This week brought me some very interesting moments to share with you all. So I’ll soften you up by showing you some photos I took first.
I can’t disagree with a drink machine that offers drinks for $1AUD. I also like how the 100Y is actually capable of talking too. And while we’re on the topics of drinks…
I’m curious what Supermilk would possibly taste like, but I refrained from sampling his wares. Perhaps that’s what the somewhat disappointed look on his face is about. I swear this is the last drink-related picture in this post.
That’s a Gari-Gari Highball. Gari-Gari is a brand of icy pole in Japan. Needless to say, this thing was freaking delicious. And it has whisky in it! Greg and I had lunch at this particular place. There’s a record that stands there that I intend to break. But more to come on that later.
On Tuesday night, Nakamura-san and I hosted a friend’s birthday gathering at our place. I cooked a bunch of Italian food, as per the usual. But one of the gifts given to the birthday girl was a set of firecrackers and sparklers. Our house was smoky for at least the next day. I should’ve hung up some meats, now that I think of it. Some photos were taken that you may all get to see one day, but not anytime soon.
Later Tuesday night (When I say later, I mean our guests left at 1am) Nakamura-san and I headed to Shi-chan’s bar (where I’m writing this entry now, as a matter of fact) and there were two males, one slightly older, and a female here. The female shortly left after we arrived and, from what I could tell, didn’t pay her bill.
The elder male took an almost instantaneous liking to me. Now, when I mentioned failed pick-up attempt in the header of this entry, I’m sure you were all waiting to hear about how I struck out in spectacular fashion due to lack of language skills or the like.
BAH-BOW!
No, this gentleman decided that he would try his luck at picking me up. Not being gay prevented a pretty big roadblock for his best laid plans, I would’ve thought. But no, he persisted. How many times did he try, you ask?
Oh, about six times. SIX times.
Attempt #1 – Q: Do you like boys or girls? A: Girls.
Pretty straightforward. A few minutes pass.
Attempt #2 – Q: Ah, but tonight, your mind is playing a trick on you, isn’t it? A: No, it isn’t. Just a normal night.
Less than a few minutes.
Attempt #3 – “I am Miya. Shake my hand.” So I oblige, but he tries that sleazy middle-finger-rubbing-your-palm-thing. I withdraw my hand.
At this point, he stops for a while. Mainly because Nakamura-san started playing the small electric piano that resides in this bar. So Miya picks up a guitar and starts just strumming whatever comes next. The other gentleman at the bar is tapping along out of time with this onslaught to the senses. Mind you, Nakamura-san is actually a very talented piano player. Miya could not play guitar if the guitar was just a large tuna that you had to slap once every 10 seconds to keep in time. It was kind of like watching the worst improv jazz group playing a gig before my very eyes, with one member who is clearly talented, but can’t carry the rest of the group.
Attempt #4 – blowing kisses at me.
Look, I’ve never tried blowing kisses at anyone in an attempt to pick them up. So I’m not sure why Miya thought it would work, but I gotta give him credit for trying.
Attempt #5 – “Hello, my name is Miya. Shake my hand.”
Handshake was not obliged this time.
Attempt #6 – “Have you experienced the traditional style of Japanese love?”
This was a reference to male samurais who would have sex with each other. Alas, I haven’t experienced the traditional style of Japanese love, nor do I intend to. Should any more failed pick-up attempts occur (mine or otherwise) I’ll be sure to keep you all informed.
More pictures!
I took this (and the next photo) a few weeks ago, but I’d just felt that they didn’t particularly have a place in prior entries. These are all first drafts, by the way, usually written over a beer or two and I’d apologise for the slapdash nature, as such, but I enjoy writing this way.
SOMETHING CHANGED! FRIENDS!
You mean, you meet someone and you get along and then you become friends? I’m just very curious about what changed. Alas, no explanations were offered.
I’m at a loss of sarcastic things to say about this particular sign, because the sentiment is just so damn heart-warming and gooey. Stop it, sign! Stop making me feel nice things!
On Thursday, I made a trip out to a store called Gake Shoubu, some 20-odd mins by bus from the main hub of Kyoto. This place was worth the trip, and I’ll gladly point anyone in its direction should you plan on coming here. It’s filled with indie magazines, manga and the like. And I also happened to come across some movie posters while I was there and decided to treat myself to this one…
Now of course, I have to chase down the film… Apparently it has an all-english music score which doesn’t suit the film at all. Either way, I’m looking forward to it.
There was another moment during the week when I was out with friends and some women at a cafe were talking about how hairy my arms were (I’ve honestly heard it enough to understand exactly what people are talking about at this point) so I let them have their conversation, and my friends and I continued discussing things in English. But later, when they were presented with a particularly impressive dessert to inhale, I decided to ask them in Japanese what it was.
No sooner had I finished asking them and them giving their response that they all held a very quick sidebar to the tune of, “Wait, did he understand what we were talking about earlier?!”
Writing the closing lines to these blog entries is always a pain to get exactly right. So I’ll just thank you for reading instead!