Osaka Time Lapse video by Paul Hillier

She was not my first and she will not be my last, but his city, i love her.

autumn brews

It's that season again, when the Japanese breweries toss out their autumn brew. This year i tried out two (pictured below). Nothing to scream about but both decent for a mid-level beer. The Yebisu in the red can was by far the better of the two, having a fuller flavour. Yebisu is one of my preferred Japanese mainstream brewers.



Symian is: chilling, much like the weather.
Currently Reading: Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Currently Listening: Coverville podcast with Brian Ibbott

Hipstamatic Kyoto

Some more quick pics from Tuesday's Kyoto walkabout seen through the ever brilliant lens of my Hipstamatic iPhone:
(and yes, you can expect more of these until the novelty wears off for me...)

Pretty leaves in Northeastern Kyoto

What a nice day of wandering through Northeast Kyoto, crepes, coffee, snacks and then falafel dinner.
Oh, and we saw some pretty leaves too.
















Today's breeze is brisk,
incense and low temple bells
share the autumn air.

Symian is: admiring awesome autumn.
Currently Reading: Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Currently Listening: Billy Idol's cover of Tomorrow Never Knows
Kanji of the Day: 紅葉／こうよう／autumn leaves (lit. "deep red leaves")

Latest from the OK Go team of awesomeness.

They get the James Tiberious Kirk stamp of awesome approval.



Symian is: woofin it up to OK GO.
Currently Reading: Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Currently Listening: that video up there
Kanji of the Day: 犬／いぬ／dog

Night of the Living Ladders

I came across this secret midnight meeting of the ladder guild recently. Creeped me right out. Uh, i mean, ...and i for one welcome our new sentient ladder overlords. May they bring peace and alumination to all. Anything would be a "step up" from our current governments. (sorry)

Symian is: taking puns to the next level.
Currently Reading: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Currently Listening: An accapella cover of Jonathan Coulton's "The Future Soon" (which is awesome beyond words)
Kanji of the Day: 梯子／はしご／ladder


Seriously, who needs that many ladders?!

K-town festa and walkabout hipstamatic redux

Some more pics from Sunday seen through a different lens.









Symian is: hooked on hipsta.
Currently Reading: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Currently Listening: Cheap Sunglasses by ZZ Top
Kanji of the Day: 丘／おか／hill

Korea Town Festival (Osaka, Japan)

Yesterday Ulala and I went with Kimura-san to the Korea Town Festival here in Osaka, Japan. It turns out that Korea Town is just a 15 minute walk from my house. I knew there was the Korean area, of course - i buy kimchee there all the time - but i was unaware that there was an official "Korea Town" with a fancy gate and everything. Also, there appears to be some sort of canal behind it. I now have a plan to go walkabout all over that area, which i had previously avoided since it was "over there."

The festival was fun. I was a bit tired from fighting the edge of a cold, so we didn't stay for the whole thing. But we did eat lots of good (and spicy) food, including chijimi, and kimchee and bibimba, none of which i have probably spelled correctly. We heard some good music and some not-so-good-music. I liked the drumming. And we ran into some friends. Good times. Most importantly i took some pictures. Behold!







Not Korean, but still a cute little shrine we found just off the main shopping street.


And in case you didn't notice them in the last picture...






I really want one of these inflatable gates. I don't know why. I just want one.
I could use it at garden parties. If i had a garden.


Some of the good traditional music we heard.


NOT A PIZZA! It's a massive chijimi! (so goooooood!)











Symian is: eating his way through Korea Town.
Currently Reading: The Complete Stories of J.G. Ballard ("Prima Belladonna")
Currently Listening: Hotel Honolulu - A Hawaiian Tribute to the Eagles
Kanji of the Day: 瓶　／びん／bottle

Hipstamatic ; App-tastic

My iPhone did this. I just pushed the buttons. I think i'll re-nickname my iPhone as 'SkyNet Jr.'

App: "Hipstomatic" - making the mundane seem artsy fartsy. ; )








Symian is: autmatically hip, yo.
Currently Reading: かぐや姫
Currently Listening: (podcast) Coverville 718: The Terry Hall Cover Story
Kanji of the Day: 姫　／ひめ／princess