Universal Love Random Chat II – brought to you by Harvest Snaps

[Crimson Azure]

View attachment 1571331
First smoking escapade was a success, did a rump cap as a first run. Getting the temp is fiddly, but turned out well. Was lazy and seared it off in the pan to crisp up the fat at the end

Damn it!

Now I'm hungry!

 

[00Stinger]

Anyone been to japan here?

 

[Dory_77]

Anyone been to japan here?

Only Tokyo for a work trip a couple of years ago. Had a week there though with a couple of days off. Was hot and humid as **** in late July, but a really cool city. Great food everywhere.
Toump Ass has been there a bit if I recall correctly?

 

[00Stinger]

Only Tokyo for a work trip a couple of years ago. Had a week there though with a couple of days off. Was hot and humid as * in late July, but a really cool city. Great food everywhere.
Toump Ass has been there a bit if I recall correctly?

Any recommendations on things to do? places to visit?

I'm heading over for three weeks in October next year. Always wanted to go visit Japan but have no ****ing idea about the joint other than what I have read online tbh

 

[TheDarkDwarf]

Any recommendations on things to do? places to visit?

I'm heading over for three weeks in October next year. Always wanted to go visit Japan but have no ******* idea about the joint other than what I have read online tbh

Watch out for the Drop Bears mate!

 

[tomcruise]

Any recommendations on things to do? places to visit?

I'm heading over for three weeks in October next year. Always wanted to go visit Japan but have no ******* idea about the joint other than what I have read online tbh

October's bloody ages away.

You'll be a bit early for ski season, so don't plan for that. 3 weeks is enough time to hit a few big cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima. They're all very unique and worth visiting. Then find somewhere random that looks cool and throw that in. If you like hikes, there's plenty of those.

Everything is easily accessible on the train, so jumping between cities isn't difficult.

Can give you plenty of recommendations when you know where you're going.

 

[00Stinger]

October's bloody ages away.

You'll be a bit early for ski season, so don't plan for that. 3 weeks is enough time to hit a few big cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima. They're all very unique and worth visiting. Then find somewhere random that looks cool and throw that in. If you like hikes, there's plenty of those.

Everything is easily accessible on the train, so jumping between cities isn't difficult.

Can give you plenty of recommendations when you know where you're going.

I looked at a self guided hiking tours years back but never ended up going. This time I'll be going with a 7 and 5 year old so hiking (to an extent) is doable but obviously nothing too difficult

Plan on a week in Tokyo, Osaka (Universal studios a must), some country side and maybe another city or two. I'm floating the idea of flying into South Korea for a few nights but I don't know if that is a great idea with the kids (have been told there isn't much kid wise there)

 

[Dory_77]

I looked at a self guided hiking tours years back but never ended up going. This time I'll be going with a 7 and 5 year old so hiking (to an extent) is doable but obviously nothing too difficult

Plan on a week in Tokyo, Osaka (Universal studios a must), some country side and maybe another city or two. I'm floating the idea of flying into South Korea for a few nights but I don't know if that is a great idea with the kids (have been told there isn't much kid wise there)

The imperial palace/gardens in Tokyo is pretty good. I did a big walk around there, interesting history and just having this massive mediaeval castle in the middle of such a modern city is cool. Lots of big open grassy spaces so could be a good spot for a lazy picnicy day? There's a few other museums and such around that could be worth a look.
Akihabara is cool too. lots of pop culture stores/arcadey things around that could be fun for kids and adults. Some verge quite a bit into the weird end of the anime spectrum though so be a bit discerning.
I didn't venture far out of central Tokyo, but their transport system is amazing so you could get out for day trips to other spots very easily. Their trains are amazingly fast and very on time.

 

[00Stinger]

The imperial palace/gardens in Tokyo is pretty good. I did a big walk around there, interesting history and just having this massive mediaeval castle in the middle of such a modern city is cool. Lots of big open grassy spaces so could be a good spot for a lazy picnicy day? There's a few other museums and such around that could be worth a look.
Akihabara is cool too. lots of pop culture stores/arcadey things around that could be fun for kids and adults. Some verge quite a bit into the weird end of the anime spectrum though so be a bit discerning.
I didn't venture far out of central Tokyo, but their transport system is amazing so you could get out for day trips to other spots very easily. Their trains are amazingly fast and very on time.

thanks, that is a good start

The Imperial Palace Gardens look pretty good too

 

[tomcruise]

thanks, that is a good start

The Imperial Palace Gardens look pretty good too

I don't have much for kids adventures. Getting around is easy and well structured, but it gets very crowded so I hope they're cool with that. It's very safe anyway, just gotta avoid losing them in the crowd. Japan's a beautiful place to just wander, but that's a bit harder on tiny legs, so better to have set locations. Akihabara is a great recommendation from Dory. It's massive though, normally I'd say just wander, but you'll probably want to pick a specific place. I think the Sega building's closed since I was there last or I'd say head in there.

A few thoughts:

It's baseball playoffs in October. Get the fam along if you can get tickets, they're wild events. Lots of drums and chanting, they love it over there.

Feeding the deer in Nara is cool, dunno what it's like post-covid.

The kids would love one of the ninja schools/shows like Ninja Samurai Tokyo and there's interesting stuff to read up on while they're learning to throw ninja stars.

Any Japanese cartoon they're into, like Pokemon or One Piece or whatever is gonna have a massive building or shop dedicated to it somewhere.

 

[Toump Ass]

Robot restaurant, gibli museum, gashapon, tokyo disney, eat curry banana donut/ hokaido japanese tart, piss alley, Okunoshima (rabbit island), Naoshima (art island), **** in a love hotel...
I'm not so good with travel recommendations, I usually just go overseas to listen to music, get high, buy records and chase tail.

Edit: also I reckon Time Out Japan, an english language website, is really good to point out events etc. while you're there.
Do some research on food too, lots of michelan star restaurants that do like cheap arse lunches sometimes, you can eat like a campaigner over there.

... and this island: Hashima Island - The Little House of Horrors

(also, hi everyone, nice to be back, have a safe & happy christmas )

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Never been to Japan but would love to go to this place, mainly coz im a Battleship nerd. I really enjoyed the Arizona Memorial in Hawaii.
For those unaware the Yamato is the biggest battleship of all time.

Yamato Museum - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[schmuttt]

Robot restaurant, gibli museum, gashapon, tokyo disney, eat curry banana donut/ hokaido japanese tart, piss alley, Okunoshima (rabbit island), Naoshima (art island), * in a love hotel...
I'm not so good with travel recommendations, I usually just go overseas to listen to music, get high, buy records and chase tail.

Edit: also I reckon Time Out Japan, an english language website, is really good to point out events etc. while you're there.
Do some research on food too, lots of michelan star restaurants that do like cheap arse lunches sometimes, you can eat like a campaigner over there.

... and this island: Hashima Island - The Little House of Horrors

(also, hi everyone, nice to be back, have a safe & happy christmas )

Welcome back Toump <3

 

[PerfectFooty]

Anyone watching the test?

While i am feeling nostalgic. I really do ****ing miss the channel 9 cricket theme before and during a game, summer missing a distinct sound these days

 

[Dory_77]

Anyone watching the test?

While i am feeling nostalgic. I really do ******* miss the channel 9 cricket theme before and during a game, summer missing a distinct sound these days

One of the most recognisable sounds in Australia that theme. Don't mind the 7 commentators, annoyed at how quick this match has been. **** that was a green deck. We've had a wet year and a cool start to summer, but that was ridiculous.

 

[Crimson Azure]

I’ll just leave this here. Twas epic!

 

[jhong]

I quite enjoyed watching the batsmen being peppered . It’s not like we see type of green top anymore . Just hope they don’t overcompensate for Melb and produce a road .

 

[PerfectFooty]

One of the most recognisable sounds in Australia that theme. Don't mind the 7 commentators, annoyed at how quick this match has been. * that was a green deck. We've had a wet year and a cool start to summer, but that was ridiculous.

Yeah, i'm not going to lie, after 9's golden age the commentary was stale before they lost the rights. But damn do i miss that theme

Hard luck to anyone that planned or was booking for day 3

 

[tomcruise]

Have those giant follow buttons always been there?

 

[Dory_77]

Have those giant follow buttons always been there?

No, that's an unwanted consequence of the latest site update. Will be fixed soonish

 

[Jordie_tackles]

Crimson Azure how did your black garlic turn out?

 

[Crimson Azure]

Crimson Azure how did your black garlic turn out?

Only harvested the garlic two weeks ago so has another two weeks or so to dry out. Hope to do it late January.

 

[Crimson Azure]

 

[mrmonkey]

I quite enjoyed watching the batsmen being peppered . It’s not like we see type of green top anymore . Just hope they don’t overcompensate for Melb and produce a road .

I don't think that will be a problem according to this. ‘Softer than the Gabba’: South Africa’s early Boxing Day pitch fears after MCG inspection

I'm thinking the groundsman anticipated warmer weather on the way which will harden the pitch, but I know Jack shit about cricket pitches. Also the Melbourne pitch is drop in so I'm thinking that might be a factor as well.

 

[jhong]

I don't think that will be a problem according to this. ‘Softer than the Gabba’: South Africa’s early Boxing Day pitch fears after MCG inspection

I'm thinking the groundsman anticipated warmer weather on the way which will harden the pitch, but I know Jack s**t about cricket pitches. Also the Melbourne pitch is drop in so I'm thinking that might be a factor as well.

While the Gabba pitch was a bit too skewed to the bowlers the spewing from the batsmen was hilarious. I expect the Mcg pitch will be a bit easier to bat on , but who knows . Hasn’t exactly been a hot summer so far , so your guess is a good as mine .