Saturday 28th 09

Went up to Tokyo today in search of a Doughnut Plant, the short version is that I failed in that quest. But i did have a good time. I tried my first UFO Catcher. It is the machine with a claw that you put money in to get a chance to move the claw. you can control the x and y access and then it comes down and grabs whatever is under it. In three tries I got three plush keychain things. That video game practice finally came of use.

We had lunch at pepper lunch in akihabara, I ran into a coworker and we brought him along for the journey. After Akihabara we got off at Tokyo station and walked around searching for the doughnut shop. FAIL. But we did find a coldstone and a starbucks, so not too bad altogether.

Had garlic night for dinner at the Italian Gardens. It was good, caught up on tv and just chilled. Also starting to pack for the phased withdrawal.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 21

Friday 27th

Work Dinner, then chill. Tokyo Tomorrow.

Japan Soft drink Challenge Pouch Duex

Thursday

LONG DAY AT WORK. Dinner at McDonalds, then bed. Rinse Repeat.

Wednesday 25th 09

After work I got some Starbucks, what a charge, it had been a few days. Back at the hotel I watched Heroes in Japanese, very different. The first strange thing is that they voiced over Hiro and Endo, but they were already speaking in Japanese. They also had this really goofy theme song. I also watched Mr. Obama meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister in the Oval Office, and the President is sporting more grey than a couple of months before. I guess it is in style, as I have noticed my hair turning as of late.

Met up with Japanese and American coworkers for dinner. Had another Yokosuka Tsumani Burger. Very good just like before.


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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 20

Tuesday 24th 09

I decided to quest out for some rain pants today. I stopped at Tokyu hands in Yokohama and then saw the price for rain pants 10,000, so I decided to end that quest. Headed back to Yokosuka and just chilled for the rest of the evening, had left overs from last night for dinner, still awesome.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch 8

Monday 23rd 09

The rain is back, and in a big way. It is strange back home you can be out in the rain and not get soaked. It is like a shower here, in 10 minutes you are completely soaked.

Had dinner at TGI Fridays, the philly cheese steak was good. One of the guys got a chessy cheese burger. It has two mozzarella sticks on a bacon cheese burger, clogged arteries here we come.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 19

Sunday 22nd 09

It was a long day today. For brunch I met up with some coworkers at the Officers Club. They have many stations, ranging from Japanese to American. The steak and eggs was very good. The banana ice cream is also awesome.

After brunch it was off to Tokyo for church. It was a lot of fun again, we ran into some other coworkers at church. I decided to try a different way back to Yokosuka from the church. It uses the Asakusa subway line. We stopped at Shimbashi station to switch, but then I looked outside and saw the train engine. So we had to take some photos of that. I noticed Kirin city near the train station so we went and had dinner. The steak was very tender. After dinner we got on the train and took it all the way back to Yokosuka, it was fast and easy.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch 7

Saturday 21st 09

Had to work today, so I just got in a quick trip to Yokohama. Went to Landmark and Tokyu hands. Had dinner at a new Ramen place which was very good. I wound down by playing some SFIV on the xbox.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 18

Street Figher Friday 20th

I am working tomorrow so it was a pretty relaxed evening. Went to Pepper Lunch had the fillet steak, which was very tender. I need to go to the one in California when I get back. After dinner we headed to the arcade and played some Street Fighter IV. In japan they have RFID cards that you put into the machine and they track all of your stats from all of the games which you play. I bought one tonight, so whenever I come back I can track myself. You can also go on the website and set your name and motto, pretty funny.


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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 17

Thursday 19th

Had dinner at the Green Leaf again. This time I had a soup dish with vegetables and chicken that the chef had won an award for. It was good.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch 6

Wednesday 18th

The big excitement today was going to Sushi go round for dinner. I didn't have very much, but I had some flounder that was pretty good. After dinner I had a delicious crepe with bananas and custard, yum.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch 5

Tuesday 17th 09

The wind this morning was very cold, it said it was 40 but it sure didn't feel like it. It was scarf weather. Hopefully it won't start raining anytime soon. Had dinner at the Thai resturant, I discovered that Medium is too hot for me as well. I guess I am kinda mild.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch 4

Tokyo Disney Monday 16th

Disney was fun. Hit up a few rides and enjoyed some food. We went on Star Tours, Grandprix, Roger Rabbits ride, Small world, and Space Mountain. It was my first time on Space Mountain, it was fun, but I was dizzy after leaving the ride. It is just a bunch of sharp right turns and then one left turn at the end. But it was a lot of fun. We went and tried the Yokosuka Burger at a restaurant near the hotel. It was a very good burger, probably the best one I have had here at the very least.


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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 16

New Hope Tokyo Sunday 15th

Decided to go up to Tokyo for church today. It was a great service and everybody enjoyed the trip. On the way back we stopped at Akihabara for the same curry as yesterday very good. On a seafood related not, one of the guys that went up to New Hope Tokyo was kind enough to buy an Ebi sandwich at McDonalds, it was the second time I have ever eaten shrimp it is pretty goo.d

Early to bed, the group leaves at 6:45 to get up around when Tokyo Disney Opens.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge

Humid Saturday 14th 09

Took a quick trip up to Akihabara this morning. On the way to the train station it became apparent that a jacket was not required. It was around 60 degrees the entire day, and it was humid.

After walking around and going into a few shops up in Akihabara we stopped for Curry and then got on the train home. It wasn't crowded at all, we were able to have a seat the entire way.

Went to pepper lunch for dinner and tried a taco chicken dish, it was pretty good but not as good as the standard pepper steak is.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 14

Windy Friday 13th 09

It warmed up during the day, by the time I left work it was 60 degrees. Nice and warm, only problem was the 40 mph winds. I had to get off and walk my bike several times.

For dinner it was back to Korean BBQ at More's city. No chicken this time, after what happened last summer. After dinner we went to Capcom plaza to play Street Fighter 4, lets just say that there are many great japanese SF4 players. Finished it off with some ice cream and then a little TV catchup.


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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 13

Mexican Food Thursday 12th 09

Riding into work it was 32, but luckily it cleared up and it was nice and sunny. For dinner I decided to have Mexican, it was very good. But in Japan they do not give you free chips and salsa, cultural differences.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 12

Curry Is Awesome Wednesday 11th 09

Seems like round two of the cold is going around. More and more people are getting sick. Nothing better to clear up the sinuses than hot curry. I went back to Bengal curry, very good again.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 11

Sunny Tuesday 10th 09

In the morning it looked like it was going to rain, but the day was awesome. The wind died down and the sun came out in a serious way. Had dinner at the cool yakitori place. Then wound down by watching Jack Bauer save the US once more.

Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch 3

Grandberry Mall Monday 9th 09

After work I met up with a coworker and headed to the Grandberry Mall. It is like an outlet mall. The trip up to the mall took about an hour and a half. You have to head to Yokohama and then ride out a ways.

The first store we stopped at was Montbell. I got a really nice scarf, which will come in handy as it has been getting colder and colder. After walking through the lego and Adidas stores it was time for dinner.

We ate at Outback. I had the ribeye, which was very good. The ride back was going well until the train stopped and everybody got off. Now this is a sign that it is time to get off the train. But we saw people outside the train so I made the call to stay on. I wavered back and forth. Finally the doors closed, and the train moved the other way. Oh well, it happens.

We figure out that the train goes to that stop and then you have to switch. So after getting on another train and making the switch at the next station it was easy. The whole trip took about 5 hours.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch 2

Brrrrrrrrrr Sunday 8th 09

I realize that this will fall on deaf ears for most folks, but it is cold here. The temperatures are in the 40's but the wind was really strong today. Good old wind CHILL. Of course this turn of events only happened when I was in the middle of a walk around town. But then again, it isn't snowing!

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Pouch Drink 1

Saturday 7th 09

Before work we went up to Yokohama back to Tokyu Hands. The train was nice and packed on the way up. As in all things I like to arrive early, so we had about half an hour to burn. Starbucks is a decent way to burn time and maintain energy levels.

After spending about 2 hours in the store I needed to get back to work so I headed back to the train station. On the street they had eye glass cleaning stations. It consisted of an Ultrasonic sink, wash water, and a chem wipe. All I can say is WOW. My glasses have never been so clean.

For dinner we went to Italian gardens. After that I wound down from a 6 day week by watching Psych. I cannot recommended the show enough, it is GREAT.


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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random X

Karaoke Friday 6th 09

Went to dinner at Nirvana (Indian food). I had spinach curry chicken, it was very good. After dinner I finally did a japanese tradition, Karaoke. I do enjoy singing, so I ended up singing almost every song. Got in a good rendition of "I'm yours" during the two hour rock session.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Tea 2

Curry Time Thursday 5th 09

One of the Japanese people who I work with suggested a restaurant to me. He drew a map and made the universal sign for good food (hand over the stomach). On the map he named the place Bengaru. I went to the street but could not find a restaurant called Bengaru, then I looked down the street and noticed a place called Bengal. The joys of ESL.

It was the fastest meal I have ever eaten, and it was awesome. I had spicy beef curry. The level of spice was just right, make the mouth tingle but don't burn the throat.

Swung by Starbucks on the way home for some liquid energy.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Random 9

Wednesday Feb 4th 09

Had dinner at the CPO for Mongolian night, very good. People at work are still getting sick at an accelerating rate. So hopefully I will not get sick again.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge Tea 1

Another Tuesday Feb 3rd 09

Things seem to be working fine tonight on the internet side. So two soft drink challenges 1 post.

Took a couple of coworkers to my favorite katsu place. The guy who runs it is a chief up in Tokyo. At night he comes back and cooks in his small restaurant before calling it a night up stairs. It is an awesome experience and very tasty food.

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Japan Soft Drink Challenge 7 & 8

Slow Again, Superbowl Monday Feb 2nd 09

Another day without the ability to upload any videos. If it happens again tomorrow, I will go seeking free WiFi on base.

Caught a little of the superbowl during the work day. They had it playing everywhere.

Went to the yakitora place by the train station. Had many pieces of meat on a stick. All very good.

The pipes are slow Sunday Feb 1st 09

Once described by a US congressman as a series of tubes, the internet is not wanting to cooperate this evening. As such I will be unable to provide the latest JSDC or pictures from today.

Got some suvinour shopping done today. When I was out I swung by CoCo's curry for lunch. They have almost every imaginable topping you would want with curry. I chose the thin sliced beef. Very good.

Finally tried a Honey Orange Latte at Starbucks. The orange is subtle enough to complement the espresso shot. All in all I would give it 1 and a half thumbs.

After church stopped by and had the buffet at Sbarro's. Which the is the first and last time I will ever eat there. But now I know, and the more you know...