japan: Day Three

Hi all.

Day Three begins back in Osaka, aka. ANDY'S stomping grounds.

The way our days usually start are of us waking up early (7-8am) and getting ready.
We then decide on where to eat and we discuss our plans for that day over breakfast.
This day, Andy informs us that our main objective today is to go to the Umeda Sky Tower.



We head downstairs into Andy's lobby. Quite possibly the most beautiful place in all of Japan. and I'm not talking about the furniture. (but more on that later...)




Andy tells us we can head over to the nearest Starbucks around his way. So we go.

SO.... if you were there with us, you would have heard this crazy noise in the air. You would swear it was like crickets, but crickets on roids. I first heard it from inside andy's apt. I thought it was someone's car alarm going off.

But no.


It was this thing.



Actually, i mean it was 837638223959 of these things.

its about the size of your palm.

and its fucking NASTY.

Apparently they make that noise only in the summer time. I guess they're pissed at the weather too.


anyways, back to our journey.


As we head outside into the sweltering heat, we encounter a couple of awesome distractions...

oh hello...



I mean, SUPS.



Stupid Andy and his Stupid Arm.



SUPS.



I'm not looking at Jeremy.



Anyways, we eventually end up at this place across from Starbucks called Mariners Cafe.



Its a cool little spot that was relatively inexpensive. If I remember correctly, it was about 5 bucks for my meal.




I decided on a simple Egg, Ham, Toast, salad and an Iced Coffee.

I don't consider myself a huge breakfast person, especially at breakfast time. But this really pleased my palette at 8 in the morning.

Lloyd's breakfast:


Simple French Bread with cheese and a little marinara sauce.
Basically a cheese pizza.

with salad.




What I loved so much was that even tho we had a plan that day, we weren't on any tight schedule or timing. We did everything at our leisure.
And thats pretty much the general attitude of our trip.
We finished our meal and chilled at Mariners Cafe for a good hour or so. taking in the scenery.




Then we take off into the covered outdoor mall in Shinsaibashi.



and me? I'm just happy to be here...



Aside from the people watching, we did hit up some spots.



Jeremy pickin up some feet candy at Nike Osaka.



Sups.


Walking around some more..



hmmm..





We decide that walking around in this heat is kinda stupid, so we head back to Andy's spot to rent some bikes.

So remember how earlier I was saying that his lobby was quite possibly the most beautiful spot in all of Japan?

I just want to introduce you guys to my wife.

This photo in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM does her justice.
Actually even a good photo still wouldn't.
Its funny, because this photo was taken in complete darkness. Its a weird thing, where they don't allow lights in the lobby, but for some reason, its completely lit around her, almost like a HALO.
Kangaete-mite....


(Think about it...)



Anyways. If I'm successful tonight, I will have video to accompany the last photo.
**EDIT**

So yea, more of my beautiful wife:





So yea, We got our rides for the day. Fixed gear what? i got three. and a battery.




OH and before I go any further, I want to comment on this fucking awesome drink over in Japan. I remember seeing pictures of it in my design mags, and thought it was stupid.

Its called "POCARI SWEAT"



To my knowledge, its not literally "sweat."
And if it is, its sweat from an ANGEL.

But yea, its a cross between Gatorade and Squirt. Squirt without the Carbonation.


I think mine was actually sweat.




Now, since his spot only had 2 bikes available for rent, and with FOUR of us there, Andy's plan was that we would get those 2 and use his other 2 bikes (His and Rika's)
What we didn't know was that Rika's bike had a fucked up tire. Not just a flat, but a fucked up tire. So we made Andy ride that one to the bike shop to get it fixed.

Here we are at the bike shop.

You can sort of see it there on the left...with the yellow banner?

yea thats it.



Anyways, while we wait, we head over to this spot up the street and get some Chicken Katsudon. (Which was fucking awesome and not to mention CHEAP.)
This place didn't really have a cash register with a person taking ur order. It was more like you, enter and are greeted by a huge VENDING MACHINE.

You put money in, and select ur meal, and out comes a ticket. The waiter takes ur ticket and gives you your food minutes later. Kinda weird but awesome at the same time.


So we finish there and we hit up some other spots.






Then we head to our Main destination for the day in Umeda.



The SKY TOWER.




We wander around Osaka on our bikes trying to find this place.

Jeremy mobbin it up.






Me looking up a sculpture at the base of the Sky Tower.



And here's us at the top of the Sky Tower at Night!



No?




k.

fine.


Here we are at the top.

in the day time.




our views from the top:




Only in Japan.

A building.

with a freeway.

going.

through.

it.





we go back inside to appreciate the view in the comfort of air conditioning.

Lloyd sneaking up on us appreciating Osaka's view...



So to get back at Jeremy for forcing his gayness upon me, I sneak up and attempt to kill him.



Almost...


He grabs the rail.


I fail.


So we head back down and actually go to another mall.
Sorry no pictures of this event. Kinda sad really.
Tons of kawaii girls. and Andy actually trying to hit on one and get her number.

But alas, no photos.


Just Vids.


Get at me, lloyd or jeremy if you wanna see.





Anyways, Rika gets off work about the time we leave the mall.
She tells us we're having Curry tonight. We say okay.

So she takes us to this spot they know of and we stumble there in the unrelenting heat. (mind you, its about 9 at night already and its still fucking hot.)

Anways Rika says to get the Beef curry, bc its fucking bomb. (not exactly her words, but i'm paraphrasing...)


So everyone gets the Beef Curry. and then Rika orders something in Japanese....


I'm like WTF?!

You ordering something else thats more awesome than the beef curry? cus i don't really like curry and i want in on your thing...


but turns out she get some seafood shit.


I taste my dish and am pleasantly....um Pleased.



It was awesome.

And prior to this trip, I was openly opposed to japanese curry.

But this spot.

man.


This spot has their curry on point.





And so concludes day three.

Man, after reading over this, I feel I have to apologize.
Anyone trying to read this and get the feel of our trip is really getting a diluted version of it.

I'm really showing about 16 percent of what really went on.
Actually i know partly because alot of it went on in the videos...

But still.



Anyways,

Day Four is next.
And from a quick look at the photos, it looks like it involves Himeji Castle, Jeremy's Vagina, and a shitload of sushi.

Until next time kids.