Funny Aussies

So, I went out for dinner last night to this sushi bar half a block away. The place wasn't anything special by Tokyo standards, but the sushi was certainly good. I just happened to sit next to two guys around my age who were vacationing from Australia. One of them spoke fluent Japanese and had lived locally for some time before. The other was filipino and lived in Australia full time, though I couldn't distinguish the filipino ancestry. They were pretty funny guys, we spent much of the dinner time debating which couples consisted of hired escorts and which didn't. The Japanese speaking Aussie seemed to think that most did. I didn't know if that was experience or pessimism talking.

We got to talking further and eventually went bar hopping around the neighborhood.

The first bar we stopped at happened to be two doors down from my apartment building. It was one of the many doors I pass each day and wonder what exactly is in there, Tokyo seem to have a lot of those. The bartender was a young Chinese lady who had just moved to Japan about 9 months ago and had been working the bar for about 2 weeks. I couldn't distinguish her Chinese ancestry at first glance either, but once she made mentioned it was apparent. She spoke english with a very American accent, a midwestern American accent to be specific. Turns out she lived in Colorado for many years as an exchange student. I asked her why in the world did she do something like that, hahahaha, and she mentioned that she had no idea where she was going or what it was going to belike. Turns out she hated Colorado, something about not being accepted... Along with her American accent she also picked up a very American sense of humor and made fun of everyone from Japanese, to Shanghainese, and then Americans.

Well it ended up being a pretty cool night considering that I just went out for a quick dinner and ended up meeting many cool, funny people along the way.

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At The Movies

It's week two and I went to see my first movie in Japan today. It took me long enough. The theatre wasn't far from my temporary apartment in Roppongi Hills, it's less than 10 minutes walk which was really convenient. It was a bit pricey though, about 18Yen ($20.50USD), but the screen, sound, and seating was the best I've ever experienced. One interesting thing about this theatre is that when you buy a ticket you actually purchase a specific seat. I think this is the best idea ever. I get the seat I want, every time. Also, there was nobody in my seat when I got there even though the theatre was packed - I would like to see that happen in NYC. I am not sure if this is the case with most (every) theatre in Tokyo but I like the trend.

The movie I saw was Inception and it was brilliant. I love an intelligent movie that makes you think. Yes, the plot is unbelievable but the story is intricate and smart. I can't wait for my next movie adventure. I think I'm gonna see Salt when it airs. Oh, the movie was in English with Japanese subtitles. :-)

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Lost In Non-translation

So yesterday I bought what I thought was lotion, but what ended up being liquid soap. How did I find out you ask? Wel,, let's just say I had to shower twice this morning. I think they placed this bottle specifically for us Gaijins. It was next to the body lotion products and in this seemingly lotion-like bottle. Though, I am sure anyone who reads Japanese can immediately tell it's soap. I gotta hurry up and learn Japanese.

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And Now For The Results

I got my first haircut in Japan today and the barber didn't do a bad job at all. Actually, I was pretty impressed but I think my expectations were low to begin with. This picture was taken a few days later. During the haircut the barber, Lee, told me about his journey from Ghana to Tokyo which included stops in Holland, Canada and New York.

Along the way Lee had many interesting jobs including being a bouncer, a bartender, a stripper, a thug, and a womanizer - yes he made a living from that too. Now Lee has settled down, he's married with a steady girlfriend, and makes his living as an actor and barber. Lee has certainly lived a full and eventful life and had experiences that I would never have, and wouldn't try to in most cases.

I couldn't help but think, however, that Lee charged me the newcomer price of 3,000 JPY which is about $35 USD. I left thinking that I may need to find a new barber, or at least a backup.

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Farewell Shibuya, Hello Roppongi Hills

Today was the last day at the current Google office in Tokyo so in usual Google fashion we had a going away party, for us. The inscription on the cake was entertaining by itself, but combined with everything else it was a nice farewell indeed. I look forward to the new office as it's just 2 blocks away from my current apartment. The move should cut my commute down to about 10 minutes strolling.

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I Found A Barber

It's day two of my time here in Tokyo and I've managed to find a barber not too far from my house. This was one of my major concerns moving here and I wondered how long it'll take before I found one. However, while walking down a street near Roppongi I came across two African-American guys chatting on the sidewalk. I walked up to them and asked where they get their haircuts. One of them gave me a knowing laugh, as if he had the same question at one point, then pointed me to Room 806. My appointment is made and I am all set. :-)

I think I'll pass on the braids, dreads, and cornrows though.

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Outside My Window

I finally moved into my temporary apartment in Tokyo and was pleasantly surprised when I looked out my window. Turns out I am not too far from the Tokyo Tower and during the late evening the tower is colorfully lit. Whenever I make it home from the office early enough I get to hang out on my balcony and stare at the tower, it's worth it.

Tokyo Tower is about 333 meters tall and as it turns out they're building a new tower called the Tokyo Sky Tree that will measure 634 meters

(2,080 feet) high. That's a staggering tower

by any measure, for comparison the Empire State Building is a paltry 1,250 feet tall. Here is a daytime shot in case you were curious.

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Argentina, simply amazing...

Well, I just got back from an amazing trip to Argentina and it was certainly one worth remembering. I managed to split my time between Buenos Aires and the Iguazu falls area, which was the highlight of my trip. Buenos Aires was a culinary treat and Argentina is known for producing great steak and excellent wine. I had fun sampling the many different steakhouses and wine bars spread throughout the city, maybe a little too much fun, and even got a taste of the Buenos Aires nightlife. And, as always, I managed to pop into the local Google office to get a taste of the local Google food and make some acquaintances along the way. This trip lasted five days, which was more than enough time to soak up the sites.

I began by spending a few days site seeing around Buenos Aires, and there w

as lots to see. The many parks and plazas, buildings with great architecture, and famous landmarks were enough to consume both days and give me a taste of what the city is like during the day. Buenos Aires is not unlike many South American cities in terms of wealth and language, however it has a culture that struck me as very European and the locals spoke Spanish with just a hint of Italian flare. No surprise there, many Argentinians can trace their heritage back to Italian and other European immigrants and are very proud of it.

I started the year with a promise to do more traveling which is one thing I truly love and I haven't slowed down since.

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