Category Archives: Travel

Tsukiji: Seafood Heaven

Posted on April 12, 2012 | 1 Comment

One of the big attractions in Tokyo is Tsukiji Market. It’s the largest seafood market in the world. There is an inner wholesale market area, which is closed off to tourists before 9:00 AM so the local buyers can do their shopping without interruption. The outer market area is open to anyone, and they start setting up at about 4:00 AM.

There is absolutely no hint of sunlight as the outer market begins to stir.

Vendors set up their shops quietly. It’s eerie, like a scene out of a horror film.

Dried seafood products are pretty common in the outer market.

With people shopping, local food stands start opening too to feed the shoppers.

Tsukiji is really an impressive place, selling a lot more than just seafood. Fresh produce and meat products are also available.

In the inner market area, the fresh tuna auction is one of the highlights of the market that is accesible to visitors, but it starts at 5:00 AM and has limited viewing space. We arrived at the line at 4:30 AM, but we were already too late. They were filled up for the day. Instead we decided to wander around the inner market that was supposed to be off limits to us.

The inner market is much more densely packed than the outer market.

There is so much fresh seafood sold here daily.

Tuna.

Octopus.

Sea snails and cuttlefish.

Those shrimp look so good. Just clean them and put them on a plate for me!

Frozen pieces of tuna are often cut with bandsaws.

Fresh tuna, however, requires a softer touch.

Big ass swords.

Slicing up some tuna.

Eel.

Mackerel Pike.

Clams.

Teaching us the finer points of sushi. Too bad we don’t understand Japanese.

We love Tsukiji!

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Conveyor Belt Sushi: Not a Bad Thing

Posted on April 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

Still killing time before our hotel was ready, we decided to eat again. We sat down  at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant that seemed to be packed with both locals and tourists. If you’ve ever been to one of these in the states, you’ll know the quality isn’t great at these types of places. You’ll usually end up with at least one piece of fish that is far too chewy and the rice will be too dry. One of the travel agents that helped me book some tickets told me that even the cheap sushi was good, so we set out to test that theory.

I have to say that I was not disappointed. The fish was so good, probably better than most sushi places I’ve had in the states. It’s easy for restaurants to get ahold of good quality seafood in Tokyo, but the whole package is done so much better. Excellent balance between fish, rice and wasabi, and the price tag didn’t make me cringe either. Complete this meal with a couple of beers, and I am a happy man.

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Shopping at Tokyu Hands

Posted on April 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

With no real plans for the first day, Michelle and I wandered around Shibuya and poked our heads into different stores to see what was going on in the world of shopping in Tokyo. We stopped into Tokyu Hands, and it was an eye opener. For any given product, there is never a lack of options.

They have a crafts floor that has a section just for masking tape.

Yes, I said masking tape.

There were lots of stickers in the craft section, some of which were a bit risque.

There was an entire floor dedicated to cleaning supplies. Sprays, rags, dusters, trashcans, and detergent. They’re also pretty hot on the Roomba too.

I think this section was for bath salts and bubble bath, but they had children’s cartoon character packaging mixed in with some very suggestive adult themed packages.

They toy section had an excellent selection though.

There was a whole floor dedicated to bento lunch boxes.

When I say a whole floor, I am not exaggerating.

The Japanese are consumers in every sense of the word. While they tend to follow trends as a society, they still hold to their own unique styles with a market that provides so many options to the same concepts. It creates a sense of community while allowing individuals to have their own identity.

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Posted in Photo, Travel

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Meiji Shrine

Posted on April 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

If you haven’t been to Tokyo, next to nothing is open before 10:00 AM. Even Starbucks didn’t open until 7:00 AM one day when we needed a place to nap. The one thing that is open is the shrines, so went to the Meiji Shrine.

Torii at the entrance to the Meiji Shrine.

It was pretty early in the morning so most people weren’t around. It was very tranquil, like the forests of Pandora.

Michelle, doing a traditional cleansing ritual before entering the shrine.

The shrine with the first rays of light striking it.

People’s prayers written on small pieces of wood and hung up at the shrine.

Consecration wine.

Sake time!

 

 

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First Meal in Tokyo: Ordered by Robot (Kinda)

Posted on April 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

We took a redeye flight to Japan and landed at about 5:00 AM.

The sun was just rising over Haneda Airport. Since it was too early to check into our room, we dropped our bags off at our hotel and went wandering. Hunger quickly set in as we explored the city.

Here is Michelle putting in our order for our first meal. Since all taxes and service fees are included in prices, a lot of restaurants use vending machines to take orders. Select your order, insert your money, and out comes a ticket for your order.

This is one of the more advanced units that has a digital screen with photos of the food, which makes ordering easier for people that don’t speak or read Japanese like us. Others just had mechanical buttons with Japanese writing on them.

While the use of a vending machine may seem a bit odd, it’s pretty common in restaurants in Japan. It is not a lack of personal touch either, as there is often someone in these restaurants to greet and seat you after you’ve ordered through the machine. I wish we had more of this in America. I’d probably have my food order screwed up less often.

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I already miss Japan

Posted on April 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Also, I am starving. I wish I could walk out the door right now, walk twenty feet in any direction, and grab a bowl of noodles. Stay tuned for the trip recap with plenty of delicious food photos.

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Let’s not forget about Kyoto.

Posted on March 14, 2012 | 1 Comment

We’re also going to Kyoto for a couple of days.


View Kyoto in a larger map

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Posted in Play, Travel

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Who wants to go to Japan?

Posted on March 13, 2012 | 1 Comment

Lately I’ve been working on planning our upcoming vacation to Japan. I find that using Google Maps is super useful for planning options. I’ve thrown together some of the items that we have available to us when we are in Tokyo.


View Tokyo in a larger map

While I’ve done a lot of planning, I am relying a lot on the work that other people have already done. I’m supplementing my map with this great map of noodle joints thanks to Ramen Adventures.


View Tokyo Ramen Shops in a larger map

I’m so excited!

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Posted in Play, Travel

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Snow, Beer, and Parties

Posted on January 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

I’m back from the Paw’s Up Resort in Montana, where I spent half a week for a sales conference in the snow. I know what you’re thinking. Why would you go to where it’s cold during the winter instead of some tropical island? I worried about that every day before I left for the trip, and the whole time until I arrived.

De-icing the plane in Seattle. Apparently the flights before us and after us never made it out.

Dining.

Bison Chili.

By the time we arrived, about half a foot of snow had fallen.

Snow flakes actually look like the crafts we cut from paper!

Our cabin.

Megan Fox stayed here before us, and she built this snowman. It grew a Marge Simpson style hairdo with all the snow.

Hot tub time machine! Really though. Hot tubs are totally awesome in the snow.

White everywhere.

Afternoon activities.

It was only after we asked the staff to get us a snow shovel that we realized there was a sign that said not to build jumps.

Killer icicles.

We even got to throw hatches and knives, while drinking beer!

Another afternoon’s activities.

The snow stopped and the sun came out, but only after 48 hours and over three feet of snow.

Here I am, enjoying a snow bath.

Waiting at the Seattle airport to go home. I just lucked out on the way home too. Planes didn’t get in or out after my flights again.

Saw this when I looked out the window in LA. Ghost plane!

After waking up at 3AM to get home, I was happy to arrive in LA, but there was no rest for the weary. Michelle and I had three engagements to get to that day.

Happy birthday, Delphi! Babies love me because I look like a cartoon.

Next on the list was my cousin’s housewarming. He had a live band and a DJ. What a way to show the neighbors you’re not going to wreck the neighborhood!

Last but not least we headed to Congregation Ale House in Pasadena for a birthday party. It’s been a long time, but after trying so many Montana brews, I could not bring myself to drink a beer. I know, the beer guy couldn’t drink beer. Weird, huh?

It was good to see everyone after being away so long, but I am still recovering. I have seen enough snow to last me a lifetime.

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Posted in Photo, Play, Travel, Video, Work

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Looking Good for the In-Laws

Posted on January 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

I have to fly out on a business trip early Wednesday morning. That means I have to be at the airport at about 5:00 AM. Michelle and I had dinner with my parents last week and the trip came up in conversation.

Mom: When are you leaving?
Me: Early Wednesday morning.
Mom: Do you need a ride to the airport?
Me: No, it’s too early. I was just going to take a shuttle.
Mom: I can take you.
Michelle: I can take you.
Me: You sure? It’s early.
Michelle: Yes.
Me: Okay then we’ll do that.

This morning the conversation was quite different.

Me: Don’t forget we have to go real early to the airport on Wednesday.
Michelle: Awww, man!
Me: Did you just offer to take me after my mom offered so you’d look like a good wife?
Michelle: Yeah. Can you take a shuttle? And also tell your mom I took you?

 

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Posted in She's So Lucky, Travel, Work

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