News from everywhere else

[daft alchemist]

Japan is probably one of the most interesting places in all of existence. I really must go there someday.

[BugHunter]

Tokyo at least is really like one giant mall, and if you watch anime's all the time (which i dont), going there is one of the few occasions where it could come in handy (language wise). But really, if you go to any large city, its kind of almost a similar experience (minus the language barriers, depending on which district you go to, and the high prices seem universal).

And ah geeze, if its one lesson I've learned from this entire experience, and sorry i gotta say this, is that America is a country full of assholes! This is also kind of in reaction to the members of the team that accompanied me when i went. Almost all of them, the most pompous, full of themselves assholes I've ever met. If there was a ruckus anywhere, a street, a museum, a train, the only loud sounds would be coming from my group. Couldn't stand them, ended up exploring Tokyo on my own for lack of good company. And I have to say this, after seeing the Korean and Japanese airports, so clean and the service people so kind and polite (and all the female workers and attendants good looking), Chicago sucked major ballzage!! First person we had to interact with, one of those immigration check in people, disgruntled ass! Stamps my passport and practically tosses it back to me while barely saying hello. Trying to buy food at a kiosk nearby, cash register lady was on the phone not paying attention to us and the dude in charge of making hotdogs seemed pissed that I didn't have an order for him to cook up (all i wanted was a snapple and to get the heck out of there) he rudely shoos me away. Service was terrible! Took almost an hour to get our bags back (in all the other airports are bags were out almost right away) and then our plane was delayed 3 hours (probably better that it was because we wouldn't have made it in time considering how long it took to get our bags)! And after visiting 6 countries on 2 different continents, I find that Americans are the most ugliest lot out there. Overweight, ugly, and with attitude. Serously, the overweight problem really is more noticeable in this country than any other. Sigh, welcome back to America...

And then I slept all of yesterday in my comfy bed. My body was so fatigued from travel. I think with all the walking and the stomach sickness I contracted in Tokyo, I lost another 5 lbs.

[daft alchemist]

While all those things are definitely true about America, there are some rather low points to Japan as well. Like the perverts. I mean, you can buy used panties out of vending machines. Kind of nasty.

But I hear you can also buy pizza and stuff like that out of vending machines.

But the number one reason why Japan is mo-foing awesome is video game merchandise whenever you want it wherever you want it. I'd love that. Be walking down the street and "That's such a cute Yoshi doll! I must have!!" ;D

[BugHunter]

I was kinda looking forward to seeing vending machines that had almost anything in them, but either i was in the wrong districts or that was a complete myth. I didn't find vending machines that had anything beyond a set of drinks. But, one of the guys did win panties from one of the high stakes capsule toy machines (where the big prize was a Wii). And I did find that one street while wandering the city that was definitely a red light district by night, but it was empty during the time because i found it during the day. And of course you can definitely find a ready supply of hentai at any manga store if you're interested. And you're freaking right, video game merchandise is definitely everywhere, most would be rare in the states if you can find them here at all. They also have a thing for Lilo & Stitch dolls for some reason; found a high consentration of that theme in a lot of toy stores and crane game machines. And their toy stores are definitely something to see. Everything is there, and if u're a gundam fan, forget about it, welcome to your heaven. And for some reason, there was a McDonalds in almost every corner in the city, kinda like Starbucks, only Micky D's. At least their workers are kind, polite, and fast, unlike ours. Everywhere they bow when you enter and say welcome and hello with humility and respect, definitely not like home.

[daft alchemist]

Their whole culture was based on honor and all of that. I bet that's why they're all so nice and polite and all. Do the McDonald's there really sell fish? I know beef is more expensive for them since they don't have much farming room, and I heard that they sell fish instead. Maybe chicken too, I forget.

[BugHunter]

I dont recall seeing the McDonalds with a fish choice. The menu was pretty similar to ours. They did have a teriyaki chicken version of a big mac though, which i tried, pretty good and cheaper than a regular big mac. I do know the McDonalds in Philippines replaces one of the choices with fried chicken and rice.

[daft alchemist]

Damn. McDonalds here needs a teriyaki chicken thing. That would just be yummy.

[BugHunter]

So here's a little something interesting that I found while in the National Museum of Japan. Its an ancient sword with the triforce imbued on it:





I found that the Triforce symbol is in more places than I thought. I also found a temple with the Triforce symbol everywhere. I'll post photos from that place later. So I've been trying to find out what the symbol means historically, but so far I haven't really found anything yet since whenever i do a search on it I get a ton of Legend of Zelda sites.

[Cobra5]

Its the symbol of the Hojo family.

When japan was divided, they were one of the ruling families. The three triangles represent three dragon scales (There's a story about that, but I don't really know it)

I learned that from Shogun: Total War

[Jalathas]

bughunter said:

So I've been trying to find out what the symbol means historically, but so far I haven't really found anything yet since whenever i do a search on it I get a ton of Legend of Zelda sites.

From Wikipedia: "The shape of the Triforce is based on the mon symbol of the Japanese Hōjō clan, which is said to represent the three scales of a Shinto dragon."

[Cobra5]

HAH! Ninja'd you.

[daft alchemist]

I think that was the clan I picked in Shogun...but I totally forget.

[Jalathas]

admin said:

HAH! Ninja'd you.

Ninja'd so bad, I didn't even see it until today. lol

[BugHunter]

Man, I've always been meaning to get a copy of that game

[Cobra5]

Shogun: Total War? Its a cool wargame. There's no diplomacy (In fact, your allies are MORE likely to attack you then your enemies), and I love diplomacy, but even so, I can recommend it.