Ginko Fest
One of the awesome things in Japan is you never know what you may come across. This is the time of year when the Ginko trees drop their fruit and turn their leaves yellow. Not really much to say about it because I have not tried the fruit nor have I eaten any of the leaves. When you do come across a group of trees like this, WOW!
Photo of the Day…Miniature Park
This is a photo taken from the TV Tower in Sakae, overlooking Central Park. I have been playing around with post processing a bit and was trying to achieve a “miniature” feel for this photo. Don’t know if it is really convincing or not but got to start somewhere. Critiques would be very welcome, good or bad.
Thanks,
Eric
Sushi House
This is a “Sushi House” located about a block away from the hotel I am staying in. Ate there once. Kind of reminded me of a “Denny’s” for Sushi. While not a huge fan of sushi, I can’t give a fair review of this place but I thought it made a good subject for a picture.
Sagging Pants in Japan
Well it looks as though the sagging pants trend has caught on in Japan. Of all the trends that America has to offer, why does it (more…)
TV Tower and Oasis 21
During my many “walking around because I am bored and have to get out of the room” trips of Nagoya, I routinely come across this structure of the TV Tower and the “Oasis 21″. While the TV Tower is built like the Eiffel Tower and is impressive by it’s own right, the Oasis is kind of strange.
I believe the Oasis is primarily a bus station for the Sakae area. As you go further down though, the Oasis opens up to many shops and restaurants as well as access to the underground shopping area of Sakae Station. (There is a Mc Donald’s there too so us round eyes can get our fix of “Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun”)
I just think it is freakin’ cool. On the upper level of the structure, you will find that the floor is made of glass and it is covered by approx. 6 in. of water. No, you don’t have to take your shoes off to walk there because a walkway surrounds the perimeter. Although that would be a very Japanese thing to do.
I am the coolest kid on the block…
At least the coolest kid in the hotel.
A couple years ago, Meggin and I were in the same hotel that I am in now. We were here during Christmas for work. I have to say that was one of the best Christmas’s ever! Just me and my woman, in a foreign country, with no family to have to drive 5 hours to get to. Just us. I can’t tell you the last time I received a toy for Christmas. I don’t mean a “man toy” like tools or some other gadget for the garage, I’m talking about a toy. One of the gifts under our little 8000 yen Christmas tree was a little remote control helicopter. It was awesome. You couldn’t really control the thing but it was awesome anyway. I literally felt like a kid at Christmas.
Today it got even better. After coming “home” to the hotel room I had a package waiting for me, from my wife Meggin. Upon opening it, I found another helicopter waiting for me to smash into the walls of the room.
This thing rocks! You can actually control this helicopter. I still suck at it but it is WAY better than the one from a couple years ago. This thing will actually hover!
Oh yeah!…
The Hub and a 50 mm.
I decided to bring out my only prime lens yesterday in hopes of being inspired to try a different approach in taking photos. I usually have a wide angle zoom lens such as a 16 – 35 f 2.8 L. (Thanks Meggin) That’s a great lens for walking around and taking pictures of buildings, people and other typical street scenes. Sometimes you need to change things up to get inspired. Putting a fixed focal lens on forces you to get more involved with your photos, to get further or closer to your subjects, possibly interact with them. The latter is hard for me to do at times but putting a lens like this on your camera will make you get over your fears. (If you really want the shot).
Granted on this photo I did not interact with anyone. I had been walking around taking photos at night and stopped into this pub for a pint. Taking advantage of the f 1.8 lens, I grabbed a photo without using any flash. That’s the cool thing about using “fast” lenses. I am not really a fan of using a flash on my camera. I know that flashes, when used with skill, can produce amazing photos but I’m not that guy.
The reason I am posting this? Not really because the photo is great. Just kinda like it… and I need to post SOMETHING every once in a while.
Cheers!
Smash Head Cafe… Revisted
While I am here in Nagoya I have visited my favorite pub a couple times now. Located in Osu Kannon, Smash Head Cafe is a place that performs maintenance on various types of motorcycles. While their primary customer seems to be Vespa’s, I saw a vintage Moto Morini waiting for some TLC.
Anyway, while sipping my favorite beverage with a couple of coworkers, we watched this guy finish up overhauling an engine on a silver Vespa, mid 80′s model. Now I know that this guy has a name but unfortunately my Japanese is none existent so I didn’t know how to ask. Nice guy though, always smiling.
After putting on the last couple of pieces on the Vespa, it was time to let the owner, of the Vespa, go for a test ride. She rode it around the block, smoke coming out of the back as she took off. By the time she came back the smoke was gone and the bike was running smooth. This filled the air with the pleasant smell of gas and oil. This along with my Guinness was Heaven on Earth.
After the paperwork was taken care of, I ask the owner(?) if I could have a hamburger and fries. He promptly went behind the bar, pulled out a pan and started to cook my burger. I don’t recall if he washed his hands or not. To be honest, I don’t really care. As you can see, this is not your run-of-the-mill burger! Not as “beefy” as the burgers back home but the meat patty was thick. Add to that, the lettuce, cheese, bacon(?) and fried egg (for some reason the Japanese just love to put egg on almost everything) along with toasted bun, was AWESOME after a week of noodles.
After eating this beast of a burger I was so full having a few Guiness’s before hand that I had forgotten that I ordered fries. I was concentrating so hard on eating that it totally slipped my mind. This is one of those burgers that once you pick it up you don’t put it down or it will just slip and slid out of position. He didn’t start making my fries until after he made Tom’s sandwich. Before I could tell him to forget the fries he had already put them in the frying pan. Damn. I did my best but just couldn’t finish them. Think I made it about a third of the way though.
These people have always been good to us. I am sure I will visit a few more times before I go back home.
BTW, Tom and I made their blog! Check it out here.
Working in Japan while my new shop is being built…
So I have been in Japan for 2 weeks now while the new shop is being built in SC. Wish I was there to oversee the progress.
Oh and my wife and I are having a house built to go with the new shop! That is for her, I miss her so.
Can’t wait to get back home!!!
Back in Japan
Parade in Sakae
I Miss This Place
The best wings in the… WORLD!!! Not the sticky melt your face type wings that we are used to in The States. Just Fluffy Wing Happiness
These guys are awesome!
I filmed these guys at the Osu summer Festival in Osu Kannon, Japan. They were great!
Look forward to going home.
I have been in Japan for almost a year now. I will miss it but… I am ready to throw my woman on the back of my bike and go for a ride. Doesn’t matter where, as long as we don’t have a schedule. Just want to ride, with the love of my life, on the back of my bike, going wherever chance takes us. Love you Meggin.
I just don’t know about the Japanese
WTF!!!
Saw this sticker stuck on a wall, at a “stand up bar” in Nagoya, Japan. ???
Cosplay Parade 2009
This is a video of the Cosplayers at the Osu Summer Festival at Osu Kannon, Japan.
