Scary maze prank

Last weekend I found this video and it made me laugh soooo hard I just had to share! I am sorry but seeing pranks and people`s reaction always makes me laugh a lot!

New Age of Cafes

I know most of you go to cafes normally, but have any of you ever been to maid cafes? Slowly this trend is growing popular and even some people do business there as well. But for the more "normal" people out there, a new breed of cafes are popping up all around Tokyo. There is a new type of cafe called the Daikanyama T-Site. Basically, it is a chic cafe, book store, music store, with a Starbucks all in one. So people can go in to relax and listen to music while reading a book. Or, even have a business meeting in style. So if you are ever in the Tokyo area, you should check this place out. I know I will!

Once upon a gyoza

In Reunion we eat gyozas too. Don`t be surprised, we have lots of chinese people so of course we eat lots of steamed buns and other delicious stuff with shoyu. However, I was pretty surprised the first time I had gyozas in Japan coz` they are grilled/fried. In Reunion we eat them steamed so it was a big surprise for me when I ordered my very first ramen set in Tokyo! IT is good, I love gyozas but to me suigyozas is still number one ^^
Reminds me that I haven`t had ramen for an awfully long time and I love it so much!!

New Generation of Superbikes!

I don't know how many of you like motorcycles, but I am a pretty big fan of motorcycles. I have always wanted a motorcycle since I started watching Kamen Rider. Most of the Kamen Riders looked really cool riding them so I wanted to be just like that. I got my first motorcycle when I was around 22-23 years old. This was my first bike.

It's a Yamaha R6S. I know in Japan you don't have 600cc bikes, but in America we have 600cc. I don't think we have any 400cc sports bikes, but Japan has a few right? Well anyway, I broke my collar bone while riding her and she got stolen in the end. So maybe riding was not for me :(

But, I wanted to introduce a new super bike to you all. It's the Ducati 1199 Panigale! Now this bike is really nice! I mean it looks great and it comes with all these high-tech features, which makes it a state-of-the-art superbike. I really want this bike, but now I have a family and the price is not very friendly. You could buy a decent car for the same price. Here's a picture of the bike and you can also check it out at the Ducati website. What do you all think?

Earthquake in Hawaii?!!!

Yup, believe it or not, there are earthquakes in Hawaii! There was just one earthquake about 2-3 days ago. It was about a 4.7. Most of the earthquakes occur near the Big Island, where there is still an active volcano. I actually experienced my first earthquake in Hawaii about 5-6 years ago. It was probably around a 5, but I slept through most of it. Because of the earthquake, there was no electricity for one day! Most restaurants were closed and almost all supermarkets, convenience stores, and many other stores were closed. So, it was really hard to find food and to also cook food. Most homes in Hawaii use electric stoves so most people could not cook. We went to one restaurant at night, but it was about a 3 hour wait! Most areas had electricity by 11pm.

The largest earthquake in Hawaii occurred on April 3, 1868. It was 7.9 earthquake! A tsunami also hit Hawaii as well.

spa world

Last weekend after I had a blast at USJ I decided to head to World Spa (yes, again, I know!). I had a fantastic time!!! I just love the baths, the saunas and I enjoyed the pool and the water slides soooo much (I screamed so much I bet the guys on the 1st floor could hear me)!!! I usually always go the 6th floor with all the Asian style decorations but for the first time I went to the 4th floor which is European style. It was beautiful. Plus, right now it is just 1,000 yen which makes the place even more...attractive, hehehe!!
Do you know some other spas which are fun to go to??

USJ

Last weekend I went to USJ. My friend offered me a free ticket so I happily went there.I had never been to the Terminator attraction so I gave it a try. It was ok. Not a fan but you know! However I looooved the one with Spiderman!!! It was so much fun!!! Really liked it even though I had a terrible face on the photo T-T I wanted to try the glamorous Hollywood one (if I remember correctly) but it was too late so I will go another time, no choice!
Do you like USJ? What`s your favorite ride???

Who is this Marvel Character?

Since the last post was about X-Men and we had talked about Marvel characters today, here's a mini quiz for everyone. Does anyone know who this character is?

Here's a hint. He made a short appearance in the Thor movie. If you combine an animal and a body part, you get his name.

Good luck!

X-Men

I have been a really reaaaalllly bad girl yesterday! I watched the first X-Men movie a few weeks ago and I had completely forgotten to watch the two other movies when it popped in my mind last night. I could have watched the second one only and enjoyed the last one tonight but no! I was like a little girl in front of my Christmas presents and the temptation was just too much! I ended up watching the two movies in a row...but they were good! I don`t know why the first time I watched them I didn`t like them but I was shocked I had such a good time watching them yesterday! Have you watched them? Do you like Marvel or other super heroes movies?
Ah! Looking forward to Wolverine`s movie already!!!

Research shows whale is tasty

Wow! I had no idea how much Japan loves whales!
Every year the japanese government spends money to conduct whale "research".
Why is the whale so special?
Why does the government not research other animals?
The above is of course sarcasm.

I just read another article in the news about Sea Shepard fools fighting with a Japanese whaling boat. Now please understand that although I am Australian, I have tried eating whale meat (it was meh...) and I don't think that whales are special or have feelings any more than a cow or a pig does. (And I LOVE steak & bacon) But I think hunting ENDANGERED species is selfish. I don't eat panda or rhino for the same reasons even though they may be DELICIOUS.

The Minke whale is not endangered, eat as much as you like, the Fin whale is however and therefore should not be on the menu. Taiji dolphin hunting? I so totally don't care. The species of dolphin killed at Taiji are not endangered and although it may look horrific to see, so does what happens inside a slaughterhouse where they kill cows. (However dolphin meat, and that of most other large sea animals, does contain a lot of mercury which is dangerous for people to eat.)

This shouldn't only apply to mammals that we think are cute. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is endangered & should not be commercially hunted, Pacific Bluefin tuna is not on the endangered species list at the moment, so throw some on the grill tonight.

All in all, Japans whale "research" wastes money that could be spent on more important things like helping the people in Tohoku who still don't have houses. Or at least Japan should stop hiding behind the "research" nonsense and just be honest, and show the IWC that it is only hunting whales that are not endangered.

Oh and I hate the Sea Shepard idiots, they are silly hippies that are only making the problem worse. Indians believe the cow is a holy animal and don't eat it, that is not going to stop me from having a burger. But if the cow was endangered I would not eat it.

Please let me know what you think.
:Phil

Beautiful

Have at look at her photo-blog link

Japanese New Year's Cuisine: Ozoni!

I didn't know that there were many types of ozoni! I ate ozoni as a child, and since my grandma is from Kyoto, we usually ate white miso ozoni. Then, one of my friends from Japan made red miso ozoni. So, I basically thought there were only 2 types of ozoni.

But, now! I found 2 more types of ozoni. My wife made sumashi ozoni. It was just basically dashi with mochi and some mitsuba. This was really good! I can eat shiro miso ozoni but I never really liked it that much, but this sumashi style is sooooo ono ("delicious" in Hawaiian)! One of my students also told me that she makes sumashi ozoni using shoyu. Now that sounds good too! She also puts chicken and many other vegetables. I've never had any meat with ozoni so I would really want to try this style.

Here are some styles that I found on wikipedia:

Sumashi Style: salt, usukuchi shoyu, karakuchi shoyu, shiro shoyu
Miso Style: white miso, red miso, mixed miso, wheat miso, rice miso
Natto Shiru
Komame Shiru


What kind of ozoni do you eat? And is there something special you put in your ozoni?

presidential elections

This year a new French president will be elected. As a French person, I am of course, allowed to vote for the president of my country even though I do not live in France right now. I was pretty astounded when I heard that Japanese people aren't allowed to vote in Japanese elections if they leave their country.
I mean even though I don`t live in France at the moment I don`t know if and when I will go back there. It is still my country and my family lives there. What happens to them and any major change related to the country would matter to me, obviously.
Therefore it is important to me to vote this year and to give my opinion.
What do you think? Would you mind if you left your country and were not allowed to vote anymore? Or do you think this is normal?

VOCABULARY

Today's word is

PROS·PER·OUS

adj \ˈpräs-p(ə-)rəs\

1: auspicious, favorable

2 a : marked by success or economic well-being
b : enjoying vigorous and healthy growth : flourishing

— pros·per·ous·ly adverb

— pros·per·ous·ness noun

Examples of PROSPEROUS

1. The company had a prosperous year.
2. He predicted a prosperous future.

nikuman

If there is one thing I love, it is nikuman. Until recently I ate it without mustard but I have to admit adding some karashi on it makes it even yummier! We do have nikuman in Reunion but it tastes different. Can be sure I will get one tonight at Family Mart. Feels good to eat something warm when it`s so cold!

Creepy photos

The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands
stretching south and east from the Izu peninsular near Tokyo.
Wikipedia link
Due to the volcanic activity the residents of some
of the islands, sometimes need to wear gas masks
to protect them from dangerous sulfur gas.
The old photos below are particularly eerie.

Are you my mommy?

A wedding wow!
Remember not to complain if it only rains on your wedding day,
it could be worse!

Very punny

VOCAB

Today's word is

mod·est

adj \ˈmä-dəst\

1 a : placing a moderate estimate on one's abilities or worth
b : neither bold nor self-assertive : tending toward diffidence

2: arising from or characteristic of a modest nature

3: observing the proprieties of dress and behavior : decent

4 a : limited in size, amount, or scope modest means>
b : unpretentious modest home>

— mod·est·ly adverb

Examples of MODEST

1. They own a modest home near the beach.
2. She enjoyed modest success with her singing career.
3. He earns a modest income.
4. We live on a modest budget.
5. New cars are now available at relatively modest prices.
6. He has only a modest amount of knowledge on the subject.
7. It is a book of only modest importance.
8. She's very modest about her achievements.
9. Don't be so modest. Your performance was wonderful!
10. “I'm not a hero. I was just doing my job,” he said in his characteristically modest way.

Grey`s anatomy

Recently I have been watching this show a lot! Even a bit too much... but I can`t help it! The ending of each episode is always so stressing I have no choice but click on the play button when it comes to the next episode!
Have you watched it or are there any other American TV show you love???

Way past tense

The following verbs have two acceptable forms of the past simple/past participle in both American and British English, however, the irregular form is generally more common in British English (the first form of the two) and the regular form is more common to American English.

Burn
Burnt OR burned

Dream
dreamt OR dreamed

Lean
leant OR leaned

Learn
learnt OR learned

Smell
smelt OR smelled

Spell
spelt OR spelled

Spill
spilt OR spilled

Spoil
spoilt OR spoiled

These are Ugg boots.
They are originally from Australia.
They were first manufactured in 1933.
They are SLIPPERS!!!
They should NEVER under any circumstances,
ever, ever, ever been worn outside your house.
They are for indoor use only!
Thank you for reading.
-
:Phil

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year!!!
We hope everyone has a great 2012.

Christmas in Reunion

Here are some pics of my Christmas in Reunion. I had the greatest time thanks to my family!!! Looking forward to going back there already! There`s nothing like home!