Do you know where you're going to?

I may have boarded an experimental train during lunch today what with the trains being upgraded.  I have yet to ride the new one.

I had four stops to get to my destination.  In- between stops took approximately 45 seconds each.  Normally it would just be a quick and quiet subway ride.  However, today, this bored monotone voice, volume up announces each destination and arrival 3 times, each announcement takes 5 seconds, a total of 15 seconds.  A few seconds prior to reaching the next station, this voice comes up again and speaks for the next 15 seconds.  Therefore, during my 3 minute subway ride, 2 minutes of it was spent listening to this voice. 

Yeah yeah .... I should put my great mathematical skills to better use.

By the way, the ride coming back was "normal", with this same bored monotone voice announcing each destination and arrival just once.

What do I think of it?  I think it's overdone...although it does have its good points...unless you are totally spaced out; you will never miss your subway stop.

I have been warned that the Tokyo subway has multiple announcements too "うるさい!" as my friend would say.  I would be more tolerable I think ^o^  Half of it would probably escape me anyway.

5 More Weeks and Counting!

Yay! Five more weeks and counting til I finally fly to Tokyo!!!  I am probably one of the many travellers who gave a sigh of relief when the Air Canada strike has ended.  I am strictly speaking as a traveller.  I do not want to get into all the labour details.

I have viewed and reviewed my itinerary.  I seem to be changing it everytime I look at it.  I know I'm never going to have a perfect itinerary but planning is part of the fun.  I have looked into options and possibilities of going to Kyoto and Osaka - would have loved to, however, I only have seven full days in Japan and decided to spend all these in Tokyo.  There's so much to see and do in Tokyo alone.  I'd like to explore the city as much as I can. 

The internet really is such an amazing thing, some useful sites that I found:

http://www.hyperdia.com/  enter your to and from station, and it gives you several options for your trip, with cost and time of travel.

http://www.japan-guide.com/  travel information, places to see, etc....

www.google.ca/maps  this is really a cool tool.  My hotel just happened to have a street view so I traced it from the station to my hotel and took note of the landmarks.  Hopefully, I won't get lost first time coming out of the station - assuming I exit from the correct exit - there are three I think!  I also read street names are almost non-existent in Tokyo. 

Doing all that research makes me more confident - well, sort of....my Japanese friends have assured me that the Japanese are really friendly to tourists.  When in doubt, just ask.....but not during rush hour!!!  Speaking of which, I've seen these youtube videos of the Tokyo subway during rush hour.  Unbelievable, until I heard Nihongo in the background and saw these white gloved station employees politely asking "May I push?" it was almost too funny.  I also found out that they are actually part timers hired specifically for that job.

My Japanese will be put into test.  With my limited kanji I think it would be really useful to memorize the kanji for beef, pork, fish, chicken.....as long as I know these, I know what's in my food.  I do love Japanese food so hopefully, how it's cooked will be a pleasant surprise. 

One Fine Day

Tis the last official weekend of Spring 2011.  Lovely day, perfect weather. . . . smell of barbeque in the air.
Ahhhh sooooo hungry!

The New Toronto Rocket

The new Toronto Rocket - coming soon to a station near you! 

Torontonians have had the privilege to preview the new subway cars at Davisville Station today.  Pretty cool I would say.  Feels roomier and brighter.  Though I think the seats are about the same count, there is more standing room capacity.  Instead of the poles in the middle, there are those metal things that you could grab for balance, however, not for the petite as they are quite high.

It's coming in the summer - looking forward to riding the new rocket.

Mochi Ice Cream

On the other hand, I love these!  They are like daifuku with ice cream inside.  The size is just right.  A refreshing treat for the summer - yum ^o^

Ginger Ice Cream

I've heard Japanese ice cream is not limited to traditional flavours.  Though the word traditional is relative isn't it.  In any case, I have to check out Namja Town's food theme park in Ikebukuro, they have a whole section dedicated to ice cream.

For starters, I found this particular ice cream flavour here in Toronto.  I had a choice between Green Tea, Red Bean and Ginger flavours.  Ginger sounded intriguing.  How bad could it be, there are such things as ginger candy.  I've had Ginger Ale, Ginger Tea....ummmm, Ginger Chicken - that's beside the point.  However, I've never had Ginger Ice Cream before.  First taste, it tasted like a creamy milky - Ginger!  With ginger bits.  This is what you'd call an aquired taste.  I've gone from having just a spoonful to now being able to actually finish a scoop.  However, the ginger bits in the ice cream does take a bit of getting used to. I'm confident that I'd be able to finish this whole liter - eventually.  Well, either finish it or it getting freeze burn - whichever comes first.  It's may not make it to my "Favourite Flavours" list, all in all it really isn't so bad.  Plus I've heard that ginger makes your karaoke voice tolerable  - even for just this reason I'd have ginger ice cream anytime any day.  (^.^)V

夏休み ２０１１

今週の火曜日、最後の日本語クラスです。もうすぐ夏休みです。夏休みは長いでしょう。五月から八月まで。日本語を忘れないようにがんばって！夏休みの間に読むこと、書くこと、話もことを練習つづけなければなりません。今まで日本語の勉強することをいつも楽しいです。私はレベル七を終わります。レベル一からレベル七まで、私は沢山な日本語を習いました。だから、この夏は日本に私の日本語を練習したいです。私は東京に行きます！

いろいろな場所へ行くことをしたいです。江戸―東京はくぶつかんへ行きたい。東京のれきしを習うことが面白いです。有名な場所も行きたいです。ぎんざ。しぶやの天気を見ること。はらじゅくで若い人の面白いふくを見たいこと。しんじゅく韓国タウン。あさくさ。あめよこで買い物します。いけぶくろ。あきはばら。お台場におんせんあったことがあります。おんせんを入りたい。

いろいろな食べ物を食べて見たい。つきじですしを朝ごはんを食べたい。つきしまでもんじゃやきを作って見る。よこはまの中国タウンに食べたい。やきそば。ラメン。多分、マクドナルドで食べるをことです。日本とカナダのマクドナルドは違うでしょう。

いろいろなものことをどうしたい。かまくらへ電車で行くこと。地下鉄に乗りたい。マンガキッサで中に見たい。花火も見たい。じつは、私は花火を見ることを行きます。すてきと思います。カプセルホテで寝て見るが、便利じゃなくて。もし、私は時間があったら、多分。。。

きっぷをもうあります。ホテルをよやくしました。じゅんびです！日本にいる時は、日本語を話せことががんばります。この旅行を楽しみます！

二か月後で日本語クラスを又始まります。私は日本語つづけることを勉強します。