Now after having lived with an unlocked Sony Ericsson P990i for the last few years, the Touch Pro blew my old phone out of the water! It does so much that I actually use it all the time. I have to say that I absolutely love it so far (I even think the pros outweigh any niggling cons it has). The phone went above and beyond my expectations, so I can easily say it is a keeper until the next want-to-have gadget comes around…

Interested? Read CNet’s review.

We did see a lot of interesting things and ate delicious food all the time. I remember we got to visit a Pachinko parlor and we tried playing a game, but in the end we could not figure out the object of the game and winning. It was lost in the noisiness of the machines.

All I have to say it is all about the ramen, udon, soba, and don. It’s affordable, relatively healthy, and cheap “fast food.” We did eat sushi too and it was the most delicious we have ever had because of freshness… but it can be costly to eat like that every day.

Of course on top of it all, my resolve was broken. I initially had no intention of doing any personal shopping (clothing) other than gifts for others, but we both caved in. We discovered a burgeoning love for the inexpensive Uniqlo chain.

The Japanese language courses I had taken over the years did really help to an extent. I had to spend a lot of time using my kana and small bits of kanji for reading signs and menus.

I definitely want to go back and stay much, much longer next time…

I had been long on the fence about actually going to the performance because of the hefty ticket price and the Ticketmaster thievery surcharges (can you believe that they actually charge 4 some US Dollars just so you can print your own ticket on your own printer with your own ink?).

A week prior, I ended up watching a news documentary program on AZNTV because it didn’t record some other Japanese programs my Comcast DVR was supposed to record. I didn’t understand much, as my Japanese is too basic, but it was wonderful to watch because of the costumes and keshō. Seeing this made me cave in and buy the tickets, despite Ticketmaster.

Later, I found out that the price of the tickets in total were much cheaper than what I would have paid if I had waited to go to Japan to see kabuki. In the end I am very happy I went, but I do feel bad about the fact that I let Ticketmaster rob me.

When I went to pick up my food, the Japanese barman who swiped my credit card was amazed that I had ordered the Natto. I guess it is not a popular appetizer at all with the local clientele.

The slimy stringy consistency is really not pretty to look at when you mix it up—I think that is probably a major put off for most people who have never had it. But looks are always deceiving enough. I can see how the reputation and look of a food can give prejudices any pure impressions of taste.

To me, it still tasted the same as when I had the temaki version. I didn’t really find that it smelled bad…and I did NOT find that it smelled anything like “feet.”

Tasting it solo (without rice or nori), it still was not bad. Oddly enough, I found it more towards remarkably bland. And it definitely needed quite a bit of saltiness (more soy next time).

Sushi Taro serves the Natto with chopped scallions, daikon (I think), and karashi mustard (similar to dijon with a wasabi flavor), which adds an interesting punch to the blandness of the beans. If it was salty and I had some rice to mix with it, I probably would have loved it. I will try that next time.

The little portion they serve you fills you pretty quickly. I could hardly touch my sushi after that…

That being said, I will definitely try it again…

Glenlivet,
originally uploaded by artistique.

明けましておめでとうごさいます！Happy New Year some more!!!

Kir Royal,
originally uploaded by artistique.

Happy New Year!!!!

In addition, I am debating whether I am going to overhaul the design right now now or not. It might take a while with work and grad school coming up in the new year. I am off from work for a bit now, so I might have some time to work on it. We will see…