Well It’s been 6 months since I got back from Korea. It’s honestly taken this long to completely get used to things again and I’m not necessarily sure that’s a good thing. Once again I’m back to swearing at people on the interstate during my hour daily commute, cussing the stupidity of our politicians; and worrying about the economy, my personal finances, and job. Things were so simply while I was in Korea. I just have to remind myself that there’s nothing so bad that it should consume you everyday. I’ll just rub the Buddhist prayer beads I brought home with me from Asia and go on.
This could possible be the last post. If you’ve been following this blog thats so much. It’s meant alot to me to be able to share it. If you’d like to keep up with my photography you can look at my photoblog “An Arkansas Photographer Photoblog”, that I’ve just recently set up.
The Snapt Shutter
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Twitter
If your reading this, thanks again, and keep in touch.
I went back down to the local little Japanese style bar i`ve been going to for the whole week. The master at the bar welcomed me and explained to all the people in the bar who didn’t know me that I was the crazy white man who had been coming there for the past 3 nights. He even had my bottle of shoju which he opened for me the first night on hand ready to pour. If I ever teach English again to anyone, it`ll be in Japan.
So it`s bed time. Just talked to my brother apparently he is lining up the party… lol we`ll see. I gotta take one last photo of Ralph looking at the Japanese skyline. For those of you who don’t know Ralph is the stuffed squirrel I took to Korea with me… He has a facebook profile, i will post it later. last time. GOODBYE ASIA! u will be missed.
Well the eve of my last-night in Asia is finally here. I spent almost 6 hours in and around the Imperial Gardens here in Tokyo taking photos. I think I got some pretty good shots. I fired up my laptop to transfer them off my memory card which I filled up pretty quick. There was a huge group of old women at the park wearing what looked like traditional adjama dress, you guys from Korea will know what i`m talking about. Adjama = old married women, well married woman but In Korea I always thought of the ones who pulled the carts around. I also saw the remains of Edo castle… not much left of it; and.. ate a really good roast beef sandwich. I guess I should be eating more traditional Japanese food but after a year in Korea I`m just craving western food too much. I had wanted to go out tonight and get some night shots but the weather has turned really ugly, ordered a last dinner of sushi in the room and think i`ll watch a movie… just so tired, you can kick me when you see me for wasting my night but meh, i`ve got an early flight. I may or may not post again so for now, good bye Tokyo, goodbye Asia; See you soon western society. 
Adjama… =) just so you know
Only one more night for me here in this great city. I have to say Tokyo is one of the most amazing places I have ever been in my life. Everything is impeccably clean, the streets are spacious and the architecture is different on every corner. So far over the past days I`ve been to Ginza, Ropongi, and today Denki-gi in Akihabara.
Ginzahas got to be the upscale shopping center of the world. Think of Sachs or Macy’s and put 10 of them on the same stretch of road surrounded by electronic shops like the Sony building and an eclectic mix of high end Japanese fashion. I finally bought my kimono! It`s actually called a happi which is like a short kimono with shorter sleeves worn with loose pants. You sometimes see Sushi chefs wearing them.
The other night I was finally able to realize my dream of visiting one of the small traditional bars in Japan. I was wandering down the street and on a whim decided to turn down a small side alley. Upstairs above a ramen shop was maybe a 6 person bar. Immediately I was greeted by the patrons. By the end of the night and 5 or 6 glasses of Shōchū I was told i`d be allowed to bring my camera and tripod back the next night! I got some great shots of the master, or the bartender who also cooks, and my new Japanese friends.
Ropongiis nightclub heaven here in Japan, I went on a weekday so it wasn`t as busy as it usually is but after dealing with crowds in Korea I was fine with that. I took a cab with one of the businessmen I met at the small bar. We arrived on the main strip around midnight. Neon, lights, girls in go-go boots with pink hair and cat ears… lots to look at. We ended up meeting a group of Japanese girls who were out celebrating one of their birthday`s. I`m assuming they liked foreigners! It was a very very late night, early morning would be more accurate.
I slept in today… It was necessary after my adventure in Ropongi. I did manage to finally get out of bed and get down to Akihabara, Electric Town. The name is fitting, the entire area consists of store after store selling everything from next years cell phones to robot parts. This is also the anime capitol of the world so I was in heaven. For those of you that don`t know anime is Japanese cartoons… but the majority of them are definitely not for kids, especially the small book like manga comics… sorry mom you wouldn’t have been so proud of me passing through the adult only section. lol
Sorry about the lack of photos. I`ve been so busy I havent even turned on my laptop to take the photos out of my camera. I will add a few when I get home or maybe tomorrow if I have time. Click on the links for the areas, wikipedia has some great photos.
just for your information
I arrived in Tokyo about 6 hours ago. So far it’s lived up to my expectations. It’s amazing how clean a city this size can be. I watched the sunset from the 20th floor of the hotel bar. Definately an amazing place. I’m desperately trying to adjust after being in Korea. I was sitting on a park bench on the side of the hotel drinking a beer in this little park they have… I’m guessing drinking in public like that is bad? Honestly i’m not really sure, did it all the time in Korea. I did see a man with a bag of McDonalds walking past eating french frys out of it, he kept looking around nervously, apparently drinking and eating while your moving is bad here.
Well I’ve been lax in the posting again. Alot has happened in the last month and time has flown by faster than I would have ever though possible. I finally managed to get up to the DMZ tour with my friend Kristin. Really amazing tour. We were actually able to step into North Korea. Very serious business. We were told not to wave, point, or interact with thesoldiers at all. I even had to sign a waver that said the Korean government on both sides would not be held responsible for dumb tourists if someone got shot.
The time is finally here. I’m sitting on my laptop typing my last post from Korea. I’ve packed up my Shuttle PC which hopefully will make it in my checked luggage… We will see how Korean Air does with handling baggage. It’s a strange feeling to know that I will probably never see this place again. I’ve had to say goodbye to alot of people who I’ve become very close to over the past year. It’s strange the relationships you make here. It feels like I’ve been friends with these people for my whole life and not just 12 months. This whole thing has definitely been a life changing experience for me. After living in a foreign country like this for a year I’ve realized that people can honestly do anything they want to. If you don’t like your job, or the place your living it’s that easy to simply pack up and go. I’ve also realized all of the things I took for granted back home. All the places in America that Ihaven’t been to and would never have thought about going to, or our wonderful western showers with bath tubs in every home, oh and dryers… With all the stuff we complain about, the government, our president, or the price of gas; We really do live in a great country. Korea I will miss you, but for nowI’m going home.
Farewell~
p.s. Biscuits and gravy… HERE I COME!
Well I got bored while cooking dinner the other day and thought i’d make a blog post about it. I found a good article about Korean fried chicken to that I thought everyone might like. I might have already mentioned this in the blog but you haven’t had fried chicken untill you’ve had Korean fried chicken. Being from the south I thought I knew good chicken. I was certainly wrong. My chicken in the picture isnt exactly korean… bread crumbs made from korean toast and really strange mushrooms but I figured i’d make the claim anyway. Here the link below to the article that was in the Times about Korean chicken. Enjoy, I know I do.
Korean Chicken
