Happy New Year - 2006

Happy New Year!!!

It's still New Years eve here in Hawaii and already, the new year is well into its first day for my brother and his friend in Japan! He just called this afternoon from Fukuoka to wish us a あけましておめでとうございます！(after taking a couple of drinks of sake!) He said they are really having a fun time - their probably on the Shinkansen right now headed for Osaka...

On this new year's eve, I kind of wish I had something deep and philosophical to say, but, my brain is just not fully functioning since I seem to have come down with a really sore throat and some body aches...not that I would have, even without this cold...so...here's a thought that just came to mind!

For a long time, on new year's eve, I remember my grandma watching the Red and White New Years Music Festival on KIKU Television. Funny thing is, just now on NGN television, they are showing the Kohaku Uta Gassen show. Then I heard a song that really reminds me of New Year time. It was originally sung by Hibari Misora, called Kawa no nagare no you ni (川の流れのように) what a beautiful song!!!



On that "note"...to all my family and friends and everyone else out there...

...have a safe and Happy New Year everyone - あけましておめでとうございます！

DIY Bicycle Light ???

The naysayers say it can't be done! Well, I'm out to prove that it CAN! (Even by a non-electrical engineer!) If you're interested in a DIY bicycle light, I'm attempting to build one here: DIY Bicycle Light ....ttyl...

2005 Japan Trip - Day 1

One of the reasons I started this blog was to have a way to remember my recent trip to Japan. I know it will bring back many good memories for me, and if you enjoy it too, better yet. So, in the next couple of weeks???, I hope to cover my entire trip.

Day 1 (Thursday Oct. 27th 2005) - I left Honolulu International Airport (HNL) at about 12:40 HST, on JALWAYS Flt. 77 bound for Kansai International (KIX) in Osaka 大阪. From Hawaii to Japan is a LONG flight, on this day, it was about 8hr45min. Luckily, I sat next to a friendly young couple from Kobe which made the flight pleasant. They indicated they loved their stay in Hawaii, but I was surprised to hear they only stayed for about 4 days.

For what it's worth (fwiw), I think 4 days is kind of short, especially for such a long flight too and from. But, as is the case in life, we all have to deal with our constraints, whether it be time, money, or other obligations that cannot be put off.


Day 1 (Friday Oct. 28th) - "What?" you say, Friday??? Well, Japan is 19 hours ahead of Hawaii, so, I started my Japan adventure on FRIDAY at about 4:30pm JST. Through the plane windows, I could see that it was just about dusk and that it would be getting dark very soon, much earlier than in Hawaii...

Getting through Immigration at Kansai was a breeze as I must have been one of only about three "foreigners" on the entire plane! I felt kind of sorry for the "real Japanese people" as they had to stand in the Japanese Citizens line which was say...350+ people long. Oh well...

By the way, for anyone interested (me being an engineer, I am!) , KIX is a newly constructed airport built on a man-made island - a true engineering marvel. For some good info see: Kansai International Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Unfortunately, I never got to see the architecture of the lobby/ticketing area as I only saw the luggage claim area ;-(

Now back to the story...From luggage claim, I wheeled my bright red suitcase which contained my BikeFriday Pocket Rocket (PR), and a cardboard box which contained my two Arkel Panniers, a very short distance to the outside of the baggage claim area to the Limousine Bus area. And of course, now, I was sort of at a loss as to where and which bus to take to get to my hotel, the Daiichi Osaka. Before going outside, I ask which bus to catch...

Standing outside the terminal in the nippy 60 degree air, a bit of apprehension sets in.....does anyone here speak Eigo? do I just pay the driver?? before I get on??? when I get off???? what if I get off on the wrong stop????? I'm starting to feel a little out of place....ok, ok... relax...this can't be that hard, how do all those other tourist who can't speak any Nihongo do it??? Well back to the story...

Of course not! You don't pay the driver - this is not like a bus in the city!!! I need to get a ticket! Luckily, a friendly bus porter pointed me in the right direction to a ticket vending machine! After asking for help again (there were no english vending machines), I think I paid about 1,750 yen for a ticket.

The bus wasn't' crowded at all and, I managed to get off at the correct stop, the Osaka Hilton. From the Hilton, all I had to do was ask for some directions to the Daiichi. I was thinking it would be a long walk, but to my surprise, the Daiichi was RIGHT NEXT to the Hilton - yatta!



Checking in was easy and the rest of the evening went smoothly. The first thing I did was put together my PR since I had a big day tomorrow! (PR arrived in great shape, except for some scratched paint.) After putting together the bike, I went out for a stroll to find a place to eat, and hence, another challenge...

Being the picky fine diner I am, finding a place to eat in Japan is not an easy thing to do! The problem is, I just couldn't make up my mind as there are a zillion places to EAT!!! (By the way, this was a recurring problem the ENTIRE trip!) After window "eating" for an hour or so, I finally decided on a small udon shop near the hotel that had some good tasting curry udon. It was a cafeteria style place so luckily translation was not much of a problem.

After eating, it was back to the hotel to get some sleep. Looking out the window at the lights of Osaka, I was thinking of how good it felt to finally be back in Japan 日本, a place I feel so good being in, and, about tomorrows trip to Nara 奈良... ttyl...

つづく。。。

Christmas Day - 2005

ATTENTION: Merry Christmas to my brother ROD and his friend KEN who are in Japan now - Mele Kalikimaka!!!

Wow, Christmas already...how the year flies by...

I hope everyone got to spend some time with their family and friends. I also hope you gave and got a lot of good Christmas presents...I got some really good stuff :-)

I also gave several "Ultimate Gift Cards" iow - CASH!!! Being the busy person (procrastinator) that I am, money is always good...especially for us "guys" who don't shop, or, us "guys" who start shopping on Christmas eve! Btdt - just yesterday. (Girls should definitely NOT give CASH since they usually LOVE to shop - so they really have no excuse!)

So then...on this Christmas Day 2005, to all my family and friends, both here and abroad...Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas in Hawaiian)

Oh, and by the way, if your interested, here's a link to this weekend's rides...

ttyl...

ホウ ホウ ホウ。。。メリークリスマス

皆さん, 　メリークリスマス！

たくさんいいプレゼントをあけますか？？？
ここハワイにホワイトクリスマスはぜんぜんみませ。 (日本は？？？)
かわりにいつもにっこうですね　;-)

見てください , いまのハワイ---> Waikiki Live Cam - ウイキキ ライブ カメラ

じょまたね。。。　

Please forgive my BAD Japanese :-)

Last weekend's long rides...

I know...I know...it's Friday already but...I've FINALLY!!! gotten into this blogging thing and have just put up my first "real" post about last weekend's long rides.

Saturday was a super day for bike riding, and Sunday was...well....junky for riding. Click here to read more: Last weekend's rides...

Well...this is a post! ;-)