Back in action

It's been too long, but yesterday we set to the Bay for a bout of kayaking with my dad. Every time we do any physical activity with dad I'm shamed at how fit he is and how much I have to work on.

We met up at 11am, and lucked out by getting sit inside kayaks (normally we get the sit on tops which are great but slower). Dad knew another kayaker setting off, so we all went towards Tibburon. Making our way across we were greeted by sea lions and jelly fish - a new addition to the paddle.

After kayaking we enjoyed an Indian food lunch on one of the back roads of Sausolito. Inside a woman sat alone drinking chai. The woman was an ism in and of herself - she was wearing a pink silk tunic, tons of blush and blue eyeshadow, and looking down her nose at everyone who walked in. Ah hippies.

After a quick nap, Lisa came over and we geared up for Israel Vibration - a rad raggae crew who is in town.

We met up with Steve, Linz, and the Indiana gang around 9:30 for pre-show drinks at another one of the posh Divisidero bars. The whole bar was black - Lisa made a great point that everyone looked great in the black. And then it was show time.

A great show, a great day, a great group of people that I got to spend my weekend with.

Nopa

Every few months the SNP girls and I meet up to catch up on work and life. Last night we met up at Nopa, a not-so-new "it" restaurant in Hayes.

The patrons at Nopa are all quite hip (to put it mildly). Knee high lace up boots seemed to be in abundance with sweater dresses and belts that didn't quite match on the girls. The boys for the most part donned converse or other retro sneakers, zip up sweatshirts, and tattered jeans.

By the time we were seated I was famished, so I was thrilled when the waitress came over bearing a plate - things were looking up as this seemed to be one of those restaurants where you get a pre-appetizer snack gratis of the kitchen. When the plate was set down, I thought it was a joke - 4 radishes, 4 pats of butter, and a dish of sea salt...uhhh... great, dirt and fat for a snack.

After thoroughly filling ourselves at Nopa we made our way down the street to dive(ish) bar. The Muppets was displayed on the back wall, in front of the video was a DJ rocking out to music I've never heard before, and scattered over the antique chairs everywhere were more coolsters - San Francisco's finest 30somethings.

Jess was laughing the whole night as I still love my "bubble" - my Russian Hill. But Nopa and Hayes were quite fun.

Flying flops

Yes, I know, I write about flights a lot and its not that interesting. This flight is like an uncomfortable film, though. My taxi to the airport had no air so by the time I arrived I was drenched - it's hot here!

Arriving at the airport I realized I had 20min til the flight so I ran. Lots of good that did...

After boarding and happily settling in to my emergency exit aisle, aka best seat in the house, I heard a raucous. The blond and purple (aka PB) haired girl two rows up was yelling at her boyfriend. Something about him taking too long to eat and her not having time to shop blah blah blah. As the plane filled up, she kept on. This time because the woman behind her "kicked" her chair (uh, the woman put her backpack down, but whatever). The woman moved and the girl continued - this time at the flight attendant.

Just as we were about to pull away, we were sent back to the gate because a handful of passengers were coming late.

Then, the older man across the aisle from me pulled out his barf bag (“oh no,” I thought) and started hocking loogies like there was no tomorrow. Nast.

Finally, the late passengers arrived but there we still sat. This time there was a light that wouldn't turn off on the door.

As we were sitting an older woman reseated herself behind purple-blondey. Big mistake - the yelling started again. Oofa! That girl must have the hardest life - I've never heard someone complain so much.

Molly, you'd be proud, the babies didn't bother me one bit. The wailing of PB out-roared their cries.

Warhol life

I feel like I'm living in an Andy Warhol painting. New York feels like a vibrant hotbox of color and sound. Tonight we went to Rockefeller Plaza for wine tasting and dinner. It was a 5-hour dinner by the end of which I was famished because every course was doll sized. Maybe they used an easy bake oven for the fine squab and salmon tartar.

Back in the hotel, the bedroom, besides being tiny, has two lamps perched by the side of the bed both with giant eyeballs painted on them. Creepy.

Boarding the elevator (I say boarding because it takes off like a jet) music is constantly blaring - it wafts between jazz, rock, rap, and soul.

In my Andy Warhol life, though, I feel like the tomato soup painting in instillation art wing of the MOMA. Different, but not quarky enough to be rad.

I must say, though, I heart NY!

My hotel is too cool for me

I just arrived in NY and am lodged at the posh Hudson hotel. The hotel looks like a Sex in the City set with a neon yellow entry and oh-so-modern furniture throughout.

Checking in the boy at the reception desk was eager to tell me about the fab mod architecture that leverages the feeling of dorm rooms crossed with ship hulls for the rooms. My room feels like a dorm room minus a ship hull - tiny. I couldn't sit on the floor if I tried. The bed is low to the ground but a square mirror takes up nearly the entire small wall while a small desk with large silver chair sits perched in the corner looking perfect for an uncomfortable hours' work.

While I love fashion and try to stay "on top of the game" I'm feeling thoroughly out of the loop. I donned my black trousers, Theory white T, and green lululemon wrap, but I stick out like a bumpkin. Everyone is in black ... all black. Black ballet flats, pencil pants, Ts or blouses, and black framed glasses are 'IT.' Oh the horror of being so bold to wear green. (Sigh) I guess I'll just have to go shopping. Life is hard.

Luckily, the great outdoors surrounding the hotel are perfect. Well, the perfection comes in the outdoor roof bar/snack area with wireless. Who can complain if the office suddenly has a view of the entire NYC skyline and the officemates are equally as posh and rad as those at home? I also enjoyed a quick city jaunt to the market after I realized I forgot a toothbrush. There's always something. Hmm...maybe next time I should forget shoes and go on a mandatory shopping outings...nah. I'd prefer a SF abode.

I could get used to this ...

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

It's Tuesday, so you know what that means ... taco night. After going to Nick's Crispy Tacos for 3 years, they've finally capitalized on our favorite weekly ritual deeming this the official "taco Tuesday." They now have $2 specials on tacos, quesidillas, chips, and beer - the dinner of champions. The problem? It's now packed! Even more so than normal.

On top of the menu changes, Nick's now has a live DJ installed in the corner all night blasting Madonna mixed with Flaming Lips and 80s beats. Odd. Oh, and the worst change? No more pinatas! What is becoming of this town?

Change - bleh - I like the old way.

Home

I think my jet lag was a bit delayed - yesterday I "napped" for 5-hours and woke still groggy. After this marathon sleeping, I met up with Lynnette at Solstice on Divis and California for a catch-up drink. Arriving first I scoped the bar for where we could sit with the best people watching view and decided to take over a corner of the bar. A few minutes later Lynnette arrived and we got straight to work talking about careers, travels, life, and her dating stories (I love those stories). It was funny because seated next to us at the bar was an apparent bachelor who did the cursory glance at women's left hands as soon as they entered.

Today was girl day - I met Linzy for a manicure/pedicure/lunch which was perfect (for lack of a better word). After thoroughly pampering ourselves Linz had to get back to studying (she has her architecture exams coming up) so I decided to lap the city soaking in everything I missed.

I started my walk up Polk and then turned on Broadway. The jaunt took me up through Pac Heights, then down and around Laurel Heights, over to Presidio Heights and through the golf course, down around the new Lucas buildings, and over to the water. It was a perfect walking day as the sun was out but was San Francisco sun (ala, not too hot). The entire city seemed to smell like Fall - jasmine and cut grass.

Emerging from Presidio I walked around the Palace of Fine Arts where the was a wedding on the field. People were splayed all over the lawn around the domed buildings sunbathing and watching the geese. Then I made my way around Chrissy Fields, down by the Rolex regatta and along the water. There was a Family Kite event in the lawn so it seemed like kid zone in the city. Toddlers in strollers were straining to see the colorful animal and diamond shapes flying through the air - seriously, I was impressed by some of the stretching poses these kids managed as they cooed at the kites.

Finally, I made my way up past Ft. Mason and home. Lombard is packed as always, and we can still see the regatta out the window. Polk St. is filled with hooting football fans enjoying whatever college game is on.

Happy.

Home again home again

I've made it back to San Francisco and am still trying to shake off the jet lag. 16 hour time difference really gets you!

Last night after work Matt and I met up with Ryan at Velcro near the financial district. Velcro is a great bar with weird instillation art, slow service, cheap wine, and perfect cheese plates. Walking in I was shocked when we found Rye - it was like looking in the mirror. Same wavelength I think - short hair. It's funny because in college we had the same cut and I'm sure the same color at one point (that's a constant change).

Time to enjoy more San Francisco adventures. I'm thrilled because I can finally speak normal English again (somehow I've gotten into the practice of speaking in broken English and acting out what I'm trying to say - less than glamorous).

Work it girl!

On my last day in Korea I headed back to Dosan Park to walk around and enjoy a leisurely lunch people watching. When the cab let me out I started walking around the park and was boiling in no time so quickly headed to my favorite AC'd cafe.

Just in front of the cafe were a gaggle of girls wearing the oddest outfits I'd seen since Japan (neon yellow tights with striped tanks and high heeled purple shoes). Then I noticed the photographers. I was sitting right in front of a fashion shoot for shoe advertisements. Seriously, can it get any better? My goodness I sound petty...but it was fun.

How 'bout them apples

After work I walked around the city a bit so when I got home from work I was starving. My Korean fondue was perfect and tons of food...but all my walking around (ok, fine, I admit it, shopping) I was toast tired. I didn't want to eat in the hotel because for one meal in the restaurant here my entire days food stipend would be used up. Also, being my last night before home (ah, home) I wanted to get out. So, I called the front desk and asked for a great seafood restaurant for which they recommended Todai.

After getting lost more times than I can count to find this "best seafood in town," I arrived to wait in line, get a number, and wait my turn for a table. While waiting my turn patiently, number in hand, I picked up a Korean magazine - had to look busy, and heck, while I couldn't read it I can certainly always enjoy good fashion pics. While flipping through the magazine (which I later learned was a men's magazine about suits - oops) I saw a man approaching out of the corner of my eye. Although I like socializing, sometimes I just don't feel like talking to anyone, and this was one of those nights. The man sat down in front of me.

Stranger: "Hello," he said - I could already tell he was struggling for English words because even this seemed strained.
Me: "Hi," I replied and then quickly looked back down at the men's magazine I couldn't read. Stranger: "Where is your party?" The stranger inquired,"
Me: "I am not with a party." Crud, I was too honest before I could think.
Stranger: "No party! But you are alone."
Me: "Kind of."
Stranger: "Oh, you are doing here?"
Me: "Getting dinner."
Stranger: "No. Here, I mean, you here. What you doing? What are you doing in Korea?"
Me: "Ah, I am working."
Stranger: "I work."
Me: "Nice."
Stranger: "I am a doctor. If you are sick I take care of you."
Me: "Oh."
Stranger: "But you look soooooo heaty." (Dear gracious I hope he meant healthy.) "So you don't need any taking care of."
Me: "No, I don't" I quickly looked back down at the magazine.
Stranger: "What you do?"
Me: "Marketing."
Stranger: "I need marketing for my work. Yes, marketing I need a lot of."
Me: "Oh."
Stranger: "Phone number please so I can call you."
Me: "No. My phone doesn't work in Korea." I was actually telling the truth - thank goodness - otherwise my face would've flushed and ears turned red.
Stranger: "Email address please."
Me: "Uh...fine." Heck, if I get an email it's perfect blog fodder.
Stranger: "Thank you! You, you is great. Wonderful."

As he was walking out I saw his party with him - again I looked down. "This my girlfriend," the stranger introduced on his way out the door. Great, I love being the butt of a bet...maybe, or just that American sitting alone.

Finally I was seated. As soon as I sat down the waitress looked at me like I was nuts. I had no clue what to do so did the dumb smile everyone does when they don't know what to do. "All eat," she said. "All you eat..." I looked up and noticed it was a buffet. Somehow I had landed myself in the Sizzler of Korea. Standing up to see what the goods were I discovered I was in heaven - all you can eat sushi, lobster, oysters, crab, and everything else that's perfect. Another yum (!) for the day. So there I sat, in the all-you-can-eat hot spot of Korea with being watched the entire time (who doesn't watch the lone eater at a restaurant - especially when they're alone in an all you can eat place with the words 'Family style dining' on the napkins.)

The dinner ended with 2 pairs of flip-flops - when I paid I was handed 2 pair. Heck, beats a doggy bag!

Korean fondu

There’s one word that sums up this blog entry – YUM! This afternoon Raymond and (Korean-name-I-can’t-remember) and I went to a restaurant just up the road that specializes in Suja Suja (or something like that). We sat down and were immediately handed Korean-only menus, no pictures. Raymond ordered for all of us which was quite a relief. Within minutes pots were placed in front of us and water started to boil. Then came a plate of vegetables, then a plate of raw beef. After the water came to a boil we set to work grabbing veggies and meat with the chopsticks and letting it cook.

Delicious! Matt, I hope you can learn to cook this.

Korea

Today was a day of work ... and work. Although I didn't explore, or enjoy any wild taxi rides, I decided I love Korean. It's full of oddities (isms) just like any city or town, but they're comfortable. The people seem to go at their own pace and it works. When they talk about their homes or neighborhoods, people seem to have a sense of pride.

After work CS and I went for a traditional Korean dinner - rice with a bunch of stuff on top and 6 bowls filled with a bunch of stuff to put on the stuff on the rice. Delicious!

No major stories, but it truly is great here. In simple terms ... it's rad.

OY!

I'll go into the cultural details later, but for now just the cliffs notes - 'cause I'm in a cliffs notesy kind of mood.

Since I am only in Korea 4 days and after today all I'll see is the office and the hotel, I decided to explore a bit. I went walking this afternoon around the hotel guided by a map the front desk gave me (most of which was in Korean for street names and location names). In search of the Buddha temple in the middle of the city, I got lost and made my way up to a University. Ambling through the buildings I came across a field where 3 baseball games were going on - it was funny, the people on the bench were smoking while the others were up at bat.

Finally I wound down the hill I had somehow hiked and made my way to the temple. When I went to pick up an English version of the brochure about the temple, the guard said, "You're from America?! What are you doing here?..."

After I was thoroughly cultured, I taxied over to an area called Dosan Park that the concierge had recommended. Dosan is a very ritzy square filled with coffee shops, wine bars, and boutiques. It was perfect. The taxi dropped me in front of Hermes' "flagship store" which I quickly walked by - no use even looking in the window. I enjoyed lunch at a coffee shop filled with hoity toities and was thrilled for the opportunity to people watch. After launch I walked around a bit more but the cold I've been fighting off started sneaking back into my head so I decided it was hotel time.

I was quickly able to hail a cab which was a relief - with a sore head, muscles, and body I didn't feel like roasting in the sun. I told the driver "Park Hyatt" and he took off nodding. All of a sudden we were entering a freeway I had never seen and he was frantically making phone calls. Uh... He stopped on the freeway on-ramp yelling into the phone "Hyatt (bunch of words I didn't understand) airport." "No!" I gasped - dear goodness the airport is about 40miles from here. More phone calls and more yelling and we were still stopped on the freeway. Finally I said, "enough" and opened the door. Then he really started yelling. "This is ridiculous," I said. "(bunch of words I can't understand but I'm pretty sure he was cussing at me)" he said. Finally he motioned to get back in and handed me the phone. "Hello," said a thickly accented voice, "Hello, Park Hyatt?" "Yes," I replied. "Where is Park Hyatt?" Said the voice. Um...not so sure this was the best taxi to have caught.

About 45-stressful minutes later we were rolling again - more phone calls and then cackling. After we got up to 50mph the driver was in fits of laughter. F(insert bad word that I won't write here). As the speed was picking up I started pointing to the meter saying "No way. Don't think it. Uh uh." He reset it. I guess he got some English. Then the phone rang again, "Hello," a new thick accent said - this time a woman, "Hello, you are going to hotel. He know now. You go." 'Let's hope,' I thought. 10min later we were at the hotel. Thank goodness!

What a ride.

I guess this wasn't so much cliffs notes after all.

Definitely different

Today my work journey continued and took me to Seoul, Korea. It's a bit interesting being here after our leader's recent fopaux but we won't go into that. The flight was a short 2.5 hours which I spent trying to tell the woman next to me I don't speak Korean. She was eagerly reading a map of Asian and kept pointing at different cities and then pointing at me ... I have no clue why. When the lunch came, I took one look and had to pass. I'm adventurous with food, but when "food" comes in the form of plastic looking pink and yellow things I'll skip that adventure.

After landing and making it through customs I quickly found a cab. As soon as I got in my feeling of safety suddenly hit rock bottom - the driver had a TV installed right next to the steering wheel so he could watch soap operas as he drove. Hm.

Once arriving at the hotel I was thrilled to be out of the cab - I was also starving. Next to the lobby desk is a "snack" area where they serve small meals and snacks - perfect! I made my way up there and ordered chicken broth with ginko. A bit later I was presented with a huge bowl surrounded by lots of tiny plates of orange and yellow stuff (food of course, just not sure what). The soup was indeed broth but had an entire bantam chicken in it and my utensils were chopsticks and a spoon. Unfortunately the soup tasted like liquid cardboard so I abated that meal after trying to take a few gracious bites.

Time to broaden my mind ... more.

Oral XTC

Yes, I know this blog title sounds raunchy, sorry. I was thinking of "Best dinner I ever had" or "Culinary excellence" but neither summed up the story.

Tonight, being my last night in Japan, I decided to venture out for a nice dinner alone. I asked for a great sushi restaurant at the front desk and they recommended Oso Oso. After walking 30minutes to find it, it was full. On to the next.

I went to 4 different restaurants, all of which were full (an easy occurrence in a city of 12million on a Friday night when everyone is too tired to cook). Finally, I found an ally under a building filled with restaurants. In the ally 2 more were full. Feeling thoroughly dejected, I decided to walk home when I spotted a tiny restaurant with what looked like 2 seats at the bar opened.

After entering I was thrilled to find a seat at the bar. When I asked for the menu, not so thrilled - it was 100% in Japanese and no-one who worked in the restaurant spoke English.

I glanced through the menu and calculated what I could afford for dinner - heck, if I didn't know what it was, at least it would fit my business budget. After ordering the chef had a sly smile on his face ... uh oh.

The bar seat was like close up at a premier Benny Hannah restaurant. There were only 4 tables in the restaurant and 6 seats at the bar. The kitchen was a giant burner where everything was prepared.

After sitting a bit the waiter produced a glass of something clear which I soon learned to be sake - holy goodness this was delicious! I normally like the unfiltered white kind (which apparently in Japan is icky nono) and this was like drinking gold. A few minutes later a salad was produced with two pieces of cheese, a tomato, and a piece of lettuce (tiny). Best salad of my life in two bites or less. Then came the appetizer I ordered - pickeled stuff (mom, you would have been in heaven).

I saw the waiter preparing something and as he cooked he kept looking at me. Mustn't have been the dashing good American looks (kidding, don't worry). He sliced a piece of beef to perfection (literally, he weighed it after cutting it, then showed it to me, and when I nodded looked so pleased).

Finally the main course came. Holy toledo divine! It was the steak cooked medium rare and mouth wateringly melting. Only way to describe it was perfect. Seriously.

After two bites the chef looked at me, "You, it tastest, like it, good?" I nodded profusely saying, "Yes! Arigato, yes!!!" He replied, "I am so happy. So happy. Beef good. Happy me." A tear came to my eye - not from the sentimental moment mind you, from the beef. I'm not kidding, this was good!

The gym

I know it's not polite to stare, but sometimes I really just can't help it. The gym in my hotel is pretty blechy but functional. I went down this evening at 6:30 for a workout because I just couldn't get up before work and the gym was packed.

As I was getting my heart rate up, I found myself trying so hard to keep my giggles inside I nearly fell off the treadmill. Two men were standing side by side in front of the mirror - one tiny, the other quite large (especially for a Japanese man). The tiny one was standing in one place throwing his leg up to his head - first the right, then left, right, left - you get the picture. The rest of his body was perfectly still. He could've been a cheerleader in the states!

The bigger man was "shadow" boxing in the mirror. It was quite a site because it seemed like the leg kicker was timing his kicks with the shadow boxers thrusts. Then the shadow boxer starter shadow box dancing in place and I had to leave. Yes, it's rude to stare, but laughing is unacceptable.

Clean slate

The rains have stopped and clouds lifted and all of Tokyo now seems clean(ish). The streets are still littered with cigarette butts and broken umbrellas, but that's about it.

It was my last day in the office and from my night prowling in the rain I came down with a cold - blech. As I was leaving Yoko made sure to stock me up on Japanese drugs. I don't know what any of them are, but they sure are making me feel better :)

Lost in a storm

Today after work I went out walking with Sanae and then to dinner. We walked around the train station where there are stores for almost everything. Puppies and cats - got 'em. Pillow shaped like stuff I don't want to write on the web - yes, those too. Everything.

After walking around a bit, we went into a small sushi restaurant that reminded me a bit of Blowfish at home (ah, home).

When we split, Sanae gave me detailed directions home in broken English. As soon as I was alone and walking the typhoon picked up in full force. During my walk home I went in three circles around the train station and broke two umbrellas. Finally arriving at the hotel I looked worse than a drowned rat - my hair was a helmet of curls, dress was soaked and hitched up (seriously, I looked like I was wearing a 50s style bathing suite), glasses were so fogged over from rain and heat, and shoes were filled with water.

Windy city

No, I didn't jet back to the US and make a stop in Chicago. There's a typhoon in town. I went out to buy water and nearly flashed the entire city (bad day for a dress let me tell ya).

Just now the winds are picking up and the sky is spitting rain - you can tell the air is full and just about to burst by how thick it is.

Always exciting!

Niceties

There is a great pleasantness about the people here. While they don't quite get my jokes (I laugh at them so it's ok) they've got the caring thing nailed. That's a huge generalization, but go with it.

Today at lunch I went to the "Basement" an ally under our building where there are about 15 restaurants - all of which look great. I made my way to one of the many sushi houses where I was sat at the bar - when you're alone and there's a bar you can eat at, that's where you go. Walking into any restaurant is always fun because the entire staff start yelling - I have no clue what they're saying, but they're smiling so it must be nice (kidding - the former thought did not lead to the latter - Srini told me they're saying to make yourself at home.)

Once seated I did the perfunctory look around the room ... ok, I was gawking. The restaurant was a mix of tables on the floor with cushion seats, tables, and bars. There were tons of white shirt black pants sitting on the floor in full business attire which was quite funny.

I picked up the menu on the table and was spinning - all Japanese, no pictures. The waitress saw my reaction and ran over immediately with an English menu with pictures. Perfect. Udon ordered I went back to my staring - or, "soaking it all in."

When my soup arrived I watched the people next to me to make sure I ate properly - the eating-with-the-left-hand incident in India taught me to watch the crowd before diving in. Just as I was starting the person to my left finished and left. Then, the woman to the right was just about done when she called the waiter over. I saw her point at me and smiling and talking and I thought "great - I ate it wrong." But a minute later the waiter came over and poured more water for me. The woman had told him I was out and he should give me more - how nice!

Just after the woman left I went back to my Udon and, while trying to navigate the giant spoon and chopsticks, a noodle went flying right into my eye. I admit, I was slurping. Glad the company was gone.

Uniform-informed

Last night after work Srini and I made our way to a sushi/beer house (I think everywhere you can find food has "beer house" somehow affixed to the name). On our way I mused about the seeming uniform - all the men here wear white shirts and black pants. In the office almost every desk has a black suit jacket hanging next to it. "Yes," Srini said when I asked about this unspoken uniform, "Yes, that's what men are supposed to wear." "But what about the women?" I asked, "They all wear rad (Srini looked perplexed by this word but he went with it) outfits in different colors and styles." "Well of course." Oh, of course?... "That's the glass ceiling." Uh...

The funniest part was just as we were entering the restaurant I noticed a men's clothing shop - it seems I can spot clothing shops from around the corner anywhere. All the shirts in the shop were white, all the pants black or dark grey, and a plethora of dark coats hung on the wall.

Today I wore black pants and a white shirt to work - heh, Waldo no more (I mean this in the "Where's Waldo sense)!

Flushed

I know, potty talk is terrible and so toddler-esque. But I can't help myself. The bathrooms here are a real experience. My first time in the loo, I had no clue what to do. Well, half a clue.

The toilets are almost completely automated. On the side of the toilet is a panel with buttons - a huge remote control if you will. The first time I discovered this, I couldn't figure out how to flush, so I started pushing every button. One made a flushing sound but didn't do anything - it was the sound button. Another started shooting water out. A third made the water harder. After seeing this I was scared of what might happen if I kept pressing buttons so I stopped. Looking up just over the toilet was a huge square button - ah, a winner - the flush button.

Sorry, I know this is TMI, but it really was quite interesting.

It's an automated world I'll tell ya.

Dinner

Srini made it to the hotel around 9pm (my standard bed time) and we headed out for dinner. At every stop light, just as I was about to jaywalk, Srini would throw his arm out and say "No! No. They'll hit you." Srini explained that even though it may not look like a car is coming, they're often speeding up the road and if it's not a green light for pedestrians they have no qualms hitting you. Ouch.

We made our way through the busy streets of Shinjuku, past a handful of booming electronics stores, and to a 4-story restaurant tucked in an ally. Once in the front door we were directed to the elevator to make our way to the fourth floor. Despite not having a clue what anyone was saying, I nodded and smiled and followed Srini.

Once seated I was cloaked with cigarette smoke. All the tables around us had a white haze hovering over them as people were chain smoking between bites of stuff (I don't know what anything was - definitely not California roll). Srini ordered for both of us - something chicken, chicken skin (I gave him mine), a fish, sashimi, something green, and something wiggly. Most of it was delicious! Some I didn't have the guts to try - shocking, I know.

Lost

Forget the "in translation" part - just lost.

Nobody ever said travel would be easy. But it is interesting. This morning I was up and out of the hotel by 7am. At the Singapore airport I wound up having to repack 3 times because my bag was so heavy - all books, I swear. Fine, you got me ... shoes. When I finally checked in I was nailed with a middle seat. Great.

After boarding I realized I was in another kid zone. I think it's just from talking about kids on flights so much with Molly and Kristin.

Once I arrived in Japan, I realized I had no clue what to do. Nil. I went to take money and as I figured the exchange rate at 113:1 I etlt anxious punching in the amount to withdraw.

Then the real adventure - the train. Apparently taxis in Japan are very expensive - ala around $300usd to get to the hotel. Once I had ticket in hand, it hit me ... I ... was about ... to take the train.

Sitting on the train the first thing I did was glance to find English words - anywhere. I looked at the seat numbers for a bit and then my eyes settled on the scrolling red light flashing city names where the train would make stops. A few I recognized vaguely, and then Hiroshima scrolled across the screen. My heart stopped - a moment of sorrow.

Finally reaching the hotel at 8:30pm I called Srini - my Japan safety net. Srini's wife just had a baby and, when he picked up the phone, he proclaimed "OK, they say I've been in the hospital too much. Let's go to dinner." And so it is - 9pm and about to go to dinner. At home I'm usually in bed watching my second Law and Order of the evening about to go to sleep.

China wok

No, I didn't do any fun cooking classes today - I'm just being funny with titles. Hey, when you're living out of a suitcase the smallest things start becoming funny.

This morning I had to go to the United office to switch my ticket - oodles of enjoyment, let me tell ya. Leaving the office I decided to walk home but somehow, of course, wound up walking the opposite direction. You know the navigation systems cars have now? I need one embedded in my brain - no matter where I am, how small the area is, or how long I've been there I will surely get lost. Getting lost when traveling is a bit fun, though, so no complaints from me.

I wound up walking through China Town, Little India, and the Financial District. China Town was just like San Francisco, but clean. Also, I didn't happen upon any men flinging dead pigs over their shoulders but it was early still.

After getting back to the hotel I decided to veg by the pool and read The Black Book of Outsourcing (it's actually much better than it sounds). As soon as I stepped outside the sky opened up - it was like standing under a waterfall.

Goodness I love it here!