And

In Japan, how can I go wrong with the local brews... Kirin, Sapporo and Asahi?! Drizzled with rain here most of the day. But found a toy shop, looking for stuff for my sons 3rd b'day, and luckily for me there was a full scale extended Slot Car Track with 8 lanes. About $2.50 for 5 minutes. Later on in the arvo, I went and tracked down a local KTM Motorbike Dealer. They get a few models that we don't get. Got some pics, will post in a second. Bikes were jammed inside because of rain, so not spread out on foot path as usual. Having trouble getting seedy photos...

On my mission out to KTM, I was in 2 minds as weather to go... I thought, well I can see them in Aus, but they have different models, plus I figured I would see a potion of Tokyo that most westerners would not go to, as it was out of town, well off the beaten track. So too is the Patagonia Store... well off the beaten track... Not sure why either shop are in their respective locations actually... KTM were about 1.5k's away from train lines in all directions. So I had a good look around some of the back streets.... All I can say is, glad I live in Torquay and not Tokyo! Tokyo is nice, but they jam them in like sushi sardines!

Went into Abercrombie & Fitch, in the down town upmarket old Ginza area.... 10 story building all A&F... But here's the catch, micro footprint, typical for Japan... Maybe 8m x 8m for each floor, and that includes services shaft, lift shaft, and the open stair shaft sucks up may 5x1.8m for every floor. It was really really dark inside like a dim nightclub, and really loud music, and super cool staff... uber cool! Is that a word? Came out to the street, thought I was walking out drunk for a big night out, at 7am, and it was daylight! WTF! If you're in Tokyo, check it out.... very very surreal!

Sperm Whale from Channel Islands... Some ripping footage of Dane on the link... http://cisurfboards.com/surfboards/sperm-whale/

Some Burton Snowboard history. 4th pic... Under close inspection, this board has been ridden. I think it was just an experiment... You can see the train of thought.... lets add 1 foot, make it a longboard, and just see what happens. I think around that time, Powder Board and Downhill Speed boards were getting long... But they have backed away from length, and now add a fraction more width, I think. Note, I like Snowboarding, but I'm not up with the techo stuff... My board works, and I just hack away on it!

loving the pics mate and the descriptions are pure grom man. keep it up mate

get a sapporo draught into ya mate

Oh Simondo , these are as rare as hen's teeth - great score to get pics of these , bloody nice thanks!

First 2 pics are of the Rising Sun (Sunset) Bleed Tint board. Dimension badge is glassed in. 3rd shot is the price tag on a Takayama in a different shop. Price is over AUD$3k, less 10%, to probably bring it in at $2,800...

+ 1!!! That's a lot of cashola on a stick Great pics and commentary Simondo - I am really enjoying this thread. Thanks fir yr efforts.

The land of the Rising Sun... No the land of the Rising Toilet !! Took this little video in a toilet, at an Hawaiian Restaurant last night, in Yokohama. Found a really cool older part of Yokohama too. It has a bit of bar / music / jazz scene going on. What would you expect in an old shipping port town?!!

Is this a friendly greeting to the restaurant, or an indication of what is on the menu!? Yokohama... I asked for the Kona Longboard Lager, but they came back with the Kona Big Wave Golden Ale... I didn't mind at all.

10am Mac. Took the pics last night. Just posting now! But it should really be 9am. No daylight savings at the moment. Sun is up at 4, and down at just before 8. Daylight Savings would be 5am to 9pm.

This stint is 2 weeks. Back home on Sunday Week. Monday at latest. It's been great having an explore around. I ditch my Singaporean colleagues at night... Last night they went to Sizzler Restaurant right near the Hotel Lobby (FFS!). By contrast, I necked a Long Neck of Kirin Heartland in my Room with a View on the 52nd floor, showered, ironed a shirt, and set off on foot. Probably racked up 4km on foot, exploring around, including stopping at a restaurant, frequenting 2 other bars for Sapporo Draught, and some lovely young girls trying to solicit me at the end of the night! Not a bad effort for Tuesday Night. The situation is this... The glass is always FULL, not half full or half empty. And I don't know when I will get a chance to be on these shores again, so I need to make the most of it while it lasts.