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Zulu
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Warning: this unfortunately is not a sanuk report, just some none too informed observations from a first time visit to Japan. Apologies to all Japanese Board members, no offense intended.
- there are no children in Tokyo, anywhere.
- folks here are basically uninterested in foreigners, which is OK by me.
- perhaps the most expensive hotel in town, the Imperial, sucks. After paying $250 for a room (not me actually, the corp.), I expect a movie channel and the gym should not cost $10/visit.
- it is possible to get cheap, good food under railroad tracks.
- they are lightyears ahead of the USA in terms of handicap access - witness the "brail" sidewalk tiles at every intersection.
- junior staff will never, ever speak in a meeting unless asked a direct question from a superior, then they will shimmy and shake, bow and scrape and generally imitate a house mouse.
- these are the most polite people on earth, even to oversized hairy gaijan monsters.
- there are no dirty cars in tokyo.
- there are almost no cash machines.
- the price of various types of sushi is inversely related to the taste - in other words, avoid the dark green plates on the conveyor.
- those awful squeaking noises the AV idols make while getting a pixelated pounding is actually how some women talk in everyday life here.
- toughest business folk I have ever negotiated with.
- a little show of respect and humility goes a long way.
- there are a lot of toyota, nissan and honda models that you will not see otuside of Japan. Including a lot of hella big cars.
- not one single Land Cruiser, anywhere, ever.
- Starbucks has the cheapest coffee in Tokyo.
- green tea is a good hangover helper.
- those little gold coins, holy sh*t, they are worth five bucks.
- there is a highly developed cafe culture and restaurants put a lot of effort into their food.
- people on local TV shows often have large paper signs pinned to their clothes with lots of large bright lettering.
- push the button on the side of the fancier toilets and you will get a jet of hot water right up your ass.
- those color map/gps units in the cab are cool, ask to play with the remote.
Well, hope that's not too boring. The price of sanuk was just too much for me to bear. Now if that was part of my expense account on the other hand...
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:12 am on Nov. 21, 2003
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dannyboy
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Living in Tokyo for now more than three years I have come to realize that if the Japanese would have won WWII the world would be a much, much better place right now.
Live here for awhile and you will come to the same conclusion.
db
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 8:35 pm on Nov. 21, 2003
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11bravo
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Zulu: very interesting report.
Dannyboy: Why don't you tell that to the people of Nanking, the Americans from Bataan, or the comfort women from the nations that were occupied by Japan? Or any nation that was occupied by Japan. Think the Koreans would agree with you? The Thai's? The Philippines? Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:45 pm on Nov. 21, 2003
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TomLove
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11bravo: 100% right
Not to forget that if Japan had won WWII it would mean Nazi-Germany would have also won, and that would have been much worse!
On the other hand, situation in Japan or Germany is much different now than 60 years ago.
We all should be happy that this faschist peroid is over and we can live in freedom!
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 6:25 am on Nov. 22, 2003
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Deleted Member
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ZULU, DannyBoy,
1) In the days when I went for business to Tokyo and other cities in Japan, I learned that the ATM's in Japan where not linked electronically to the global ATM network, like for instance in BKK. Hence, I could not take out money on my Amex or Mastercard.
2) After a week of Bento-boxes for lunch we westerners used to rebell and go to Mac Donnalds. They had something they called "Samurai-burger", which basically was a straight forward burger with some sour cream on top. Really good hybrid.
3) Used to enjoy a bar called "The Rabbit's Eye" in Roppongi and the Teppanyaki of course and the Yakatori and the Shabu-Shabu, would like to go back again but needs a company which would pay.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 3:44 pm on Nov. 22, 2003
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wingman
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OK - I have to declare my interests 1st - I love Japan 
Lived there for 2 years, travelled there for a few more years...and speak Japanese....but......
If you have money, it is a great place to go. Once you know the rules, the nightlife can be stunning. Very different to Thailand tho...
But yes, the Imperial Hotel (Uchisaiwaicho) is a rip-off. Looks & feels like 1970s (grey or brown wallpaper) but that is by design. That is the style of 'luxury' that the Japanese think Westerners want!
Happy to help anyone out on Japanese nightlife.....
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:53 pm on Nov. 22, 2003
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Zulu
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Despite being stuck in negotiations for four days I did have a good time, and our hosts were gracious. People treat each other with respect, perhaps a little too much for my taste. I am blessed with a boss who welcomes dissenting opinions and trusts me to take initiative - and he is Japanese, but has lived off island for 20 years in a multinational corporate environment.
The adult women dressed in school girl inspired outfits are damn hot.
I just can't get over the GPS units in the cabs. Apart fomr the usual iew from above format, you can adjust the display like a first person shooter video game, with the street laid out in front of you, including lane arrows so you know which lane to be in at the next intersection. The buildings are rendered in 3D and labels opo up to identify them as you drive by. Or you can go for a split view - top down and frontal. Plug in your destination, zoom in on the to[p-down view and se all the turns you will need to take, in advance. Just too cool. I gues some late model american cars come with this feature now. You can buy these units in Akihabara electronics town.
Laptop prices are not competitive with the US, as you need to pay a big markup for the international edition with an English OS and manuals.
Digicams are competitive on price. CDMA phones are a decent value, but if you want GSM you have to go to a duty free shop and pay a 40% mark-up relative to USA, at least for a Sony-Ericsson.
Built in cameras on mobile phones are not a big deal in Japan, just about all the new models come with, even the low-end jobs.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:38 am on Nov. 23, 2003
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Minder
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Posted on 9:35 am on Nov. 22, 2003
Living in Tokyo for now more than three years I have come to realize that if the Japanese would have won WWII the world would be a much, much better place right now. Live here for awhile and you will come to the same conclusion. ----------------------------------------------------------
Dannyboy - I doubt you are correct. Japan is the last place in the world where to gather the true history of World War II. If the Japanese had prevailed its doubtful you would be in Japan at all except perhaps as a slave.
Still I'm glad you like the place - I hope you never leave.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:51 am on Nov. 23, 2003
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Vancouver Jay
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Can I play the peacemaker and invite everyone to just talk about what and who they did on their summer vacation?
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 5:59 am on Nov. 23, 2003
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dannyboy
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Well what I intended to say was that the rest of the world (especially Americans...which is where I lived for thirty years...US) could learn a lot from the Japanese...like respect for one another, having respect for their elders, and the fact that having a gun is against the law are all elements of the Japanese culture that other cultures could benefit from. I just find the Japanese culture far superior in many aspects. For example...I live about three miles from a US military base (no I am not Military) but I am always treated with great respect even though they know I am an American...can you imagine if the tables were turned and the Japanese occupied the US? There would be no respect given by us superior minded Americans. BTW you can find LandCruisers here but not many...even saw a Hummer here the other day...man it has to be a big pain in the ass driving in those narrow roads which can be found all over Japan...
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:28 pm on Nov. 23, 2003
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