This is bad...ever since I wrote that blog entry below, I have been listening to hip hop non-stop. Today is a holiday but I am here at the office working my ass off. I'm about to bounce and go to Tower Records Shibuya, which they claim is the biggest in the World, and blow off some hard earned cash on some hard knockin tunes...Choices are:
1. Erykah Badu-Wordwide Underground
2. Alicia Keys - Diary Of
3. Kanye west - College Dropout
4. Jill Scott - Who is Jill Scott?
5. Basement Jaxx- Kish Kash

Well, gotta enjoy Golden Week and none better to do so than with a stack of great cds!

I was going over my personal .jpeg collections just now when ...WHAM...I saw my Afro Disco Diva picture from last year's Malate White Party. Dang...I miss the night life! Ever since I moved here, I have done nothing but work!!!! Plus, the fact that I have not in any way established any form of social connection whatsoever is sooo pathetic. I gotta, gotta, GOTTA dance! I can feel the canned heat in my heels, tonight baby!

Now here's something new...I've never before heard of Hot Cross Buns. These buns are baked only during Lent. Apparently, it is English Tradition to serve Hot Cross buns on Good Friday. These buns are part of the original pagan celebration of in honor of the God Eastre, the goddess of Spring (and hence the "Easter" celebration). Original buns were marked with various symbols, the most favored being the cross which was a symbol for the four phases of the moon. Since Christianity has incorporated a lot of pagan symbols and traditions in order to attract more converts, Easter lives and the traditional Hot Cross Bun are still being baked.

you're different and special in every way imaginable
you love me from my hair follicles to my toenails
you got me feeling like the breeze, easy and free and lovely and new
oh when you touch me I just can't control it
when you touch me, I just can't hold it
the emotion inside of me, I can feel it
....You excite me to chorus

words borrowed from Jill Scott

Since you brought up nightlife, I finally got the chance to go clubbing in Melbourne. We've been to bars, but we've never been to a "club". Our friends here, Christie who's an ex-Melbourne SPLer and her friends, took us out that night. The place was The Next Blue and the day was Saturday, Asian R&B night. Good music, lotsa beautiful people, lots of alcohol (a bit pricey, but as long as I get at least one free drink I'm fine..hehe) but not enough Core.

Guess I'm really just used to night outs with you guys, and I was needing dance partners willing to stay on the dance floor, high-heeled shoes permitting. Still, its something I wouldn't mind doing again. Especially if there'll be another funny/weird/whacked bit I can share...

Here's the funny/weird/whacked bit: I went up to the bar to get another drink (yes, I had more than one, yay for me!) when the guy beside me asked me if I could chat with him for a while. I didn't say anything, I just looked at him and waited for what else he had to say. He went on to tell me that he's been in prison for 5 years for robbery. He was wondering how it feels to be free, to be able to walk the streets knowing that you've never been in the big house.....all the while he had this faraway,teary-eyed,pained look on him..........

I'm serious! It did happen! I tell you, I laughed incredulously, raised an eyebrow and told him outright that he's got to be kidding. Then his friend told me something (which I didnt understand, but interpreted to be something like, "ignore him he's drunk"). So I just told him that he's a free man now, and that I'll leave him to enjoy his new found freedom.

Talk about the weird things alcohol can do to someone.

Thanks Grache for changing the blog!

If you saw the terrible colors of the previous one, its because I got it into my head to play with the colors...never got around to getting rid of the shitty one. Anyways, comments are back again as well as the links ;)

....And by the way Grache, they're not in Boracay. That's just the way they are.....

Yeah, mi casa su casa. I would really love it if you come over and visit me. I can't wait to check out the night life in Tokyo!!!

And speaking of being alone and single...can't believe my article is still up over at TG's

SINGLETONS...

I'm in my so-not 20ish sqm, 3-bedroom apartment and I'm hearing the very English sounds from the telly echoing echoing through the bare and quiet rooms and reverberating from the walls. Both my flatmates are back in Manila for a short, 2-week break. Though my other officemate is just next door, I'm pretty much on my own out here. In Suburban Glen Waverley....

and, yeah, I'm loving it. Why wouldn't I?

Congratulations on your new flat, Grache. Too bad, I was getting used to the idea of calling you Meguro Girl. Now I have to re-orient myself and think "Takanoblahblah Girl, Takamababa Girl, Taka-whatever Girl"......Hey, you think you'll have room for me when I come and visit? :)

Alas, finally moved in to my own “aparto” in under two weeks. I do wish I could’ve gone hunting a little while longer but immigration law says that I have to have a permanent address within 90 days and the company just didn’t want to risk me being deported.

Like anything in Tokyo, my place is a 20ish sqm!!! studio unit that is equivalent in price to a 2-3 bedroom unit in Manila. Of course, I am not complaining because I’m happy enough not to be living on the streets. I now am a legal alien residing in “Takadanobaba” which is like Boston because it’s Tokyo’s University Town. I will eventually post some pictures…just waiting for my snazzy sofa bed to arrive =).

Speaking of pictures, I’m thinking of pasting black and white pictures on my bare walls. Around 4 pixes: Barkada pix, Family pix, Philippine pix, ? scenery pix. Socs, any suggestions for the 4th one (btw, I download QE episodes via Kazaa because I need to friggin’ watch something in ENGLISH!)? I also need a Philippine skyline, street or beach scene which I can just edit in photoshop and digiprint.

And speaking of more pictures, did I mention that big boss takes breathtaking-skin-pin-pricking pictures? The most amazing thing is that he only has his left arm. He lost his right arm in an accident when he was 3yrs old. He then lived in the US for 30 years and traveled all over with his trusty Minolta. He has also provided pictures for NTT DOCOMO’s, one of the biggest telco company in Japan, annual calendar giveaways. I guess I’ll borrow one of his slides to scan. Maybe I can get a free photo lesson as well…

04/04/04 10:24 pm

Tidbit#4
Japanese people need a seal to conduct official business. They don’t sign with a pen, they stamp their own “jazzed up” registered seal.

Tidbit#5.1
Local prime time television consists mostly of shows with a big group of people discussing or featuring a certain event, object or person…it’s mostly comical. For example, my new favorite show features a series of single people finding their perfect mate. The series usually ends with the person traveling somewhere with significant other and grandly proposing ex. a trip to Italy “Roman Holiday” style. It’s sweet and funny without needing to understand Nihongo! I like the way they perfectly insert subscripts, sound effects and small freeze/repeat frames to emphasize or point out funny things captured by the camera.

This now leads me to 5.1a and 5.1b which is…

Tidbit#5.1a
Japanese people are very visual. Diagrams and illustrations are everywhere, especially in documents! Thus, the birth of anime and A3-size paper. They actually have big copier/fax machines which is considered an office standard!

Tidbit#5.1b
Speaking of Roman Holiday, I was quite surprised that Audrey Hepburn is big in Japan. I just love her! Darn if only I have my DVD player, would’ve slapped on Sabrina or Breakfast at Tiffany’s…

Where did you first see Queer Eye Grache? I heard they're airing it in Manila already. My favorite episode so far was last week's when they featured this really hot ice skater guy. He was wanted to do something special for his dear wife (an equally stunning Italian ice skater)...And you know what they did? They prettied up their (already) spacious flat, dressed the guy up in Armani (*drool*...at one point I started wishing I were Carson!) and then set them up for Central Park date (complete with horse-drawn carriage) where they did a little number on the rink for all the other Central park skaters. Definitely one of the best episodes (admittedly because of the straight guy..hehehe)

The only thing I dont like about the show though, is that its a constant reminder that cute guys are either married (Armani skater hunk) or gay (Jai and Kyan).