my toblerone

Okay, I admit it, I love chocolate. Maybe having a Belgium ex-girlfriend contributes to that. Maybe not. I always thought Australian chocolate was pretty good. We never got into the Cadbury's factory in Tasmania though. For some strange reason the factory was closed that day...

In Japan, not all chocolates are equal. In fact many of the local products are rubbish. Many times I've battled my way past 5 layers of packaging only to reach disappointment. KitKats are the imported chocolate that I am frequently caught munching on at work.

During the Second World War Rowntree KitKat was seen as a valuable wartime food and advertising described the brand as 'What active people need'.

Considering my vast alcohol intake of recent times though, perhaps a beverage should be recommended. The Toblerone recipe is something I like to keep handy.

over-time wash out

Kim called today to inform me that my over-time shift tomorrow has been scrapped. Apparently there's a typhoon on it's way and many students have cancelled their lesson. Where's the dedication? If this is my last post because Hiroshima gets wiped out tomorrow, thanks for your readership.

Otherwise, I might go surfing tomorrow: after all, it is my usual day off. I probably should go to my Japanese class in the evening too.

The Hurricane Katrina disaster in the USA looks pretty awful. New Orleans begins its grim clean-up.

butt love

Banking in this country is the pits. After attempts to get my money from 4 different convenience stores all failed, I wondered if I really should be trying to get a beer and a feed? I called my co-worker for help in the temporary finance department - she knows when to not answer the phone! As I climb the stairs into Kulcha, I'm starting to pray and luckily Nikki cashed me up. Over nachos and Heinekens, it's always better to watch the All Blacks beat the Safros than Australia losing in the cricket. Especially when the bar is half full of Kiwi colleagues!

After the game, it was time to ramp up the Saturday night action. Besides, the low ceiling and crowd of smokers in the bar were killing the oxygen loving folk. It was time to escape to a dance floor. Marcia, another Kiwi co-worker, and a rather drunk Kyoko joined us for the boogy underground in Jamaica. It's amazing how many times you discover hidden places literally under your nose in this Japan - the shop selling climbing gear is right on top of it! At first, the music is great and the dancing quite ballistic. Nikki and I started chugging down bottled water to continue sweating away on the dance floor. The funky lesbians got in the middle of us all and enjoyed some extra hips grinding. Then the music didn't really change beat at all and quickly became mundane. The air, well, I don't think you can call it air. More like a sea of grey. Stage left!

A sandwich to tie us over for a little longer, and of course there's a scene outside Mac bar. Too many familiar faces and a near brawl brewing, we climbed into the bar to avoid the trouble... We had a laugh and a beer when we met Wes inside as we'd both agreed that we weren't going out tonight. The crowd waxes and wanes but the music is always great. The atmosphere was pretty good except when one of the guys started to lose control, a broken glass, but Sam managed to diffuse the situation. In a drunken state, he didn't really like rejections from the guys he approached. More dancing, with women... and a smile of survival.

Then the hunger really kicked in. A pizza from the only place serving food at 5:30am and the dawn breaks for another beautiful day in Hiroshima.

flower fire

Fireworks at a world heritiage in Japan,
originally uploaded by fun and cool.

That's how fireworks translates in Japanese, hanabi. What better place to see fireworks than at 1 of Japan's 3 famous views (the Itsukushima shrine on Miyajima island). Dozens of my students warned me: the crowd gathering is huge. I wasn't about to let that stop me though. After all, it was my day off work. Check out a few photos I took on the night.

On the day, Wes and I met up after I bought a sun hat. For some stupid reason we both drank half-a-litre of orange juice on the train to the port. This made the ferry ride feel more choppy than usual.

Sitting in the shade, we knocked back a couple of Kirin beers which helped prepare Wes to face the girls. After finding them down on the beach we joined their little picnic with my new straw mat, adding yet another mat to the horizon.

Yukata clad girls and boys dotted the building crowd throughout the afternoon. Just over an hour before kick-off time, I received a call from Yuko and convinced her to come to the show. Swimming against the tidal onslaught of arrivals to the Miyajima ferry port, I began to realise how popular this event really is.

Using back streets and in dim light, a stop at a street vendor on the way to buy more beer, and we found our camp just in time for the start. Sorry folks but words and photos simply cannot describe the awesome feeling of the fireworks sound wave pounding you while in great company at the shore of a truly fantastic island. Yuko introduced me to a momijimanju, a maple leaf shaped little cake treat, "Yum", before we joined the massive throng of people waiting for return ferries.

revenge of the Teva tan

Dancing with strangers and friends the night before, at the Mac bar. Only after Carlos had one-by-one driven each group of women out of the bar, including the last draw, the prostitutes, did I enquire to his fruitless efforts. There were bets being put on the single digit number of minutes before the next group would escape him into the balmy night. I was enticed at the last minute to buy a ticket, Yoshimi mentioned the Sun Dance was where they were headed.

Wes called me during my brief sleep, "Time to get up if you want to go to the Sun Dance. You bought a ticket last night, remember?" On the ferry down to the island, last night's bartender was behind dark sunglasses promising us a beach full of bikini clad women. Full points to the bartender, promise upheld.
Working on the sun tan, swimming in the shallows and sucking up to any jet-ski owner/driver for a ride, without a doubt 100% of these girls are hot - literally. Definitely cranking the mercury well past 30 and a smile on our dials, to boot.

The beer was flowin', the food was edible, the sun was cookin' and the music was pumpin'. I must admit I was rather oblivious to the volleyball competition that was held all afternoon. Slapping on sunscreen, sleeping under a shade tent, relaxing and floating in an inflated ring occupied a fair amount of the afternoon. Later, dancing to the stage bands and other amusing performances. Somehow Wes and I managed to score a lift back into town afterwards. Not a bad way to spend a day off work really...

my lucky shot

my lucky shot,
originally uploaded by vfowler.

So what does one do in the boring heat of a humid summer? When you're worried your air-con might collapse due to over-use, try the more industrial version at the pub. One less air-conditioner running is also friendlier to our environment!

While you're there, you may as well enjoy the time and shoot some pool (which always sounds funny with a Japanese pronounciation).

Happy Birthday to Emi. I hope you had a great day and enjoyed celebrating in the pub with us. I hope you like the Deep Forest Music Detected CD present.

a great 25

25 hours of pretty good life for an English teacher in Hiroshima. Tuesday is my day off work.

A fun English lesson for my Japanese-English exchange friend at the HIC: Practicing describing people, always makes for an interesting lesson, and it is relevant for immediate future use.

Instead of our usual Tuesday night Japanese class, a social gathering for all-you-can-drink-and-eat at the Kirin Beer Garden was on for students and our sensei alike! With people from Brazil, China, Thailand, Canada, Australia, and of course Japan, we were quite a cosmopolitan bunch. I was quite surprised at how everyone was really getting into the swing of the atmosphere: sculling beer and stuffing ourselves full of food, like there was no tomorrow; language sandwiches and plenty of universal laughter.

After the feasting had finished, our gang split into home-goers, kareoke-goers and pub-goers. I think being Australian, I fell into the last category by default. The interesting challenge at the pub was teaching a game of 8-ball to a Japanese friend who'd never played before. A big thanks to Ian for giving me so much helpful advice on my game some months ago (see the bigger balls post).

On Wednesday, I had the pleasurable company of my 1^st Hiroshima friend over coffee/lunch on the 3^rd floor of Starbucks - sorry Melbourne coffee lovers, there's not much choice of independent cafes and I've just about burnt out the staff at the best one: blue flat cafe.

On the 25^th hour, no planning was required to jump in to my first lesson of the day, a Voice class. I was most pleasantly surprised and impressed that a student had brought in a gift jar of the mighty Vegemite for me! I am totally stoked! Not only did I gratefully receive the present, but I also have clear directions and a map of where to buy more of the mighty stuff. The simple things in life... are often the best.

the way she walks

dollops says:words like kaaaaaawwwwaaaaaaiiiiii!
Vernon says:Which is cute?
dollops says:yep. a staple of the japanese female vocab.
Vernon says:Thought so.
Vernon says:Cool.
dollops says:said with eyes clenched and hands waving
Vernon says:ha hah ahhaah ha
Vernon says:classic.
dollops says:toes pointed
Vernon says:Oh yeah!!!!
dollops says:shopping bag uncomfortably on the crook of the arm
Vernon says:Talk about leaning towers of footwear!
dollops says:legs bowed
Vernon says:Some ferret dog under the other arm.
dollops says:6 inch footsteps
Vernon says:and somehow not falling over!
dollops says:mobile phone on the ear
Vernon says:What a vivid picture.
dollops says:in pink

the way she works

Like your job? Love your wife?

From a series of observations and discussions with various people around, I have formed the following general opinions:

• the family unit in Japan is more of an economical unit
• more often than not, married couples don't actually like each other
• men spend more of their married life with women other than their wife
• house wives are the elite class of women
• both men and women often work such long hours, sleep so few hours, that turning up to work tired as a dog is a norm

What do you reckon?

shapely fruits jungle

All sorts of interesting and shapely goods can be enjoyed during a shopping experience at the all new Di-a-mon-da Si-tee. You have to say it like that if you're asking for directions from any Japanese person. If you ask for "Diamond City", apparently you will receive a rather confused look, as if you've asked for directions to a nearby coffin convenience store.

As well as the never ending shopping, I think this is the local equivalent to the Chadstone shopping centre jungle back home, there's also the cinemas, and a branch of Nova just around the corner from the lingerie shop. Navigation landmarks are important if I don't want to be late for work - I've been lost there already! To get there in the first place however, I have a few options:

• I could walk, but it might take a while... and my shoes are on the brink of death.
  
• As I was advised last Sunday, one can always take the JR, (the local train) a whole 1 stop from my home station. ¥140 yen later and a 5 minute walk, hopefully not under rain conditions.
• There's also the free shuttle bus which plonks you right at the door of the giant shopping mall, ready to shop.
• The best non-rainy day option is to have a friend guide you and ride your bikes down a few back streets. Thanks Amanda, you're a legend.
  

Having arrived at work in time for a cover shift, I didn't need the spare pair of dry socks in my bag. The sloshing of swimming pools in my shoes is not on today!

visiting the world

Okay, recently I joined the Flickr: visit the world - the travel guide group as... Well, it's free and I reckon it's a bloody good idea. The new traveling guide : Why not? Planning your trip on photos is better than on boring and insignificant descriptions. In the group discussion lies the answer that, albeit it is in my Lonely Planet phrasebook, I need to practice it (in Japanese!) a lot. May I take your picture? - seems like a simple enough phrase, right?


Welcome to my GuestMap! Okay all you itchy-footed friends out there. Mark your location, or where you are planning your next holiday and leave a message of the utmost significance! "I so need a holiday!" - I know you don't think so!

Following the title of this post; unless you have a thing for Tom Cruise, don't waste your hard earned on the latest War of the Worlds movie - why won't Tom Cruise simply die in his next movie? What are the chances of losing him in M.I.3? If you're really into the War of the Worlds story, buy the original novel by H.G. Wells or the vivid 2 disc musical version by Jeff Wayne.

What a pity, my first cinema experience in Japan last Sunday night was a crapper of a movie. At least the company made up for it.

yellow life

yellow life,
originally uploaded by vfowler.

My little bonsai is on the brink of death. Despite my best efforts to keep it healthy and green, it is high time to retire the little tree to ... where ever...?

I enjoy the flowers and gardens around Hiroshima, but there is no life in our apartment without some plants.

Today's purchase: a replacement healthier looking little pot plant. Maybe I should try ikebana some day...

how convenient - a fat boy

how convenient - a fat boy,
originally uploaded by vfowler.

Now this would be a cool way to get around Japan. Though as a student pointed out to me the other day, "It's too hot in summer, it's too wet in rainy season and it's too cold in the winter."

The argument continued with reasons including insurance law in Japan requiring that; in a motorcycle accident with any other (larger) vehicle, the other vehicle pays 100% of the costs. Regardless of whether the motorcyclist is at fault. I couldn't determine whether this was intended as a for or an against.

Now I have just calculated that with my current wage, including the average amount of over-time, I should be able to afford a nice motorcycle after about 4 years!

killer kanji

Deterrents come in many shapes and forms. I've been making an effort to learn the Japanese language, nihongo. I've been sourcing the details from various references. Nothing has been more discouraging than the opinion of one brief exchange:

I was asking what a romanji word on my mobile phone means. After a tiny understanding of what the word could be interpreted as; I then heard that the language, in particular kanji, is difficult even for Japanese people!

That came as somewhat of a shock to me. How can Japanese people find their own language (one of them anyway) difficult? More to the point: why would a nation put up with a language that so many of its own people find very difficult to just read the newspaper?

sticks training

Jen loves okonomiyaki! Yeah, I have to admit, the first time I tried eating this delicious and super -fresh meal, I was a little baffled as to the chopstick technique one should employ.

Often at home I have given up, or not even bothered with the kebab-skewer-sticks. This evening I decided to take another crack at the tools of Japanese dining. I'm not too bad until I get down to those sticky rice grains that aren't as sticky as they should be and they don't stick to my chopsticks so well...

At first I thought maybe I just need some training wheels... Well the chopstick equivalent of such: the Training Chopstick Set, why of course!

So are they really that hard to master? I mean are you going to starve if you can't eat like the locals? Liang Yu described the gadgets thus Despite their inability as a weapon for direct attack, chopsticks in fact imply a covert and internal force.

Some research has concluded that more than 30 joints and 50 muscles as well as related nerves are involved in the use of chopsticks - a phenomena that exercises the nervous system and increases mental acumen.

Does that mean we can reverse the effects of excess boozing by using chopsticks?

air bags

Howstuffworks describes how they would work for a car. The inflation system is not unlike a solid rocket booster (see How Rocket Engines Work for details). But the trusty bicycle is a formidable opponent on the streets of Hiroshima. Especially when equipped with rocket engines! I can't find helmets for sale even if I wanted to buy one. Where can I find safety while riding my humble steed? Bike-air-bags?

almost famous

When Steve and I visited the climbing gym in Yokogawa a few weeks ago, it was quite funny to have another climber asking me out of the blue if I knew Steve. She then raved on about his abilities for a few moments until I had a chance to point towards Steve around the corner. This phenomenon of being Almost Famous has recently washed over me. Ian warned me that it can work against you, especially in a small town like Kudamatsu. But hey, I'm in the big smoke here.

Late last week one of my students recognised me while I was shopping in the convenience store. I easily remembered her name, so it wasn't embarrasing, and it's a good thing for the students to realise English teachers aren't gods, but we are real people... Actually maybe that's a bad thing?

Then on Saturday I arrived in the elevator lobby with my shoes half-full of rain, ready for work. While standing there waiting for the next snail elevator to arrive, a young jail-bait girl just started chatting to me. Talking about shopping and other stuff as if we were friends from way back. You only need to take one glance, it's not hard to guess that I speak English (Australian actually is different). I put it down to just somebody wanting to practice a bit of English.

Round 3: yesterday while hunting for much needed cleaning supplies, a complete stranger who, not only new my name but also several other things about me, started a conversation with me. I didn't recognise her face whatsoever. I covered my mouth and expressed embarrasment in my eyes, while thinking Who on earth is this? She was making a tofu steak dinner, and as much as I would love that, it would be rude to invite myself!

Rock stars, English teachers, and gods - What do they have in common?

mini

It seems funny how a MINI seems like a normal size car around here. Returning from this morning's Japanese language lesson, I spotted a red one zipping around in the rain. I still want one...

Meanwhile, riding my bike with umbrella in hand is pretty normal.

toilet season

Difficult as it may be, sleeping in the mid 20's I can adapt to. But the sound of a giant unflushable gurgling through the night brings new meaning to the rainy season. So much for Japanese plumbing.

Did it really seem strange that the characters couldn't sleep in Lost in Translation? No, not one bit...

another brick in the war

Back in 1979, Pink Floyd may have been cranking out some great tunes, but the lyrics are still fresh in my mind. Especially after this week's activity! Occasionally the music lesson comes along and this is a great way to kill 40 minutes as I often have to define what lyrics are, and other music vocabulary.

Sarcasm is not only a foreign concept for most Japanese, it is too difficult for our students to even contemplate. As much as I'd love to, there's definitely no dark sarcasm in the classroom.

A short string of students often don't show up for their scheduled lessons. I don't know about them, but I certainly need to continue with my own education (in Japanese language). I welcome the opportunity of a spare 40 minutes to learn another Kanji character from my recent book purchase

Finally, no matter how flirting (or frustrating) any student may be, of course there is that strict company rule: Hey, teacher, reave those kids arone!

fashionable idiots

The Japan Times Online has an important article on fashionable idiots that wear armour to work and contribute to environmental destruction.

This suit-wearing regime is a massive contrast to the attire I donned in my previous jobs. So why have I joined this greenhouse gas producing plot? Or a better question is: "Will it ever be possible to sway the mindset of the biggest employer of English teachers in Japan and their clients?"

I think I'll enquire about it at work today. Hopefully they won't fire me but seriously consider the issue of global warming and Japan's promise. I'll try some relevant big words like Kyoto Protocol and ones honour to keep their promise.

It's 30 degrees and raining here in Hiroshima today with little change predicted in the forecast. So what would you look like at work without the neck-tie? Save the ozone layer: ditch the suit

weekly carnage

Hiroshima International Centre is where I try to go every week for Japanese language lessons. It's a great place to meet others also struggling with life in Japan and an opportunity to obliterate the Japanese language without offending too many people. Last night's lesson was largely about flavours of lollies: strawberry, orange, grape and apple. This is very important for some reason... I'm sure that reason will come to me one day.

My brother has enquired about the chewing gum that increases breast size. All too late this week I'm afraid, I'll have to ask about that next week. Meanwhile, my shopping experimentation adventures continue.

blind jousting

There are a plethora of activities one can carry out whilst cruising around town on your bicycle. I am constantly amused by the ladies wearing face shades that look like the wearer is a fully qualified welder. In my brief survey of other things you can do while BMXing in Hiroshima, I came up with this short list:

• chat with your co-cyclists
  
• smoke cigarettes
• send email from your moblie phone
  
• call your friend to ask if they are waiting for you somewhere else
• navigate your way with the moving map GPS in your phone
• hog the shade while you wait beside the pedestrian crossing
  
• film the action as you ride
  
• use your umbrella to shield from the rain or to practice jousting (works best with a transparent plastic umbrella)
• never eat, but drinking McDonald's Coke is okay
  
• dink your friends
• wear high heels on your way to work

The list goes on... Any suggestions for testing are welcome.

learning Japanese

Sunset behind a torii gate beside the Hiroshima castle grounds.
To help me learn Japanese, I have started applying what I learn, by writing a separate blog in Japanese! Sounds pretty radical to me, but it's the only way I'll retain anything. If you can't read the characters at all:

1. Install the Japanese language on your system.
2. Learn to read Japanese! Or take a guess - that's what I do...

cero - the climbers' place

CERO is Hiroshima's bouldering and climbing gym! "Hooray" to Steve for finding this little gem of a gym. A sticky sweaty experience was had by all at this fine establishment. Actually it is good and let's face it, there isn't a lot of choice in a place where climbing is defined by foreign words. This wall is seriously overhung - the photo does it no justice. Bring a couple of 'draws and your own rope and a belay doover.

A little monkey magic and a few chalk-ups later we were not all pumped out, but work often gets in the way of life... Check out the Flickr: Archive of our friend's photos taken on 15th June 2005.

over-time dining

Lunch break is all about finding the tastiest bargain in the alloted time. Usually 40 minutes. I've learned to scoff this bowl of yummy... stuff... in next to no time at all.

Another call for me to do an over-time shift in town today leaves little time to prepare anything more than an ironed shirt and a BMX bandit mission weaving down the alleys, around cars, snail cyclists, office workers and other street space hogs.

Physical challenge:

• learn to quickly eat rice meals with chop-sticks or;
• get into the slurping noise action of eating ramen

welcome, farewell, happy birthday

Honey-choco-bread was a demolition site after 6 of the Japanese staff from my old work branch, Itsukaichi, went to work on it. The triple celebration of my farewell from the branch, another staff's welcome and yet another staff's birthday was more than justification for this grand get together.

After spending the day at Miyajima, I found myself rather short when it came to paying the bill at the restaurant. Any other country in the world, I'd say even in Cambodia, who cares if you run out of cash. Maybe you could pay by debit card but Visa-san always works... Except when you're in Japan!

What still seems more stupid than my extremely embarrasing moments while the birthday girl paid for my dinner, is the fact that the ATMs have opening and closing hours that pretty much coincide with the bank's hours. Anybody, please tell me the point of closing an ATM.

Travolta's constructions

Travolta's erections have been coming up all over Japan in a new wave of cultural heritage restoration. Yesterday's excursion to Miyajima island once again proved disappointment for those wanting a clear view of the famed 5 storey pagoda. Standing tall with his finger pointing skyward, the sign was clear that the scaffolding remained, despite Saturday night's push to complete the restoration work.

On his recent visit to the 5 storey pagoda on Miyajima island, the king of the disco floor commented on the scaffolding We just can't get it down!

Apparently a lot more work than expected remains yet to be completed. With the rainy season soon to be upon us, there is no assurance of early completion. Hiroshima and Miyajima's tourism is impacted nonetheless.

shefu シェフ

shefu シェフ,
originally uploaded by vfowler.

At long last, I finally enjoyed the local specialty. It's called okonomiyaki and is a superb meal cooked right in front of your wrists. You know it's fresh! This particular eatery, in a building with 3 floors of okonomiyaki serving venues, includes a menu in English and a cool chef.

Standard okonomiyaki comes with egg, pork and either soba or udon noodles. Add your extras like garlic, onion, shrimp, squid, cheese, or perhaps cows' achilles for a custom version. After a hearty feast with a pair of fellow teachers, I can definitely agree now (finally), that it is a scrumptious and filling dining delight. I'll be back for more some day soon!

Coming to Hiroshima? Seek out one of these places serving okonomiyaki for your dinnner! ... or lunch, a snack, something to munch on, an alternative to whatever else you've been feeding yourself. Choose any excuse.

keeping fit?

Aussies versus Hiroshima's only bouldering facility

Note the sophisticated technology indicating the route to be climbed.
Green Arena's the only place in town!

All one needs to do to utilise this brilliant climbing facility is:

1. buy tickets from a vending machine before each visit (pretend you're going to a cinema)
2. take your shoes off before you enter the soft floor area
3. swipe your member card and press some magic buttons on a touch screen
4. hand over your ticket and member card to the smiley staff
5. find the route maps that you think you might try and plug the numbers into the sophisticated electronic route mapping system (a 486 that tells which LED's to light up, just like landing a jumbo jet at night time with the Christmas trees along side the runway)
6. shoe up and chalk up (neither are optional if you plan to last more than 15 minutes)
7. and don't take photos unless you have a photography pass - available free at the swipe-in counter!

And that's assuming you have survived running the gauntlet past the kyudo (Japanese archery) club.

toukasan festival

Toukasan festival, unfortunately I am largely missing out on... I'll blame the new work situation for putting me on a long shift Saturday night. Though I did catch a few friends at a house-warming party still wearing their yukata (summer kimono).

I'll be donning a rather expensive new pair of rock shoes instead. Expensive by my standards, though they are cheapest pair in the shop! Of course even my little foot is too big for a Japanese shop to stock, they came after I ordered them in my guessed size. Tonight at the unsung saviour of climber's sanity (aka the Green Arena) we'll be hangin' tough in the bouldering cave.

Other than that, new outfits I often slip into now-a-days are my business suits that are quickly becoming saturated in sweat. Not quite the emporer's new clothes that I had in mind. I asked my students at work yesterday if they mind if I turn the climate control down to 21 degrees (celcius).

"25," was the reply.
"How about 22?" I asked, noticing students clutching at cardigans and warm clothes.
"25."
"Is 23 okay?" I'm dying of dehydration here.
"25."
"24?" Please!
"25."
"Okay then..." If I melt into a puddle of simmering organs, it'll be your fault!

serious drugs

Yo baby! Slip me some skin brother!
What are the sign-writers in this country on?