uma-umahan
Taken during my first out of town trip to the NIIGATA prefecture. I basically escaped from work to join a friend in this wonderful adventure. We took a 7 hour train trip into what I thought would be some country town in the middle of nowhere...but found instead a ocean & bayside city that is breathtaking. The picture above was taken in front of a shrine near an ocean cliffside. It reminded me so much of Kill Bill 2 that I decided to do a wacky kung fu pose. You can look at more scenic shots in my LIMBO blog...

The one thing that you will never be in Tokyo is BORED. Aside from being a very large city, Tokyo seems to harbor a collection of...yes...oddities and weirdos. Below are proofs of their existence. From obnoxious hairstyles, outrageous wardrobes to sickenlingly cute anime to freakish items its a lifestyle and culture very much their own.
In Tokyo, you get the taste of extremes. Nothing is too strict or too over the top, the only people who bat eyelids and gape on the oddities and the weirdos are the gaijins. They seem to feed on the attention though, but sometimes it feels too much like a cricus or a freakshow. Its fun, funny, amusing, amazing, garrish and tacky all at the same time.

weirdo 

oddities 

Turtlenecks have become a wardrobe staple since the weather started dropping to 15 degrees C. Unfortunately, I was never one to like anything constricting near my neck. I've always avoided wearing turtlenecks, hating the feeling of having any kind of material so closely and so widely covering everything between my shoulders and my chin. I dislike them so much, I took out my scarf last week to wrap around my neck instead.

But then the other day, after 20 minutes of wearing my scarf, I started to instinctively loosen it as well...it was the gagging feeling, like a pair of furry,warm hands were choking the breath out of me...I could almost hear myself wheezing and coughing. In one motion I whipped it off my neck and spent the rest of my walk home pulling my coat closer around me.

No hand nor cloth is allowed to gag me...and whenever possible, the turtlenecks stay in my closet.

And its SATC-inspired at that. Since Grache and I love the show, its the most appropriate quiz I can think of for this blog.

And by the way, Grache and I got the same results. hehehe.

You Are Most Like Carrie! You're quirky, flirty, and every guy's perfect first date. But can the guy in question live up to your romantic ideal? It's tough for you to find the right match - you're more than a little picky. Never fear... You've got a great group of friends and a great closet of clothes, no matter what!

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You Most Like?
Take This Quiz Right Now!

First change the template...

and then we'll see what happens next.

Ok, it took quite a while…almost two months but I finally got to hook up with some people for a Tokyo clubbing experience. What I thought would be spent on some lame Saturday morning for Japanese Class turned out to be pretty interesting.

First Saturday- 8th of May

Entered class 15 minutes late…still disoriented from the heat I found my way over to the intermediate section of the class. It was divided into different levels and the newbies were in a separate group. I was the only female “gaijin”. Although Japan feels as foreign to me as it does to them…I think I am left in a more akward position because I still am of Asian origin.

My group was composed of all males: 1 Swiss, 1 French, 1 African American and then there was Alex a category himself. He is a hairdresser from Cannes who took me into his “wings” (I am starting to think that I was probably gay during my past lifetime). The three can speak French and it can get pretty distracting because it sounds so much better. Heck, they make microwave - micro du/de ovre? Sound very sexy.

Second Saturday- 15th of May


GAIJINS ON THE LOOSE

Since I had to rush off the previous Sat. to go to work, it was only during this day that I found out that they usually had lunch together after class. It was good to finally talk to people in English. We had lunch at a nice café in Harjuku…while conversing I found out that they were heading to the Sanja Festival in Asakusa. Yesss…I was saved from eternal boredom. With the Swiss, the French, the French-Vietnamese, the Australian classmates and three other Germans we braved the crowded streets. The highlight for me was the Tyco Drum demonstration…I just love the deep loud timbres they emit. I have always been addicted to bass…


SANJA MADNESS

At the end of the day, my Aussie female classmate was asked to take the 3 Germans to a night out…I was then given an invite and gladly accepted. We ended up in Roppongi and Nishii-Azabu with Helen’s witty American girlfriend, our French female classmate and their Aussie friend. We took the “cheap crap bar”, called “Bar isn’t it?” (a great example of ENGRISH), by storm with the German going wild. Then we went to Muse and enjoyed some pool and crazy karaoke. Again the Germans were making loud noises…it reminded me of farm animals mating.

Third Saturday- 22nd of May

Half of my group were missing…it seems I was the only person at home on Friday night. Sheesh, there was a time I went out every night…EVERY NIGHT…in Manila. Yeah…those were the days…Work hard, play harder.

We had lunch and when I heard them mentioning Basement…and Ageha…hell I perked up and asked them if I could tag along. In short I invited myself to go with the French group to the Basement Jaxx event in Ageha. I would not miss that for the world. Almost did because I DID NOT want to go there alone…but hell I would be lucky to catch them in Manila. No one ever goes to Manila you know…except Mariah Carey and Stephen Bishop….harharhar…

This leads me to my next entry…read about it over at my revived blog…LIMBO…

OK..OK Socs, now that you've let out your big 'ol dirty secret. It's time for me to 'fess up as well. I haven't been updating snippets that much because I've been busy trying to revive it as well...LIMBO.

Oh yes, I had a blog prior to this one. I guess it was too private for general consumption. I made some modifications so that everyone is now free to view it...

The big question WHAT HAPPENS TO SNIPPETS? Anybody has any ideas?

I have a confession to make.

Long before Grache and I had snippets, I had someone else. For a time I thought it wouldn't last...that it would be fiery but brief. In fact, I knew then that it wouldn't last, I didn't bother to make it public.

But I guess I was wrong.

A month or so ago, it was rekindled. Apparently, it won't disappear as quickly as it started. I've invested too much of my time and my emotion that I couldn't resist not going back to it. So I gave in.

[the happy phantom] lives and is now open to the public.

In the meantime, Grache and I are trying to figure out how snippets fit into the big picture.

I have officially experienced three surreal events in Tokyo during the end of my first month!

Surreal Experience #1
THE REMAINS OF TUESDAY
Tokyo Tuesday brought in some “bad-ass” weather (yes, I am now also taking part-time ebonics lessons from my “American bred” Japanese officemate…gotsa ‘ta ebonify…ya shizzle my fizzle or nizzle my dizzle???!). Meaning the weather was biting cold with sporadic winds that could yank your skirt off…in my case it yanked my umbrella off! Its transparent skin literally flew off leaving a steel skeleton! In the background, school girls were shrieking because the itsy bitsy material they call a skirt tried to fly away as well. I couldn’t help myself from laughing!!!! God, it was the most hilarious and ridiculous thing ever. Anyway as it turns out I wasn’t the only victim…abandoned umbrella skeletons were littered around trash bins the next day…

Surreal Experience #2
WACKO WEDNESDAY
Deprived of an eat-and-drink-all-you-can Yakiniku excursion, I emerged exhausted into the streets below our office building (that sounded like it came out of a gritty detective novel didn’t it?). From afar, I noticed two punks “monkeying” around. It took some time to register that they were not “monkeying” around…the other was actually drunk and the sober one wanted to go home and was trying to “persuade” drunkie to want so as well. I thought I did a good job walking pass them, when drunkie decides to yank my arm from behind. I was too fast for him, quickly side-stepping kung-fu style (yeah right). But I guess my friggin’ laptop was too heavy…because the wacko magically overtakes me and grabs me. I was too shocked to shout out “BAKERO” and before I could hit him with my handbag (which ironically contained a big asahi beer can…hehehe) he drunkenly swerves out of reach. Anyway, all I could manage was an eye-roll and a nasty “Shit!”…there was a third sober friend who stood up from the sidewalk…bowed several times while apologizing (as if it was any consolation) Good thing I was too tired to be frazzled. I eventually just laughed it off!!!

Surreal Experience #3
FAIRY FRIDAY
(I do have a knack for formulating titles…don’t ya think so?)
I went to the Shinjuku-ku Ward office to process my Foreigner Registration Card. This Card makes me a legal alien…officially. As I approached the counter where the application forms were, lo and behold, a fairy was beading his way out of boredom (he was stringing some appliqués). I immediately looked around (gay-dar on full alert) and saw more fairies in the waiting room beside him. I knew right away I was in for an interesting time. I was correct. They were so friggin’ hilarious especially when they burst out into a song and dance production of…”My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard., and they’re like its better than yours, damn right its better than yours…” with matching oohs and ahhs for Kelis after their repertoire: “Don’t sshaaa jussst love Kelisssss? Ssshe’sss sssuch a whore!” This, of course, made me suddenly miss my beautiful gay friends…yes, I am a fag hag! I can’t help it, they’re just so witty and fashionable! They’re like fast moving shiny objects - you get drawn to them…

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…