Urban_Tribesman said:Just what you always wanted Iuv?
Whickwithy said:I'm psyched for you, Slippage. One of my favorites. Her 9/11 song is just tremendous (and, of course, tons of others). So, you're right coast... sorta. I just love Montreal. Errr, actually, it's been so long since I've been there (god, it could be 40 years! Not sure, might have gone there for work later) that's misleading. But, I would bet that what I liked the most hasn't changed much, since Canadian's are pretty rational. 40 years ago or so, a beautiful woman could walk down a dark alley at 4am without a worry in the world. Kinda like Japan, actually, in that respect. It's kinda weird that the U.S. is more like a damn war zone. I keep threatening to move to Canada. The Ottawa Jazz Fest is not the same as the Montreal Jazz Fest is it?
Whickwithy said:Japan's culture is staggering. I've got so many stories. It's funny, though, that I am always more attracted to Europe. I guess one thing is that You change boundaries and, bam, you're in a totally different world. It's fascinating. Anyways, a few stories of Japan. The culture really had some amazing characteristics. Basically, they really believe in self-respect, "saving face" if you will. Some of the familiar stories about Japan, if you really think about them are staggering. Like the Hara Kiri. They are willing to prove their innocence by cutting their guts open. Or, in old Japan, when people got so old that they were no longer useful to society, they would just go up into the mountains to a place that was set up for it to die. I know, to most westerners, that sounds horrific but the dedication to honor to such an extent, while maybe over the top, is worth thinking about. I think it's awesome. Without self-respect, what are any of us? Okay, better stories but in a similar vein. At the 7-11's and other convenience shops that sell bento boxes and such, the expiration in like in a couple of hours. So, all the homeless people get an excellent meal anytime they want it. Which is what western people just don't seem to get. A lot of people in the U.S. believe that, if you're in the gutter, somehow you are reveling in it. That you really have this intent with your life that you want to be at the bottom of society. Japan offers them some degree of respect. Another one that blew me away was that a lot of the homeless people that I would see in the gutters would have this stack of newspapers, which seemed curious to me. Someone explained that they were professors and such that were just making a statement as to the homeless.What? 20 years ago, you would see transvestites and such on their game and talk shows. Tokyo! Pretty fascinating. Shinjuku station, which I took every day, had more people pass through it daily then live in the state of Maine, about a million people a day. The Tokyo government building towers had more people working in it (~ 85,000) than live in Portland, Maine.
I don't know. I guess I just like beautiful cities and none of the cities I visited in Asia (I did not go to Kyoto, which should be lovely. Did you know that Kyoto (kyo and to) has the same meaning as Tokyo (kyo and to, again)? It means something like eastern capital or some such. Kyoto was the first and Tokyo usurped the title. The ones that really blow me away are the people from Osaka. They are more capitalistic than Americans.Errr, why no mention of Montreal? I agree about Toronto. It seems more American than Canadian. You know, what I noticed, and I swear it was as soon as we crossed the border, it's like the pace of life dropped about 10 decibels. It just wasn't frenetic like the U.S. Yeah, I'm sure I'd like it.
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