JAPAN DAY 8 (PT.2): NIHON DAIRA

YEP, THAT'S MOUNT FUJI IN THE BACKGROUND. WE LUCKED OUT WITH A CLEAR VIEW FROM THE GROUNDS OF NIHON-DAIRA ("DAIRA, NOT "DIARRHEA"). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND SPENDING AN AFTERNOON THERE WITH A CAMERA (OR A PAINTBRUSH, IF YOU ROLL OLD-SCHOOL LIKE THAT).








TODAY I DISLIKE: TOO MUCH TIME BETWEEN POSTS
TODAY I LIKE: MOUNTAIN-TOP VIEWS

JAPAN DAY 8 (PT.1): OLD SCHOOL

MARCUS AND HIS LADY YUKIKO PUT ASIDE THE DAY TO SHOW ME AROUND SHIZUOKA (OCCASIONALLY REFERRED TO AS "DA SHIZ" BY COOL PEOPLE, LIKE MYSELF). STARTED THE TOUR FROM THEIR SWANKY NEW APARTMENT. JAPAN'S VERSION OF A PENTHOUSE SUITE, I SUPPOSE. VERRRY NICE.

WE STOPPED BY A COOL LITTLE PARK DEDICATED TO PRESERVING SOME ANCIENT VILLAGES LOCAL TO THE AREA. THESE HOMES ON DISPLAY ARE FROM WAAAY BACK IN THE OLD DAYS (LIKE, THE 70'S, I THINK).





FOR ANY WHO DOUBT THE VAST TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY OF THE JAPANESE OVER THE REST OF THE WORLD, PLEASE NOTE THE ELECTRIC SMOKE ALARM THESE ANCIENT PEOPLE HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED TO HELP PROTECT THEIR STRAW HUTS (PHOTO BELOW).


NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I'M TOLD THEIR OLD WOODEN OUTHOUSES CAME EQUIPPED WITH SEAT WARMERS AND GENTLE JET SPRAYS TO MAXIMIZE COMFORT AND CLEANLINESS. ASTOUNDING!

TODAY I LIKE: JAPANESE CROISSANTS FOR BREAKFAST
TODAY I DISLIKE: GETTING OVER JET LAG, AND THEN HAVING AN ALARM CLOCK WAKE ME AFTER A 4 HOUR SNOOZE