Good Weather

Well we have had a good little stint of weather recently here (although one unexpetected day of rain this week) which has allowed me to get a little more cycling in that usual. I think I have been on the bike for more days than I have been off it recently. Always a good thing. This means that I managed to actually push it passed the 3500KM mark, and if the good weather continues should be able to really close in on the 4000KM mark shortly. If I could do this before may that would be great.

Also bought some cheap little tools that allow me to remove my tires myself. This means that I can make change inner tubes and tires without paying the shop to do so. Had to do this as I had two flat tires in a week (both front). I am not sure 100% of the reason, my tires although a little old now are not that worn out. I did notice a small puncture on the one tire which I think may have hit the tube. Neither were a blow out and both were discovered within about fifty meters of my house. Typically I use Michelin tires on the bike, the race pro ones. They are a bit pricy but do like the feeling of speed.

Bikes In Japan

Well bikes are big here. Like huge. Everywhere you turn they are around the city. To 50cc scooters, but massive Harleys. Ducatis streak by, and of course scores and scores of the domestic bikes too. One guy at my work has this lovely little guy. Love the color, the leather tank cover too. For those not sure... it is a BMW, and a nice one too. Next to it in our lovely little heated garage is a Ducati, and next to that a beautiful white/silver Hayabusa.

You do not see many skies like this in Tokyo

This winter we have done well for weather and sunshine. It has been warm, so warm that as reported the cherry blossoms have started to come out almost a month early. I met a friend the other day in Shibuya and took this photo. You really do not see the sky that blue very often in this city. Yes some of it is polution but a good portion of it is the humidity of the climate. Anyhow enjoy the weather before we are all destroyed by global waming. Tokyo is what? Like a whole meter above sea level. We will either need gills or learn to swim real well with this kind of weather.

Happy Valentines Day

Well Happy Valentines day to all the ladies out there!

In Japan it is back asswards... er assbackwards. The women give men the chocolates on Valenties day. Yup... we get giri chocolates from all the ladies at work.

Man I hate Taxi Drivers

Is it me... or are Taxi drivers pretty much the scum of the earth? Lowest form of life around? I remember driving in Toronto and finding them the worst thing on the roads, well just os you know, it is the same in Tokyo. The most interesting Taxis I have been were in South Korea. Basically I think that they were the cheapest too, but each one of them drove white knuckle and like a professional F1 driver. Except the car is not an F1 car.

Drink Anyone?

People often talk about how expensive Tokyo is. While it is not a cheap place I think that one of the things that makes it seem so costly is the access that everyone has to luxury goods. It is not that they are not avialable in other places... in Tokyo they are just in your face, and easily seen. An example is yesterday, had a little walk around Ginza and my favorite electronic store, Bic Camera. Well one of the things that is a natrual extension of an electronics shop is... well a liquor shop. And what would be best to sell... well a 5000USD bottle of whiskey. Yup... perhaps you can use your 50,000USD pen from the store near my work to sign the credit card bill.

Lunch at the Palace

My office and the emperors palace are only separated by about one city block. So sometimes a friend and I will get some sandwiches (or a bento) and head over to the palace gardens for lunch. They are free, and open to the public, and are really quite pleasant. If you are in Tokyo a good place to visit and walk around, as you will find yourself in a very tranquil place surrounded by the whole city. The palace is the current center of Tokyo, and the grounds would be worth a large forture (something like most of a country in other places), and even subways cannot go underneath it, they must go around. But today, I walked in, ate lunch with my friend and had a good old relax there.