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Davo

SnowJapan Member
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Everything posted by Davo

  1. Plenty of that sort of imagery in ads pasted on the train as an inspiration for all of us office drones. Very uplifting stuff early in the morning. You need something like that in the tube 2 pints.
  2. Amazing that they seem to be more interested in the referendum which is part of some democratic change sham. The 500,000 dead is probably a far too high inital worst case estimate, still a very grim situation though.
  3. Only went to SK once years ago. Stayed at a pension with my girlfriend and it was great to wake up and look out on the slopes directly. Could ski to the lifts from the pension; this was before I was a boarder and anyway it was banned back then in 95/96? No nightlife whatsoever and this doesn't seem to have changed much. I would love to go back there cause there is some awesome tree terrain. There was limited night skiing as there is in Hakuba. If it's your first trip I would say that on balance Hakuba would be the easier option and have all the goods you're looking for. As you'
  4. Yes Mantas, the Japanese fishing industry is hardly a steward of sustainability but it's not alone there. As far as I remember it was illegal fishing by Spanish trawlers that helped to collapse cod stocks off the coast of Canada. Attacking the 'researchers' just makes them more defiant and increases the hot air of politicians who support them. Unfortunately Mamabear (as is usual with head up the *ss absolutist positioning) there seems to be little prospect of fair and open discusssion and negotiation. I don't know much about Peter Garrett, but believe the guy is pretty sincere and ha
  5. I think most Japanese are simply unaware of any wider perspective surrounding the whaling issue and why so many people are against it. It's usually seen as Japan bashing and I'm sure that Japan bashing is a part of it for some critics. Most people never eat the stuff anyway but Japan can't give it up because it's part of the 'culture', or at least the 'culture' presented by the polemicists. Some people here are against it too but for most it's a non-issue. What is really so wrong with whaling if it's sustainable and the particular species are not endangered? I don't really know and can on
  6. I noticed on the news last night that some aid agency representatives and a spokesman from the Thai government were being very diplomatic about the junta's instrangisence. Grating though it may be to do that, it is probably the best way to get them to co-operate in the short term. Some of the speculation that 500,000 may have died is simply horrific, and the big threat now is disease and starvation. I hope that in the longer term this will spell the end of the junta, but for now I hope the Chinese and other neighbours can exercise some positive influence. The paranoid generals certa
  7. GW was a long 11 days off just relaxing at home and around the neighbourhood. Spent loads of time in the park with the girls and taught the soon to be 4 year old how to ride her new bike. Also did heaps of cooking, housework and drinking, often at the same time. Multitasking even when I'm out of the office! Only time I got on the train was to go in for those beers we had CB. Cuban place is good but pretty expensive...the beers in the station were a lot easier on the wallet. That's a grim sounding time for the family SG. Have to get together someother time. Managed to go running
  8. wow I haven't posted for ages... Golden week is on baby! I got 11 days off with no office nonsense and no plan or schedule. CB I am keen to run whenever apart from today. Had a big night with all the crew from work last night, as we evacuated en masse at 4:30 sharp. Maxed out the happy hour at the Westin and carried on to a tachinomiya in Juso for tons of beer and kushikatsu. This morning I am slightly broken but feeling better after a bacon sandwich and coffee. Hey Ewok! I've got your Murakami book and can lend you 'Hardboiled wonderland at the end of the world', which has g
  9. To the OP I would advise BYO. Only seen absolute crap boards and other equip for hire and it is always very poorly looked after. Sure, if you had time in Tokyo you could buy something good but I wouldn't rely on hiring whatever you do.
  10. I wonder if any countries will exercise a little 'quid pro quo' on Japanese nationals. I hope they do just to make a point but I doubt it.
  11. Seen it once outside a strip club that somewhat ironically was also adertising the gaijin booty that could be seen inside. That's racism pure and simple and should be dealt with by the law. This is what the UN guy is on about-there's no law to prevent that sort of descrimination in Japan. With the new fingerprinting and photo law the authorities have brought in descrimination for Japanese who have foolishly let themselves fall into a family relationship with dangerous gaijins. I can handle being treated like the outsider I obviously am,whatever.. What I can't handle is the fact that my J
  12. BBC Check out the views from people in the street in this article. Not a lot of flipant casual racism in there at all.... I do like the shoeshine guy's comment though. Unfortunately, I think he's a bit hopeful that getting Chinese to shine shoes for a 16th of what he charges will solve Japan's demographic woes To be fair there is a bit of open-mindedness there, not bucketloads but a bit nonetheless. Plus all ther negative comments sound as if they've been lifted right out of the newspapers or the mouthsof politicians.
  13. I think there is a lot of racism here, particularly towards Chinese and Koreans. Most of this is casual racism, by that I mean neagtive racial stereotypes and comments made by people. Casual racism is hardly unique to Japan though. Plenty of casual racists wherever you go. I haven't experienced much overt racism here though, aside from the odd 'gaijin dame' back in the day, and a run in once with a drunken oyaji salaryman accosting me for no reason on the train. I think everyone gets to meet a guy like that at least once The deep and profound bit I'd agree on the official level and
  14. Hi Sunrise, I'm doing good thanks. Hope to see you up in Hakuba sometime this year. Arashiyama is great, definately one of my favorite places in Japan, used to love swimming in the Hozugawa back in the day. Even been kyaking down there with Fattwins once.
  15. Hey Ewok2 all good with us cheers, the second little monster is walking now and the biggger monster is starting to talk up a storm. I'll bring my tunes for sure, got some new Kiwi flavours and some other good stuff. Just gotta get the time to go sometime this season. Shin Imamiya would be an interesting place to stay if you want to see Osaka's downtown.
  16. It seems to get a fair bit of negative publicity, including the appalling story of how a young guy was beaten to death by his stablemates this year in Aichi. The Aichi police have done their best to cover it up and the perpetrators have yet to be charged for the crime.
  17. I've been to a few with Japanese friends who've been paying and I worked a waiter in one with mainly gaijin hostesses for a month about 12 years ago. Can definately see the appeal but probably wouldn't pay to go. Basically when I've been it's been a bit of a laugh with friends. From the hostess perspective, if you're not a jerk they can basically enjoy their work without having to pretend to do so as much. That's my experience and friends and ex-girlfriends who've done the job say the same. It's actually a lot of fun to hang out with friends drinking and talking with (usually) hot w
  18. Great post Gary. What a funny story about the bike. This is exactly why I've never bothered going to the cops whenever I've had bikes stolen. Considering the frequency of bike thefts in this country there must be a hell of a lot of Chinese peddling about the place. The cops told us it must have been SE Asians when our apartment got burgled a few years back. My mate was told it was the Chinese when he was burgled. Funny thing is, even the ummmm...completely reliable crime stats show that crime by foreigners is miniscule and statistically lower than that committed by Japanese. The fing
  19. This is a good website for travel times. I just checked for tomorrow morning and the first trains leave just after 5AM and get to Shin Osaka around 5:30, leaving you plenty of time to follow the many signs in English to the shinkansen.
  20. I don't like this either but perhaps it won't be so bad if it's well organised. It'll annoy me if it means my Japanese family is delayed and inconvenienced because one of of us isn't a safe and trustworthy member of the tribe. Somehow it seems wrong to me that Japanese citizens may be descriminated against like this. Of course this may not happen but if it does I'll be happy to add my voice to complaining about it. Meanwhile it's interesting to see all the gaijin bashers getting off over it. Some ex-Giants player was creaming himself over how it would cut down on gajin crime in the
  21. Hi Sunrise and all you other guys. My favorite spot in Kyoto is Arashiyama, though don't usually go there in winter. The trees will be a bit bare by early Dec but going for a walk up the hill and looking down on the Hozugawa would still be nice on a sunny day.
  22. If you stay near the Midosuji line that would be OK to make the shikansen by 6. Ewok2 hows it going? I may get a lift with you later in the season if I can make the time for a trip or two. The Sunshine tours buses always seemed OK to me-but yeah, the bus does suck by and large. Have done the trip about 20 times I guess but would probably pay extra and train up now.
  23. Hey sheepy. Welcome back to Japan mate. I prolly won't be in Habuka much this season but give me a yell if you're anywhere near Osaka on your travels.
  24. Home-2nd floor Office-32nd floor I know where I'd rather be when earthquakes hit...
  25. That would be this link SirJibalot. Reads like quite a well informed twist on this familiar story.
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