So I went exploring this morning when I got up (in search of some food and water). Unfortunately, I'm sad to report that the first thing I saw that was recognizable English was a DANG Starbucks!! So I did some research on their evil webpage and I see they have 14 Starbucks in the Kyoto area. WTF!!!! And the other weird thing about Japan is that one dollar US is worth about 110 Japanese Yen. So all the prices are usually in the thousands, etc. makes you feel rich when you withdrawal 20,000 Yen from the ATM!!! But yes, all the prices at Starbucks are well over 500 Yen! But you can't call it "Fourbuck's" anymore... have to call it "500Yenbucks" or something!
Yes, the 7th ATM that I found (yes, I was counting for my letter to the IBM Financial Gurus) accepted American Express AND was in English. I found one ATM that seemed to take my card and was entirely in Japanese. I was very tempted to try to finish the transaction all in Japanese (it's an ATM... how hard can that be? you enter your pin, you enter what account to pull the cash from, you say yes to the bank's extra fees (although that seems to be a US only thing), you say no to a receipt). It never got to the pin number screen so I have no idea why it rejected my card.
I had a wonderful croissant and some kind of bran muffin for breakfast. And an OJ. I can't read enough of the milk containers (as was the case in China) to see if it's 2% or that crap you people like to call skim. I'd be very distraught if I bought a milk here and it turned out to be skim. We're talking permanent damage here! I do miss having milk though. The milk I tried in China didn't taste right so I stayed away from it. So back to my breakfast..... as I'm waiting in line to pay, I hear some music that sounds kind of like a music box. It was just in that store, but I thought I recognized the tune but it sounded too cheezy to be anything that I would recognize (with my superior taste in music). Then it dawned on me and I bust out laughing.... it was indeed the song that all of us used to know all the words to - STEP BY STEP..... yes, NKOTB was playing. I do have to admit that it made for a great laugh. Remember people, I can't make this stuff up!
The greatest part of Japan so far has to be my toilet in my hotel room. This thing is the greatest thing ever invented!!! Starts out with a heated seat... very nice in the cold of winter! Then there are controls for when you are finished doing your job, it comes out and cleans your bum!!!!! Either the bidet style function or the spray all over style... they clean and get the job done right. Sorry, I haven't experienced anything this cool in a while. Plus it has a built in deodorizer! Gotta get me one of these! Hazel wasn't as impressed when I was telling her about it. Must be a guy thing!
There is a HUGE mall underground that connects to my hotel. A ton of clothing stores (Heather, you'd love it) and there's even a GAP and GAP KIDS close by. I just wandered around looking and found some traditional Japanese type restaurants. A lot of sushi and other things that I don't know what it is. Scared to try some of it, especially since it's all in Japanese and I really don't know what I'd be getting. I'm hoping that the restaurant here at the hotel that I'm going to try has English menus, or at least some pictures. That seemed to be an easy thing to find in China.
Sumo wrestling is on the Television. I think I was built to Sumo Wrestle! Seriously! Not sure about wearing that oversized diaper though. I'd be much taller than the guys I'm watching now. No, there's nothing else on that I can understand.... not that I understand this! They take forever to actually get to the pushing and shoving that you associate with Sumo. The first part of the match is them throwing chalk into the ring, and the ceremonial dance. Not too much actual pushing. But when they do actually wrestle, it's well worth the wait!! Or is that well worth the weight? haha!
For those that were concerned after reading my blogging from China, don't worry - I found the ICE MACHINE!!!!! So that will not be an issue. But finding normal Pepsi might be different as I see a lot of Pepsi Twist. There are pop machines EVERYWHERE when walking around. They even have beer vending machines (how cool is that?) and cigarette vending machines all over as well. It's interesting none the less.
On a non-Japanese topic: Today is the 1st Birthday of a true miracle baby Hailey Bridgewater. She has grown so much and is still working on growing some hair (don't worry Hailey, I was bald till I was 2 years old! AND NOW LOOK AT ME!!). She's quite amusing to see and her mother would be so proud of her. It's a shame she looks so much like her daddy though;)
Have a great Monday - I'm off to find some dinner and then maybe swim some in the pool!
2 comments:
You are there for work aren't you?
Yeah, well, I don't know if you've ever seen any pics of me or my siblings, but we were all quite literally bald until about 2, & didn't have enough hair to speak of 'til 4, and now you should see us! Each of us has about enough hair for five normal people!
My mother used to put my like two hairs up with a barette, she called it my Pebbles hairstyle, and people would still say, "What an adorable little boy!" =S
Tell that to your little friend.
Kristie
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