Comics + [THE PAST!] Hokkaido 2005 Part 3 of 5
I'm not big on on-line comics, never got Penny Arcade . . but thanks to ivynajspyder I started reading "Kid Radd" and it's hilarious!! . . until midway when it decides to get serious and develop a Matrix story. >< So no thumbs up, BUT I love Episode 220. One guess why. ;)
Now once again, let's go . .
Thursday Feb 10
I went with ANA Hotel because I was hoping to get a discount on my ANA plane ticket (I didn't -- but I did earn a lot of ANA points from both ^_^ . . which I never used >_< ), plus it was the last hotel with vacant rooms during Yuki Matsuri. Can't tell you why people weren't staying here because for the price of a budget hotel in Tokyo, I got the biggest single room I'd ever seen! My only problem with it was that it made me wanna just forget about Yuki Matsuri and sleep-in all day. ^^
The hotel also had a Snoopy fetish . .
FIRST STOP: The shopping district SUSUKINO, where they had lined the middle of the street with ice sculptures. After I had spent an hour taking pictures, the guy tells me that they actually look way better at night when the sculptures are lighted. And indeed they did. So for now, I'll just post one . . .
. . since the noodles got covered in snow when I returned at night. ^^
So then I wandered around the streets of Susukino for souvenirs and saw . .
Um, shouldn't this be in the red light district, not next to a family attraction >_<;
And the disturbing trend continues . .
At least this is disturbing in a cute way. :)
And a beautiful underground mural
SECOND STOP: MAKOMANAI, which was very special to visit since it was its last year participating in the Matsuri (or is Satoland the same thing? Hm . .)
Aww . . Hokkaido gets all the cute mascots ^^ Until a Japanese person pointed it out to me, I had know idea why it was called "Danpa." Now I feel stupid. ><
These chibi-snowmen are all made by tourists! I wanted to make one too but the place closed early. ;_;
Cat bit its tongue?
I just realized someone kicked it in so it says ONE PIE. :P
These snow sculptures were so huge . .
. . kids were sliding on 'em. ^^
Look to your right and you'll see an orchestra. I actually have a video clip of them playing Matsuken Samba. Very good music taste. ^^b
Security was *very* tight and unhappy that their camoflage wasn't working too well . .
Camo Gear, the perfect souvenir
The Cup Noodle Train!
The Cup Noodle . . um . . Throw Something . . and Win . . Cup Noodle . .
Now HERE'S where I first realized the disparity between Asians and non-Asian people. At the head of the line-up for this was an officer who took your picture. With a frown, the officer shuffled the Japanese families onto the sculpture, took a pic, and sayonara. BUT when a non-Asian family reached the officer, he suddenly lit up, smiled and laughed as he took the picture with such gusto and patience, taking multiple shots to make sure they left happy. Then when it came to me, TGI Fridays was over, his smile vanished and he shuffled me in with a frown. In my JET handbook, they say the advantage of being of Asian descent is that you fit in, but dammit, who doesn't love special treatment? XD
When people were reluctant to leave after Makomanai closed, a snow storm hit. Can the military control the weather? ;)
THIRD STOP . .
SAPPORO TOWER!!
At the base was a sea of outdoor souvenir stands run by University students. These guys were some of the NICEST Japanese people I have ever met, and nearly all of them could speak fluent English. I felt sorry for them working in the cold, so I bought a Danpa hoodie from them. Great buy, I'm wearing it right now, it's the coziest sweater I've ever bought. And the backprint is brilliant, but I'm not gonna bother trying to take a picture of my back right now, so just trust me. ;)
And on top of Sapporo Tower was this view . .
. . or lack there of.
It's suppose to look like this with a good camera on a good day
On my way down, I passed by the souvenir shop . .
The day when The One Eyed Cowboy rides again!! (no one's gonna get that :P )
I really doubt that
And the disturbing trend continues . .
Dinner was in the tower itself, in a very unique restaurant that reminded me of Rainforest Cafe. One of the best dining experiences I've had in Japan . . no pictures, but here's my awesome waitstaff . .
Yes, she painted Bae Yon Jun on her cheek. Remember, this is early-2005 when Yonfluenza was at its peak. ;) Speaking of which . .
Just outside the tower . .
. . was a circle of snow sculptures recreating famous scenes from Winter's Sonata. o_O Some people just have way to much time on their hands . .
I just couldn't resist picking at his booger. XD
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.
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Now once again, let's go . .
Thursday Feb 10
I went with ANA Hotel because I was hoping to get a discount on my ANA plane ticket (I didn't -- but I did earn a lot of ANA points from both ^_^ . . which I never used >_< ), plus it was the last hotel with vacant rooms during Yuki Matsuri. Can't tell you why people weren't staying here because for the price of a budget hotel in Tokyo, I got the biggest single room I'd ever seen! My only problem with it was that it made me wanna just forget about Yuki Matsuri and sleep-in all day. ^^
The hotel also had a Snoopy fetish . .
FIRST STOP: The shopping district SUSUKINO, where they had lined the middle of the street with ice sculptures. After I had spent an hour taking pictures, the guy tells me that they actually look way better at night when the sculptures are lighted. And indeed they did. So for now, I'll just post one . . .
. . since the noodles got covered in snow when I returned at night. ^^
So then I wandered around the streets of Susukino for souvenirs and saw . .
Um, shouldn't this be in the red light district, not next to a family attraction >_<;
And the disturbing trend continues . .
At least this is disturbing in a cute way. :)
And a beautiful underground mural
SECOND STOP: MAKOMANAI, which was very special to visit since it was its last year participating in the Matsuri (or is Satoland the same thing? Hm . .)
Aww . . Hokkaido gets all the cute mascots ^^ Until a Japanese person pointed it out to me, I had know idea why it was called "Danpa." Now I feel stupid. ><
These chibi-snowmen are all made by tourists! I wanted to make one too but the place closed early. ;_;
Cat bit its tongue?
I just realized someone kicked it in so it says ONE PIE. :P
These snow sculptures were so huge . .
. . kids were sliding on 'em. ^^
Look to your right and you'll see an orchestra. I actually have a video clip of them playing Matsuken Samba. Very good music taste. ^^b
Security was *very* tight and unhappy that their camoflage wasn't working too well . .
Camo Gear, the perfect souvenir
The Cup Noodle Train!
The Cup Noodle . . um . . Throw Something . . and Win . . Cup Noodle . .
Now HERE'S where I first realized the disparity between Asians and non-Asian people. At the head of the line-up for this was an officer who took your picture. With a frown, the officer shuffled the Japanese families onto the sculpture, took a pic, and sayonara. BUT when a non-Asian family reached the officer, he suddenly lit up, smiled and laughed as he took the picture with such gusto and patience, taking multiple shots to make sure they left happy. Then when it came to me, TGI Fridays was over, his smile vanished and he shuffled me in with a frown. In my JET handbook, they say the advantage of being of Asian descent is that you fit in, but dammit, who doesn't love special treatment? XD
When people were reluctant to leave after Makomanai closed, a snow storm hit. Can the military control the weather? ;)
THIRD STOP . .
SAPPORO TOWER!!
At the base was a sea of outdoor souvenir stands run by University students. These guys were some of the NICEST Japanese people I have ever met, and nearly all of them could speak fluent English. I felt sorry for them working in the cold, so I bought a Danpa hoodie from them. Great buy, I'm wearing it right now, it's the coziest sweater I've ever bought. And the backprint is brilliant, but I'm not gonna bother trying to take a picture of my back right now, so just trust me. ;)
And on top of Sapporo Tower was this view . .
. . or lack there of.
It's suppose to look like this with a good camera on a good day
On my way down, I passed by the souvenir shop . .
The day when The One Eyed Cowboy rides again!! (no one's gonna get that :P )
I really doubt that
And the disturbing trend continues . .
Dinner was in the tower itself, in a very unique restaurant that reminded me of Rainforest Cafe. One of the best dining experiences I've had in Japan . . no pictures, but here's my awesome waitstaff . .
Yes, she painted Bae Yon Jun on her cheek. Remember, this is early-2005 when Yonfluenza was at its peak. ;) Speaking of which . .
Just outside the tower . .
. . was a circle of snow sculptures recreating famous scenes from Winter's Sonata. o_O Some people just have way to much time on their hands . .
I just couldn't resist picking at his booger. XD
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.
.