What am I doing in Japan?

2007-04-23T21:37:00.000+09:00

Married - April 1st 2007

Who`s next?????

Mawidge

2007-02-18T14:01:00.000+09:00

I proposed to my girlfriend, Takako 貴子　a few weeks ago!

This is the story of what happened...

And also why we have a half shocked nervous smile in this photo above

I went back to Australia in December 2006 for Christmas without Takako...and started to think.... that is a very dangerous thing to do....

I think most women as they get to that age `over think` about marriage while men mostly try to `under think`..however anyone in a couple might know what I mean, very slowly over time messages get subliminally transmitted from your partner, and slowly it comes to the front of a man`s brain and it has to be thought about.....

and then you see happy cute kids and find grey hairs and then you , and think about the prospect of being old and living as a lonely old man who drinks drinks himself to sleep with a cheap cask wine accompanied by a meal of dog food from a can......suddenly the illogical thought about staying with one woman forever becomes more logical....and then you buy a ring.....

I went ring shopping with an exact plan of what I wanted in my mind...diamonds, but not sticking up and in white gold (how metrosexul does that sound!)....Being prepared was was a good move, because as a single guy going into a jewellery shop you get swamped by friendly but overbearing older female staff with their wrinkled fingers covered in rings, and asking you questions you have never ever thought about before for example,

`Does she the lucky girl like 12 carrots?` Um yeah, shes Japanese, so um, yes carats, good, bring em on!`

Anyway, after looking at many shops I found the PERFECT ring! And the staff member was very friendly and even could tell me the size conversion between Japanese ring sizes and Australian ones: In Australian I wanted size `P` , which is a size `12` in Japanese size.

BUT!!! They didn't have a size P only size O, which was too big..so I went away dejected....But before I went home with my tail between my legs, I thought I`d go back for one more look at that ring again, but the staff member was busy...so I waited....As I was waiting another customer came up to me and said, `Went you looking for a size P in that ring?!` I was shocked to learn that she had just returned that exact size ring of the same type...It was destiny so I had to buy it!!

How romantic!
Then on to plan how to give it!

I went to the top of Fukuoka tower here in Fukuoka (check the pics) and with the ring in my hand and my heart beating faster than I thought, I asked her, and she said YES!

So, were getting married in Australia on April 1st!

Its not a joke, even though its on April Fools day, I think its funny though!

Oh and we have to change the ring, it turns out Takako wasnt a size P, but a size N!

Cant wait to see you all in Melbourne!

Ok, back to writing invitations!

This photo is Takako in front of Fukuoka Tower on Momochi beach with Fukuoka dome (baseball stadium) and Hawks Town hotel behind (The Baseball team are called the Hawks)
This is just after we came down from the tower after getting engaged...hmm why does she have her hands in her pockets? Hiding the ring? :-)

This is a wedding chapel used in weddings, but not for chuch.

Fukuoka tower

Mega update! Still in Japan - Crazy non-stiop adventure

2006-12-11T19:25:00.000+09:00

My first post in many months.

Better late, than never.

Of course that doesn't apply to all things. For example, if you really need to relieve yourself, then late, is not better, never would probably be less embarrassing, and leave a lot less stains on your pants!

What I`ve been doing recently ;
In short;
Still in Japan, moved cities, now im in Fukuoka! The best city in Japan!
Check it out;

My brother sent me these jeans - love `em, tight and black...rock st*r jeans I call `em

What ive been doing over the past 6 months A selection of the finest photos.

Baloon Festival
?eh?
Doggy bag anyone?Dreaming/drugs?

Pose People!

My baby (the one on the left)
Daddy and Pizza
Me, Connor(the Dad, Hana and Takako
Onsen(or as Nick says Honsen?)Teacher at my school in a Kimono
Party girls, are Aussie girls Anna and Alana

HIKING! Behind my house (5 minutes drive)
Hiked up the mountain with DJ (his name is DJ)
Dam Good! The View

Is it gay taking a pic of your mate taking a piss?

Last Weekend: Oita, bridges, waterfalls and Raccoons!
Yes, she is a Tanuki (Japanese Raccoon-dog)
Do I look sexy?

big bridge Bigger than Godzilla!

Hot water lake in Yufuin

Fantastic Fukuoka!
(The official slogan of the Fukuoka 2014 failed Olympic bid)

My apartment (brand new, slicko)

toilet...and thats the end.

The End.

I will update more often.

Mail me if you want.

Saving Dolphins...just another weekend in Japan

2006-04-27T03:32:00.000+09:00

Last weekend (April 23rd) Me and two Japanese friends went bodyboarding, and as we were
leaving I saw something in the water...It was a dolphin, that had beached itself, and was bleeding a little...

The pictures speak for themself, we ended up saving the thing..(after taking a few pics- he he )

It just felt amazing to touch the silky soft skin and look into its eyes, and wonder what it was thinking...`kando shimashita` - I was moved (Ok, so it sounds really stupid in English)

Next came the funny part when the police came (wearing helmets)??? and the coast guard and city office people- so many people, but by then it had already swum off!! Apparently a few hours before 8 dolpins had done the same thing, so this one was trying to help his friends, and decided to check up close on the sand.....maybe they thought we were dolphins?

I would have got better photos but, I left my camera battery at home, so these are just from my phone.

Well im going to The Philippines tomorrow (Thursday 27th) for a 10 day holiday!

Cant wait!
Love you all!

Spring is here! Its time for...the penis festival

2006-04-04T18:25:00.000+09:00

Havent updated for ages...
Ive been ultra busy;

Went snowboarding in Nagano, went on holidays to Kyoto, saw lots of awesome live show (FranzFerdinand, KissChasy, Yellowcard...and also went to PunkSpring: MxPx, Living End, Panic at the Disco...)...but the highlight has to be last weekend: Penis Festival!

Its an old Shinto festival that celebrates means `Festival of the Steel Phallus`. Read more here Every year in April at Kanamara 金山祭り near Tokyo, there is a weird Japanese matusri (festival). Its about about 400years old and...um.. well just watch the video: EDIT - the video below is offline for the moment

You have to click on these pics to appreciate them.

Edit: I got on the news!! Im in a few pictures in a Japanese newspaper -HA! CLICK HERE

Also, got a new Camera! Lumix FZ7

Crazy times in Tokyo, and Kisschasy

2006-03-14T22:38:00.000+09:00

I saw KISSChasy- LIVE in Tokyo! There an awesome band from Melbourne and really nice guys too.. Actually they played in Harajuku (the same place thats mentioned in some Gwen Steffani songs) and its famous for cool people and cos-play...(more further down)

Anyway the show was a sell out! Even though theyd never been to Japan before and tickets werent cheap..4000yen.

Anyway thanks to Karl- the drummer- for the drumstick!

There were lots of people outside wanting to talk to them (a few girls were wearing school uniforms) even though they couldnt speak English..Come back here Kisschasy!

I actually did do some work too.
On fridays I go to Primary school! I love it!

Ｔhis is one of my students from Primary School! hes funny but crazy

Lastly, maids in Akihabara.. if you havent heard of Akihabara before its a kind of Electronics and Manga city in Tokyo..and so you can imagine its filled with lots of Nerds (like me) - Otaku in Japanese.

And those Nerds love COS-PLAY (Costume play) especially dressing as Manga Characters or Maids..I have a growing obcession with them too...so cute. Recently theres lots of Maid cafes/bars or even massage places! Girls like them too (coz theyre cute) and those cafes arent dirty, but have very expensive drinks poured by a maid! - if anyone comes to visit me in Tokyo, this will have to be one of the first places to visit!

Naked men, Strawberrys and Ukon

2006-03-02T21:28:00.000+09:00

Busy weekend: I went to a huge hot spring in the middle of Tokyo, actually a place called Odaiba, which is recliamed land (used to be sea).

We actualy drove there (only 1 hour from here) using the expressway, but tolls were a little expensive.

Then you have to wear a `Yukata` which is like a colorful summer kimono. And you can get naked (sepearted men and women) and soak your worries away.

This photo is Takako,with Wen and Brenna both from America:Wen (an English teacher in my town) and Brenna, Brenna, who works at another English school in Tsuchuria (near here).
KaWAii! (cute!)

Picking Strawberries!!! All-you-can-eat for 30 minutes! no taking them home with you, so you just have to go crazy - and I never wanna see another strawberry again I(ouch)

Last: UKON! Its a mixture of ginger and herbs and tastes like Sh*t, but if you drink it before drinking alcohol you wont get a hangover!!! I swear by it! It works almost as well as NOT drinking!

Scary bad people and Franz Ferdiand

2006-02-16T23:39:00.000+09:00

This week I was sitting in the school staff room, when everyone suddenly left!?!?!?
I said, whats going on and I was told we had `waruri hito` practice. (warui means bad and hito means person) So I guess you would translate it as...Weirdo-Pervert-Flasher-comes-to-school practice;

Anyway the entire school went outside to confront mock-`wauri-hito` in case some `weirdos or gangs happen to invade our peaceful town` (that a quote: someone actually told me that)

Anyway this is how we fight them if they come:

Its basically a big pole that we can trap the `warui`s!! As long as there`s only one, and they cant run very fast that is.

I saw FRANZ FERDINAND this week, and they were awesome.
It was at a place called Nihon-budokan (Japan Cultural Centre), which a big and quite old kind of stadium. The Beatles sold out 5 shows there when they came.

Anyway, they played all their best songs and best part was that the beer they were selling in the stadium was only 300yen (2.40AUD) per can! CHeAP!

This is what I eat on an average day at school for lunch.
Its called a kyushoku (Q-shock-oo). Its always rice or bread and milk, plus salad and soup.

This picture is Melon bread, creamy soup, fried chicken and salad.
Yum. The blue thing is my chopsticks and spoon case!

STRANGE PICTURES:

Doesnt this picture seem a little weird!?

Its a famous Korean actor Quan Sam, in a movie about he has to quit his job as a preist to marry for love....probably trash, but weird pic anyway.

WHAT THE!?!?
Click on the hairdryer pic...and use your imagination...

Snow and my SISTER!

2006-01-26T17:40:00.000+09:00

Last weekend was amazing....woke up at 10am, and opened the curtain, EVERYTHING was white!!!

Snow fell ALL day on Saturday, and its still here now (Thursday).

Also my sister, Rochelle (Happy Birthday for Tuesday!) visited me with her boyfriend Adrian.We went to a `sha-bu, sha-bu` restaurant, where you cook your own beef and vegies in boiling water. In the pic she is eating RAW LIVER!!!!

2006-01-26T17:23:00.000+09:00

I got a new car, its a Subaru Vivio (Look, still snow!)
Kind of feels like driving a go-cart, its automatic, but has an engine like a motorbike!
It was 120,000yen (AUD1,400), but it has 80,000KM on the clock, think its a 1994. Lets driving!

DISNEYLAND!

2006-01-25T17:58:00.000+09:00

It snowed all day when I went to disneyland last week, but it was AWESOME!

Thats me wearing 3D glasses, it was a cool Aladin show...

Vietnam Winter Holiday: BEER for 10cents and Phuc Long

2006-01-18T21:39:00.000+09:00

Well, Im back in Japan, after an awesome 2 weeks in Australia and Vietnam!
Australia was sooo hot and one day it was 42degrees! but it was awesome to see the best people in the world: my family and Nick and Rod..

Big changes in Japan, I used to be living in a Village (called Chiyokawa - pronounced chee-O-car-war) but on January first they were taken-over by the next city (Shimotsuma-city),
so now I live in Shimotsuma-city, but the same appartment!

Do you guys use Wikipedia? Its an awesome online encyclopedia - it knows everything!
This is about my town: Chiyokawa
Even includes my name! wow!

Im off to ski and snowbaoard around Japan...

I stayed 4 days in Hanoi (North Vietnam) I went by myself, but found an awesome backpackers, call Hanoi Backpackers Hostel..great people from all over the world! And the beer on the street tastes great and its 10cents!

This is a shrine, called Purfume Pagoda, its inside a mountain, and the middle part is supposed to look like a dragons tounge!

Vietnamese food was great, and I usually ate noodles (pho) on the street for about 40cents.

This is the owner of the hostel, Max. He`s an Aussie.

click here to see the hostel

Its an awesome hostel, only 7USD per night (including breakfast)
Note the sign in the background; Melbourne: 2471km!

PS. Hes not gay. He told me.　Actually he told me one night when I came back from a nightclub in Hanoi, where 1/2 the club was gay! I got felt-up by some random guys too! Theyre not shy...

Apparently Phuc Long (pronouonced - F*ck long) is a Vietnamese internet search engine.
So, instead of people saying `Do you Yahoo?` they say `Do you Phuc Long?` Or wait, it could have been an ice cream..`Would you like a Phuc Long?`

(I cant be sure the above is true, as I drank a lot of 10cent beer, but the crazy English guy in the pic, hes a Nova teacher in Japan, told me it was true)

Also in this pic is Carley who works in the same area of Japan as me, and Jun, who is a cool Jp guy, Jun, who lives near Tokyo.

This is a very interesting picture from a famous prison in Vietnam (nickname the Hanoi Hilton)
This guy is US senator John McCain, who was a prisoner of war here for 5 1/2 years.
He is currently the senaor for Arizona (has been since 1987- 19years!) and could be the next president.

Vietnam has one of the most interesting histories, ruled by the Chinese for 1000years, the French for 100years, and at war with America from 1965-1973. Maybe the only time America has `lost` a war!? Well, technically Australia lost too.. Did you know 500+ Australians died in that war too.

Sexy Santa and missing swimwear

2005-12-12T16:43:00.000+09:00

Crazy week.
I guess coz im the village token `foreigner` I got to play Santa for kindergarten kids this week!
(Actually Im doing it again on Wednesday!)
So I chcked on the costume and made my appearance in the hall. There were EIGHTY 1-5year olds and their partents/grandparents all very excited to see me (only 3 cried!)..Then I made my way to the stage, for......an interview...with a microphone on stage:

ANGEL: (speaking all Japanese) Welcome Santa
SANTA( ME dressed as Santa, speaking Eglish): I just waved
ANGEL: We want to hear your voice, dont we kids!!!
SANTA: um.... `MERRY CHRISTMAS!`
ANGEL: something else?
SANTA: ah.. um.... `HO, HO, HO!`
ANGEL: Ok....Now we want to hear santa SING, dont we kids!!
SANTA: :-*!

...BUT then I thought they dont know me, so I just went crazy! I sang`We wish you Merry Christmas` very badly, but loudly...pretty good in the end..oh and I got a free lunch of Ramen Noodles!

My friend Renee visited me last week. She lived here in Japan for 3 years. We both worked at Nova in Oita(the place I lived when I first came here):

We have some crazy memories of Japan - The time she came home to find her swimsuit had been stolen from her appartment was funny/scary....but it was worse when they when they got returned to her the week after!

I think from memory she washed them 10 times before wearing them again.

This pic is a cool bar in Tokyo. Note the `Eda Mame` (green beans) theyre awesome, best with beer!

We went to Mount Tsukuba (pronounced tsu-koo-bar...tsu as in tsunami) , which is a mountain near my house and theres a shrine there that was built 800YEARS AGO! For Asutralians its hard for us to even think about 200years! I mean less than 250years ago there were no white people living in Australia!

CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL FOR CHRISTMAS!

Yuki ga furu (Snow is falling)

2005-12-02T15:52:00.000+09:00

Winter
December is here,
White mountain peaks and fresh air,
Special winter beer.

I just wrote that winter-inspired Haiku (Japanese Poem with 5-7-5 syllable pattern) but its surprisingly warm and sunny in the day time, up to 15degrees (but close to zero at night). Some Japanese friends told me this time of year has the clearest skies...

As I look out of my window I can see Mt Fuji covered in snow hovering in the distance. Its quite a long way away, so its amazing we can see it from here (Ibaraki). Oh, and I cant take a picture of it... ;-/

Japanese girls are sexy and bendy

2005-11-29T17:32:00.000+09:00

Pics from a huge comic convention in Tokyo.

Sex, fainting and drugs

2005-11-29T09:59:00.000+09:00

What a busy week: check out the title.

First I was sick,sore throat, so I went to the hospital...I guess it might sound strange to go to a HOSPITAL for just a sore throat, but thats were you go if youre sick in Japan (there arent many private clinics)..so I get my drug prescription and was congratulated by the doctor many times for my `Jozu` (pretty good) Japanese ability.
NEXT I went to buy my drugs and mask (see the pic). In Japan its normal for people to get around in masks when theyre sick. Actually it felt weird at first, but after I got a lot of sympathy, so I was happy.

FUNNY STORY-
Today I had a health check: In Japan most employees get a free health check every year, and its pretty comprehensive. Blood pressure, hearing, eyesight, etc...thats cool, but the blood test is where it all went wrong.... I was sitting down in a chair, when the next thing I knew I woke up from a dream and there were lots of people around me, holding me and speaking something to me. Then I saw one of the 35year old ladies had a Hello Kitty figurine and I realised I was in Japan! (I had fainted) TRUE Story, except for the Hello Kitty thing (but that kind of cute stuff is REALLY popular with women and some men of ANY age) SO embarassing!

Ok, now on to the SEX. I was helping some third-grade students (year 9 in Australia, about 15years old) do a revision-test in class last week, when they comented on my jacket (the one with the frayed edges) so I flicked it back so they couldnt see it (it kinda looks scruffy) and one girl said to the other `Chinchin dekai kana` which means, `I think he has a big dick!` Instead of getting embarrased, she announced it to the class! And then they wanted to know the word for female body parts, so I said `Use a dictionary` which they did..then she called me over and showed me the speaking electronic dictionary.. `Sex` `Sex` `Sex` said the dictionary, as she repeatedly pressed the button!
Hey I guess theyre learning English!? Normally they say sex as `se-k-soo` so I think I did a great job as that day all the students were saying `sex` like native speakers! Oh, and the boys told me Japaese people love sex!? Im not sure why?

Killer Karate and the crazy art of Tokyo Design Festa

2005-11-28T15:11:00.000+09:00

I got my Karate membership passport this week! Oh yeah!
Ok, so im still white belt, and in a class with all kids, but its fun.

Im learning twice a week (Monday and Friday). Actually just last night, my
karate buddy, Seya (he`s 5) thought I was 17years old, and then, when I told him im really 27, he said `Wakai-ne!` which means `Wow youre so young!`

DESIGN FESTA 2005!

This is an eye-popping arts event held in Odaiba, Tokyo last weekend...It showcases only ORIGINAL art and crafts, music and food, made by Tokyoites (or nearby peoples).

Odiaba (see the pic) used to be all sea, until someone had a great idea to MAKE more land in Tokyo. So they started to fill up the sea, and now its full of nice company buildings and a huge shopping centre (My Japanese friend said its good for dates!)

A cool chick from my prefecture (kinda like county, or state) Sarah, was selling some cool stuff she made..oh and I ate a Doner Kebab! (I miss the ones from Melborne)and Turkish beer is strong...anyway check out the pics:

ABOVE: `Tokyo Big Sight`, a robot, body-paint(dont know why, but I got about 5pics of her-might have been the Turkish beer) and 3D face.

Above: corset alien-girl, um...art, ?, art.
http://www.designfesta.com/index.html for more.

Real Pics I took from Japan, using my mobile-phone camera

2005-11-22T17:33:00.000+09:00

Do you lick asse Chocolate? Sorry LIKE asse Chocolate?

Be careful of toothpics at night, they get angry!

I thought (judging by the picture) they meant:
`BE HAPPY, the man in front has a big mobile-phone you can use if you get lost....`(hmm..maybe that was too long)

`What do you mean you cant understand! I said we are under business!`

Execute?

2005-11-21T20:43:00.000+09:00

Usually I dont go in for big campaigns to save the world, but this story touched me.

An Aussie guy is on deathrow in Singapore for smuggling drugs.
OK, YES he is guilty, but he got busted IN-TRANSIT at Singapore airport (he never actually went to Singore, just the airport) and unfortunately, Singapore has execution by hanging, bugger.

So, I wrote this letter to the Singapore prime minister:
You can too at GET Up

As an Australian, living abroad (in Japan) I would like to request that the Singapore goverment grant clemency to Australian Van Tuong Nguyen, currently facing a death sentence in Singapore for drug trafficking.

While I disagree with execution entirely, Japan, also has hanging laws, however they are only used for murder,AND victims are held for a LONG time before execution.

Please consider the image the execution sends to the world about Singapore. Do not mistakenly think that it sends a TOUGH-ON-DRUGS message. But it sends a message that the government　and thus the people,( as the governmnet is their representative) are without a heart, and unable to be reasonable or negotiate. This, to many Austtralians may send the message that Singapore is a country of cold-hearted bullies.

I believe people can change their behaviour. I even belive that that you can change, and we will see continued cooeration and mutual assistance between Australia and Singapore!

Therefore I believe Van’s case meets the three criteria for clemency: he immediately admitted guilt, has shown remorse and has fully cooperated with police.
Thanks for your time
Matthew Wheatley

kiss: ok this is me-

2005-11-14T17:53:00.000+09:00

We used these T-shirts were made for a festival I volunteered at last weekend...promoting Australia to Japanese..it was great! we made boomerangs for the kids and even did bushbancing!!! (heel and toe polka)

The music you can probably hear is from my brothers new EP: `Im so glad to see youre back`, and the song is `How low can you go?`
Go here RYAN WHEATLEY

To find out more about Chiyokawa (chi-o-ka-wa) where I live; go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiyokawa%2C_Ibaraki

WAR: You have to see the funny side

2005-11-14T15:59:00.000+09:00

2 weeks ago I went to Seoul South Korea.
It was a great experience, the subway system is so easy, and the people were so frinedly:

The mian tourist attractions are historical palaces and gates, the cheap markets, and the DMZ (De-millitarised Zone).

The historical stuffs pretty good, the markets are pretty shitty- full of cheap China-imported $1 discount shop stuff. but I liked the DMZ the best...

I actually got a chance to see North Korea, the most unreachable country in the world now...I didnt actually go INSIDE the country, but I did see the Propoganda city (no-one lives there) they set up just over the other side of the DMZ (border)..you cant take pictures (see below) but North Korea, do have the biggest flag in the world (even in the guiness book of world records!) ...Its pretty exciting to see a REAL war thats still technically going on between Nth and Sth Korea, even though the last shots fired were in 1992...

Note the sign in the above picture:
`DO NOT COME CLOSE OR TAKE PICTURES`

Well, I guess every job can get boring....

first post: racist Japan?

2005-11-14T12:02:00.000+09:00

Ok, so alot of people dont get Japan.
They see just the external view - a non-multicultural, closed society view of Japan. this is sometimes the case...

You can see from these two pictures: Guess which one is Japan, Which one is Korea?

Ive heard of these signs in Japan, but never seen one..Until last week..in a very small town next to me (called Shimotsuma)..funny thing is my Calafornian friend Wen works in the city as an English teacher...shes proably one of the only foreigners there. The sign was made for HER we joked..even funnier, shes Taiwanese-Amercian, so usually gets mistaken for being Japanese - LOL..