Miwae and Harry, being idiots in the office as per usual!
Friday, June 23, 2006
ST PATRICKS DAY PARTY - JAPAN
This was hilarious! So drunk, on cheap wine for the Family Mart, and then we got told off by the neighbours soo many times, afterwhich we had to take the party to....can you guess?? That's right, KARAOKE!!
MINE & POLLY'S GOING AWAY PART AT DRAGON CAFE
Okay, we had a ball! Over 40 people came! So much money! So much alcohol, so much food! It was like a hall with tables and lights, outside covered, with trees going through the roof, and it was all ours! Reserved for our party! And we didn't have to pay for it! Awesome! So much fun! So many drinks! They came, and came! and 10 minutes before the end, I said "10 shouchu's, and 10 beers please!" in Japanese of course, not thinking that they would bring them, but they DID! Oh!!! It was AMAZING!!! of course Karaoke followed!
LUCY'S GOING AWAY PARTY - PART 1
So here is most of the group! I can't remember the name of this place except that it was CHEAP! And many came! It was amazing. Everyone got drunk! This was the day I got my tattoo too! You shouldn't drink alcohol they told me....Whoops!
LUCY'S GOING AWAY PARTY - PART 2
Here I am with Polly and Kat, pulling wierd ass faces!
Here is the original group of FOUR! Myself, Emily, Lucy & Kevin, All who left Kurume, and I was the only one left...and the last to leave!
OUR KARAOKE HOME
Welcome to "BIRDY" This was our Karaoke Home. We possibly went here, on average 4 times a week! Sometimes 6 days a week! It was our home. 2am? 3am? 12am? 11pm? Whatever time, after every party, after every meal, let's go to Birdys!! It was a 60 second bike ride from the apartment! And the owner, Shigeki, would say, "See you tomorrow!" ha ha, I will miss this place, soo much. So many sad moments here, so many happy ones....all UNFORGETTABLE!
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2006! YEAR OF THE DOG!
I love Chinese New Year! Damo almost had me convinced that I wasn't allowed to come to the Chinese New Year Party because I wasn't Chinese. lol. I started calling him racist cunt. lol Baaah! It was so much fun! So much delicious food, that the they prepared! Awesome! I even bought a new red jumper for the occassion, then we played poker, and got drunk!
Go the YEAR OF THE DOG! My Birth Year! Woo Hooo!!!!
Go the YEAR OF THE DOG! My Birth Year! Woo Hooo!!!!
NARITA SAN (HEAVEN & HELL)
Damo and I went to Narita San, the massive 66 metre statue that looks out of Kurume like a guardian. The first time when I went with Emily early on during my time in Japan, it was closed, and it took us 2 hours to get there, due to incorrect directions. 20 mins on a bike with Damo, jumping over various curbs for entertainment, we got there. Climbed to the top, to find the most amazing view, on this huge balcony! NOT! We got to the top and there was this tiny little 20 cm by 20 cm window that you could look out, very dissappointing, so then we went to the bottom which is what we came for! The TOURTURE CAHMBER OF HELL! Just above it you see all these people and animals looking at Budda, depicting heaven, and then (3rd pic) is the entrance to the ANIMATED HELL!
The collage is a summary of what was in the walk through. With animated moving robots, comlete with lights and sound effects! It was awesome! So graphic. Damo and I decided to enter the displays and join in the fun! He was lying down only when another Japanese person was coming, and I said "Quick! Get up! Someone is coming!!!" He bolted. I should've left him there, and kept walking...it would've been a pisser, to see the Japanese people walk past and look at him, while he lay there, waiting for a photo to be taken, and he'd be saying. "have you taken it yet?" But I'm not that cruel! LOL
The collage is a summary of what was in the walk through. With animated moving robots, comlete with lights and sound effects! It was awesome! So graphic. Damo and I decided to enter the displays and join in the fun! He was lying down only when another Japanese person was coming, and I said "Quick! Get up! Someone is coming!!!" He bolted. I should've left him there, and kept walking...it would've been a pisser, to see the Japanese people walk past and look at him, while he lay there, waiting for a photo to be taken, and he'd be saying. "have you taken it yet?" But I'm not that cruel! LOL
THE BEST MEAT IN JAPAN!!!
What can I say? As Tina Turner would say..."It's simply the best!"
This is truly the most delicious and satisfying portions of meat in Japan. I still don't think anyone knows the real name for this place and its meat. "CALBEE" or as I call it and the Japanese pronounce "KARUBI" with Karubi soup, and rice, and beer....oh, simply mouthwatering! I can taste it now! I can smell it. You can smell this place from miles away. The smoke billowing out from the top. It's so hard to get a seat in this place. Always busy! ALWAYS! You have to wait about 40-80 mins to get a seat! It's small, but worth the wait, and CHEAP!!!
I couldn't believe it was pork! When we all made bets on what it is, I thought it was beef, since I don't like pork and can taste pork immediately......well, I was wrong! It was Pork, just like Damo had said...and it was the most delicious thing ever. BBQ'd for you while you wait. I will miss this place. In the future I intend to take my family here.
This is truly the most delicious and satisfying portions of meat in Japan. I still don't think anyone knows the real name for this place and its meat. "CALBEE" or as I call it and the Japanese pronounce "KARUBI" with Karubi soup, and rice, and beer....oh, simply mouthwatering! I can taste it now! I can smell it. You can smell this place from miles away. The smoke billowing out from the top. It's so hard to get a seat in this place. Always busy! ALWAYS! You have to wait about 40-80 mins to get a seat! It's small, but worth the wait, and CHEAP!!!
I couldn't believe it was pork! When we all made bets on what it is, I thought it was beef, since I don't like pork and can taste pork immediately......well, I was wrong! It was Pork, just like Damo had said...and it was the most delicious thing ever. BBQ'd for you while you wait. I will miss this place. In the future I intend to take my family here.
KAWAII (CUTE) DOG NIKO!
Niko, my 'hair designer' Atsushi's dog, is simply one of the cutest dogs I've ever come across. She's just so adorable, I wanted to pic up the tiny thing everytime I cam here. She just loved having her picture taken. Perfectly sitting, posed correctly, while the camera froze her in time!
ONE OF THE SADEST DAYS
This was a recovery day. It changed our lives FOREVER!
We had come to Dazaifu as a small trip since Polly was going, and Nadine was in Kurume for 2 days so we decided to go after a big night of drinking.
What a sad day. It was very gloomy and depressing, and we were hung over. Below the little girls dressed um in Kimonos and going to the Shrines to pray. Polly and I on the main street heading towards the shrine take an awkward drunk photo. Nadine and I outside the restaurant later in the day, no one had an appetite.
The last pic is truly one of the sadest moments of my time in Japan. I even have it on video. I'd like to thank Polly for providing these photos here. Arriving back from Dazaifu, we decided to go to Daiei to get some food and beer...only to find it closing. They had video cameras out, and there was a guy giving a speech and then the doors closed for the last time ever, while people clapped, other cried.
This moment would change our lives without us knowing how much of a neccessity Daiei had become to us. This is where I bought my bike from. This is where we would buy all our food. It was the only supermarket that sold alcohol. It was the closest of all supermarkets. It was 5 stories. It had the best 100 yen shop in it, the best mens clothing floor which I bought all my jimbei's from. They had so many nice ones there, which I thought I could get again...I couldn't.
When Daiei closed. We wanted to get Juice, Bread, Alcohol, Food, but we didn't know where else to go, so for a long time, we just didn't shop. I know it sounds stupid, but it's just the way it was. We got so used to it, so accustomed to it, that without it we were lost. You could see it from our balcony. It was one of the first places I came aquainted to. The firs things I asked. "What is Daiei?" That 100 yen shop was my life! So many memories. So many laughs, so many trips!
DAIEI, you will ALWAYS be REMEMBERED!
We had come to Dazaifu as a small trip since Polly was going, and Nadine was in Kurume for 2 days so we decided to go after a big night of drinking.
What a sad day. It was very gloomy and depressing, and we were hung over. Below the little girls dressed um in Kimonos and going to the Shrines to pray. Polly and I on the main street heading towards the shrine take an awkward drunk photo. Nadine and I outside the restaurant later in the day, no one had an appetite.
The last pic is truly one of the sadest moments of my time in Japan. I even have it on video. I'd like to thank Polly for providing these photos here. Arriving back from Dazaifu, we decided to go to Daiei to get some food and beer...only to find it closing. They had video cameras out, and there was a guy giving a speech and then the doors closed for the last time ever, while people clapped, other cried.
This moment would change our lives without us knowing how much of a neccessity Daiei had become to us. This is where I bought my bike from. This is where we would buy all our food. It was the only supermarket that sold alcohol. It was the closest of all supermarkets. It was 5 stories. It had the best 100 yen shop in it, the best mens clothing floor which I bought all my jimbei's from. They had so many nice ones there, which I thought I could get again...I couldn't.
When Daiei closed. We wanted to get Juice, Bread, Alcohol, Food, but we didn't know where else to go, so for a long time, we just didn't shop. I know it sounds stupid, but it's just the way it was. We got so used to it, so accustomed to it, that without it we were lost. You could see it from our balcony. It was one of the first places I came aquainted to. The firs things I asked. "What is Daiei?" That 100 yen shop was my life! So many memories. So many laughs, so many trips!
DAIEI, you will ALWAYS be REMEMBERED!
NEW KOREAN RESTAURANT (NOV 05)
Okay so we went to a new Korean restaurant which we had been eyeing for some time now. It was right near Kurume Nishitetsu Station, and I would park my bike outside it everyday on the way to work. So lets go one night. I think it was Kats idea. So Aaron, Polly, Kat and myself headed off. Oooh what goodies where we to try! The setting was really nice inside, we were fascinated by the chilli lights above our table. I think we got a strange look from the waiters when we took a photo of it, not because they thought we could be stealing their ideas for a new restaurant as would happen in dear Australia, but simly because they thought why are they taking photos of the lights? How strange? lol They had metallic chopsticks which were heavy and strange to eat with. And then there was the 7 course feast, which was all delicious until we got to the main with internal organs mixed with spices and rice etc. Most of us stopped eating. The oil was in such a large portion also that it turned you off towards the end. Tripe! Yuuuk! The first half though was Deeeeeliccious!! Yuuuum! We had to place paper aprons on ourselves due to oil splattering everywhere while the main dish was being cooked on our table, or maybe they just thought we were dirty eaters...who knows.
FACIALS AT HOME - BY THE LOVELY GIRLS
Okay, here's a pic that's just plain funny. Lucy and I had gone to the next building as the girls were going to give us facials. So we went to be greeted by huge smiles, alcohol and snacks. We sat and endured their 'torture'. There were pics taken of course as I was a little hesitant about placing cucumber slices on my eyes, and trying not to laugh while the pore remover hardened on my face. Somehow though, I knew the camera was out. LOL
TWILIGHT SHOKUDO NICETIME PARTY
I love parties! I remember this was one of those nights where it was just me, no other teachers, and heaps of Japanese friends. We were at Twilight Shokudo, and it was the staff of the NICETIME event in Tosu. I was only going to be there for a bit, but then, got really drunk, and drank and drank, to the point of stupidity. So memorable. Everytime we went here, the same thing happened. And I only ever came here with my Japanese brother Tsutomu, and on one occassion with Polly to eat and have a couple of pre-drinks just before attending Lucy's going away party. Below is a collage of the experience, in a very small nutshell.
I WILL MISS RAINY SEASON IN SUMMER
I recently found a series of pics that I wanted to post on here. I have posted 4 consecutive pics here, which I really love. These bring back many memories and even though I didn't really enjoy rainy season all that much due to the circumstances, I really do miss it and the company I had at the time. Here we see the view of the road looking down from the balcony of our apartment #501 Nippo Sansein Mutsumon, Harankogamachi, Kurume. The heat was intense, even though it looks cold, humidity was at its highest and working out on the balcony left you exhausted to the point where you couldn't move back inside, but had to, as the air was hard to breathe and you were soaked and sweating under a minute!
Inside the air conditioner creates an atmospher of what it looks like outside. Deceiving in a way until the balcony door is opened. Amazing friends, all hanging out together during Typhoon season. Nova is closed. We drink the alcohol after being soaked by the rain outside. Calling everyone together, so that we can rejoice this wonderful occassaion, which the Japanese are dreading, as rainy season (Typhoon Season) is their destructive season, and they do not look forward to it. Emily in the last photo looks out into the rain blurring Harankogamchi Park, opposite our building. No one is on the streets, except for the ignorant gaijin populations of which we are part of.
Inside the air conditioner creates an atmospher of what it looks like outside. Deceiving in a way until the balcony door is opened. Amazing friends, all hanging out together during Typhoon season. Nova is closed. We drink the alcohol after being soaked by the rain outside. Calling everyone together, so that we can rejoice this wonderful occassaion, which the Japanese are dreading, as rainy season (Typhoon Season) is their destructive season, and they do not look forward to it. Emily in the last photo looks out into the rain blurring Harankogamchi Park, opposite our building. No one is on the streets, except for the ignorant gaijin populations of which we are part of.
I will truly miss this season.
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