don't know what is!
The tour is free so money back guarantee! It has to be booked in advance, which you can do from this page (Japanese). For some English information look here.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Bad Cop
I can't remember the exact reason why I bought these mirrored sunglasses. I was looking at the Rayban aviator style and thought they looked pretty cool.
I tried on the Oakley (Plaintiff) version and found a pair on Yahoo Auctions. They set me back 13,500 yen, but they were much cheaper than new ones.
I wasn't expecting the delivery on a Sunday so when I failed to answer the door I found the undeliverable slip. While the Sagawa courier still do deliveries, their branches are actually closed. I ended up chasing down a delivery truck to get them to redeliver it. Hard to do when the guy didn't speak English.
He did manage to say "Star Wars" when he heard my R2-D2 sms ring though.
I'm quite liking these sunnies but I did find out a few days later that the screw on one of the arms had been overtightened and I couldn't adjust the arm's looseness.
Another teacher often wore his dark sunglasses even at night. (Now that's a classic song) I thought it was silly but sometimes lately I've been wearing these on the train, and I can see how some people feel uncomfortable, but I can see why the other guy does it.
It's nice having my own privacy even on a train, and for once I'm not the one feeling uncomfortable for being watched.
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 1:59 am 0 comments
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Shinjuku Park
Shinjuku gyoen is a park MUCH closer to my house. You're probably wondering why I don't do my debauched drinking, and playing guitar there instead of Yoyogi Park?
I came here on this (Greenery) day, and since it was free today, I may as well see what I wasn't missing. Sure the Taiwanese pavilion is kind of nice. The greenhouse is kind of cool to all the geeky camera nerds with macro lenses. Oh, and you can't forget that rose garden. Unforgettable.
Their website amusingly states:
1. To bring items listed below.
2. To do the activities below.
3. Disrupting natural habitat such as:
4. Activities which may disrupt other visitors.
5. Impairing scenery.
6. Activities which disrupts the garden administration.
What they really mean is that all the fun things to do in a park are actually prohibited. On top of that the usual entry is 200 yen. No thanks. I'll do my getting drunk and making other visitors feel uncomfortable for free!
Ueno Zoo was also free today too so we did a two in one. SO many people. No chance to see the pandas again. Dang.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Meguro Sky Garden
On this day we went to the Meguro Sky Garden. What's so special about it? Check this out.
From the outside it looks like a concrete Roman coliseum. Atop the Shuto expressway is a landscaped garden looking over the Meguro ward. Surprisingly being on top of a freeway the sound of cars is not noticeable at all.
It's about a fifteen minute walk down the 246 from Shibuya, but if you'd rather take the train the closest station is Ikejiri-Ohashi station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi line.
For some strange reason it reminds me of the High Line urban renewal development I saw in New York. Similar feeling elevated garden. While it's a novel idea, I probably won't come back. If I lived around here it would be a great place to have a picnic and a few drinks, but for now and forever Yoyogi park takes that special place in my heart.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
I was working near Tokyo station so I wanted to check out the newly opened Kitte building. It was formally a post office, hence the name. Kitte means "stamp".
Inside you can check out the 98 shops and restaurants. The highlight of the place though is the view from the roof garden. You can see to the newly renovated Tokyo station and surrounds. It's location is not far from the underground shops I mentioned here and here. When I went there you had to line up to use the escalator. By now it may have settled down after all of Tokyo wanted to see it in its first week.
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Let's Guam!
Winter was getting me down and it's always a great idea to get out of Japan to keep one's sanity.
I wanted to go to a beach. Anywhere as long as it was somewhere to get away from it all, and preferably hot enough to swim. I found some really cheap airfares to Okinawa, but from everything I read at this time of the year it would still be too cold.
Hawaii was an option. I almost booked it. I was also keen to get rid of my American dollars at the same time! She couldn't really afford to go there, but she found a very reasonable package "tour". Three nights for 46,000 yen!
There had to be a catch right? The plane left late in the evening from Narita, so we'd be arriving there very early in the morning. We flew with EVA Air on a not so long three hour or so flight. Not the most prestigious airline, but not much to complain about. Maybe they needed to update their printed napkins. They had a picture of Christmas mistletoe next to their name!
We stayed at the Pacific Bay Hotel. It's no five star hotel. There was a slight smell of damp. Having said that though, the room was clean, the staff polite, and they do have a free Internet access in the lobby which is always nice.
Before I left I wanted to buy a mask or goggles. I hunted around all over Tokyo for a reasonable pair. Since it was out of season, it wasn't going to be easy. After a huge runaround I found a mask and goggles for 500 yen at Donki! Sweet.
I'm glad I got it, the water was crystal clear and close to where I took the above photo, there were plenty of fish to swim with. Be warned though. Seemingly curious Picasso triggerfish do protect their territory in breeding season and they DO bite. She got nipped a few times. I swear I could hear the Jaws theme a few times.
So what else is there to do in Guam? Shopping! Included in our tour package was a free bus that took us around to all the shopping malls. Apparently Guam is home to the biggest K-mart in the world. Most of my purchases consisted of lots of ravioli, some Sara Lee cheesecake and.. a Lego tie fighter!
Guam is strongly marketed to the Japanese. The majority of the tourists were easily Japanese (about 80%). It seems like they outnumbered the locals! There are numerous wedding chapels along the beach where it wasn't unusual to see a Japanese wedding.
We left VERY early Tuesday morning. Unfortunately later that day this happened.
Guam feels like a safe, enjoyable place to visit. I had a great time and it was a wonderful timeout from the loud hustle and bustle of Tokyo. The locals were very friendly so I could see myself coming back here again.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Sign Of My Times
This WAS going to be my last post for this blog. New Year's hardly ever felt "happy" in that I wasn't satisfied with the year that had gone by, and the year that was to come didn't feel like it was going to get any better.
Around this time I felt stung by the favoritism and insincerity of certain people around me. In many ways I've been doing the same thing for six years and not a lot to show for that. I thought it was a good time to kind of disappear quietly. An untitled post and a picture.
I saw this in Shibuya while I was drinking with some friends. It struck a chord with me, and it gave me the release to say goodbye.
So why the change?
The purpose of this blog was to document my time in Japan. Even now I look back and remember the things I did, the junk I bought and where I went. It's been nice that some people have enjoyed my ride and I've liked the feedback from people that have stumbled onto my blog.
A friend mentioned that no one cares if I ate ramen in a restaurant and I kind of agree with that sentiment. My most popular post is my How to use a UFJ ATM write up by far. So maybe less repetition, and maybe a few posts that you guys might be interested in along the way.
In my absence I've been helping lost tourists with directions which made me feel all good inside, so if any of you have a question or just want to say hi, leave a comment or find me on twitter. Give me another reason to keep this going.
I can't promise to be more prolific in postings, but I'm still here, ok?
Posted by Jimmy In Japan at 4:38 am 2 comments


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Johnsons Sunflower Autumn Beauty Seeds
Mr Fothergills Autumn Beauty Seeds. Fast growing with spectacular blooms. Ideal for the back of borders, as a temporary screen and as a cut flower. Dead flower heads will feed the birds in autumn.
For Outdoor sowing
When: March to May
Where: In a prepared seed bed
Flowers: June to September
For indoor sowing
When: March to May
Where: In individual pots of seed compost
Flowers: June to September
UK Delivery Terms
Parcels are shipped via Royal Mail or Parcelforce dependent on size and weight. Orders placed before 12:00 midday will be shipped the same day. Orders received after 12:00 on a Friday will be shipped on the following Monday (or next business day in the event of a bank holiday).
Delivery Times
Standard Delivery (2-3 Days)
Standard Delivery is via Royal Mail Tracked 48 or Parcelforce 48 dependent on weight.
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Express Delivery is via Royal Mail Tracked 24 or Parcelforce 24 dependent on weight.
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The Standard Delivery charge is £3.99 per parcel up to 3kg in weight.
Parcels over 3 kg have a delivery charge of £7.50.
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Parcels over 3 kg have a delivery charge of £9.50
Local Delivery
We offer free delivery within 8 miles of the centre using our own transport.
On occasion goods are subject to availability and delay in delivery of goods is sometimes outside our control. As such, delivery cannot be guaranteed and any dates we specify for the delivery of the goods are approximate only. We shall not be liable for any losses, costs, damages, charges, or expenses caused by any delay for delivery of the goods.
Any unwanted items must be sent back at the customer's expense in original packaging and condition. If you wish us to give you a quote for this please send us an e-mail, otherwise return the goods to:
Radway Green Garden Centre
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Telephone: 01270 878009
If you are unhappy with the goods received we will refund them if they are sent back at the customer's expense in new resaleable condition within 7 working days along with the original receipt.
We suggest for your own protection you use 1st class registered post.
Any refunds will be issued once we have received the goods, in their original condition. This refund only includes the total of goods sent not the delivery charge.
We will not charge a restocking fee for returned items.
Any goods with manufacturing faults on arrival will be replaced or refunded.
This does not affect your statutory rights.


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You have no items in your shopping tote.
It's all in the details
Snake Prints
Tieks Hand-Painted Snake Print Leather
The exotic Snake Collection features hand-painted Italian leathers that are meticulously cut to mimic snake scales. Each print is comprised of at least four colors including black, silver, and gold, creating a striking combination. After the leather is painted, a shiny finish is applied, the scales are cut and the leather is tumbled to make it buttery soft. During this final tumbling process the cut scales open slightly to achieve optimum authenticity. These distinctive traits are what make our Snake Collection so remarkably bold and beautiful.
Sand Snake
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Tieks Foldable Nylon Tote
Each pair of Tieks comes with a reusable nylon tote in our signature Tiek Blue color. The tote unfolds into a perfectly sized travel bag to transport your favorite heels.
Tieks Custom Shoe Pouch
Our compact pouch is designed to easily compress folded Tieks for quick and convenient storage during travel, or whenever you need a little extra space.


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Could Snooki and her back-again boyfriend Jionni LaValle be tying the knot one day? Snooki seems to think so.
The pint-sized "Jersey Shore" star and professional partier hinted as much to Radar Online at a club in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The couple began dating back in the fall, and according to Snooki, her boyfriend isn't interested in sharing the spotlight with her — not that he has much of a choice. The two have stuck together despite the standard "Shore" drama.
U.S. & World
"It's our second time to Vegas together and we might be going to the chapel. It's that serious," she said.
Dressed in the equivalent of a sexy leopard costume, Snooki assured that doesn't mean now — "but in the future, definitely."
Definitely possible? Or just... definitely?


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To see it was to cringe: Crooner Michael Bolton crawling out of a dog house on stage on his hands and knees following a bone held in front of his nose.
It was the beginning of his act on "Dancing With the Stars" which rates as one of the most painful ordeals in recent memory on the reality show. It only went down from there. Bolton's canine-themed jive dance to "Hound Dog" drew absolutely scathing remarks from the judges beyond the head-scratching decision to begin with the proud singer crawling around the floor in front of a national television audience (chalk that idea to choreographer and his professional partner Chelsie Hightower).
The painful routine that followed was all Bolton, who is not taking well to the competition. He said after last week's poor showing, "I only have one way to go, up!"
He was very, very wrong. His score of a 12 out of 30 put him at the bottom of the heap by a shocking 6 points. It also featured a rare, dismal 3 vote from judge Bruno Tonioli, who was madly rubbing his temples at the end of the dance as if trying to determine if he was watching reality or not.
"You should have kept the bone and gone back into the doghouse," he said to begin his unusually harsh review.
"I think this was probably the worst jive in 11 seasons," he added. "It was a doggy mess of a jive. You did it very, very badly. I hated it."
Tonioli was so cutting, that the normally curmudgeon-like judge Len Goodman rebuked him -- once again very rare stuff here -- for being too cruel as Bolton stood feet away trying to smile.
"You hated it, but you should keep some of the comments to yourself," Goodman snarled at Tonioli. "That is unfair."
That said, Goodman had just been pretty tough himself, saying the dog-act "probably needed a pooper scooper as well to finish it off."
He did try to find a positive spin by just saying the dance "wasn't really your cup of tea."
Only judge Carrie Ann Inaba tried to find a positive.
"You're Michael Bolton, you came out of there crawling to try to please your partner to do what you thought would help you get a good score," she said. "I appreciate that and respect that."
What's worse than the dancing is that Bolton looks miserable on the show. Even the worst dancer can go on the "Dancing" to showcase their true personality to prime-time America. And it really works. But Bolton has hardly cracked a genuine smile.
He argued with his partner Hightower in the rehearsal video when she gave a juvenile "whatever" to one of his suggestions. And he went to great pains to show he's suffering from a throat infection, even taking the cameras to the doctors and wearing a ridiculous air mask in the dance studio.
He's in a big hole with his low scores, but voters will hopefully do the right thing and put this dog out of his misery in the elimination tonight.


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One of pop music's most mysterious and iconic figures is heading out on the road and he's decided to bring a few friends along for the ride.
The multi-talented Prince announced a new tour that will feature himself - naturally - his backing band, the New Power Generation, and a rotating list of guest of stars, reports the Associated Press.
The Purple One revealed details of the "Welcome 2 America" at Harlem's Apollo Theater on October 14. The "series of events" gets underway in December with Prince serving as master of ceremonies. He says the tour is "best described as what we've all been waiting for."
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Concrete dates have not been announced, but the shows will likely be in the New York area and will start on a "Purple Day in December in the year 2010," said the star known for such hits as "Kiss" and "Little Red Corvette."
Concertgoers are being told "to bring friends, bring your children and bring foot spray 'cause it's gon' be funky."
Among the artists stopping by are rising R & B star Janelle Monae, former Prince bandmate Sheila E., Maceo Parker, Mint Condition, Cassandra Wilson, and classic funk act Graham Central Station.
Selected Reading: Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone


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11 killed in local fighting in northeast Nigeria
A witness in northeastern Nigeria says 11 people have been killed in fighting between nomadic cattle herders and farmers.
The fighting happened around the village of Ngandum in Adamawa state where homes and farms were burned in violence that erupted Sunday.
Witness Gambo Ibrahim told The Associated Press that he counted 11 corpses in the village on Monday. Adamawa state police spokesman Ibrahim Muhammad confirmed the fighting occurred and said police were investigating.
Fighting between cattle herders and farmers often happens across Nigeria, as herders will allow their animals to graze on land and eat crops belonging to farmers. Herders also routinely attack and kill those who harm their cattle.


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ADAMTSbd13(redirected from ADAMTS-13)
ADAMTSbd13An ADAMTSs family enzyme encoded by ADAMTS13 on chromosome 9q34, which is identical to vWFCP (von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, the name by which it is more commonly known in haematology). ADAMTS13/vWFCP degrades large vWF multimers by cleaving monomeric subunits, the absence of which (due to mutations) causes thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
ADAMTS13 mRNA is expressed in liver, placenta, ovary, various other tissues, and in platelets.


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Welcome to our Wedding Beauty Directory. Below you will find a list of Wedding Beauty related suppliers operating within your chosen area.
Some of the vendors featured in our Wedding Beauty Directory have chosen to include e-mail addresses, website details and map links alongside their basic contact details - just click the appropriate icons on each listing for more information.
From hair & make-up artists and personal trainers, to salons and beauticians, looking good doesn't come easy, but rest assured that those listed on our Wedding Beauty Directory will help you achieve wedding day perfection!
QUICK LINKS : Health & Beauty Advice Health & Beauty Q&A Health & Beauty Forum
Your search of our for Wedding Beauty Directory has produced the following results. If you would like to modify your search, simply use the dropdown boxes below.
Wedding Beauty | Wedding Beauty UK | Overseas Wedding Beauty | Personal Trainers | Wedding Dietician | Wedding Hair Makeup | Wedding Salon | Wedding Spa


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Experience Your America by joining the National Park Service!
The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. You can make a difference by bringing your unique experience, background, and perspective to our work.
Opportunities for All
We offer opportunities to work in more than 400 national parks and offices—from Maine to Guam, the Virgin Islands to Alaska, and anyplace in between. We partner with communities across the country to preserve their history and create places for outdoor fun.
There are many different ways you can become involved. Are you looking for a full-time, permanent job? We've got those. Or maybe you'd prefer to work in parks for a few months as a seasonal ranger? We've got some of those, too. (See USAJOBs for listings of both permanent and seasonal jobs.) Are you a student looking for a meaningful internship or someone with some extra time who'd like to volunteer? You can find internship and volunteer opportunities to suit your needs and interests. Come work with us—in an "office" like no other.
Learn more about the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, which allows qualified individuals serving under time-limited appointments in a land management agency to compete for permanent positions in the competitive service.
Want to learn what it's like to work for the National Park Service? Check out employee profiles for a glimpse at some of the career possibilities.
Learn more about applying for permanent and seasonal jobs in the National Park Service and other federal agencies.
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Find internship and volunteer opportunities with the National Park Service for high school, college, and graduate school students.
Information for New Employees
Already hired? Find information to help you begin your orientation process.
Discover the many ways to volunteer, from one-time to recurring opportunities for youth, families, groups, and individuals.
Last updated: June 26, 2019


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Orbry 20mm Insulated Tile Backer Board (1220 x 600mm)
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FREE 3-4 working day delivery service for all orders of tiles over £300 including VAT. Conditions apply - see Delivery page for further details.
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FREE 3-4 working day delivery service for all orders of Lustrolite products over £150 including VAT. Conditions apply - see Delivery page for further details.
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It's important that you indicate the damages on the delivery note when you sign for the goods. Notify The London Tile Co by calling our advice line, 0333 320 80 48, if there are any damages or irregularities to your order within 24 hours of delivery.
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* See Delivery page for details


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When people around the world think of Orlando, they inevitably think of Disney, so it makes sense that Zagat has chosen Disney's finest dining as Orlando's restaurant icon.
Oft-awarded Victoria and Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was named by Zagat in a new list of 15 U.S. restaurants that "embody the essence of their city."
So if you're in New York and have just one place to eat for the most memorable experience, Zagat says go to the Four Seasons. If you're in Los Angeles, go to Spago. And if you're in Orlando, head to Disney.
Here's what Zagat's summary of reader reviews says of Victoria & Alberts:
"A 'once-in-a-lifetime experience,' this Grand Floridian 'celebration destination' earns 'superlatives all around,' from chef Scott Hunnel's 'exquisite,' 'beautifully presented' New American prix fixes to 'impeccable' service -- and an 'über-romantic, high-end' setting where 'elegance rules' (jackets are required for men); you may 'need to hock one of your kids' to pay, but those 'trying to impress' say there's 'no finer place.'"
It's yet another plaudit for the Disney restaurant, which earlier this year was named a James Beard award semifinalist for outstanding service, while Chef Hunnel was named a semifinalist for the Best Chef South category.
The restaurant is a 13-year recipient of the AAA Five Diamond award, 22-year recipient of the Forbes (formerly Mobil) Travel Guide four-star rating and has won numerous Foodie Awards over the years from the Orlando Sentinel.
Sentinel Food Critic Heather McPherson says "Hunnel's creative genius, along with one of the great chef's table experiences in Central Florida, an impeccable service staff and an exemplary food and beverage pairing program, has made V&A a crown jewel in the local dining scene."
Here's the list of 15 city's and their iconic restaurants:
Atlanta: The Colonnade
Austin Area: Salt Lick
Boston: Parker's
Chicago: Gibson's Steakhouse
Honolulu: Alan Wong's
Las Vegas: Golden Steer
Los Angeles Area: Spago
Miami: Joe's Stone Crab
New Orleans: Galatoire's
New York City: Four Seasons Restaurant
Orlando Area: Victoria & Albert's
Philadelphia: City Tavern
Portland: Jake's Famous Crawfish
San Francisco: Swan Oyster Depot
Washington, DC: Old Ebbitt Grill
For more on the list of iconic restaurants, got to Zagat.com.
Zagat names Disney's Victoria & Albert's as Orlando's most iconic restaurant
When people around the world think of Orlando, they inevitably think of Disney, so it makes sense that Zagat has chosen Disney's finest dining as Orlando's restaurant icon.