Going to China

I'm leaving for China today.  I wouldn't recommend drinking heavily the day before a long flight.  You'd think I would have learned my lesson from my recently trip to Japan.  It was a very terrible 11 hours.  I think these 11 hours are going to be similar.  :(  The trip should be fun at least.

I still have many more pictures to upload from my Japan trip.  It just takes awhile to upload them all and filter out the crap photos.  Stay tuned for more Japan pictures and some newer pictures from China.

Japan Birthday Get! (Pokemon Edition)

I turned 25 when I was in Japan.  I received a Magcargo Cake.  That's freakin awesome.

More after the jump:

Beppu Get!

Here are some pictures from my first trip to Beppu, Japan.
Hit the jump for more:

Japan Grocery Store Get!

A walk thru a grocery store in Japan.

Sagiridai Overlook Get!

Sagiridai Overlook slightly outside of Beppu, Japan.  There not much to say about this place besides the view.  There was a little shop that sold treats and souvenirs.  I didn't buy any souvenirs, but I did eat some ice cream.  Hit the Jump for pictures:

Onsen Hot Spring Get!

Trip to the Japanese Onsen!  Hardcore Traditional Japanese Style goodness.

Hit the jump for more:

Special Japanese Souvenir!

This video shows Nikki opening a souvenir that I brought back from Japan.  Hit the jump to see pictures of the other nice souvenirs.

99 Problems

Japan Beer Factory Get!

This is the Sapporo Brewery in Hita, Japan.  I got to go there for a couple hours and had a beer lovin' time. Hit the jump for full details:

Between Japan & China

I just got back from Japan and I'm leaving for China in 6 days.  I've already had a J-Beer craving since I've been back.  Don't worry though, I picked up a Kirin last night....  more plus pictures after the jump:

Beach Japan Get!

This may sound a little silly, but this is the only beach that I went to in Japan.
Dive in to see some pictures:

Japanese Beer Festival Get!

So, I stumbled onto a little beer festival outside of Fukuoka Tower.

Stone Buddha Get

Welcome to Usuki, Japan!  Nestled deep within the mountain forest is where the Stone Buddha awaits.  Take a closer look after the jump.

Fukuoka Tower Get!

Fukuoka Tower was pretty nice.  Took the elevator to the top, checked out the cool view, and then enjoyed a Matcha Ice Cream and delicious stout.  Hit the jump for some fancy pictures:

Wallet Wars

Here's a picture of my wallet from American and my new Banana Wallet (バナナの財布) from Japan.  I kind of like the Banana Wallet better.  It is more difficult to get my ID out of it, but I don't get asked for ID in Japan.  >.<  Large pics after the jump:

My Worst Day in Japan

Yesterday, I became really sick and spent a large chunk of the day laying in a hospital bed.  My stomach started hurting after breakfast and then...  I'll put the details after the jump:

Natto Song and Video

My first time eating Natto and my first time in Japan. I decided to make a song for the occasion. Watch it on Youtube in 720p for the best quality. Hit the jump for lyrics, downloads and more info.

Okonomiyaki Japanese Pancakes

I recently went to an Okonomiyaki restaurant  (お好み焼き).  Each table has a grill built into the middle where you do the cooking (you can have them cook it for you if you want, but what's the fun in that).  The server brings out the raw ingredients then you can create your pancake.  There are many pre-selected packs of goodies to choose from.  Alternatively, you can choose your own combination of available ingredients.  Hit the jump for a full showing:

A walk thru the Manga Shop

This is a Manga Shop in Oita, Japan.  It has much more than Manga though.  It's got everything from figurines, Anime, Music, Manga, Video Games...  Star Wars, Haruhi, Predator, Christmas Nights, Smash Bros., Perfume (the group), K-ON!, Shiina Ringo,  Dreamcast.   I love this shop.  This shop has everything.  I want to Nerd Out all day in this shop!

In front of the shop.

Getting sick in Japan

This is a little story about getting sick in Japan.  Before I get into my experience with Japanese hospitals/clinics, I'd like to briefly talk about a few of my Health Care Experiences from the United States.  Hit the jump for the full story.

Food themed Candy in Japan

Cheese Burger Themed Candy (hit the jump for more)

Shioyu BBQ (塩湯 バーベキュー)

I went to a nice Seafood BBQ place today.  It was very traditional Japanese style.  The seafood was really fresh.  Some of it was still alive when it came to the table :D  I've had never eaten sashimi that was still warm from the body heat (at least I don't remember doing so as of writing this).  Also, the abalone sashimi was still kind of moving around in my mouth when I started to chew it.  The dead animal were also good.

I have a Picasa album and video I took with my camera.
Hit the jump to look at those.

Japanese Baby Clothes

I found some really nice baby clothes at Village Vanguard.
I really like the first and last one.
Which one is your favorite?

Italian Food in Japan

Italian food is still tasty in Japan.  I think Japanese people like Italian dessert more than Americans.  The Japanese love dessert.

Italian Food in Japan

Parappa the Rapper

Some TV camera people came and talked to me for about 20 or 30 minutes when I was at Hakata Dontaku (a huge festival in Fukuoka, Japan). For some reason they found out that I like rap music and the guy asked me to rap (>.<). I kind of had to take a piss at the time and the first thing that came to my mind was "In the Rain or in the Snow, I got the funky flow, and now, I really got to go!".

I thought it was a bit of a coincidence that I saw a picture of Parappa the Rapper on the side of a building when I got back to Oita. That's a pretty old game. Lucky!

I want to play Parappa the Rapper now. That game is slick.

Beach, Beer and Tower

Uploaded some new albums to Picasa.  I have pictures from Fukuoka Tower, a beer festival at the base of Fukuoka Tower, a beach near Fukuoka Tower and the Sapporo Brewery in Hita (not near Fukuoka Tower). Couldn't take pictures of the actual beer making machines though.  :(

Fukuoka Tower	Beer Festival in Japan
Beach in Fukuoka	Sapporo Brewery (May 4, 2011)

Mos Burger

Japanese Fine Burger & Coffee

I got the BLT.

Ramen at the Street Cart

I always wanted to eat a little Raman shop like this.

Snack from Konbini

Here was my drunken snack choice from the convenient store last night.  I think I remember it being tasty.

Tommy Lee Jones is Boss

Tommy Lee Jones is the spokesman for the company Boss.  They make canned and bottled coffee drinks.

Ayumi Hamasaki was the spokesperson for them until April of 2006.  I think it makes more sense for Jones to do it though.  He kind of looks like the guy on the can.

Jesus / Buddha Manga

I want to read this manga about Jesus and Buddha being room-mates.  lol

Homemade Bread in Japan

Homemade sesame bread.