Author Topic: BigMike's Big Japanese Vacation (Read 80667 times)

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #30 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 06:35:39 PM »

is moogu gai pan japanese or chinese

BigMike · « **Reply #31 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 06:39:35 PM »

As I mentioned earlier, I walked with Misato to her work this morning.

I didnt have my camera, but I will be going back out soon, so Ill be sure to take it.

I think I might go to Akihabara city today, which is known as the Electric City. I need to buy a datacable for my fathers camera, so I can stop using my old dinosaur camera. Its really embarrassing to carry it around. Its about the size of a bible. I am not embarrassed to carry it stateside, but here, cameras are nearing the size of a cigarette pack, so I need to get a new camera hahaha

Also, as I walked around this morning, I noticed that I did not see any other foreigners in this city. I am in more of a business city, so there are just a bunch of working class people walking everywhere, and of course they are all native.

I am staying in a 5 story apartment complex on the 4th floor. It is an older building, and the rooms are really neatol. I will take some pics of them later. I seems to be more traditional, with each room having its own sliding door.

This morning I talked to the first stranger here in Japan in Japanese. It was some guy, about my same age, and I was asking what the name of a couple streets were, since I cant not read the kanji symbols. He was really nice and we could completely understand each other. I feel that my ability has increased about double-fold since I last was with Misato, just this past summer.

More to come later, cya!
BigMike

BigMike · « **Reply #32 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 06:48:45 PM »

Quote from: 79Coyotefrg on Dec 19, 2005, 06:35:39 PM

is moogu gai pan japanese or chinese

It doesnt really sound Japanese. pan is bread in Japanese

reklund5 · « **Reply #33 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 06:55:51 PM »

Wow! What a cool trip Mike! Need me to hook you up with the guys at the Toyota headquarters?

Take TONS of pictures, and if you see any mid 80's HKS parts for a 3rd gen Supra...well, you know...bring 'em back!

Ryan

Willy Mammoth · « **Reply #34 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 07:09:27 PM »

Mike, this is too cool. Have fun over there, like you need me to tell you that.

Glen says

But don't forget to come home

*FFC* · « **Reply #35 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 08:36:22 PM »

Quote from: Willy Mammoth on Dec 19, 2005, 07:09:27 PM

But don't forget to come home

What he said!

Pancho · « **Reply #36 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 10:01:36 PM »

cool mike Im glad that you got ther fine and that Misato is fine too. Very cool pictures man Mount Fuji looks great.

kneedownnate · « **Reply #37 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 10:32:39 PM »

Maaaaannnnn Mike!!!!!! I just read this whole thing and I'm so frickin jealous!!! Sounds like you're having a great time. I'm glad you are getting to spend some time with your girl again, you're really a lucky guy. Enjoy yourself and take lots of pics! You should check out some street bikes while you're there, I think you might find that the biggest they allow are 400cc, but I'd kill for a cbr400. Did I mention I'm really jealous?! Have fun man, this is super cool!!

trekker · « **Reply #38 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 10:48:54 PM »

waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy cooooooool $Beer Chug\'n$ so how did you meet her just curious im glad your having a good time

BigMike · « **Reply #39 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 11:18:58 PM »

Quote from: stroker on Dec 19, 2005, 10:48:54 PM

so how did you meet her just curious im glad your having a good time

hahah its kind'of funny how we met... I dated a Japanese girl back in 2001-2003. About the same time we broke up, my sister got married and moved away. Now had a free room, or guest room... Well, I was pretty good friends with my ex-girlfiend's best friend's younger brother, Takuya, who had been in Fresno for 1/2 year, but he had to move out from his current place and find somewhere to stay.

So I talked to my parents, and we thought it would be worth it to be a host family, just for one semester. If anything, it'll be extra income to help pay the bills around the house.

Now during that fall semester (2003), I completely overloaded myself with 21 units of all science, math, physics, and programming classes and I blew a connecting rod at 9,000 rpm and decided to just take the semester off and retake the classes in the spring.

So I went back to work for

and about mid October, I became pretty sick and took nearly a whole week off from work. I was so pissed, and I was stuck in the house, and I was upset about school... At that same time, Takuya told me that he had a friend who was taking Calculus, and that she needed help. She was at the library at Fresno State Univ, and it was about 6pm, and despite feeling sick, I really wanted to get the heck out of the house and do something..

So I drove over to the college, not knowing what to expect out of Takuya's friend, someone who I had never met, and when I walked into the room, I saw this amazingly pretty Japanese girl sitting down studding. I walked over and asked if she was Takuya's friend, we started talking, and I guess the rest is history

It was because I had met my ex-girlfriend's best friend's younger brother, that I got to meet Misato.

Anyways, I spent some time this morning looking at maps on the internet so that I could figure out where I am in Tokyo. It turns out that I am right between Ueno and Akihabara, in the Chiyoda-ku prefecture, in a little city called Bakurocho, which is right off of the Kanda river.

..... Akihabara. Have you ever heard of that city? If you are a computer nerd like myself, then you should know that that place is nicknamed the "Electric City"

I walked around Akihabara and found a book store called "Book Tower", and I bought a nice map of Tokyo on the first floor. Then I found Yodobashi-camera, which is one of the leading techno-gismo stores in the World, and on the 2nd floor, I bought a data cable for my fathers camera. Now I can use his newer compact/modern Cannon and put the older Sony to bed.

With the nicer camera, I'll be sure to take more pictures with better lighting, thanks dad!!

Cya
BigMike (4:10pm Tuesday)

TURBO · « **Reply #40 on:** Dec 19, 2005, 11:51:22 PM »

Finnaly!!! i found this thread.... i knew you would make it just didn't know where it was, man.

see wasn't all that

worth it?...

TURBO · « **Reply #41 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 12:01:37 AM »

I CAN READ JAPANESE!!!!

BigMike · « **Reply #42 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 12:07:29 AM »

Hey Tim,

Man, I was upset that I couldnt give ya a proper goodbye on Friday. I thought for sure I would have time to swing by the shop, but I got really busy on Friday. At least I got my hair cut though!

BigMike · « **Reply #43 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 12:35:58 AM »

Quote from: TURBO on Dec 20, 2005, 12:01:37 AM

I CAN READ JAPANESE!!!!

hahahahaha [Billy Madison]That's Nice[/Billy Madison]

Played around a bit with Marlin's camera.....

Here is a video of some program on TV.. They are talking about sake apparently
http://bigmike.marlincrawler.com/nihon/05.12.20/TV%20Show%2012.20.wmv (923 Kb)

And here's a picture of what I am drinking right now, my favorite tea, Mugicha. 130 yen

TrackVino · « **Reply #44 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 12:45:29 AM »

Really cool Mike, good to hear things are going good for you. Tell Misato my wife and baby girl cant wait to see her again. Give her a big hug for us, and make sure you set a date for the wedding. Remember, Im going to video tape the whole thing for you.

Dave

BigMike · « **Reply #45 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 07:06:36 PM »

Last night Misato worked late and got off work at 8pm. She worked 10 hours.

So she was pretty tired when she got off work, so we just decided to eat at a small restruant down the street.

On the way there, I spotted a SA-WEET 60s style Corvette!! (thanks RCT)

And I ate some Oyokodo (?) which is a donburi dish (meaning served over rice) with chicken and chicken eggs. I also got a bowl of Miso Soup and some Japanese style Salad. Everything was extra delicious as usual for Japanese food

Also, while shopping in a small corner market, I found some Flavorite brand foods. If you have the greatest market in your city, you know, Heaven on Earth known as Winco, then you will know that Flavorite is Winco's brand of food. Marlin is a great supporter of Winco, so I know he would get a kick outta this!

RokCrawlinToy · « **Reply #46 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 07:09:29 PM »

Quote from: BigMike on Dec 20, 2005, 07:06:36 PM

On the way there, I spotted a SA-WEET late 50s style Corvette!!

Its a 60s era Vette (IIRC 64-67).

BigMike · « **Reply #47 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 07:30:28 PM »

So now on to today, Wednesday!!

Right now it is high noon on your tomorrow hahaha

We woke up at 8am, and I walked with Misato to her work before 9am.

And today I decided to become a Super Tourist, just for you guys

I walked all over the place and saw many interesting things.. I even found some Mountain Dew!!!! So Today is a Great Day

I swear you can not walk more then 800 feet without passing BOTH and Restaurant AND a Convenient store of some type. There are soooo many restaurants that I wonder how they find enough people for business. But that is also why people do not need a car in order to live here. If I need some Milk, I just need to walk half a block. If I want something to eat, again, just walk half a block.. And blocks around here are about 1/8 mile or shorter. And if I am on a block that is long, then there will be multiple stores and restruants to choose from...

This first picture is right outside of our Apartment heading west, walking behind Misato

The second picture is down a boulevard near Misato's work
The third and forth pictures are taken from a pedestrian bridge walking over Edo Dori street. In the 4th picture, if you make a left at that AM PM, and then make a 2nd right, then walk about 1/4 mile, you will be at our Apartment

Stop by and lets have some sake hahaha

The weather here is pretty cold, between -1 and +1 degrees C (30 - 34 deg F) in the evening and morning, and the high is maybe around 40 deg F, but for some reason, I do not feel cold at all. My face and ears are freezing, but I am really warm in just my Turtle Sweater and a long sleeve shirt. I wonder what the humidity is here... It is supposed to become dry in the winter..

BigMike · « **Reply #48 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 07:45:08 PM »

Because space is so tight, there are many parking areas that use parking lifts to make verticle spaces.

It would really suck if you had to leave and someone was parked below your vehicle. You would have to hunt them down and have them pull out..

And for the 4th picture,

Who's that gonna stop? So THATS what "Mall Rated" means hahahahaha

CTENG in KS · « **Reply #49 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 07:57:44 PM »

Holy parking batman!
Sweet trip...perty girl...ahh, young love...

BigMike · « **Reply #50 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 08:09:46 PM »

And since I saw that Corvette last night, I wasn't quite as surprised when I found this C5 this morning

This blue rig is a city dump truck believe it or not

And I came across a FedEx / Kinkos 8)

I've actually seen a number of left-hand drive American autos over here. The majority seems to be Cadillacs, as I have seen a couple cars and a fixed up gangsta Escalade, must be some Japanese Yakuzu

BigMike · « **Reply #51 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 08:15:14 PM »

Here's a cool Japanese Isuzu Firetruck

And if you are worried about your son or daughter driving around in their little civic or something, then check that guy out! That is the ugliest vehicle I've seen since the last Pontiac Aztec or H2 Hummer I saw

Here's a small Nissan mini-mini- Van. Also, look at those two guys walking there.. Many people here are wearing masks to prevent getting sick. Misato says it is really common in the winter months for people to wear masks to stay healthy. Pretty Bizzar
And if you thought those vertical parking garages were only for autos, think again

BigMike · « **Reply #52 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 08:24:24 PM »

Well I can't be in Japan without checking out some sweet Toyota trucks!!!

So here are a couple Toyota Hilux Surfs in their Native Habitat

Badged "SSR G"

BigMike · « **Reply #53 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 08:30:46 PM »

Here are some FJs in their Natural Habatat

The 2nd one is labeled "Toyota Land Cruiser Prado"

Check out that sweet factory winch!!

BigMike · « **Reply #54 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 08:37:29 PM »

And I am sure that Ryan (reklund5) was quick to spot that 4th gen Supra, so here are a couple Supra pics

I also found this really cool Toyota Corolla GT-S hiding out behind a van. 4A power baby!!

And here is what we know as a Scion xB. They are really old news in Japan. I think they have been around for nearly 8 years or so.

BigMike · « **Reply #55 on:** Dec 20, 2005, 08:42:11 PM »

I found a car rental company, and I have also seen multiple repair garages.. This one appears to be a Toyota-only shop and has a Hilux Surf in it. I'm sure its just getting a tune up

And in case there is ever a humongous flood in Japan, you can be safe in your Toyota Noah mini-Van!!!