Golf & My Japanese Friends

Whenever my japanese friends come for a visit, they never fail to ask for some golf/tee time.  Callaway golf clubs are what they used most.  In fact, they bring it along with them.. whenever they come over, see what a golf fanatic they are.  Fortunately, we are members of a club here.. so bringing them for several golf games is no problems at all.

Japan Airlines

For those who have taken Japan Airlines before, you will know that like many Asian airliners .. the stewardess and even the steward.. cater to the foreigners better than the asians.  Sad . .but oh so true..!  Japan Airlines is based in Narita Airport..and lots of domestic flight by Japan Airlines although they do fly internationally too.. even to Europe.

I really don’t have very much beef with Japan Airlines.. and I’ve flown JAL a few times.. in Business Class for work.  But whenever someone flies economy class.. i know they don’t get as much attention.  Business class seats and food are always good.. but in the economy class.. it is just like any other airlines.. crampy.  I hate that they don’t even offer that emergency exit seats . .like Singapore Airline or Cathy Pacific does.  In Japan Airlines.. those seats are for the stewards.

I flew from Singapore to Osaka.. and although the meals were served promptly.. i could have used a glass of wine with my meal. Mine was a low fat meal.. but they had forgotten to order it..?? or something.  So nope.. wasn’t quite impressed.. with them.  But overall.. Japan Airlines stewardess are quite sweet.. and if you are in business class… pay USD 7000 .. you will get some good service.. but not in economy class.  The seats were huge.. so it was comfy.

ReLocating

It is pretty common to see people relocating the whole family because of a better job offer.. and for some it is a new adventure.  Engineers from Japan have always been head hunted by big companies in the States, therefore when my good friend - Hiro-san wrote and told me he was moving to SF .. it came as no surprise to me.

For such a move, I recommended that he check out relocation.com for all the necessary information and resources that he might need for things like car transport and others. They not only have tips for people who are relocating from state to state but for those making an international move like Hiro-san.   Find out all about apartment hunting and of course get a quote from them about what you need to move.

Osaka Castle

When one is in Osaka, you’ve gotta visit the Osaka Castle. Touted as one of Osaka’s most famous and unforgettable landmark, the Osaka Castle is well known for its cherry blossom season. Many people from all over Japan and other countries flock here to see the cherry blossoms.. in April. There is an admission fees of course.. i think adults pay like 600 yen.. if i remembered correctly. Don’t forget to take a picture of the cannon outside of the castle.

Couple Spot

You would think that after living here for 8 yrs we would have plenty of friends, but truth be told even though we own our own business we haven’t got much for friends who share the same interest with us, or just to do adult things together.

But now we can make friends with couples thru’ The Couple Spot. A site that can help me and my spouse connect to other couples with similar interest in our area. It’s pretty easy to see that the website is simple to navigate. You can search for new friends thru’ the activities you are interested in, age groups or even your lifestyle. Check it out if you are like me and my spouse who are dying for some mature company.

California Hand Rolls

One of the very first Japanese meal i had, came with California Hand Rolls.. and it was at a sushi bar in Tokyo.  In the California Hand rolls also known as maki zushi were imitation crab sticks, avocado and some cucumbers.. and of course a wee bit of wasabi.  It wasn’t cheap if i remembered correctly.. but it was awesome.  For those who don’t like raw fish.. the california sushi .. is a easy way to ease yourself into japanese cuisine.

Stress Free

Everyone that I know wants to be stress free, I am of course no different from them. In this day and age it is very important to find a balance between work and your health and personal life. The Stress Institute helps one learn about the center for work life balance.

The site has articles on how one can balance one’s life.. and how one can manage your stress by listening or how to reduce your stress level and what to do to avoid out of balance in your life. If you want to achieve work life balance, you can find some tips here and more. Optimizing one’s health and wellness and preventing damage is what this site is all about. Simple solutions can be found on The Stress Institute.

Sushi Clock

A familiar sight in many Japanese restaurants throughout Japan, these clocks display much more than just the time. They also represent the scrumptious and delectable fare diners will find on the menu inside the restaurant. This sushi clock is the actual size of a lacquer sushi tray, with a flowering plum and gold fan decoration on the side. Each hour is denoted by a different sushi item: 1 - fresh water eel (Unagi), 2 - abalone (Awabi), 3 - shrimp (Ebi), 4 - octopus (Tako), 5 - mackerel (Saba), 6 - salmon roe (Ikura), 7 - conger eel (Anago), 8 - egg (Tamago), 9 - ark shell (Akagai), 10 - squid (Ika), 11 - tuna (Maguro), 12 - cucumber and tuna roll (Kappa Maki and Tekka Maki). So cleverly and realistically crafted, you’ll have visitors first wondering if they’re real, and secondly, asking if there’s a Japanese restaurant nearby! Made in Japan.

Quality Stuff

If you have any Japanese friends.. you will know that they spare no expense to give their kids the best.  Everything seems to be personalized for their kids.. and i really envied them.  Therefore, when i buy gifts for my Japanese friends.. i make sure that they are personalized gifts and not just something i pick up randomly… for they do take special attention and care to get mine.

Noren

Noren are decorative silk-screened curtains used for centuries by the Japanese as door curtains, wall hangings and window curtains. Traditional noren are split down the center - allowing a person to pass through from one room to another. Commonly found also in japanese eateries.

These imported Japanese noren are true collectibles - many produced on premium Japanese cotton and hemp fabrics and depicting kabuki and geisha images taken from ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints. Their beauty and style suit most modern decor and they can readily be mounted and framed or used as wall hangings in addition to their traditional use as room dividers.