BIG IN JAPAN

302 words

2009-10-26T00:30:00.000+09:00

Never in my life has writing less than 1 a4 page in size 10 given me so much grief...

Yes I Can, Yes I Can, Yes I Can, Yes I Can...

2009-10-24T07:32:00.000+09:00

“We all dream a lot - some are lucky, some are not.
But if you think it, want it, dream it, then it's real.
You are what you feel.”

(Shhhhh...It's a Secret...)

And a huge MUUUUUUUAHHHH (that's a kiss by the way) to my dear mum, who is 22 today!!!
Yes, it seems rather odd that she has a daughter who is older than that, but just my mum: Always youthful and a great source of joy :D*

All that goes up...

2009-10-13T07:34:00.000+09:00

It was a Sunday afternoon when I had the most brilliant idea
It occured to me that I should go to LaQua, which is basically a 3 in 1: Shopping Mall, Spa & Attractions.

And although I must admit, the Spa sounds SOOOOOOO good, but it's not something I can really dedicate myself to on a full time level, so for now I'll just have to do with bubble baths and cutting my toe nails, and that's already something!
The Shopping Mall... I seem to find a few inconveniences with this option. First it's the Japanese fashion, which hasn't quite won me over yet, then its the tiny sizes, and if that wasn't enough it's these asburd prices... So I'm saving myself for when I go back home on holidays (Oh what a shopping spree that will be!).

In this scenario, all that was left were some attractions.

I present you the mighty...THUNDER DOLPHIN!

Ok, Ok, the name doesn't quite do it justice, it's a bit too soft to give the idea of the intensity and the greatness of a roller coaster which is in the 10 of speed and height, oh yeah, we're talking about 130kmh and 80 meters hight!
Luckily for you, there are photos that can show you what the hell I am rambling about.

As you can see, it's pretty difficult to ignore this thing, not only does it go around the building, it actually goes through it... :s

That and the screams of horror and joy that come from the sky...

Of course this fascinated me, and so... Ticket in my hand, there I went, and after a whole hour of waiting, I was actually in front of all this bunch!!!

Now, I don't actually have a photo of the moment, but I was told that the view was something worthy of taking note, but as usual... Me and roller coasters, we have this weird relationship.
You see, I want to go...
But then, after I'm sitting down and the vehicle is in motion, I start to seriously regret liking this adventurous stuff, all of sudden I remember that I hate heights and that this is a pretty bad way of killing time.
Then it starts to move... And that's when I really start to get nervous, because at this point I just close my eyes and start praying that it all ends quickly, (one way or the other...)
So that's why I never get to see anything.
90 seconds later and it's all over. KFC here I go, cuz I get really hungry when I'm scared to death.

At the end of the L'aqua experience, there is even time for a water symphony, which basically is a fancy name for a fountain with water and lights that go off and on to the tune of some classical music.

Pretty much like any other water fountain but with kinky music.

Samba... Di Janeiro Tokyo

2009-09-03T03:16:00.000+09:00

Apparently it was a Japanese Samba...

Sempre assim, em cima, em cima, em cima, em cima...
But it was more of a down, down, down, down...

Huge amounts of people...
I didn't really get to see much, and I had to rely on young and fit men to help me get some pictures...
As you can see by the amount of photos, there aren't many of those around.

Ah well, at least I got to hear some Japanese Samba!

Spot the difference...

2009-08-31T03:15:00.000+09:00

Just another day in Tokyo...

Even in Japan?!

2009-08-28T03:12:00.000+09:00

I know Japanese have a reputation for being a bit... Weird, but... THIS?!

I dont even know if the lady even know what Benfica is, or even football for that matter, but I was pretty happt to find *evidence* of Portugal around here :)
And to have my camera with me to document the moment... Now that's pure genious :P

There are plenty of fish in the sea

2009-08-16T05:52:00.000+09:00

A friend found this video and sent it to me because it is a Japanese aquarium...
Well worth a visit I think!

Picture this...

2009-08-14T17:29:00.002+09:00

Just to think that together with my laptop I lost two years worth of pictures... So many pixels of moments and feelings... I wish I could get them back :(
My friends faces, my travels, my simple yet amazingly hilarious life!

And my music! OH THE VIDEOSSSSS! Oh god all my documents...

Well, its not because there aren't any photos to prove that things happened that they fail to exist... But it is so nice to just be able to smile at the "evidence" of great memories... And I won't forget them.

How times change... If I had been born in my grandmothers time, I would have been lucky to even get A photo:

People... Get back up's, really.

Where is the Love?

2009-08-13T17:25:00.002+09:00

In the middle of the skyscraper madness that is Shinjuku, there is something called a Love sculpture, "pop art" icon made by Robert Indiana.

If you are thinking that its familiar... Then maybe you've seen one yourself! Afterall, it doesn't just exist in Tokyo, it's all over the world! There is even one in Portugal! :D

So just in case someone ask's, know you know where love is :)

Get the day off to a good start...

2009-08-11T17:23:00.000+09:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you just knew things were going to go well?

Just because... They can't get much worse? :D

This was what my morning was like.
How about yours?

BraviSEAmo!

2009-08-07T17:25:00.001+09:00

Some facts:

- Tokyo DisneySea and its companion park Tokyo Disneyland are the only Disney parks in the world not owned by The Walt Disney Company.

- Tokyo DisneySea has become one of the most popular Disney Parks in the world, attracting over 12 million visitors each year.

- Tokyo DisneySea was the second theme park to open at the Tokyo Disney Resort (after Tokyo DisneyLand) and the ninth park of the eleven worldwide Disney theme parks to open.

- Tokyo DisneySea is the most expensive theme park ever built, estimated to have cost over U.S. $4 billion.

- The Tokyo Disney Resort employs over 22,000 people.

And I know that facts and figures don't quite entertain you, so..:

And they say magic isn't real... :)

Generation X

2009-08-07T17:24:00.001+09:00

In case you're worried about what's going to become of the younger generation, it's going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation.

Roger Allen

Evolution?

2009-08-06T17:27:00.000+09:00

I haven't done any in depth or extensive study about the topic of man's evolution... And I don't really feel like doing any.
But, some things do seem kind of obvious around here...

In Europe they're called metrosexuals, here its called: the norm because its what you're everyday lad looks like.

I don't really understand the concept of beauty around here, but I will keep an eye open for any further phenomenons of the male kind!

If only hair gel were brains...

Niijima Report

2009-08-03T19:16:00.000+09:00

I didn't get to share with you my little get away to Niijima!

So Elma, and that would be me, really wanting to get away from all the Tokyo madness...
With a huge longing for the sea, a desire of not being squashed in the metro, wanting a tan and basically wanting to do nothing...
I managed to convince some friends to go to Niijima! In true female style, I did it in a way that they thought it was all their idea :D

And it went more or less like this:

Leave Tokyo at 23h00

Pretty, huh? :)

On a boat PACKED full of people... Can you remember the facilities for the less forntunate on Titanic? Well that was pure luxury compared to this.

After more than 9 hours of this... Dry land was a blessing.

In Niijima the weather was... Crap. But... Who cares? :D
Discovering the island, beach, Onsen... All this while trying not to fall off my bike!

The island was full of statues made of stone...

And this scenery? Almost looks like Madeira :D Ah, não. back home the sun always shines :P

The Pacific... With a few islands blocking the view.

I would take a daily retreat to the hot springs, or as they are called in Japanese: ONSEN!
This one was open 24h a day, it was free :D and right by the sea... Looks really fancy :D But, there were a few insects lingering about :x

But after my huge sun burn... I could only manage to be in the cool water pool :(

And this is where I got an EPIC sunburn in less than 3 hours! Habushiura beach! One of Japan's hot spots for surfing! I just limited myself to toasting under the sun and looking at the surfers... Hot stuff.

And yes, I DID CAMP! I was very useful and gave moral support to the people who actually knew what they were doing :)

And that was it, so close to Tokyo... yet, so far...!

I'm getting old for this...

2009-07-30T18:51:00.000+09:00

It's my party and I'll be far away if I want to...

If I was back home, today we would eat one of those yummy chocolate cakes... Really, one of those that just make your mouth water... I am such a chocaholic :x

To all those that I miss... Eat chocolate cake and think of me :)

Kisses*

Still Big in Japan

2009-07-27T18:54:00.000+09:00

I think I'll give this Japan thing a try for a while...

So you know that Tokyo - Frankfurt - Porto flight that departed at 9:35am..?

I'm obviously not on it.

Corny line of the day...

2009-07-26T18:55:00.000+09:00

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened

Myths

2009-07-25T18:57:00.000+09:00

Like everything else in life, It depends on perspective...

Get it?

Should I just flip a coin?

2009-07-22T19:18:00.000+09:00

Japan or Portugal...

That is the question...

Numbers talking...

2009-07-08T19:23:00.000+09:00

So I was online, checking out the most interesting sites online, like fail.org and ebay, and for some unknown reason I ended up on the business week site.

Look what I found:

Japanese Cities Rise to the Top
The global recession may be showing some signs of easing, but try telling that to any foreign visitor to Japan. During the worst of the crisis, the Japanese yen soared against the dollar and other currencies. That slammed profits at Japanese exporters such as Toyota, Sony, and Panasonic. It also drove up the cost of living in Tokyo and other big Japanese cities. Indeed, Japanese cities are in four out of the top five slots in the annual ranking of the world's priciest cities by ECA International, a global human resources firm. The only non-Japanese city in the top five was Luanda, the capital of Angola. For more on the world's most expensive cities, read on.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/06/0615_most_expensive_cities/index.htm?campaign_id=msn

Hey to my colleagues in Luanda, :D

My oh My...

2009-05-20T19:58:00.000+09:00

They just don't make men like they used to

Hanami

2009-04-12T19:57:00.000+09:00

I tried to make a slideshow... But for some reason it doesn't run on blogger... So you'll have to look at the pictures in old school style!

Hanami is now over... Like most amazing things in life, it lasts only long enough to be unforgettable!

Hope you enjoy it... And sorry for not blogging much, work (and play) don't let me keep this updated as often as I would like!

What is quite amazing is that all of this is in the center of Tokyo...
Luckily for me, this area (Imperial Palace) is 200m away from my work place; so sometimes after work instead of going straight home I go for a stroll in the park.
In a city of skyscrapers and flashing lights, its amazing how easy it is to get away from it all... Without leaving any of it behind.

You know you are Losing it when...

2009-03-26T19:48:00.000+09:00

You speak Portuguese to your non Portuguese speaking housemates.
You speak English to the only Portuguese guy, even when no one else is there.
You listen to Icelandic music on the metro, sometimes singing along.
You go to work and say "Bom dia!" to your non Portuguese speaking work colleague and "Ohayo Gozaimasu" ( おはようございます) to your Portuguese Boss.
You nod your head and smile at the grocery store when paying, not sure if the Japanese words coming from the Indian cashier mean that its 4,679 yen or if you look like shit today, or maybe both.
You realise that 80% of your Japanese vocabulary consists of metro station names.
You think its normal for the ground to shake everyday.
You take a bow when you are saying goodbye to someone. Even if its a phone call.

My Momma Always said Life was Like...

2009-03-11T19:50:00.000+09:00

A SUSHI BAR

THINGS JUST KEEP ON COMING...

SOME OF IT IS GOOD. ALOT OF IT IS SHIT.

SO JUST SHUT UP AND EAT

ITS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES.

(Actually, my mum never said this, but this just gives it a more dramatic effect)

"So what are you doing here?"

2009-03-08T19:52:00.000+09:00

Every time you meet a foreigner living in Tokyo, its pretty normal to ask them why they are here.

There are only 3 answers:

a) they work here
b) study here
c) they are lost

Some Japanese have interesting stuff to say...

2009-03-04T19:53:00.000+09:00

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought."

Matsuo Basho

Life is full of ups and downs....

2009-03-03T19:54:00.000+09:00

But lately, its just going down down down...

The €uro VS ¥en saga continues...

Tradition is not what it used to be...

2009-03-01T19:55:00.000+09:00

Japan is a land of tradition, or so I was told.

But the tradition I see everyday is this one:

831 stores.
3599 branches.

Tokyo meets Portugal

2009-02-26T19:47:00.000+09:00

You know you are in Tokyo when...

...You have a transparent umbrella.

You know you are Portuguese because you did not buy it...

Sayonara

2009-01-31T20:30:00.000+09:00

How to leave Portugal? Or how to stay here? I was always prone to stupid questions...

I think it's time to say Sayonara...

Getting my stomach ready

2009-01-30T20:31:00.000+09:00

In a gesture of preparing my future eating habits, this was on todays menu: And I am proud to say that I ate everything with...

OH YES!

I appreciate the choice of the restaurante, which was really nice!
The company was also good

But then again, I don't really like sushi...

Travelling Light...

2009-01-27T20:34:00.000+09:00

20kg of hull luggage + 8kg of carry on luggage.

WELLLL THENNNNNNNNNNN...

If you do the math, I'm F*&§#@...

Metro

2009-01-26T20:36:00.000+09:00

This my friends, is the metro in Lisbon:

and this, the metro in Porto:

And this, is the end of the world as we know it.

I want to go

2009-01-25T20:38:00.000+09:00

It's almost time... :)

Although the lyrics are sad, I like it...

Happiness is...

2009-01-04T20:39:00.000+09:00

Being home alone, in my pyjamas in the afternoon... And doing whatever I want.

I wonder if Oreos exist in Japan?

Bye bye 2008...

2009-01-01T20:42:00.000+09:00

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...

Closing time...