Archive for December, 2007

JAPAN: Trying to eat sushi and not look like an idiot

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Left: Sushi bar with spigot for hot water.
I am horrible with chopsticks. In the US, I ask for forks and knives in Asian restaurants and sometimes eat sushi with my hands. Here, I don’t want to advertise my gaijin moronic table manners, but as much as I try to hide, my chopstick faux pas reveal [...]

JAPAN: Trying to eat sushi and not look like an idiot

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Left: Sushi bar with spigot for hot water.
I am horrible with chopsticks. In the US, I ask for forks and knives in Asian restaurants and sometimes eat sushi with my hands. Here, I don’t want to advertise my gaijin moronic table manners, but as much as I try to hide, my chopstick faux pas reveal [...]

JAPAN: Duck walkers, musical toilets, and other strange things

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Above: Musical and heated Japanese toilet.
I start my New Year noticing these peculiarities of Japanese culture:
Duck walkers: Many women walk like ducks. They point their toes inwards and walk very slowly. My cousin’s wife thinks this comes from the fact that women had to point their feet inwards in order to be able to [...]

JAPAN: Duck walkers, musical toilets, and other strange things

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Above: Musical and heated Japanese toilet.
I start my New Year noticing these peculiarities of Japanese culture:
Duck walkers: Many women walk like ducks. They point their toes inwards and walk very slowly. My cousin’s wife thinks this comes from the fact that women had to point their feet inwards in order to be able to [...]

JAPAN: New year, new country: Everyone is praying and I commit my first sin!

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Left: Girl in traditional kimono.
Right: Washing hands before approaching shrine.

Below: Masses of people [...]

JAPAN: New year, new country: Everyone is praying and I commit my first sin!

Thursday, December 20th, 2007

Left: Girl in traditional kimono.
Right: Washing hands before approaching shrine.

Below: Masses of people [...]

JAPAN: Hot butt and 108 sins, Tokyo New Years 2006-2007

Friday, December 14th, 2007

(Chofu Jendai-Ji Buddhist Temple, New Years)
I came to Asia because I wanted to start my new year in a new continent and have a shock to my system. Spoiled with being in countries where I spoke the language or could at least read the alphabet, I wanted to see how this street-smart adventurer would fare [...]

JAPAN: Hot butt and 108 sins, Tokyo New Years 2006-2007

Friday, December 14th, 2007

(Chofu Jendai-Ji Buddhist Temple, New Years)
I came to Asia because I wanted to start my new year in a new continent and have a shock to my system. Spoiled with being in countries where I spoke the language or could at least read the alphabet, I wanted to see how this street-smart adventurer would fare [...]