Building of Apartments on Port Island, Kobe, Japan (Also known as fill formerly in the form of Seishin Chuo Mountain)

Living on the Grid, Port Island

Tomato Ramen from Kobe Ramen. A Chinese-run Japanese Ramen shop in Kobe. There are four branches around town, each with their own unique decor and odor.

Seen on a cocktail napkin in Taiwan...

"Although in the government of the foreign country,
Also became one of our own cultures slowly.
for 300 years turn into many fine collections
It will protect to stay forever
Until the prosperity can also share these
Historical relics."

North Korea is a sickly child suckling the aged wrinkled teat of a disinterested wet nurse...

Here are some fun NK links!

North Korea: ala Wikipedia

North Korea: ala CIA

North Korea: ala North Korea

North Korea: ala BBC

North Korea: ala Canada

This News Junkie's Recent Discoveries:

I surf a couple of news sites and these photos have been collated just this week.

This cartoon from the Seattle Post-Intellegencer referas to the debacle at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. A 2006 flood devastated the park's infastructure and Bush's NPS chief, Gail Norton has not done too much to remind W that:

1. We indeed have National Parks
2. They are quite underfunded.
3. Not all of them have oil beneath them

Prioroties, eh. Heart-twisting to see the USA's environment tank when so much could be done to protect and steward more land, not less.

The Forbidden City Starbucks

When I was there it was told to me that the Starbucks was closed down. Lying Chinese! I had wanted to enjoy roasted, Godly caffeine while enjoying the wonders of "ancient" Beijing. Curses. Now that was the time I should have been able to speak Chinese. On a more happy note, I was able to see the slightly blotty and liquidish embalmed Mao Zedong, whose mausoleum has just closed while they see how to freshen him up for all the expected 2008 Olympic festivities.

This sign adorns some bar that probably serves overpriced drinks and lame atmosphere. Such obvious inferences did not stop Debuto, an America who indeed "I think I'll turn Japanese" decided Japan needed a white Midwesterner among its population. Debito has fought some good fights against discrimination.

But does the average foreigner really want to enter a business that claims "To enter this shop, you must NOT be Chinese, a permanent resident, partially Japanese, female or anything other than pure male Japanese blood not welcome here."

I would say, instead of pointing out the terribly small world this proprietor lives in, we should lament how sad of an angry, bitter and Hell-bound man he indeed is. More signs to denote businesses Id rather not support would save everyone time and avoid uncomfortable moments that arise when one sees people different from oneself. Hang out that shingle of hate, shopkeepers, for pride and self-inadequacy always wins over compassion and a world view...

The Old Man and the Sea

One of the things that is so intoxicating about travelling is the range of people you meet while on the (road/rails/aeroplane/camel). I met an intriguing fellow a few weeks back while embarking upon a very unsettling ferry journey from Keelung, Taiwan to Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

Though I failed to jot it down to memory, I know the man's name was, well I have forgotten. What I DO remember was that his first and last name were both first names, something like Fred James. He was a grizzled survivor of a WWII stint in the Pacific Theatre and long-term resident of Okinawa, where 70% of all US Forces Japan are stationed.

He had taken the boat down to Keelung to visit a friend of his for a few hours. A good friend, I'd bet if he was willing to try a 14-hour each way jaunt on the choppy Pacific in order to facilitate a meet and greet. He said he was 81 and soon returning back to the US mainland, after a few flights to nearby US military outposts Guam, Saipan and Hawaii on the way home.

Crunching the basic numbers in my head, it made sense to ask him about his wartime experience, as I was keen to learn how he had seen Okinawa change from a wholly scarred hallowed battlefield and into a major tourist and commerce center. Frank told me about some of his friends back in Wooster, Mass, where he grew up. One friend of his died in the fierce battle for the Solomon Islands. That guy's brother was killed in the European side of the war, though I don't think I heard exactly where. Sadly, the boy's mom was beside herself getting a Saving Private Ryan-esque pair of "We regret to inform you..."

As frail as Frank was, it was clear he was wasting no time seeing the world and staying in touch with the people he's known since retiring in the 70s. He has a million stories to tell, a wicked temper still easily provoked (almost Tourettesish) and clearly plans on living another decade for good measure. The Western Mass accent is as strong as ever, refreshing to hear after I had spent 10 days trying to discern the 10 words of Chinese I knew.