This photo caught our monkey friend with his mouth open, since he was yelling something about expecting a really big banana for having to pose with these two idiots. Now, anyone who knows me is certainly aware of my affinity … Continue reading →

Most machiya, including that housing the Nunoya ryokan, include a nice enclosed garden. Finally managing to get out of Saijo for a few days of travel before returning stateside, we spent a few days in the old Japanese capital of … Continue reading →

I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to get this one up on Engrish.com Yesterday was the beginning of the O-bon holiday in Japan, during which most people go home to the countryside to visit their families and pray to their … Continue reading →

In honor of the Willie Winkie bakery’s answering my “needs” with good combustible sandwiches, I have adopted their name as my new euphemism for the male genitalia. There’s definitely been a change in the retail environment here in Saijo since … Continue reading →

This Coke machine takes payment via infrared transmission, cellular phone screen reader, or cellphone IC (prepaid?) card. This is in a city with no wi-fi access points. Internet access has turned out to be another technical challenge out here in … Continue reading →