Koyoken Ise

... ich pracy zza niewielkiego ogrodzenia. Nam udało się dostać trochę bliżej i przyjrzeć pracy przy bolidzie Roberta Kubicy. Widzieliśmy też: zespół Ferrari ćwiczący szybkie i sprawne serwisowanie samochodu (zmiana kół, tankowanie itp.) i ważenie bolidów. Udało się nam nawet usiąść (za przyzwoleniem BMW Sauber) za konsolą, przy której szef teamu obserwuje parametry samochodu podczas wy ...

We did the usual disembarkation and re-boarding to go through security in Nagoya. I threw the Japanese quarantine inspectors into a tizzy. I saw there was no line for the security checkpoint and didn't see them at the far end of where the line normally is, so I jumped the barrier and almost violated their quarantine. The decided I didn't have swine flu and let me through. I had only a few minutes between when I got to the gate and we started to board.

A restless night of strange furniture rearranging upstairs until 3AM, so I rolled out of bed exhausted way too early. And suffered the consequences trying to navigate the many, many private railways in Osaka (more on this to follow).

But I did manage to drop my bags off at the new hostel and catch the right trains to Ise-shi (Ise city) in Mie Prefecture, which is 2 leisurely hrs away by train from Osaka. The ...

... stayed in a Japanese inn with actual Japanese. We risked the 30 min walk to get to a nearby hotel's onsen (hot Japanese bath). Again this was the first time to go with Japanese and to try, the there present, horse oil or charcoal shampoo. We also managed to show off our Japanese skills (or lack thereof) to the other bathing guests. Another great advantage to having Japanese roommates is that they were actually willing (even ...

So Saturday I woke up early, caught the 7:30 train to Nagoya and got there at around 8ish. Met up with Emily and Roxy at around 8:30ish and we took the Kintetsu line to Ise. Took 2 hours! Most of it was sleeping. We got there and went through the bazaar, I ended up buying this fish cheese thing, because I needed something to sustain my ...

... ti chiede scusa per averti fermato ed eventualmente fatto la multa, non poteva essere da meno anche dentro al circuito di Suzuka . Non ho notato nessuno che sia riuscito anche per sbaglio a buttare un pezzo di carta per terra. Se avessi potuto sia per la non conoscienza della lingua che per questioni di tempo avrei avvisato uno per uno gli appasionati di motociclismo dentro al circuito di non ...

... overdubs and vocals, but it was already sounding pretty good by the time I finished. The other three stayed behind an additional hour or two to finish what they could, and I guess the rest of the mixing will take place in two weeks. Seven completed songs in one day? Not too shabby! I hustled on down to Tsurumai after recording yesterday evening then to celebrate under the newly-blossomed sakura with friends. Since Mayu and I are flying out in less than ...

... Spanish thing about the place was two Spanish guys, the only other foreigners, who were looking around with a mixture of disgust and disbelief. But in a way, the dodginess had a peculiar charm. Plus, there was like no one there so not only was there no queue for the dodgy dodgy rides, thered be next to no people at all on the dodgy dodgy rides. But there was one thing that this theme park excelled ...

... The only parties they have are almost like planned matchmaking-cocktail-type parties - I understand it to be where everyone gets paired up with someone of the opposite sex for the night They've really only seen 'house parties' in movies, and I think they think they're all like American Pie or Animal House - they'll be in for a surprise! The one girl who speaks little English got really nervous after she realized that most of the people there would be other English ...

... to her explanation, I was invited in as an observer. It was a very beautiful experience. I also met tourists from other regions of Japan, who were as curious as me about the grand history of Nara. One of them shared with me his knowledge of the origins of the Japanese writing system, born more than 1700 years ago, while we were walking through the Path of Stone Lanterns. By sunset, I wrapped up my visit of this tranquil town and started heading back to the metropolis ...