The night before last I was treated to a surprise - a nice large hunk of steak - it was very yummy
Last night Aki and I picked up our rings. The only prob seems that my ring is a little too big for my right forth finger; my finger must have been a different temperature from normal or something when I was testing the ring sizes; it fits perfectly on my index finger though :S

Today Aki went to get some professional photos celebrating her 20th (which is early next year), wearing a kimono. After, we went to a shrine (nearabouts here) which had all stone monuments and statues of buddha. I was in my suit also, and we did the thing in Azumanga Daioh (?!), and took some photos there (not many). We also had some (rephrase - a fair few) photos taken at home, and just outside.

Update from a northern place
I’ve been here for nearly two weeks now, but was already nicely settled in by the second day. Here’s a rundown of the adventures so far:
On Monday, after going to the bank, Aki’s mum, Aki and I went to karaoke. Queen songs were a hit. Shortly after that, while we were at the supermarket(s) and hired some videos, I gained a sore throat.
Later on Tuesday, I started feeling quite sick (hurting to swallow), and I was surprised that there was no thermometer or emergency medications (such as sudafed, panadol, cough lollies/syrup and codral) in the house. After Aki’s mum bought a thermometer on tuesday night, I had a slight temperature of 36.9 degs.
On Wednesday I was feeling better except for blocked sinuses, and Aki, Miki and I went to Tokyo via the train (which is smooth, quiet, and fast; in the evenings it’s hard to stay awake), where I cashed 70,000 yen from my travellers cheques. We also looked at rings for Aki and I, and the range here is phenomenonly better than that in Adelaide, although, the better looking ones have a high price, but that’s not unexpected.
On Thursday my sinuses were completely blocked (quite hard to breathe, let alone swallow), and a temperature of 38.7 was measured. The Doctor we went to diagosed me with an upper respiratory infection. My first expendidure in Japan was for a Doctor’s appointment! Oh well. I was surprised that with my coughing up phlegm, I hocked up two balls of mucus the size of squash balls. The blanket needed a wash…
On Friday, Aki ordered the rings we chose.
I have spent the remainder of the time between then and now resting and not doing much (except going out briefly when feeling well), but not getting bored. I have bought my own tenugui (head sweat bandana for Kendo), and yesterday we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. I am fascinated by the foundations of this place - the houses are (so far) all two stories with no room for driveways (front gardens are few - front doors and garages aren’t), the neighbourhood roads are wide enough for one and a half cars to fit through (ie, equivilant of one-way, but are two-way). I drove Aki’s Aunt’s car to the Doctor three days ago (for more dizzying medication - still sick - comes in four different tablets). That and other driving details I will mention in a later blog.

I am not missing Australia yet, but I think that is partly due to the fact that I have not been around much, and have been confined to a bed and indoors. I am however missing large hunks of meat like steak, chicken, and other meat products like sausages, meatballs, and fritz (believe it or not). In the supermarket, the refridgerated section is about twice the size of the ones in Australia, and they contain mostly of many types of fish and sea food (including sushi, but that’s expensive in supermarkets - haven’t been to a sushi bar yet). Red meat is around perhaps 1-3% of the space, and it’s mostly Australian in origin, but is really expensive. Cakes and sweet foods are an abundance here, but I am unable to have many of them due to being sick (the slight lactose intolerance increases during sickness :S). I realise that I talk about my health quite a bit in my blog - well it shouldn’t be a bit part of my life…

Most components of the home here are electronic and many have LCD screens. The fridge (which has a door and three draws below it) has a timer and clock (and probably more features); there’s an electonic water kettle with LED lights, a toasting oven, microwave oven (there is no big oven in the kitchen, but the stove and grill are gas powered), rice cooker (lcd display); electronic toilet (not unexpected, but this one has a LCD clock on the wall control), and more.

Entertainment equipment (of the electronic kind) in this home comprises of a TV and VCR, and laptop. Prices of DVD players here are the same as that in Aust, but I haven’t seen the $79 price of a DVD player advertised in Aust beaten here yet. I have spent some of my time looking at some magazines borrowed from the library (it has a small english section, but that contains unknown novels and some childrens’ books), thinking about user interfaces and categorising a program menu that I plan to develop for my TrueLaunchBar and in Litestep, and reading the first part of the Lord Of The Rings. I am just starting book two, and am wanting to finish reading it, and then watch the movie again.

That’s enough for now, now to read some news from Australia…

We recently had a snack of Maccas here in Japan. The Big Macs appear to be the same size as in Aust, and still taste the same. Which reminds me that before leaving Aust we had Maccas for dinner one night (forget which one), and in part of my order I had a triple cheeseburger with extra bacon. When we got home, and @ki had taken the piece of gerkin from it, I found that there was no bacon to be found. I ended up riding back there (just around the block) and telling them my circumstance (no $1 bacon slice). They took the offending package and replaced it with another. I was thinking of checking it then and there, but couldn’t really be bothered, so I went home. Upon opening it was the curled slice of bacon (a bit dry though), but no sign of gerkin! Well, that’s good for me I guess, but still doesn’t make me rank them up the top of fast food restaurants.

Whoohoo!!! A credit for Professional Ethics!!! very happy that I passed that course.

Okie Dokie… I am currently in JAPAN!!! Customs was no problem (the only word spoken was `Dozo` :P), but I had to buy some deodorant. I forgot to get some cash in Yen before coming, and I have 19000 yen in travellers cheques till monday.

I haven`t had much access to a computer since getting here, as the computer (laptop) has been in use by other members of the family. I have only one of my university results as of yet - a D for Language Communication and Technology; the same as Lauren, and also as disappointed, even though I am super happy with a D. I`m still hoping I passed Professional Ethics though.

Yesterday, despite being fatigued from having less than three hours sleep in a 36 hour period, we went to Akihabara (the computer district), and @ki bought a very cute optical mouse for a very acute price.

In the coming days/weeks I hope to shop for clothing (winter stock is cheap here :D), a bike, perhaps a/some computer components, and anything interesting that pops into my way.

So far in the day and a bit that I`ve been here, I have been surprised by the smooth quality of the highways　(and Aki`s Aunt`s car that has a CD MD and MP3 Player [but I didn`t bring any :S], navigation system, and TV), the modernness of 99% of vehicles on the road, and the amount of english and roman alphabet signs and words around the place. When we went to the supermarket yesterday evening, there were all sorts of funny sounding drinks and products available. Highlights include a chocolate stick product called `Mens Pokey`, and a mens hair spray called `nudy`.

I`d better get to bed - it`s 4am here - 1.5 hours behind Adelaide.

[edit - It was also raining all day]

Wow! tomorrow we’re heading southwest then north… in a trip lasting over 14 hours!
Aki and I found that our flight doesn’t have screens in the back of every seat and games… oh well - we got reading and listening materials.
Got to go to bed for a 3.30am wake up!!!

Currently playing in my head: That song whose music video has the pixelated animations like on a mobile phone…