Chopsticks

This is me, starving to death. Moments after this shot was taken, I dropped the chopsticks and grabbed a fork in order to save myself from having to eat this chicken fried rice one grain at a time.

Sumo!

This is the guy that ended up winning the best match of the day. I could have taken him but mom made me eat too healthy as a child. These guys must've started on a Dorito diet very early on to get rolls like these!

I was holding my own until this wimp came along. You can make out the top of my head just underneath his planted left foot.






Some of the guys and I got together for some wrasslin'...Tokyo style. That's me - fourth from the left, looking down.

Speaking of local cuisine...

....fishsticks anyone? And what satifies you better on a hot Texas day than a couple of ice cream cones, chased down by a grilled squid on a stick? MMmmmmm good!! Makes my mouth water just thinking about it! And don't forget to wash it down with an ice cold can of Picari Sweat!!!

Tokyo, Tokyo, it's off to work I go!

Since my arrival in Tokyo last Wednesday, the weather has been absolutely gorgeous. This day trip to see Mt. Fuji was no exception and, even though I couldn't get any closer than this, the view was still beautiful. The road leading up to the top is closed this time of year due to snow and avalanche danger. If I ever get to come back, I'm hiking it. It's not a difficult hike, nor is it terribly high in elevation, and I'm sure the view from the top is spectacular.

On this particular day, a cloud continuously formed at the very top which was a little annoying. I've contacted the Japanese Visitor's Bureau about having that removed.

And of course, no traditional tour of Tokyo is complete without a ride on, you guessed it, an authentic pirate ship! Don't ask me to explain it...I'm just the guy taking pictures. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more were it not 35 degrees with wind gusts of 45 - 50 mph. A little chilly, and despite not being able figure out the tie between the Mt. Fuji tour and a pirate ship, it was a good time.

Never one to shy away from trying the local cuisine, I couldn't help but try some of this green juice. One of the first things you notice here is the incredible selection of humorous drinks found in the vending machines. This was in the hotel restaurant and was "Assorted leafy vegetable juice". Sounded harmless enough, and I was pleasantly surprised that it tasted like liquified kiwi fruit. Not bad...I've had it several times since.