Show us the view from your window

[bibenu]

@LAMPED

we invented both systems so we are taught and use both

I have an exception to that, when a sat nav app forces me to deal with ‘feet’ as a consequence of choosing ‘miles’ it does my head in. I want it in yards or metres, (same-same) the last thing I want is the distance to the next junction in feet.

[akurosa]

@J3RK

There are TONS of really beautiful places to visit. Some rural, some are little rural pockets within a somewhat larger city-scape, and some are simply beautiful cities or villages.

On a previous visit (quite a long time ago) I visited Kamakura, which is close to Yokohama about 60-90 minutes outside of Tokyo. Back then (maybe still) it was like something out of a Ghibli movie. Shrines, a HUGE Daibutsu statue, the huge camphor trees with the ropes and paper ornaments hanging around them, tiny little alley-way restaurants big enough for maybe five people with amazing food, and friendly proprietors.

On this trip, I would say for that feeling, Takayama, and now Gero have been my favorites so far. In fact, if I can figure out a way to do it at some point, I could EASILY move to Takayama. It’s got just enough busy city streets, and then gorgeous mountain views, plenty of places to walk along a beautiful river-scape, (see pics above (the more recent set of four pics)). Then these little alley-ways that just turn in on each other with countless amazing restaurants, shops, bars, all small, all friendly. Just amazing.

Will be stopping at a few more, before getting back to the cities, but I could have easily told my family to go on without my wife and I, and just stayed put for the next while.

My brother has told me of quite a few other places like these as well. He’s been everywhere here, speaks every dialect, and his wife is from Japan, so he’s seen a lot more than me.

Then I’ve had friends from some of the other islands, locations, and there are nice places on/in those as well.

I wouldn’t discount the cities though. Even though you might be in a huge city here, the people are still polite, generally quite friendly, and provided you’re a kind and respectful person, I’ve experienced nothing but that in return.

Thanks very much. I think I will have to visit Japan this autumn.
One last question:
Will I make with english in more rural areas or should I try learn a bit japanese (reading)?

[White_Noise]

I’m doing Duolingo Japanese and it’s not that bad. After 2-3 months I could probably do all the tourist things I need (“where is the ___?” “Excuse me”, “thank you”, “what time?” etc). I’d say my reading is not great. They do force you to learn… but they don’t constantly reinforce it because outside of the reading lessons they romanize everything and of course I default to reading that even if I know the characters. So I recognize some of the more obvious/common hiragana/katakana right away, and can recognize certain words/phrases with that, but for the most part I have to whip out a chart and translate it one syllable at a time… at which point just use the translator app on your phone.

I’m planning on going this fall and I wanted to pick up some Japanese before I go because I’m sure it couldn’t hurt, and Japanese is on my bucket list of languages to learn.

I’m going to be mainly in the big cities with a few treks out to tourist sites, and I’ve been told with that and a translator app I’d probably be set.

[Juniper_Steels]

Yuma, AZ WTF?

[shigginpit]

Daaang! Rental Bimmer, huh? VIP right here. Make way for the real Slim Shady!

Or: “Junie of average stature” if you will.

[Juniper_Steels]

I fly into San Diego then drive to Yuma. I like to splurge on a sporty ride for the drive over the mountains. Staying in a shit motel though…

[Floppydisk_Pirates]

Evening view

[alf.veland]

[geronimo]

View from the office today…cloudy but relatively warm for March.

[J3RK]

If you know enough polite interaction words, time of day greetings, excuse me/sorry, and words for the sorts of things you’ll be interested in acquiring, and numbers up to ten, it’s super easy to get around. Then the rom-english adapted words help.

I find that everyone I talk to here appreciates the effort of using the language, they smile, then they respond in English.

[J3RK]

This view belongs to the monkeys, but I figured I’d borrow it:

[Juniper_Steels]

Somewhere over the Pacific…

[TomTomDe9th]

[Mono_Lab]

That’s will be my view for a couple of month, in Kaohsiung. Not really nice, but i kind of like it.

[J3RK]

[mlin]

At work

[schoolbabyboy]

taiwan’s grime is so pleasant, might be my favorite part of that island

[LAMPED]

Shades of the black mesa research facility? …

[mlin]

Close :). Rooftop of the employee garage of CD PROJEKT RED :). Looks way greener / less ominous in the spring :).

[LAMPED]

Well that’s pretty fucking cool!