Grounded

OK, so I am going to be home for a while now. Well, home as in restricted to US-only travel. No, I am not an accused terrorist or quarantined or anything. I need to get a visa for Brazil and for China. Brazil takes 3 weeks to get. And since i have to turn in the passport with the visa application, that means no leaving the country. Me and OJ Simpson - passport-less and restricted to North America!

So, I will make the best of it - like enjoying the new digs, and doing some personal US travel. Chicago here I come!

So Long, Seoul!

Well, the good news is that, yes, the sun does come out in Asia - at least in Seoul. The bad news is that it waited until the day I am leaving!
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Ooh, A Seminar - and in Korean!

Oh boy, talk about you fish out of water situation. We finished up the day by attending the dinner at the conference the local team put on with a partner. Normally a good thing, this was conducted in Korean. Everyone at the table spoke in Korean. Everyone ELSE that is. It was a challenge. I tried to start conversations in English and they'd go a while. Before you knew it though there was silence and then a new conversation - in Korean. It was a very long meal.

As for the food, it was pretty much the same stuff as you'd get in the US. And I do mean the same stuff! I think they flew it over from a US catering company it looked - and tasted - so familiar! Did I mention it was a long meal?

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What the Heck Happened to the Sun?

'Beautiful' Korea! I don't think I have seen the sun since I left So. Cal. And the trend continues with a smoggy day in Seoul. This view outside of my hotel room is sooo welcoming!

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Small World After all

Sitting here as an American I am listening to a Korean singer under a banner for an Irish holiday perform a Canadian's song from a movie about an English boat that sank. Yes, uncle Walt, it is a small world after all!
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Korean BBQ - pt 2

Don't ask me what is in the dishes. Don't know and I am not sure I want to! Beyond the rice and garlic items I couldn't tell you.

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Asian Culinary Tour Continues

A year ago I was dining on kimchee and green beer for St. Patty's Day right here in Seoul. I missed making it a annual thing by one day. So, tonight I am having regular beer and Korean BBQ. That is where you cook the meat right at your table. Still had kimchee, though! A couple of different kinds as a matter of fact. And I am once again in Korea. This will be a quick trip which is good. I am anxious to get home!

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Talk About Doing a Double Take!

Funny that the HK currency is called dollar and uses the same symbol. Thank goodness though the exchange rate is not the same! An $18 soda! Well, factor in a 7.52 (or so) exchange rate and this soda seems way more reasonable at somewhere between $2-3. You really don't get used to it though. Yesterday my breakfast of a muffin, water and Coke was $67! that is HK$67 thank goodness!
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Sounds a Bit Fishy to Me

So the fish restaurant is next to the pool? And the sushi bar is below? Do you get to swim with your dinner before you eat it? And the fish that don't make it, are the siphoned off below to the sushi bar? Sounds like the whole set up could be a model of efficiency!
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The Korean Experience

This is the Korea Cultural Experience in the Seoul airport. Interesting in that you can see items of Korean culture, hear Korean music and do some arts & crafts. Yea, that last part was a bit odd. Seeing adults doing arts & crafts - in an airport no less. I do have to say, though, that it was a unique & interesting way to kill some time. I didn't do it as I opted for a more traditional time killer -
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13 Hours to Korea & Now ...

... A 3 hour layover as I make my way to Hong Kong! Kind of a strange trip as I touchdown here and go on to HK only to come back here on Wednesday.

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Pepsi Plane?

Is it just me or does the new Pepsi logo look like the Korean Air Line logo? And since this logo is on the Korean flag I'd think Pepsi would not win any trademark infringement case!
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Big in Japan

They created a logo for me and have signs commemorating my visit all over town! This is at Narita Airport. I assume as a final goodbye for visiting. These people are so nice & friendly!

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Last Night, Sushi Night!

I had a chance to get out on my own. Ventured out into the nasty weather with my brand new umbrella (bought it today because the weather was so bad). Not long after I got out in the rain, it slowed down and finally stopped. Of course I thought it was a bit ironic as it had rained all week and I finally broke down today and bought an umbrella. Now if someone had told me buying an umbrella would make the rain stop I would have done it Tuesday!

I picked up some stuff for the new place and spotted a sushi restaurant. I just had sushi the night before - aw hell, who cares! more sushi!! Went in and it was one of the conveyor belt style of places. I resisted the desire to sit on a corner and just re-route everything to my mouth and instead sat in a normal seat like a good patron.

The sushi was good - not great like last night, but then again it would end up being about 1/3 the price! I quickly decided, though, that I need a sushi conveyor belt system in my new place!

Now I do have to say as the pieces went around, there was one item that I just had to enquire about. I recognized the crab, but the stuff next to it? There was only one thought going through my head and it is really the only way to say it effectively...

Who shit in the sushi? Crapped in the kani? Dookie'ed in the dinner? OK, that was a few ways, but you certainly get the idea. Man that stuff looked disgusting. While I sometimes see uni looks like little kitty tongues, this stuff looked like it came out the other end of the cat! And I gotta say, it certainly tasted like it too - not that I ever ate cat poop, but is certainly tasted similar to how I thought cat poop would.

Dinner in Rappongi

"Excuse me, ma'am, can you please pronounce the name of your restaurant for me? I would hate to insult your fine establishment with how *I* think it is pronounced!"

Well, despite how the name looks, the sushi was awesome - damned expensive, but awesome. This place was in Rappongi down a back alley behind the Hard Rock Cafe. It had a good mix of locals and tourists so I felt comfortable eating there. That and to tell people I ate at 'Fukuzushi'. I am a little worried though. When I open my combination vietnamese soup restaurant and pool hall (Pho-Q's) I am hoping there is not a trademark infringement!

Speaking of that pronunciation, it seems that Rappongi is a bit different than it was 10 years ago when I was last in Tokyo. So after dinner and shopping at the HRC store I walked arond a bit. At every corner there is at least 3-4 guys standing around waiting to convince some guy - or group of guys - to come into their men's club, bar, or whatever. If you have ever been to Las Vegas and had the pamphlets, cards and fliers jammed in your face you have some idea of how these guys operate. Let me tell you though, the guys in Las Vegas are downright courteous and cooperative compared to these guys. I don't know how many times you have to say no, or how much ignoring them will get them to ge tthe idea and leave you alone. I am surprised one of them didn't jump in the cab with me to continue his pitch!

Now I am not sure if one of those street recruiters worked for this place, but it certainly has a questionable sign to say the least! While the sign caught my attention, I did NOT go into the establishment. I figured it was probably best to keep moving - and quickly!

One thing you can see in Rappongi is Tokyo Tower. It is kind of like their version of the Eiffle Tower, but I believe it is actually a TV or some other communications tower.

Now, back closer to home, once I got back to the hotel I decided I had to have some ice cream. I set out to find it. I had no idea what I would find but figured I'd at least look. On that journey I came across this strange restaurant. I couldn't help but think of Chick-fil-A's cows that are always imploring people to "eat more chikin". I figure if they couldn't get you to eat 'chikin' then they would be 'bawling'. I was tempted but did not check it out. Who wants to see a bunch of crying cows anyways!

JB Mart

Wow, this is way cool! Almost as cool as the travel agency here, JTB (they tried to tell me it stood for Japan Travel Bureau, but I think we all know better!) Any rate a JB Mart! Now that *is* a convenience store!

I found Cokes and sushi in there - which you would expect from a JB Mart. I didn't see the Coke machine though so I could get it in the right size. And the candy looked different than I'd expect at my convenience store. I will need to talk to someone though. The sports and photography mags were missing. There were no lottery tickets that always won something. There was no beer. And on top of it I still had to pay! I said, "Don't you know who I am? I am JB! What the heck kind of JB Mart is this!". There seemed to be a language barrier though and she didn't quite get what I was saying. Yea, I need to talk to the person who runs that store to set them straight.

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My Very Own Office!

They tried to tell me that it was a Japan Travel Bureau IBM location. I guess that is why there wasn't the big executive desk and big screen TV waiting for me!
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Sign Over Men's Room Urinal

You could probably also translate this as "Please watch your step"! And how do they know how close I am standing?

To infinity and beyond!

This not a Hollywood mirror trick. This is merely one side of one floor in the 15 story IBM Tokyo building. The cube farm just seems to go on forever.

Fw: No Such Thing as Too Much Bling!

Owning something here might be a sign that you might have too much money!

Lunch Style Points

Funny how important presentation is with Japanese food. I am not sure if it helps with the perception of how it tastes or the quality but I do know it looks good - as good as it tastes for sure.

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$6 coke

Note that it is as tall as my phone. Take out the giant chunks of ice and it is about a shot. Good thing I don't live here. My Coca Cola habit would be more expensive than a 'coke' habit!
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Feel like I am at the UN

Sitting in a big room with a big stage and I have a translation device in my ear. And let me tell you the slides are riveting! I understand the graphics but have no clue as to the wording!

OK, with this thing in my ear I keep thinking I am supposed to ask someone if they want fries with that order!
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Sign on the elevator doors says it all ...

Say hello with a smile. Aw, how nice. Weird! But nice.
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Hello Tokyo!

View from the room. Ooh. Exciting!
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12 'Short' Hours Later

Welcome to Japan! Well, arigato, dude! Glad to be here. Now get me to my hotel so I can shower!
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Skin control?

This bottle in the bathroom of the airplane says "Control Skin". I guess the last thing you'd want is rowdy skin - especially on a long flight!
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Coca-Cola, a World of Difference

So, I left the US on Korean Air bound for Japan and I am drinking a Coke
from, as near as I can tell, Turkey. Huh!

Now as many will tell you I am a Coca-Cola addict. And anyone who has ever
eaten at a restaurant with me can attest to that. When dining at a place
for the first time I ask the server "Do you have Coke or Pepsi" and God
help them if they try to pass off Pepsi - or any other cola, for that
matter - as Coke! I know the difference. I passed the Pepsi Challenge taste
test Pepsi used to do years ago. Oh, maybe in their eyes I flunked it
because I knew the difference and preferred Coke.

And now when I travel it is always an adventure when ordering a Coke. Not
many people know but Coca-Cola tastes different in each country. They allow
local bottlers to modify that sacred formula to suit local tastes. Find it
hard to believe? Well try ordering Chinese food, for example , in another
country. I guarantee you Kung Pao Chicken will taste very different in
Paris than it does here. And it certainly is different from what you'd get
in Beijing. Heck, try Mexican food in Alabama and you can see how foods get
modified to suit local preferences!

So UK Coke tastes different than German Coke, which is different than
Chinese Coke and different from Swedish Coke and so on. Let it be known the
Real Thing is the best and it is only found in the US. The other countries
renditions are usually close enough to handle for the few days I am in the
country. But when I board that plane bound home for the US I always look to
see - did you bring it with you from home or did you pick it up somewhere
along the way? For the record, The Netherlands and Germany are closest to
the Real Thing. France they are too focused on wine and UK must really have
no taste - at least when it comes to Coke.

So, when I ordered my Coke on this flight I wondered, did they pick it up
in LA or bring it from Seoul, or was it possibly from Tokyo. Right off when
she set the can down I saw the "330ml" and "kola". Hmmm, not US. Ok. So I
read the label trying to uncover its origin. The language was strange to
me. I thought German when I saw Kafein but quickly realized that wasn't
German. The first line was "The Coca Cola Company'nin izni ile
uretilmister." Well that cleared it up right there. I had *no* friggin idea
where this was from. Then I saw what looked like it could be an address and
it ended with Istanbul. Ah ha! Turkey. Never been there. Its not on our
route. In fact not even close to the US, Japan or Korea. What the heck was
it doing here? The poor little guy was obviously lost.

You may be wondering how it tasted. Or you may be wondering why this idiot
is writing about Coca-Colas around the world. Or, you may even be
questioning why you are reading this stupid thing on Coke! Well, let's jut
address the first one. It almost tastes like the Real Thing, but definitely
different. Usually the formula is changed with regard to the sweetness.
This, though, didn't seem to have a goofy after-taste. It wasn't too sweet
or not sweet enough. No, this tasted like the dialed down the flavor
itself. Like they skimped on the syrup. It tasted like a shell of the Coke
and not Coke. The taste was ghost-like - kind of there, but not full in
body. (Yea, I am talking about Coke like it's wine! I guess I am a Coke
Geek!) I found it worthy but definitely not the same.

And right now I find it empty - as in the can is empty. Time to track down
a flight attendant and refill!

On the Road Again

Actually, more like in the air again. It's been a while since I traveled
and I have to say it feels a bit strange. But then again it feels kind of
strange because I seem to be one of only two Caucasians on this flight. It
is a Korean Air flight to Tokyo so the flight is almost 100% Asian - you
know, except for me and that other white guy! Strange, too, in that there
aren't any other ethnicities.

I have not been to Tokyo in years. I really enjoy the city. I am hoping to
take in at least some sites but not sure I'll have the time. I am only
there 4 days and there will be quite a bit of work to do with the local
team. That darn IBM!

Ooh! Duty free catalog! Gotta go check out the stuff!