Owner: Rey Ian's Personal Blogsite URL:http://reyian.blogspot.com Join Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:22:50 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: This blog is about the Philippines, people, culture and experiences. Cities which include, Makati, Davao, Manila, Cebu, Baguio, and Cagayan de Oro are included in the blog. Also, anything about Nihongo (Japanese Language) is blogged. Site statistics:Click here
The Japan Railways Train Script Part 1 2007-11-13 08:41:00 When the train is approaching the eki (train station), there is an announcement and it says...１．"Mamonaku ichi bansen ni kaisoku Toukyou yuki ga mairimasu. Abunai desu kara, ki iro sen made osagari kudasai.""まもなくいちばんせんかいそくとうきょうゆきがまいります。あぶないですから、きいろせんまでおさんがり"まもなく一番線に快速東京行きが参ります。危ないですから、黄色線までお下がり下さい。"Shortly, in the first train platform, Rapid train bound for Tokyo will arrive. Because it is dangerous, please stay behind the yellow line.２．While inside the train, this is the usual announcement you will hear.この電車は快速東京行きです。次は西国分寺、西国分寺、お出口は左が側です。このでんしゃはかいそくとうきょうゆきです。つぎはにしこくぶんじ、にしこくぶんじ、おでぐちは左ががわです。Kono densha ha, kaisoku, Tokyo yuki de Read more:Japan
, Train
Pro360.com Online Casino 2007-11-13 08:21:00 This website contains many information about online casino. The site is user-friendly for those individuals who love to play on-line but not as techie on site navigation. The selections above makes it easier for players to choose the games they want to play. Upon clicking the game, description about the game appears and different casino game servers appear. Different casino game servers have varied information such as number of votes it incurred. As for players, this ranking system is very important since they will know how people have voted for the reliability and dependability of the casino website/game. An information about the 10% bad beat rebate also attracts customers further. Each game chosen also has information posted on other games offered. This is helpful in navigating as the gamesite has a lot of games to offer to individuals. The balance between editor and player opinions are also effective as it gives more credebility to each games performance. The more proportion the ran Read more:Casino
Top 5 Annoying Things in Tokyo 2007-11-19 07:40:00 Here are my first Top 5 annoying things in Japan.1. The bicycle driver and the combined bicycle and pedestrian lanes. Tokyo
is a nice place to stroll. Or I guess, everybody is walking since trains (another special mention of the train)are the most efficient mode of transportation here. But sometimes, bicycles along with their sometimes irresponsible drivers are far more dangerous than cars on the road. Why? First of all, bicycles apparently show up anywhere without warning. If you don't want to get surprised in every intersection and street you walk along the metropolitan Tokyo, take a very cautious look on approaching bicycles behind you from time to time. The bicycle lane and pedestrian lane combined is dangerous in my opinion. Thus, the government should implement to all bicycles an early warning of their presence to pedestrians such as horns or bells. Gosh, why haven't they thought of that.2. Black crows and the-like birds of prey. Most of them are too familiar with people where Read more:Annoying
Tag Along 2007-11-19 07:28:00 I have been tagged and now, it's time for me to tag everyone who I know. It has been more than a month since I have not been very active with Blogging. First of all because of adjusting on how to survive in Japan, getting along with colleagues speaking in Nihongo, travelling the super crowded Chuou Sen, and bracing the cold winter season for the first time in my life. Please do the favor in tagging along the same friends who share the same passion about blogging.Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. (よろしくお願いいたします)Mary AnnNepthalyJanAlaineSheiraAileenAre We There Yet?
Knowing the Right Care For You 2007-11-19 02:35:00 There are so many nursing homes for elderly around Europe and choosing the right facility that fits your needs is not quite easy. If you need a care homes that can meet your demands and expectations, try looking at www.bettercaring.com. The website is very enlightening and you can understand well on how to choose the right nursing home for you or if, may be you just need a professional caretaker to assist your needs at the very comfort of your home. There is always an answer to your doubts and queries on their site. You can also find articles, news and other information for elderly that might interests you before you decide what kind of help you really call for. You have the power to decide to have a better care than what you are getting now. You have your love ones, family or friends to help you decide if you need guidance. You are not alone on this time of your life. There is somebody out there who are willing to help you if you need extra assistance. Read more:Right
Sign-up for Blogsvertise 2007-11-16 10:39:00 When I was browsing some of my friends’ blogs, I saw a banner of Blogsvertise. I was inquisitive, clicked it and read what was it all about. I found out that they are paying bloggers to do some writing tasks for their sponsors. I was so glad that I did not waste a single minute and signed up immediately.The good thing about Blogsvertise is that they approve qualified blogs within 24 hours and grant the bloggers 5 days to submit the assigned task back to them. It’s is not necessary to really talk about the advertiser’s products, websites or services. The bloggers can talk about anything even life experiences as long as the post is somewhat related to the advertiser’s stuff. The bloggers need to at least put three links within the post back to the specific sites.The length of the post is only 2-3 paragraphs with just a minimum 75 words. I guess this is just fair enough for us, bloggers and for the advertisers. I am glad I signed up with Blogsvertise. I can enjoy sharing my view
Tips in Surviving Train Travel in Japan 2007-11-16 08:46:00 I was wondering, why is it that most of my posts relating to Japan
are with trains? Am I beginning to be a densha otaku (train maniac)? Now way! Not with trains.Here are the most sound and best practices to observe with train travel in Japan. The trains I pertain are the JR East trains.1. Avoid rush hour.2. Avoid rush hours please.3. Avoid and please, avoid rush hours.4. When the train approaches, pay attention which coach has the fewest people possible.5. Avoid a coach with too many middle-aged men. Why? Because they are most likely the ones who have the force to push people when people try to squeeze themselves inside the train despite they knew that it is already jam packed.6. When getting inside, and if your destination is too far, go at the middle of the coach.7. Wear durable shoes, and clothes especially buttons because they are the most likely to tear, wear and rip-off in the middle of the commotion.8. When getting inside, have a keen observation who do you think will be the nex Read more:Surviving
, Train
, Travel
ASHOP Shopping Cart Software 2007-11-16 08:26:00 An astounding statement from one of the clients of ASHOP Shopping
Cart Software
says on its website that "It's so easy my 12 year old son built my store as a class project." Starting your own e-shopping site is as easy and as cost-effective as ASHOP's deals especially when you try their 10-day absolutely free trial. Shopping cart features include ease of setup, no plug ins and even intensive technical programming language background required, complete original storefront, web-based administration, absolutely FREE technical support via online chat, phone and e-mail, and comes with a free e-commerce software user manual, tutorial movies and a knowledge base for your frequently asked questions.You will be drowned to what ASHOP can offer to you. Inventory control for your site's products are all covered with ASHOP. It supports multi-level product variants, product reports and category reports generator, brand editor, bulk order processing, customer specific discounts, gift certificates,
Maid in Akihabara TV Documentation 2007-11-15 08:52:00 Watch this documentation from NHK International and you will surely understand the Maids in Akihabara. The Maid Phenomenon has swept Japan a few years ago and until now, it keeps on evolving. Just come to Akihabara and you can understand what I mean. Read more:Documentation
Tokyo Tower 2007-11-15 08:32:00 Tokyo Tower
is very near to our office. A distance apart, seeing this magnificent symbol of Japan's dynamism makes you feel proud being here where only few people have been to.Facts about the Tokyo Tower:1. 333 meters - Height of the tower.2. 4,000 tons - weight.3. 140 drums of paint were used or around 28,000 litres.4. 24 broadcast waves transmit from within the tower. Almost all major broadcasting companies from radio, TV, and even sectors of the educational media, house their transmitters here.5. 176 lights installed in various areas of the tower. Read more:Tokyo
Weekend Free Entertainment at Akihabara 2007-11-15 08:11:00 Every weekend, the main street in Akihabara Electric Town is closed to traffic and here you see all sorts of entertainment. From comic duo acts, to wanabe singers, artists, musicians, dancers.... Oh, did I say, dancers? Yes, group dancing in cool costumes in the streets of Akihabara is very interesting. This video was from an old archive months ago but recently, I have seen many people do all sorts of stuffs in Akihabara. Enjoy the video. Read more:Weekend
, Entertainment
Suruga Bank Tokyo(スルガ銀行東京) 2007-11-23 00:05:00 The dilemma of the gaijin has sprung up to send money to his native country. The saga continues with his adventure in the outskirts of metropolitan Tokyo
.There are so many obstacles that you will face here. First, you can't do any bank transaction such as ATM registration nor cellphone plan availment nor Internet subscription nor anything that has a contract unless you have your FINAL alien card registration.Thus, sending money to Philippines using bank to bank transaction is impossible, unless your officemate does it for you. So what are the options? Western Union at Suruga Bank outlet in Tokyo. Finding this bank for the first time in Central Tokyo is very difficult for the first time. There are a couple of options. You can take the subway or JR train. The subway is the nearest, fastest and easiest way but I tried it using JR to go there. When sending money, please do not forget to bring your passport with VISA and your final alien registration card. If your alien registration card i
Interesting Finds at Meguro 2007-11-22 21:56:00 For some Dabawenyos, especially those who live in Toril and constantly visit the upperlands like Eden, this plant is most likely familiar to you. We locally call it "the mickey mouse plan" since the physical features of this inedible fruit is like that of Mickey Mouse's head and ears. Here in Meguro, Tokyo, this plant is called "Fokkusu Fueizu" or Fox's Face. Price tags around 735 yen per stem depending on the fruits it has.What for? Ornamental display of course....
The Buzz About Smorty 2007-11-22 11:11:00 Do you own a blog? Do you love to write anything online? Do you evaluate establishment services right after availing it? Do you want to earn by blogging? Then, I guess, Smorty is here to help you that. Smorty is a new and exciting way of blogging. Advertisers and bloggers have been given a list of dynamic opportunities suited for each individual's preference and forte. Smorty is a new blog advertising platform that will be the future standard of paid online advertising. Smorty's service is very easy and very fast. Using you PayPal account, you can directly forward all of your earnings from the opportunities you take. Smorty has so far been the fastest blog paid advertising site yet on the Internet when I comes to rewards renumeration and blog approval. So if you love to blog or simply blogging is just part of your life to express feelings, why not jazz it up with Smorty? Help Smorty fulfill advertisers dream and Smorty pays you back. Isn't it a good idea? Earning money while enjoyin
Okachimachi: Tokyo's Chinatown 2007-11-22 10:29:00 Tsugi ha, Okachimachi. Deguchi ha hidari gawa desu.次は、御徒町、出口は左川です。Finally, the gaijin found a Divisoria-style haven of cheap goods from China. It is indeed a real haven for people who are in tight budget here in Japan. Here, everything you see in the Philippine Chinatown
districts are here.Okachimachi is a town next to Ueno via the Yamanote Line. The station lies within the central business district of the Chinese community. Here, you can find everything from "toothpick to battleship," a common joke of Chinese traders in Davao City.The first time I went there, I was with our neighbor in Davao, Ryan who also works here, and he toured me to this amazing place. Streets are filled with side-street shops selling very cheap watches, bags, golf and golf accessories, clothes from branded to never-been-heard brands, shoes, bags, toys, lots and lots of food stalls catering Japanese and Chinese goods like manju, rice cakes, tuna rice bowls, okonomiyaki, different kin Read more:Tokyo
Garage Floors from Carguygarage.com 2007-11-22 09:53:00 Carguygarage offers the best and coolest car garage floor tiles and flooring for your very own garage. The offer many different colors of flooring to suit style and design of your garage. Your problems with cracked, chipped and stained concrete floor garage will be over with this flooring system that Carguygarage offers. You floors will look as new as a professional exhibit store like those of know brands of cars. Also, their interlocking garage floor tiles are very easy to install and durable. Preserve and maintain the flooring of your garage with this interlocking garage floor tile system which will surely suit your needs. Different colors and designs to choose from in their website to suit your garage style needs. The website is easy to navigate and organized. You may never get wrong in choosing the right kind of tile or flooring for your garage.There is also an online catalogue that you can download for your comprehensive selection. And when you want to verify the availability of Read more:Garage
, Floors
Christmas is in the Air 2007-11-28 07:39:00 Tokyo's airwaves is filled with Christmas
songs and littered with Christmas Trees lighted in different colors. But, as a Filipino, I don't really feel the smell of Christmas. It seemed there is lacking. Well, just today, I saw 4 people in Santa Claus costumes. Two of which in Keio University during lunch time and another two stood in front of Tamachi Station giving Christmas gospel CDs for free. I am sure they are not the ones on Keio because the two Santa Clauses I saw at the station are real foreigners with accent while in Keio University, are Japanese native speakers. So how is Philippine way of celebrating Christmas different from Japan? There are several differences.1. The Philippine celebration of Christmas is more of spiritual and a way for family to reunite, eat and store fat on our bodies and light firecrackers. But in Davao, I think this year is the 4th year that there is a total ban on firecrackers. So it is okay for me here in Tokyo to hear nothing during Christmas and Ne
Stormtrooper Sighted at Akihabara and Shibuya 2007-11-25 18:19:00 Seen a dancing star Trooper from Starwars? Here is an old flick showcasing a costumed Startrooper dancing in the streets of Shibuya and Akihabara. I hope someday I can catch one of these fellows in Akihabara or Shibuya. Enjoy.
My First Catholic Church Visit in Yotsuya 2007-11-25 07:51:00 Finally, I have found a CatholicChurch
in Yotsuya. St. Ignatuis Parish beside Sofia University. You would not be easily lost as the tall crucifix on top of the belfry is visible outside from Yotsuya Station via my one-and-only Chuou Line (another special mention of the train).There is another Church on the left-side facing oppositely with St. Ignatius with a huge cross. But I am not sure if it is a Catholic. Just ask for directions where is Sofia University.The church is nice and warm! I was a bit late, as usual. But I manage to listen to the words of wisdom. I felt relieved and I don't know but cried in the middle of the mass. Maybe I was affected with the OFW syndrome. Which they say, lonely OFWs get too emotional on their second month. And always the second month. Also, I felt goosebumps and the usual eerie when the song "Kordero ng Dios" was sung. I am not used to Tagalog mass hymns. I am either into English and the hardcore Bisaya mass hymns. But when the hymn was sung, it felt Read more:First
Fuji TV's Hilarious Comedy Segments 2007-11-24 20:10:00 This is definitely one of the things Japanese TV is good at. Spoofing and comedic acts of various proportions. In this flick, you see Darth Vader trying to beat the Japanese Keisatsu (Police). Fuji TV is one of the large networks here in Tokyo with live huge screen facilities open for public in Shibuya and Shinjuku. See the flick and you will surely laugh on it. Read more:Comedy
Doraemon Photo Collection 1 2007-12-04 08:21:00 For more than two (2), months, these were the photos I have taken with one of Japan's most famous cartoon character, Doraemon
.An omiyage (pasalubong) shop in Tokyo Grandsta Station showcasing Doraemon memorabilias.A children's ride in a small amusement park fronting Ueno Zoo.A hand puppet for sale in Harajuku. Read more:Photo
The Japanese Taxi 2007-12-04 07:06:00 Probably, for a foreigner, one of the jewels of Japan is their TAXI. Why? Jewel because of its fare and jewel for its amazing value inside. Tokyo taxi's are probably the most high tech taxi cabs in the world. Yesterday, taxi cabs jacked up their flag down rates to 710 yen for the first 2 kilometers from the usual 660 Yen. This is the first increase after 10 years. Indeed this is already very expensive for foreigners. That is why people here ride the trains (another special mention) because taxi fare is very expensive. If you are a new timer here, do not ride the taxi without enough money.But on the other side, taxis are very convenient for those in a hurry. If you office is far from the train station, and if you have extra money, why not try it? Also, taxis in Tokyo have GPS wherein they have the capability to search on the on-board computer your destination and plot the shortest path with reference to current traffic and road conditions.Mind you, the topmost picture above was when Read more:Japanese
Tokyo 2016: The Bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics 2007-11-30 23:50:00 I first saw the Tokyo
2016 Summer
Olympic Games campaign print ad on Ueno Zoo. And indeed they are battling against Azerbaijan (Baku), Brazil (Rio de Janiero), Qatar (Doha), USA (Chicago, Illinois), Czech Republic (Prague), and Spain (Madrid) to host the 2016 Summer Olympics
.If Japan wins for the bid this 2009, then Japan should prepare their entire citizenry to speak English like what Beijing, China did. If Japan restricts VISA to foreign nationals to work for the Olympics, then they should rely on their local workforce. By then, these individuals must be able to speak English in a minimum capacity. This is needed in cases such as tourists will ask for directions, look for places, ask for alternatives, or maybe just have a cup of coffee in a local coffee shop.Well, I hope I am still or will be here in Tokyo by 2016. I want to see the opening and closing ceremonies of this spectacular event. But what the hell, it's 9 years to go and we won't even know who will win the bid until the n
Struggling with My Nihongo 2007-12-07 18:43:00 One of the difficult things I have encountered here is understanding their language, Nihongo. I did study Nihongo way back in the Philippines for a couple of months but I believe it's not that enough, simply saying because I am not a Japanese. We used the textbook Minna no Nihongo but to my surprise, some of the Japanese conversation I hear don't use and follow the proper grammar patterns in the book. Which makes me lost everytime I join a conversation. Have you ever felt the pressure and the frustration of expressing something with someone which you can't express in an another language? Yes, it like being beating the hell out of you and you can't even fight back.My colleague suggested I join Nihongo Volunteer groups here in Tokyo but during this season, they take off during the holiday season. Living alone here even makes me more isolated. It felt like after all, I am all alone. I used to remember a friend of mine saying "At the end of the day, no matter who is your companion duri
Harajuku: Bargain Hunting and Sight-Seeing 2007-12-21 10:09:00 I first heard about the word and place Harajuku
from our HR in Makati. She would always tease me not to fall in love with girls in Harajuku. Well, I finally set foot on this place. I can say that this is like an upscale Okachimachi. Takeshita street is filled with so many souvenir shops, fashion accessories, clothes shops, jewelries, lingerie shops, RTWs, crepe shops and restaurants. Compressed and just one street and this place is filled with so much people who want to find affordable fashion wears.Along Yamanote line, get-off at Harajuku and then when you go out of the station, this street is already visible from the other side. One thing for sure is that your money here can buy more than you can buy in the fashion streets of Ginza, Roppongi and Shibuya.Wolfgang's restaurant is also here. I don't really know if this is really his restaurant. But from outside, it seems that this restaurant serves delicious food. Many foreigners fill this road. When visited this place, most people we Read more:Bargain
, Sight
, Seeing
I Won in Review a Blog (www.mindanaobloggers.com) 2007-12-21 09:23:00 The recently concluded Review-a-Blog courtesy of Blogie Robillo and with sponsorship from Janette Toral was indeed a success. Mindanao Bloggers Society's Review-a-Blog Contest was finally concluded and I am speechless up to this point. I can't believe that I won. Yes, I won! This is the first time I won in an online competition.I would like to thank Blogie for the initiative to have this contest and Ms. Janette Toral whom I first met almost a year ago in Bloggers Parteeh 2007 in Makati City, for the prize sponsorship. I also would like to thank Councilor Peter Lavina, our cool councilor who I think really makes a difference, for letting me to review his blog. I believe that there are so many things that Councilor Lavina can do to help the youth and the IT sector of Davao City. It is a way of promoting awareness to his constituents and to every Dabawenyo and Mindanaoan all over the world. Keep up the good job Sir Councilor! Saludo kami sa iyo! I hope everyone will support the progra
Japanese Nomikai 2007-12-21 08:48:00 A month ago, since there have been changes in our company, it has been relaunched. After a 2-hour reintroduction of the top management, partners and investors, we had our nomikai, or simply a toast for the new beginning.As a Filipino, we have this notion about company parties that it should overflow with food. Here in Japan, its not. There is food but not that much unlike in the Philippines. The entire room was filled with all of the Engineers and Systems teams and the management. Food was placed at the center of the room along with beer and red and white wine. Observing how the Japanese
do ceremonies such as this surprised me a bit. Before anything else, there is this usual speech with some of the most important people in the top management and the ceremonial toast. Also, it is expected that women serve the men and/or kohais (the newly employed) should serve the senpais (the older ones). But I didn't care serving the senpais. It felt like I didn't really fit in to their culture. I f
Introducing My Other Blogs 2007-12-26 08:41:00 I would like to invite my readers to read my other blogs.Namely....1. Life in Japan This blog contains specific information about the customs and tradition of the Japanese in the office and in business.2. Dining in JapanThe blog contains information my personal dining experience in Japan. From cheap to quite expensive restaurants, fast food and cafeterias can be read in this blog.3. Chigau!My own rendition of the naughty www.engrish.com. Interesting pictures about Japan can be found here.Hope to exchange links with you with these sites. :-D Read more:Blogs
, Introducing
Missing Davao Local News 2007-12-26 06:47:00 Since I my laptop a few months ago, I got addicted watching local news from ABS-CBN Davao. I admit that with all of constant bombardment of Nihongo in the office, English with some of my colleagues and Filipino with some of my chatmates, I miss listening with Bisaya news. I am proud that I am a Bisaya and a proud Mindanaoan from Davao City.I could remember when I was still in Davao City, I would always watch local news for me to keep updated with local news. And now that I am in foreign land, I crave for more information on what is happening in my hometown. I am glad that ABS-CBN Interactive gives the stream to everyone for free. It is a way to remind me of my true roots as a Dabawenyo.For those who are not in Davao City who want to view ABS-CBN news in Davao City, click here to view.For those who want to read some of the local newspapers, you can visit the following websites.1. Sunstar Davao2. Mindanao Times3. Mindanews4. Davao Today Read more:Local
, Missing
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