worldstallestpygmy: February 2011

2011 Tokyo snow fall

It has snowed in Tokyo on a couple of days over the last week. Snow fell for most of last Friday though it was too warm for the snow to sit on the ground but then on Monday night it started to snow around 10 pm and snowed for most of the night. Tuesday morning revealed a couple of inches of snow on the ground to go and play in.

I know that some of the people from North America who read this blog will comment on the fact that the snow that fell in Tokyo this year is nothing. In fact a Canadian I know has commented that he’s always amazed by how Australia’s react to a little bit of snow). Give us a break, for us this is something unique and special.

10:13 AM | Category: Living in Japan | 0 comments

Odaiba monkey business

What makes a good busker? I don’t know if this answers that question but on a recent trip to a shopping centre we walked out the back door into a little walkway and came across this woman and her performing monkey. The monkey managed to keep the kids amused for 20 minutes jumping from step to step, walking and jumping on stilts and acrobatics.

Though at the end of the performance the monkey wasn’t too keen on having its photo taken though the “trainer” managed to convince it that it was a good idea (the monkey looks happy about it, doesn't it?).

10:09 AM | Category: Living in Japan, Out and about | 0 comments

Is there any better restaurant?

While out walking the other day I came across a sight to warm the heart of even the most weary quasi salary man, a beer restaurant. Sensational, now to work through the menu…

4:54 PM | Category: Living in Japan | 0 comments

Kidzania

I was going to say "only in Japan" but have learnt that the Kidzania (http://www.kidzania.jp) concept came to Japan from Mexico and has been opened in a number of other countries around the world. We visited the franchise at la la port Tokyo bay.

The basic concept is that you pay to get in like an amusement park and then the children are expected to take jobs, like illustrating manga comics, working in a fast food outlet, as a beautician, etc. There are some great jobs like fire fighters that get to ride around the streets in a fire engine putting out fires and rescuers that get to climb buildings and rescue people. There are also some interesting jobs like stock brokers and travel agents.

Once the children have had a number of jobs they can spend the money they received as salary renting mobile phones, on food, exercise classes and almost anything else.

2:57 PM | Category: Out and about | 0 comments

Kanazawa zoo

Located in the hills behind Yokohama is the Kanazawa zoo. The zoo is surrounded by parkland, has some interesting art work and wonderful views over Yokohama. On the day that we visited it was clear and cold with no humidity (dry) like all of the days this winter in Tokyo.

While trying to get to the zoo we had our first GPS mishap with the machine (its always the machines fault) taking us up a small road between vegetable plots to a space at the back of the zoo. It was nice to see something a little different.

The zoo separates the animals four distinct regional grouping and mainly houses herbivores. To enter the zoo you have to move through a tunnel that is lined with stylised scenes of animals. The zoo is not that large only taking a couple of hours to view all the animals including monkeys and an albino kangaroo.

In front of the elephant enclosure there is a box containing an example of elephants poos and information on how much an elephant produces. There was no shortage of people waiting to examine and touch the poo – some things I just don’t understand (or want to understand).