If search engines and great online resources such as wikipedia didn’t exist, I’d surely spend less time online, and so-called get out more. But then again, as long as it’s here, I might as well use it and indulge my information addiction. Amazingly, when I’m travelling though, I don’t have the chance to read the new, catch up on email, etc, but I actually don’t miss it. Sometimes I feel as though I use the internet like a television, or classic television reruns. If it’s on I’ll watch it, but it’s it not there I won’t miss it. Hmmm, I’m such a simple creature. Take away my TV, I won’t miss it. Take away my internet, I’m sure that I’ll huff and puff for a wee bit, but I’ll live. How sad am I?

So, what was my discovery of the day? It’s the various vegetarian lifestyles that are out there.

Vegetarian – no fish nor meat, but may or may not consume dairy and egg products.
Lacto-ovo vegetarian – eggitarian or also a ovo-lacto vegetarian. One who can consume lacto (dairy products, cheese, butter, yogurt. etc) and/or ovo (egg) products as well as being a vegetarian. If the subject decides to avoid egg products, but consumes dairy products, they would be a lacto-vegetarian.
Pesco/pollo vegetarian – Chickifishitarian pesco, eats fish. pollo eats chicken. Most pesco/pollo vegetarians also tend to consume lacto/ovo products as well. People whom simply would like to avoid red meat tend to become pesco/pollo vegetarians.
Veganism – No consumption of animals products what so-ever. No dairy, eggs, fish, chicken, red meat, gelatin, honey and even wearing items of clothing made from animal products, such as wool, leather, feathers, pearls, etc.
Fruitarianism – A bit more extreme, or stronger branch of veganism. May only consume products which bear fruit, and sometimes goes as far as fruits that naturally fall. Many vegetables are avoided, such as carrots, onions since they are individual plants. Nuts are a frequented discussed topic.
Breatharianism – Living without food.
Flexitarian – A vegetarian at home, but will eat anything outside the home. A part-time vegetarian or a meat eating vegetarian.
Freeganism – Not really a food diet, but people who will not exchange money for food. Many go dumpster diving for food, trade, barter, shoplifting, gardening, scamming etc.
Macrobiotic diet – Eating of less processed food, and more traditionally cooked meals. Organic foods are greatly sought after. Tends to lean more towards normal Japanese cooking.

There are a few others, that are more geared towards ethnic and/or religious methods, but I figured that I’d just list these ones instead. So, as things stand as of now… since graduating uni, here are the various phases I’ve so-called gone through. Unfortunately, there are no definitions nor explanations of how long you would have to maintain such a diet to be so-called an official “blah-blah-tarian” If I wanted to be anal about things, could I state that this morning I was a breatharian because I missed breakfast, but then became a vegan at noon due to the meal I had, and then by evening, I was lacto-vegetarian?

Right after uni, I became a vegan, then a pesco-vegetarian since I started work at a Japanese restaurant. Then a pesco-pollo vegetarian. Then, was inspired back to becoming a vegan, but fell in love with cheese, so became a lacto-pesco-pollo vegetarian, and then kept on switch between a flexitarian and a lacto-pesco-pollo vegetarian to a I’ll eat anything. Now, I guess that I’m a flexitarian… Boy, the various stages I’ve gone through.

A list of types of vegetarians.
http://www.msu.edu/user/daenzerr/rd491/types.htm

Happy Birthday Warrick! Man, you’ve gotten OLD!

Well, last Wednesday night. Instead of our usual 100yen sushi night, we celebrated Warrick’s birthday by going out for some Yakiniku and Galbi. When things go well, many JETs and local Japanese like to go out for a cook your own meat session. Not really a place for vegetarians. Actually, Japanese is not vegetarian friendly at all, since everything tends to have some form of meat or fish broth in it. Anyways, a few photos from the event. Plenty of chicken, pork and beef goods as well. It was also nice to see the others after my absense of about a month from the area. As Sarah always loves to put it, it, “Good Times”

Alan and the birthday boy Warrick

Nuria & Grace

Grace & Sarah

On Saturday, the last Kashiwazaki Beach BBQ took place. I must admit that since many a times, I must work one of the days during the weekend due to my job, I don’t get out to see many people that often. And eventhough most people are about to leave after a whole year in Japan, there were plenty of people I’ve never met, nor haven’t seen for over half a year. I guess that’s what happens when you get a tad older, also have relatives to see within Japan, and wish to travel else where than the norm. I’m not anti-social damn it! Just unfortunate bad timing all the time. And too many commitments. Hmmmm, 3 nights every week is always taken up, and at times 4 of my week nights are taken up with commitments as well. Taiko lessons happens twice a week, I teach photography at a neighbouring Youth Centre every other week, and also host club/circle called the Language Salon at the Sanjo Youth Centre, where people come to converse with other foreigners, to share their culture and gain understanding of each other.

The only real social thing I’ve got going on a regular basis is going out for 100yen sushi (Genki Sushi) every Wednesday evening. Oh! What about my weekends? I must do boring things like catch up with sleep, do laundry, other house keeping duties, grocery shopping etc. And, I also spend it, doing my best to catch up with unreplied emails.

So, anyways… back to the whole Kashiwazaki Beach BBQ. Was nice to meet up with many friendly face. Kristi and I drove up together after helping her ship some of her furniture. Plenty of hamburgers, salmon steaks, hotdogs and a fabulous Jungle juice to go around to all. All in all, a fabulous gathering. Man, I literally caught up with a few faces I haven’t seen since August of last year. Tee hee.

A rubbish bin full of Jungle Juice!

Not quite the beach, but…

Even in the dark we had plenty of fun.

Nathan, Mandy, Rosalind, & Moi

The Sanjo crew, Steph, moi, Grace, & Aaron.
Possibly the last time we’re all together before people start leaving.

Basic Japanese Keyboard

I’ve had my laptop for about 4 years now, close to 5 years in fact. And just last night, I finally discovered how to set up a Japanese keyboard layout on an English XP OS, on a Japanese laptop. Yeah, I know a bit confusing. My laptop was/is from Japan, so there are a few extra keys on it compared to the normal 101 keyboard. These few extra buttons help out with the ease of changing from the three Japanese alphabets; Hiragana(ひらがな), Katakana (カタカナ), and Kanji (漢字). Before, I was able to do the same, but since I was limited with typing Japanese on a typical N.American/European style 101 buttoned keyboard, I was only able to change the Japanese alphabet by pressing, Alt+`. Possible, but I was unable use some of the other magical buttons that are only on the Japanese keyboards.

A typical Japanese laptop keyboard. Usually has 106 or 109 keys present, compared to a English keyboard that has typically 101 keys.

As many of you are aware, there are more than one alphabet in Japanese, and when typing Japanese on a non-Japanese keyboard, you would utilize the space key as one of the magical buttons that will pop-up a wee screen within itself to allow you to decide whick Kanji, Katakana or Hiragana to use. But the one drawback with this is that, you weren’t able to highlight a word to change the way it’s written. Also by highlighting a word, along with the wee pop-up to change the kanji what-not, if you highlight the words that have a speech bubble beside them, another window pops-up explaining the difference of meaning. Simply a homophone. When a word is spelt different, has the same pronunciation and also has a different meaning.

the window that pops up when you want to change the Japanese spelling, but keep the pronunciation.

So from now on, I can simply go back to change errors. Also, another great thing about this is that I can use it as an online dictionary. If there’s a word online that I don’t recognize, I can simply cut and paste it into some editing software, highlight it and boom! A simple dictionary!

So, if you have a Japanese laptop with a Japanese keyboard layout, but running an English OS, check out the following sites to be able to use those other Japanese keyboard only buttons;

http://www.kurnspatrick.com/Support/keyboardmapping.htm
http://www.daydream.org.uk/meng/jpkbnt4/

It’s been a week since I’ve returned to Japan, and I’m still trying to figure out if my journey to Ireland was either a dream or reality.　Or is this current state of my duties, working in Japan the actual dream. Is it a nightmare? Well, during my short but ever so relaxing 2 week stint in Ireland, I realized that my pace of life in Japan was running at full steam. Sure enough, I wasn’t working while I was in Ireland this time around, but even during my days off in Japan the pace of life seems to be so different.

Japan is definitely a land of convenience, (not all the time though, but when it comes to eating) where japanese convenience stores are open 24hours a day, and provide a great selection of fresh food, and grocery stores provide a one stop shopping experience. Japan is a place where you no longer have to actually chop and cook your meal, but nuke it and presto. As the Japan coin the term, “CHIN” not chin as on your face, but more like a “ching” “ting” the sound of a bell ringing, which represents the sound of the microwave finishing off it’s nuke cycle. So, in Japan they literally say, “Give me a sec there hon, let me just -chin- your dinner for you”. At the grocery store you can find plenty of salads, side menus and main course that are ready to eat. Just slide them over onto your plate/bowl whatever and -chin-!

Sure, such conveniences can be found almost everywhere in the world, but I find that the Japanese have it working almost to perfection. Give a few years, and I’m sure that the Japan will begin to have issues with obesity and whatnot. I can’t believe that microwaveable food is that good for you. Then again, the microwaveable food you find in Japan were just made a few hours ago, and are thrown out by the end of the day.

Now, let me get back to my original idea of everyday living pace. Sure, when I was in Ireland, one could do your one stop shopping at the local Tescos or Dunnes Stores, but there are more mom & pop shops around than in Japan (well, where I live in Japan anyways). So, not only to support the local shops instead of a possible foreign multinational corporation, you visit the local fruit & veggie shop, the butchers, fishmonger, bakery etc. It all takes time. And I’m wondering if all this time spend forces one to set their daily pace.

I even noticed a change of pace from Narita International Airport. Everything scheduled efficiently, but sets a rule and schedule for you to run on as well. From the airport, I bought a train ticket to home. And right there, at the JR East ticket counter, I was given a fully laid out plan of attack.

Phew! A mouthful, but since this is Japan, I KNOW that everything will be on schedule and on time. I can’t say that for many other countries. No delays here. They’ve got efficiency working here to the max. But right then there, I am no longer going at my own pace. I must move and do things according to the set plan and schedule that I’m given. Efficient, but makes for a damned busy schedule.

Now, let me describe a similar situation but when out on the west coast of Ireland. I was to catch a train, get to another station to get to the bus station to get a shuttle bus to the airport. I’ll try and avoid stereotypical Irish accents here for the moment.

Hmmm… everything is all about “about” so that you definitely waste a lot more time, but find yourself slightly more relaxed? Might be a tad different for city slickers who are late for a flight, and always want to go last minute, but then realize that in the countryside, you don’t rush things.

Sigh, I wonder which is healthier. An efficient, busy, scheduled life, or dilly-dallied sorta lazy mans way. Anyways, I’m in Japan, so I guess I should go and plan out the rest of my day.

My original plan was to fly to Scotland on Thursday so I’d have 5 days in Scotland to catch up with a few friends. As things go, I ended up with a terrible fever and shivers when I got home from the Bridge of Ross a few days before, and my fever quickly resided as it came, but I was still feeling ill, muscles ached, drippy nose, and coughing up some nasty phlegm. I’m sure that you wanted to know that. Anyways, I flew a couple of days later from Shannon, on Saturday night to Glasgow Prestwick and checked into the Glasgow SYHA (Scottish Youth Hostel) where a friend of mine is working as the acting manager. Unfortunately, he was off out with his gf.

Anyways, after checking in after midnight, I quickly got up for 6am and was off to Edinburgh for breakfast with another mate who works for the SYHA in Edinburgh. Tony, who I worked with when I was living back in Edinburgh back in 2002-3. It was certainly nice to catch up with him, along with others like Nigel as well. Tony is a young Scottish bloke who has a great sense of adventure, and is fabulous with building economical lightweight road bicycles. And now currently an advid photographer. It was amazing how quickly the time went by between us. But unfortunately, it’ll be difficult for me to return to Edinburgh in the future. I work at the Edinburgh Bruntsfield SYHA for close to 2 years, but by Sept 2006, it’ll be no more. Sold away, and a new flag ship purposely built hostel will open closer to the downtown core. It’ll be very different, as for new guests will not experience the feel of a classic Edinburgh building. I can only hope that the new structure will not be cold, nor clinical. And since everyone I know who is still with the SYHA will be jumping ship… I’ll no longer have a place to crash when I return to Edinburgh. Who knows were everyone will be going. In anycase, I wish you all the best of luck.

In the afternoon, I also met up with a looong lost friend. Someone I actually met back in Australia, when I was working at the Sydney Beachouse YHA back in Australia in 2001. Laura, a true Scottish lassie. A lassie who has wonderfully strong Scottish accent that simply melts my heart. I spent close to 2 years living in Edinburgh, and Laura spent most of her life here, but both of us have never ventured into the Greyfriars Kirkyard which is right in the oldtown of Edinburgh and right behind the infamous Greyfriars Bobby. I must of passed this statue many times each week, but never went close to Greyfriars Kirkyard. Anyways, Laura and I had a wonderful stroll through the ancient cemetary, which is also known to be most haunted. We were fine, but empty stomaches beckoned us for some food and with the England Vs Equador WorldCup game.

In the evening, I was back in Glasgow, to have dinner with another old friend, and SYHA collegue. Meg, has finally finished her med school studies, and is now packing up getting ready to do her residency in London. I’ve left so much lugguge with her and her parents while I travelled and low and behold, she’s found another bag of my clothes and some electronics. Tee hee. Thanks for holding them for me. A nice looong chat, catching up along with quick glimpses of the Portugal Vs Netherlands game. All in all a very loooong day. 3-4 hours of sleep, now past midnight, I made my way back to the Glasgow hostel where I left my lugguage. And then made my way to Prestwick airport to catch my 6am flight.

Here’s a warning to you if you’re thinking of taking the bus. You need to reserve a seat, or you may not be let on the bus since reserve tickets get presidence. If you’re too far behind the line, you’re gonna have to fork out some money for a taxi.

What a bloody long day. Got to Stansted, had to take a bus to Heathrow, but the bus was delayed, just got my flight to Hong Kong, then to Narita, to Tokyo, then Tsubame-Sanjo, and a walk to my car in the heat with all my lugguage. Just hoping that my car is still there. Man… you gotta love travelling eh?

I went off and hired a car for the day, so Sasha and I could discover some of the small corners of County Clare. We started late in the day, after taking our time just relaxing in bed. It was cloudy and actually looked quite miserable out there. When out on the west coast of Ireland, you can always look out to the Atlantic (west), look up and read the clouds, and you’ll know what you’re in for the next wee while. We were in for some strong wind and some showers. Well, at least we’d be in the car and outta Ennis.

Sasha works at a restaurant called the Long Dock, in Ennis and it’s a semi-fancy place. Though the original restaurant is in a place called Carrigaholt and we were actually off there to see what it’s like. The shop in Ennis is quite modern and contemporary, whereas the one in Carrigaholt is like your proper old pub. Personally, I find that it has more character. It’s known for it’s Seafood chowder and bucket of steamed mussels in a white wine garlic sauce. So, fancy that, guess what we ordered.

After packing it in, we finally reached the coast. Our original plan was to aim for the Loophead but somehow we ended up at the Bridge of Ross, and opted out discover every tid bit of this place. I personally thought that we’d just do a quick few minute walk around, but Sasha was really enjoying the location, so who could walk away from there. It was already past 6pm, and if I were in Japan, it’d be getting dark already, eventhough it’s June. But here in Ireland, you could still read a book outdoors up to 11pm.

At the Bridge of Ross

At the Bridge of Ross, there’s a cool cliff line, a wee cave, underground stream, and the wonderful sounds of the waves crashing against the land. I was starting to feel a tad tired, and began to have a wee tickle in the back of my throat, but who knows the next time I’ll be able to enjoy the ocean side with Sasa again. Might as well enjoy it, as she’s having a fabulous time. Once again, she’s more or less stolen my digital camera and is busy taking many photos and making many silly movies.

I was already starting to feel ill by this time…
But, still a wonderful view and place to chill out.

Sasa did a bit of climbing around and found
herself a wee cove to sit down and enjoy the view.

On Sunday, I took myself down to Cusack Park. The local ground where hurling and gaelic football matches take place. I came to watch the yellow and blues, An Clar. The match was scheduled for 16:00, but I was already in the stadium with a Japanese musician whom came here to learn a bit of the traditional Irish tunes, similar to myself, as to what I did before heading off to Japan. We may have seemed to be there a tad early, but some SAA or minor league was playing and it was giving us a good preview of what’s coming up.

As per usual, when in Ireland, you’re constantly rewarded with rain. Though not the heavy kind of rain which usually falls to the ground. In Ireland, you are greeted with a misty rain that blows from the side, as well as from above. Even though, Dai and I were under the stand roof, from below and from across, we were constantly drentched. As we weren’t season ticket holders, we were in the standing zone.

As the stands started to fill with more fans, before we knew it, all of the empty spaces have been filled, and even the standing spaces out in the exposed area beyond the stand roof was covered by hurling fans.

As the players the came out from their change rooms, echos of An Clar, Limerick, could be heard. I’ve lived in Ennis for a while, but I never perceived Ennis like this. For me, it was always a place of traditional Irish music, but now I was surrounded by numerous GAA fans, and I could see the surrounding Ennis buildings at angles I’ve never seen before.

The match itself was full of adrenaline, and Clare supporters were constantly shouting chants of “Up the Banner!” which is the Clare supporters chant. The crowd was hot! Especially because they were against their neighbour, Limerick. The speed of hurling is totally amazing, and also seems quite insane how a hard ball is batted around with players not wearing any protective gear, aside from a cup or the occasional helmet. It’s nice to see athletes that aren’t buffly built but much leaner, built for speed. Whereas many N. American players are built like a frigg’n brick shit house.

All in all, the match was fabulous, and I was glad that I was able to experience another part of Irish culture.

It’s been over a week since I’ve been back in Ennis. A small city out on the west coast of Ireland, where I spend a year living before heading off to Japan. It’s great to be back here where traditional Irish tunes leak from every pub on the street. So, that is Ennis. A wonderful place to experience traditional Irish music, and I just missed the Fleadh Nua, a wee traditional irish music week, though not as big as the Ennis Traditional Music Festival which takes place at the end of October of each year. It’s wonderful to be back in a place where the music moves the people and much of the heart. People from all corners of the world convey to this location to get a taste of the ever so popular Clare tunes, and each time I return here, I’m welcomed back into the various sessions. Plenty of the local musicians recognize me, and shout a great “Paul, welcome back!” with open arms and ask if I’ve brought my fiddle along. Alas, this time around, I’ve left my fiddle collecting dust in my flat back in Japan.

Each time I return to Ennis, I promise myself that when I return to wherever I’m currently stationed that I’ll continue playing, so that when I return to Ennis, I’ll be a much more effective player amongst the sessions. So, as you now know, Ennis has it’s wonderful music sessions. And unfortunately, or fortunately depending on the people you ask, that’s all it offers. Well, according to my books. Everything else for me just seems to be either dressing or annoyances. And I won’t go into details of what’s what.

On one of the days Saša and I ventured off to Galway just to hang out and see the ocean side by Salthill. Here I am, just relaxing and playing with my new whistle. Ahhh, I won’t see scenes like this when I return to Japan. In Japan, I’m just not used to those clay japanese roof tiles, wooden buildings, wee alleyways and the lack of space. I’ll certainly miss the smell of peat burning, Something I’ll never smell in Japan. It’ll be a while again when I next return to Ireland. I can only imagine how much it’ll have changed from now. Also, I shall return to Japan, as a single man. Saša and I are finding that the time apart and distance from each other is a call for being good friends. But not exclusive, since we both currently have different goals in mind.

For a number of JETs (Japan Exchange Teachers), whom are recontracting for another year we had a few days in Tokyo for a Recontracting conference. I must admit that the only portion of it which I enjoyed was going to a Mexican restaurant in Shinjuku. Mmmmm… all you can eat Nachos and Salsa. Being in Niigata, the dish I’ve truely missed has been Mexican. Even when travelling through Europe and Oceania, once in a while I crave Mexican, and low and behold… there’s nothing I can do about it.

Anyways, since my departure from Tokyo, on the 8th I ventured a bit Southwest of Japan, and spend a couple of days in Hong Kong. And I guess that you could say that I was fortunate enough to be there during a fabulous storm. Went up top of Victoria Peak, but was rewarded with fog, mist, clouds and rain. Hmmmm, how could I decribe Hong Kong in a few words. HOT, WET (as in humidity wise), crowded and full of super tall high risers.

I was totally amazed with the amount of super high risers. Condos easily riser over 50 stories, and that’s just not a single building, but such buildings cover the entire coastline. In town, the tiny buildings are still close to 20 stories in height. With the constant heat, one must take constant refuge inside the buildings which are constantly cooled with their airconditioning systems. May be it’s just me, but when outdoors, I seemed to be the only one that was profusely sweating and constantly drentched, whereas everyone else seemed to be hot, yet coping… Bloody Canadianism in me…

And thanks to the wonders of airconditioning in Hong Kong, wherever you walk, you constantly think that it’s raining due to the drip drip drips from the numerous aircontioning units that cover the entire side of the buildings. Only the buildings where people live, since the offices are using industrial units. I will forever remember Hong Kong as a shopping haven and wetness…

My time in HK was short, and I quickly departed as I arrived. Off to Europe. A long flight to London Heathrow, and almost the same amount of time awaiting at the airport for my connecting flight to Ireland. I’m currently in Ireland, and loving it. The town Ennis hasn’t changed a bit. As usual, the music here is fabulous, but everything else is pretty crap… But, what can I say. At least it’s not Japan. Nothing against Japan. It’s just not for me.

I was watching an old episode of the Simpsons, and there was a brief, cameo, whatever you call it,… an appearance of Tokyo Rose, working at a diner. For many people especially in the US, you hear of the name, Tokyo Rose, but do you actually know who this person was/is?

A while back, I did a brief search on her and found out a fascinating story. A Hollywood movie on it’s own. And to my surprise, I’ve also read that George Takei (also known as Lt. or Captain Hikari Sulu in the StarTrek realm) may be in the works to actually produce a film about the life of Iva Toguri, better known as the person who was accused and convicted to be the infamous Tokyo Rose. I’m not sure if this project has actually taken off, since the article was from early 2004.

“Star Trek’s” Lt. Sulu plans to make his film, “Tokyo Rose: American Patriot,” in Hawaii

In any case, with plenty of urban legends that surfaced after the Second World War, many believed (mostly the US government) Iva Toguri to be the one and only Tokyo Rose. Though there were many other English speaking female radio broadcasters at the time.l I’m sure that some of you may have heard the urban myth that Amelia Earhart may have been Tokyo Rose. Though, through the various radio recordings, no one was able to recognize her voice. And according to a online paper that was posted back in 1998, she’s still living in the Chicago area. Born on July 4th, 1916 and time is ticking away before her story can be told. Since the article is 8 years old, I wonder if she’ still around.

They Call Her Tokyo Rose, by Keith O’Brien

Here’s a great site that also provides plenty of other links into her life.
Women’s History: Iva Ikuko Toguri D’Aquino (Tokyo Rose, Orphan Ann)

Well anyways, instead of leaving you in the dark about her. I guess that I’ll write a brief bio about Iva Toguri. I’ll keep this really short. She was born in California, from Japanese parents, and her aunt on her mother’s side was very ill, so she travelled to Japan to take care of her. Unfortunately, her mother couldn’t go herself since she was also a tad ill as well. Off to Japan, without knowing much about the language. And then, the attack on Pearl Harbour. She’s stuck in Japan. She ends up working for the national Japanese Radio station, amongst many other English speaking ladies. Her job was to help decrease the morale of US soldiers whom were stationed all around S.E Asia. A late night radio program call the Zero Hour, since it was broadcast at midnight, would play plenty of US classic tunes and have propaganda aired. Such verses telling soldiers that they should go home, since their wife is cheating on them.

After the war, she was charged with treason (more detailed info on other sites), arrested but then pardoned while later. I won’t go into details since I’m too tired to type it down.. but check out the other sites, or do a search on her online. As facinating story in itself.