Time between posts approaching infinity gradually..
3 weeks, without much to speak of happening really. Two major non-boring events that I really want to mention, taking off Wednesday soon 2 weeks ago to go on long-distance bicycling trip to Kamakura and Enoshima (134km daytrip), and last Sunday's climb. No climb pictures here though, the climb pictures are available .. elsewhere.
At any rate, things have mostly settled down by now, I even got my fridge today. It seems that I am constantly struck by the oddness of Japan sometimes though; namely, three recent examples:
The "yes, customer, right away" training in local restaurant that they conduct before opening (see picture below), where they at very loud voice shout about all the customer service phrases so they are "fluent" with them.
Second example is another instance of insane customer service; I went dining last Saturday in Shibuya, and because customer service was somewhat slow I just left 2000 yen money with them (150 yen too much) and left. 5-10? minutes later, waiter caught up to me on the street offering the money, and I pointed out "no thank you, it was meant for you".
Finally, the number of all sorts of vending machines can be downright scary (see below for example picture). Today, I was in semi-tedious situation as I had only few 10000 yen bills, but none of the food-ticket vending machines you use in cheap restaurants actually accept that high bills. So I wound up wandering around for like hour looking for place to eat, all either "hmm, too expensive" or ".. this looks good.. oh no, vending machine!". Finally, settled for food from local convenience store.
The picture assortment this time, consists of random assortment of pictures from my bicycle trip to Enoshima, followed by some day-by-day impressions. (Hiking pictures elsewhere.)
At any rate, things have mostly settled down by now, I even got my fridge today. It seems that I am constantly struck by the oddness of Japan sometimes though; namely, three recent examples:
The "yes, customer, right away" training in local restaurant that they conduct before opening (see picture below), where they at very loud voice shout about all the customer service phrases so they are "fluent" with them.
Second example is another instance of insane customer service; I went dining last Saturday in Shibuya, and because customer service was somewhat slow I just left 2000 yen money with them (150 yen too much) and left. 5-10? minutes later, waiter caught up to me on the street offering the money, and I pointed out "no thank you, it was meant for you".
Finally, the number of all sorts of vending machines can be downright scary (see below for example picture). Today, I was in semi-tedious situation as I had only few 10000 yen bills, but none of the food-ticket vending machines you use in cheap restaurants actually accept that high bills. So I wound up wandering around for like hour looking for place to eat, all either "hmm, too expensive" or ".. this looks good.. oh no, vending machine!". Finally, settled for food from local convenience store.
The picture assortment this time, consists of random assortment of pictures from my bicycle trip to Enoshima, followed by some day-by-day impressions. (Hiking pictures elsewhere.)
Yes, customer is always right-training at local restaurant shortly before opening.
Funnily enough, I saw these guys shouting at loud noise phrases like "certainly, right away!" etc in an empty restaurant. Apparently practice for use on the live customers. Still, extremely funny for me ;)
Bumch of vending machines (in Kamakura).
The feeling of being almost alone on Tokyo underground..
Shibya by night and rain..
Shinjuku by day.
posted by Wanderer at 18:45
