The Worst Olives

I like Olives very much, not that anyone care and not that many people like it here. If it's not Chips, Cookies, Candy Bar, Licorice or so, it's not considered snack. I used to be Olives from The Real Canadians Superasshole but then realized that these thieves have increased the price so much that it's not even worse going to the store. I tried the Kalamata Grocery in Downtown Calgary, a few time. It's not bad. There're so many varieties and that's what makes the selection very difficult. 
Lina's, based on my experience, is the best source for Olives. I'm not saying they have the best, I'm just saying that they're the best to go. Limited variety, reasonable price. Available both in bulk and jar and of course the bulk is from a big jar! 
The Olives don't last long, when I buy. I add them to my salad, to my sandwich or just eat them as snack. I bought a pack of 1 Kg Moroccan Olives from kalamata Grocery nearly three months ago. More than half of it still sitting in the refrigerator! I had added Morocco to my travel list a few years ago. I was hoping to do a hike and see a couple of places. I considered that to be a good trip and attractive price-wise. I have moved it to the bottom of the list now with the possibility of completely removing it but that's not why the Olives have not been eaten! The damn Olives are too salty and dry and no flavour. Perhaps that's normal in Morocco but comparing it with all sorts of other olives I've tried from different sources, this has been the least appealing and has had the worst taste. 
I have a plan to visit an Olive growing country before the end of the year and despite the fact that most of my time will be spent in the non or less Olive growing regions(!) I will try to buy and try as much as I can. I believe based on what CBSA says I can bring as much as 20 Kg or 20 L. for personal use. We will see.

(Picture: The Moroccan Olives as they are seen in a container in the refrigerator. I tried one and they're not rotten or anything. I think olives last long but this one's story is different. Just not good!)

24 Years and Counting

I thought of something special for the 24th anniversary of my arrival in Canada but nothing came to mind! It was the 29th of the last month but I have been so tired that I couldn't write a damn thing. Not that anyone was waiting for it! Couples might go for a nice meal. Not many options for singles! So I decided to go for a massage on Sat. night. What a waste of dollars and time it was! It could have been a much better experience, had I selected the right person! I don't wanna even write about it! 

Then I thought to myself: There's nothing to celebrate. I haven't achieved anything. In fact I haven't reached my goals. I, have always been a failure. In fact this word could be used as my middle name! The only good thing was that a cousin of mine who lives in L. A. was here to enjoy skiing. I had not seen him for probably 25 years, perhaps one year or more before I left the old country for Canada. We all had a meal in a local restaurant and then he and his family headed to Banff National Park area. I joined them later just to hang out with them, not to ski! I'm not a skier. That was the only highlight of the last week. 

We went up to Sulfur Mountain by gondola, of course. That was my third ride, each 10 years or more apart! It was a pleasant experience. Then we had dinner at Sky Bistro which was really good. The views up there are really amazing and they have added lots of stuff to make it memorable and interesting for visitors, including fire pits, igloos(!), fur blankets and indigenous traditional music and displays and translated to English. They liked it very much. It's a one of a kind experience which you cannot get anywhere else in the world and I must admit that if I was Canadian, I'd be really proud of my country. I'm not Canadian and I'm proud that I was able to show them something that they like a lot.

I didn't pay much attention to the cost. It's a cost that you pay once in your life. Besides the cousin had already taken us to dinner and brought us all gifts. He even paid for the dinner there which was not cheap, believe me but I think the gondola ride was around $280 and it's not important at all. I don't know when if I ever meet this people. Family and friends is all you have in life and if you don't have a good one, you have nothing. For me it's over. I can't have a family now. My family is my Mom and my siblings and a few relatives I have here and there but I also keep my distance to make sure I don't with their family life. All the money, best cars, good job. Nothing could make for a good and lovely family.

(Photo: People go inside these igloos on the top of Sulphur Mountain and enjoy themselves)

Escape from Alcatraz

Prisoners, either they're POWs or inmates have been the subject of movies many times. Some are based on true stories and some have fictional characters. If I wanted to name a few I would say The Great Escape, The Bridge Over the River Kwai and probably a few more. These two movies were a big hit at their time but probably not today. They would most likely not impress the young audiences today. I saw the first one many years ago when I was a kid in the old country on VHS(!) and it was dubbed. It was a favorite movie by adults at the time because of McQueen's role. I did or perhaps I still do have the second movie on digital but couldn't watch past the first few minutes!

This movie that I've watched and is a bit better has a historical accuracy: Escape from Alcatraz is based on the attempt and actual escape of three inmates from the maximum security prison in the island of Alcatraz, nearly 1.25 miles off the shore of San Francisco in 1961.

It's obvious that many parts of the movie is based on the speculations that the writer and screenplay write have but it is still good considering many events could have been checked with the former inmates who were there at the time. 

Alcatraz Island and the main prison building. Photograph courtesy of FBI. The island is a tourist destination which I don't mind visiting. Perhaps sometimes soon when things go back to normal.

The movie has a few known actors. Eastwood is the main character. Fred Ward who has an amazing play in Southern Comfort comes in later and becomes one of the characters who plan and participate in the escape. There're a few more who are not known as much but they play well. The movie might sound a bit boring because it's not an action film. It's about planning for an escape but still worth watching, if you can get your hands in. I read that there're tours for the island and the facility, which was closed less than a year after the infamous escape but with all the opposition to travelling to the US, I wonder if it will be a favourite destination for many! 

(Photo, top,: From Left Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin, escaped the maximum security prison in the north of San Francisco in 1962. The FBI does not believe the men could make it and handed the file over to the US Marshals office in 1979)

Checking Village Brewery

The Chef and I were in the city and he suggested to check Village Brewery out. It's a small bistro and brewery, of course, in a commercial/industrial part of the city, about 10 minutes drive to Downtown. It was his suggestion/his money, so I didn't object. The only thing that one should consider in cases like this to be careful with him not drinking too much! 

Village Brewery has a nice and clean environment and at the time we were there it was almost full for a weekday night. We ordered two Blacksmith, I think 20 Oz. beer and two small bowls of nuts, each cost a total of $16! I had not had any alcohol for nearly 14 months but was not too impressed by it. Then I realized something else: The glass stuck! I think this guys try to save money by not washing the glasses and dishes and only rinse them or wipe them with a piece of cloth! I didn't say anything but the smell was overwhelming! The Chef didn't notice that and I didn't want to ruin his fun, especially because he was about to get drunk after half of the glass was done! The bowl of nuts was good, despite the fact that we know they have no respect for the customers' well being and do not follow health and sanitation regulations! In fact one could be full for the night with that beer and nuts. The waiter approach when I had the first glass and The Chef asked him to bring the second round. It was the second glass that screwed him up! He was already drunk at the beginning of it. So was I but not to that extent. The interesting thing is the effect of alcohol on someone who drinks every night (The Chef) and someone who only drinks socially! We finished the second round and the place was getting empty but there were still a few customers. The Chef asked me to order food! Now he was out of his conscious, I would say! I took him to bathroom and ordered two Brisket Sandwiches for us and the third beer for him.  

He was so drunk that when he was going to the restroom, he left his wallet open on the table! The sandwich tasted good but who knows what they had done in the back! It was time to good but was not easy to make him understand we need to get the hell out and I didn't want to get to the point of dragging him out! The entire visit cost $65 plus the tips, in two separate bills, as there's yet no tax but the tips was high! I think he paid 15% on the first and 30% on the second! So the total charge was $79.7 which was too much! I could each for two whole week with that amount! 

Now we're in the car and ready to go and I have to rush to the Safeway pharmacy in downtown to get my medicine and he says he wants to get a bottle of wine! We go back in and the girl says their wine costs $30 and convince us to buy one from a liquor store. We get the hell out, and I drive to the pharmacy. Luckily the pharmacy is open and I get the medicine. The funny thing is the pills are for my gout and the only reason I could drink those two tall glasses of beer is they serve a bottle of water with that! The doctor has told me as long as I drink two glasses of water after ever glass of beer, I can drink that. This, obviously is to dilute the alcoholic beverage. I survived that because I do not drink regularly or I would not have been able to sleep throughout the night! 

I drove him to a Co-op liquor store on our way back to his place and he got two bottles of booze and we finished our night. 

(Photo: The brewery has a very nice atmosphere. You can see the bottles of water and cans of beer in the cooler. I blurred the face of the staff in case they want to play games! This was shortly before we left so most of the customer's had already left but there were still a few, behind us and one couple in the picture, of course)

Near Misses in Japan and Canada

When I was in Arashiyama, a neighbourhood or suburb of Kyoto, just for a short while, I went to what it is known as Bamboo Forest, which in fact is, I would like to call it flystrip! It's a pathway of nearly 250 meters, perhaps, a little more than 800 feet where bamboo is grown, naturally, at both sides, alongside other plants. Most of the area is private property, houses and temples and you obviously cannot trespass, and they even have put signs in broken English to warn people. No one really jumps over the fence as it's quite high and the bush is thick. I was there one early morning, and a few flies(!) were there too! I took a few pictures and carried on. It is a very beautiful and quiet path, but I was not prepared to go to the summit of Mt. Ogura, which the path takes you to, but I went up a little bit. It was hot and humid, and my shirt was stuck to my chest. I could see the whole town from there, despite the fog. I took a few more pictures and head back down. By the time I was down, the path was crowded. I passed everyone and headed back to the hotel. 

A tribute to the departed. That is how it is shown in Japan. This was at the side of the path

There, the lady, at Hotel Sagano, was waiting for me and handed me a small pack of a few sandwiches! I remembered that I had read that it was part of the service, but I pretended that I did not know and asked her how much I should have paid. She said that it was included in the cost of the hotel. We have a proverb in the old country which goes " When you're hungry, you eat sand and rocks"! I was so hungry that I devoured the sandwiches, although I doubted that they were made in a hygiene-concerned facility or anything like that, but they tasted very good! I took a shower and then later that night I went for a walk. 

When I came back to Canada, I felt a sharp pain in my chest area, left side, both front and back but only when I moved. I quickly became worried: I damaged my heart! But how? I didn't do heavy exercises! I didn't do heavy lifting, and my sleep generally was good during the trip. The only explanation for that was that there were two factors involved:

1) I caught a cold when I was coming down the trail all sweaty.

2) My body was weakened tremendosuly due to lack of nutritious food and enough water. 

What else it could've been? So, I made an appointment with a family physician, and he told me that he did not believe it was my heart. He thought it was a muscle and told me to continue my joggings and come back if I feel anything. I went for jogging yesterday and not a thing. I'm not saying that the doctors cannot have a wrong biognosis, but I feel better and I'm going for a run again today. That was danger number one! 

I usually have the radio or the CD player on (I know both sounds very old! That's because I drive a very old vehicle) when I'm driving. I, at times, listen to the news on CBC 1, although most of the time is nonsense! And I get some good songs on different channels from time to time. 

With that said, I was driving home last week, with the music on and up, while I heard a bang! At first, I thought someone just hit me, but it was a quite road! So, I pulled over to see what it was but not right away as I didn't want to, obviously, block the road. I dismounted and there was a line on my rear door! Kind of like a long scrape but not too deep! No vehicle was around! I don't know if I had misheard something, and it was way before that point or what? I'm happy now that there was nothing significant or it would've affected my insurance, especially now that I'm trying to buy a new vehicle. That was danger number two!

Do I deserve a celebration?!

(Photo, top: A sign which points at the trail to Mt. Ogura. I, obviously, found out later. I didn't summit but it certainly is part of my second trip in next year, or perhaps a higher pick in the area)

Out after 10 Years (18): The Return to Narita

I had one night left before flying back to Canada and I was nearly 1200 Km (~750 miles) away from the airport! The only good thing is that I had already purchased all my tickets from Nagasaki to Narita International Airport. My trip from Nagasaki Station to Shinagawa Station was very smooth. That was where it turned out to be a disaster! I rushed and got into the wrong train and instead of going to Narita directly, I ended up in Tokyo Station and had to get into a very crowded train! It was so congested for a few stations that I really felt embarrassed being onboard with three bags! I was lucky that the train almost emptied in the last few stations. I eventually reached Terminal 1 of the airport after nearly 75 minutes! the reason was missing a direct ride by Shinkansen! Trouble was not over in Terminal 1. I still needed to know how to get to the hotel that I had booked. I knew that the hotel provides a shuttle bus but where the hell is the station?! The information booth had a note indicating that I can have a video chat with the attendant! I think she was working from home as the airport would not be considered a safe place(!) or perhaps she lived too far away! Nevertheless what she said was not helpful because I barely understood her! I then decided to follow the map until I reached another information booth with a guy attending it and he told me where the damn bus would pick up the passengers. 
The bus was on time and the trip and checking were all great but the hotel itself was a bit of let down. I was given a 20% discount coupon for tomorrow's breakfast. I think the breakfast something in the vicinity of ¥2500(!) (which equals to approximately CAN $24! but despite the fact that I didn't want to eat that as I knew it would not be something I usually eat, I went down just to see what they serve and I realized that they had a ¥3000 buffet or something like that! This kind of trick, I had never seen anywhere in Japan. The people and businesses are all straightforward, polite and nice. I was a little surprised but didn't bother me as I simply ignore that! The checkout time for the hotel was 11:00 while my flight had been scheduled for 16:45. I think it was another plan of the hotel but it's okay. I checked out around 10:50 and got on the same bus and went to the airport. I think Air Canada accepted the bags around 14:00 or some time after that so I was a little relaxed for about one and a half hour. I wanted to buy something but you know how airports usually are. I ended having something in an expensive cafe: Mediocre food but very expensive for what you pay. It was not even tasty as much as I expected but it's done and I don't have to do that any more! 

(Photo, top: Nagasaki Station is usually not a very crowded station compared to the other stations)

Out after 10 Years (15): Hiroshima

I head south after the one stay in Kyoto-Arashiyama area. I will go back to the area on my next trip for sure. My first destination was Hiroshima. This city is a destination for Western tourists for what happened to it in Aug. of 1945. An atomic bomb was dropped on the city in the 6th day of that month and detonated above the city. It turned the city to ashes, basically. I, as usual, had booked a hotel in the city and I have to write about this hotel a little bit because it was an interesting experience. This was a contact-less hotel! What it means is there was no receptionist. You are given a code, after you book and pay, first, of course and you use that to open the main entrance. Then you enter your information into a screen when you're in and then you use a code to get to your own room. The door then closes and automatically locks behind you!

The best thing you can do is going to a Japanese antic store and buy unique and nice stuff

It is a very nice room: Two beds, which one of them of course was used. A small kitchen with stove, utensils, refrigerator and other required items for cooking, a toilet and a separate bathroom. This is ideal for someone like me who does not eat outside and likes to cook but I didn't get the chance to use it. If you're going to the city then Hotel CLS-SS could be where you rest. This for another reason was my favorite: There's no lobby or bar so you don't see the drunkard and annoying asshole you always see around and inside the hotel handing out! I must add that it was where the stupid taxi driver missed first when he picked me up! So, please avoid taxi in Japan, anywhere, as much as you can and it's not for the cost. It's for not understanding English! Leave the Japan's taxis for the Japanese!

Hiroshima is a very green and beautiful city like everywhere else I have been to in the country

My main focus in Hiroshima was whatever is on display regarding the bombing as well as the temple but the actual temple was vaporized after the bombing! So there was some substitute building! The transportation is done by Tram and for that I was not very comfortable. I went to a major electronic store, which I don't remember the name and bought a DVD set of Kurosawa films! When I asked the fellas whether they had any more of the director the answer was negative! It was mostly raining during those day and it was not very pleasant. People who visit Hiroshima also go to the harbor but I didn't! I just walk around a little bit and took pictures. That was where I saw Hiroshima Expressway and was stunned. The road is located nearly 20 meters above the ground. I think Hiroshima is the city that I would not go back to. It just doesn't have enough for me to make another trip but certainly worth visiting for at least 3 days, once.

(Photo, top: Some victims' ashes are kept here in the city)

Out after 10 Years (8): Meiji Jingu

Emperor Meiji is credited for modernizing Japan. He imported western culture and technology and kept Japanese culture, preserved and valued. He is admired a lot in Japan and although he died in the old Japanese capital, Kyoto, there's a big shrine in Tokyo for him: It's called Meiji Jingu and is located in the western part of Tokyo in Shibuya. Tokyo is divided into 33 boroughs. This place is a big forest in the heart of the city, so dense that if someone took you there blindfolded and then took it off, you wouldn't believe you still were in a very populated city. 

Emperor Meiji in his younger age in Western attire. He also grew beard as was not and still is not customary in Japan.  

The reality is that this dense forest did not exist at the time the shrine was planned to be build. This is the volunteer work of many admirers of the emperor. This shrine, like many sacred places in Japan has its rules and guarded by people. It also gets tourists, so you need to be there early. Photography of the main shrine is forbidden. It is protected and served by men and women in traditional Japanese custom. Japanese people go there to pay their respect. The ritual is long but the short version of that, which is expected from tourists, if they are willing to do that, is:

1) Deposit money in the provided box

2) Bow twice.

3) Clap your hands twice

4) Bow once deeply, again.

5) Say your prayer. 

I'm not religious but I'm respectful of all the religions and I get along with everyone from every religion and faith as long as they don't force me to join them or start an awkward and useless argument about how good their religion is or topics like that. I almost followed the rituals at Meiji Jingu but accidentally and unknowingly dropped three Quarters in the provided box! So, I don't know what the monk's reaction would be, when he sees that. Photography of the main shrine is forbidden as usual, but tourists take selfies and pictures of almost everywhere that they can. 

(Photo, top: One of the gates in Meiji Jungi. These gates are called Torii and are seen as an entrance gates into shrines and temples. Japanese, stop, bow and enter the gate from the sides, not in the middle. This is surprisingly a rare photo as many are not seen!)

Out after 10 Years (7): Paying Respect to Kurosawa and Mifune

Japanese movies, particularly Akira Kurosawa's, were amongst very few foreign movies were shown on TV when I was growing up in the old country. Films such Yujimbo, Red Beard and most notably Seven Samurai which was the inspiration to make The Magnificent Seven by John Sturges! Other foreign movies shown were WWII war movies where Slovak people of different former Eastern Bloc countries were fighting the Germans, at times some heavily altered and censored British and American movies. Going back to the subject, majority of Kurosawa movies which were shown are about old feudal Japan where people fought over territory, money and generally everything worth fighting for and hired Samurai warrior. Women do not have major roles in majority of the plots. There're some movies with women having role including Rashomon and Hidden Fortress but those movies were never shown because the authorities would have had to remove the majority of the scenes! Kurosawa had a long collaboration with Tashiro Mifune who had many first roles in his movies including all the above.

This week I decided to pay my respect to two of my all-time favorite artists Kurosawa and Mifune by visiting their graves. I visited their related cemeteries in two different days. Kurosawa is buried in a small cemetery in a very beautiful and small town called Kamakura in Kanagawa. 

It is quite surprising that the town has no mentioning of this great director! It's impossible to find someone's grave in Japan if you don't know Japanese and I only had a photo and as I said the cemetery is small, so I found it! It's probably only 15 minutes' walk from the train station and of course because no foreigner goes that way, people look at you strangely, although there was barely anyone on the street on that side of the town! The cemetery is surrounded by residential buildings and the background of the picture helped me to easily find the grave quickly. No picture, no flag, no banner, no nothing! Kurosawa is rested there 1998. He is buried like an ordinary man but he's no ordinary, this man, who is regarded as one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema!

Mifune's grave in another. He was born in China but of course he was a Japanese. This is the discussion I always have with people: Your birthplace does not tell you what you are. What you do and what you believe tell what you are.

I went to Kawasaki in another day, and this is surprisingly part of Kanagawa but all the way at the other side! getting there was not easy either. I mean going everywhere easy in Japan as long as you follow the train route but it's not always possible! To get there I went over Tama River and at the last station there is supposed to be a shuttle but to take you there but considering the trouble I had to go to make them understand where I was going, I scratched that and followed Google Maps in a rainy, humid and hot day! 

The cemetery that is known in Google Maps as 春秋苑(!) is less than 15 minutes from Ikuta station and is a huge cemetery and is built in multiple steps. There's also a funeral home adjacent to it but I didn't even think of asking anyone! The background again and the shape of the next grave, in this case, both help me to find the resting piece of Mifune but this time it took much longer, and it was raining. I almost was ready to leave as I always fear I might be late, even on a trip that you cannot be late for anything, but the next visit and I suddenly found it. I took a few pictures and headed back to the station. Thanks Kurosawa and Mifune for what you did nearly 60 years ago. You gave me lots of fun when I was a kid in a society that nothing else was available. I still have to watch every movie at least once again.

(Photo, top: Kurosawa's grave in Anyo-in Temple in Kamakura)

Out after 10 Years (5): The Imperial Palace

I always have avoided tours and, as far as I could, the places that tours take people. It's just not for me. I understand many people pay for that to make it easier for them and be comfortable. With that said, I thought I should visit the Imperial Palace. So I planned and was there way before the starting time, probably 45 minutes. The only reason one would want to see this palace is that it's free! Otherwise all the hassle would not worth it. No disrespect to the Japanese people, to the organizers and certainly not to the royal family!
When I reached there, only a handful of people were lined up and as I said after nearly 50 minutes eventually the organizers came and distributed a form to be filled out with the basic information of the applicants. The form basically represented the ticket after it was reviewed and approved. Then it was introduction and preparation in a few languages and we were all sitting like prisoners who listen to the warden in the first day of incarceration! The only good thing , both for the visitors and the organizer, or perhaps for the royal family was the availability of gifts. I bought a couple of small thing for Mom. Then people were divided to different groups based on their language and followed the lead. This, certainly was unnecessary because the tour is available in different languages in an App and people could simply download that and listen to it. The leads and groups are for keeping people from going to certain areas and disperse. You do not see much but a few buildings and trees and perhaps a couple of bridges but you know how people, especially Western tourists are! They were taking pictures even from the administrative building! 
I was very happy when the tour ended. I could eventually keep away from crowd. It would be up to you but don't expect much from this tour but saying to others that you have visited the Imperial Palace, when you go home. They don't know you saw nothing! I was exhausted after the tour. Standing makes me tired really fast. Do not plan much for after this tour. The best thing to is having a delicious meal in a nice, lovely and quiet place. I didn't! 

(Picture: This probably could be presented as one of the good pictures of the Royal Palace)

Out after 10 Years (4): Toyota Museum Fails to Impress

I planned to go to Toyota Automobile Museum since I though of traveling to Japan. Not many tourists go there because it's more than 03:30 travel while on one of the fastest trains in the world, for most of the trip: Shinkansen, reaching 320 Km/h (199 mph). Let me write a little about this train now: I have also been on ICE of Germany which travels as fast as 350 km/h (217 mph) but on much shorter trips. Shinkansen is as nice and even looks better and nicer inside and the people, without a doubt, are politer but that didn't ease the pain! I guess I was bored! I could've brought my laptop to watch a movie but I never thought of that. I guess I wanted to travel lightly.
I ride a local line from my hotel to a major station called Shinjuku and from there got on Shinkansen which I had already book a seat in there. I must say that the pass for the train cost a lot and if you don't travel that much, it'd be a waste. I paid ¥110,000 which is even more expensive because I looked for comfort. With that said, Shinkansen goes to Nagoya and passes alongside the Japan's south cost, partially, as the museum is there. The train travels the 345 Km (214 miles), distance in almost 02:00 hours and that includes a few short stops in between. It's pretty impressive. 

Shinkansen train leaving the station. The front aerodynamic shape is fantastic

The trip continues at Nagoya by taking a train line from start to end and then switching to another to reach the museum after only a few stops. The train system of Japan is amazing and I'm saying that as someone who has been to some major cities with train system such as Munich but Japan's is more complex and easier to get lost in it! I've seen Japanese who are walking with their phones, looking at the signs, changing their directions, you name it! 
It's only a 5 minutes walk from the station to the entrance and there're you're welcomed buy pretty, smiling, Japanese, tiny girls and you pay ¥1200 for admission which is really good but despite the cleanliness, organization and politeness of the staff, the museum failed to impress me. I also was a bit tired and I still am. So after visiting the gift shop where I found nothing to buy(!) but they have good things, decided to head back. The only problem was because I had a bad timing for my return ticket, I had to change the time by going to a JR office. There was no charge. I don't want to say not to go to the museum. It's all up to you. My main problem is the majority of vehicle on display were not Japanese or Toyota brand That is what you think you would see but maybe I have high expectations. It's not that bad. 

(Photo, top: The major early Toyota model was manufactured based on American car's design and appearance)

Out after 10 Years (2): Roaming around Tokyo

The second day of the trip was not so good but there were some progresses. It's 06:05 here and I returned to the hotel last night around 04:30 as I was so tired. The nigh before the flight I didn't have a good sleep and then this big time zone difference ha affected me significantly. I tried to find a tourist office to ask a few questions and also familiarize myself with the area but that led to hours of walking cluelessly! I think I wasted some 2 hours! Found no office of such! The Google Maps on the phone was not helpful or I don't know how to set it up on the phone.
Then after a short rest in the hotel, I headed to the city center where Tokyo Station is located. Downtown Tokyo, at least the limited area that I visited is similar to any Western main city: Men and women in professional attire, cabs, tall buildings, expensive shops, bars, restaurants and cafes, nice gardens, only enjoyed and maintained by Japanese people and a few foreigners. 
I then headed to Imperial Palace although I knew it was closed, just to see the area. Many businesses that tourist intend to visit are closed on Monday. So don't waste your time going there. Beside it would be somewhere very crowded as usually main tourist spots are, all, these days. The outside walls of Imperial Palace where the Emperor and his family lives are impressive. The capital was transferred from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869 and so did the royal family. I hope I can visit the palace before I leave Japan. 

Then I got on subways, for the first time, and headed to a shrine called Yasukuni-Jinja. Japan has lots of temples and shrine which are frequently visited by the Japanese to pay respect and pray and visitors just to see. This shrine which has a museum adjacent to it is open to visit to the public at no charge. I was too tired to go to the museum but the museum is about the people who sacrificed their lives for their country, probably some of the WWII who are greatly admired and respected in Japan. I might go there if I get a chance. After that I just headed back to the hotel, got something to eat and couldn't even sit at the table! 

The good thing is now I have a much better idea of how to use the Tokyo transit system. 

(Photo: Yasukuni Shrine's side door. That is why there is no person in front of it and make it a good picture! Japanese slowly approach the main gate, claps their hands, bow and pray and then when leaving pay their respect as well. There are a few guard in the area but none are armed as far as I remember. I think there would be no need for that. Westerners believe this place holds and admire the Japanese who committed war crime. I believe the Westerners always forget what they do or pretend what they have done and blame others. If this shrine promotes war crime then every Vietnam War memorial and American cemetery for the military does the same! Right?)

More on Palm Springs

I did not have much time to spend in Palm Springs despite the fact that I missed my main planned hike because of the storm but looked around a bit and was really impressed by its beauty. Big beautiful houses surrounded by flowers and tropical threes so dense that you could not even see the building! I always thought that southern California is very dry and in fact it is but I was there in the wet season! 

However, similar to other rich cities, it cannot survive without the poor. There are rows of rundown townhouse close to the airport where, of course, the low-income earners live. It doesn't necessarily look horribly ugly but you can tell, easily by a glimpse. Obviously where the poor shops is different from the healthy and rich does! Dollarama and Wal-Mart, both, apparently, linger at a corner of the town and other businesses are available for people who don't look at their receipt once it's handed to them. Some even refuse to get it! I have written about the a few of the supermarkets in the town as food and dwelling are the most basic. 

The front of the hotel 

I sometimes get tired of the cold here and I would like to add, emphatically, that I even think of moving somewhere to the south of the border. It's the 20th day of April and it's freaking cold and when I say cold, I mean uncomfortable cold! The freaking QE II was frozen at parts and I not only saw a few wrecked trucks and other vehicles, but also was about to have a nice roll over near my destination, the day before! I was not able to the photos of the road but what happened was that the right lane had two frozen straight lines parallel to each other, where your vehicles tires stand and you drive on those ice sheets(!), for a few short kilometers, near Penhold, I think l was, I lost the control for a second and was thrown to left lane forcefully! My heartbeat went up so fast but I was able to control the vehicle in the last minute! I only was lucky that there was no vehicle trying to pass me or I would have had hit them and perhaps was in a hospital now, if not dead! 

So with that said, you see why I would like to move so deep to rid of this 7-month long winter, after 20 years I have been living here! It mostly got into me now that I drive on QE II regularly now. I think if I move somewhere close to work, that desire diminishes, automatically! 

You can find something acceptable in Palm Springs for nearly US $300,000. If someone lives in that town and installs solar panels for his Tesla (That's the EV I would buy!), they could get a job anywhere in the state and they will be alright. I think if I plan for the hike of Mt. San Jacinto again, I will go to Palm Springs and will stay there but not in Renaissance Hotel, it's just so expensive for me! It cost me more than CAN $800 for two nights and I don't even know if breakfast was included but I don't thinks it was. I was comfortable there. No noise and no crooks but the bed and the pillow were awful and uncomfortable for me, at least. I like a hard pillow and mattress not the one that you sink into it! The hotel is beautiful but failed to impress me. One of my plans was to see one of the date farms but I cancel that before going. I bought a small box of date though for a reasonable price of US $4.99 and it says it's organic. Southern California has a lot to offer but also has horrible stories about homelessness but I will stay away from those places for sure. 

(Photo, top: I don't think Gucci's owner lives in Palm Springs but I don't have an explanation why it's name and logo is seen on the wall of this house! Maybe a vacation home?)

Palm Springs Air Museum: A True Gem

The year 2023 was finished with only one hike and that was a failed attempt! So, I decided to make 2024 a productive year and for that I planned for my first hike in southern California, Mt. San Jacinto near the town of Palm Spring. I contacted Alphonse who lives a little over 2 hours from the town and his answer was that he couldn't join because it was Easter! He added that he had invited his relatives over! What an asshole! I don't know why I still hang out with this rat filth! Every time we have a hiking plan he either chickens out or screws it up on the trail! I know why I still hang out with him! First of all he's a good company, although not a good hiker. Secondly I feel bad that I haven't paid my dues. I owe his a fare amount of money.

With that said, I flew to Palm Spring International Airport in a cold and snowy Alberta morning but when I reached there it was nice and sunny. I got my rental, a Toyota Tacoma and the first thing I did, as I had planned was checking into Palm Spring Air Museum. Now here is the thing you need to know: Not many people visit museums these days, especially if they're going to a sunny and nice town in southern California and not many people would like to work in museums. So, a place like that is heavily dependent on volunteers and the elderly. 

I walked in and there were two old men at the counter, at least 70 years old! One of them had tubes coming out of his nose, meaning he was probably using an Oxygen tank! I have nothing against the gentlemen and I'm not teasing them or anything but why a nation cannot be able to preserve their history by maintaining a museum? The admission is $23 which was completely fine by me but when I handed the money to him, he missed one of the Dollar bills! So I had to gave it grab it from the counter and handed it to him! 

The one who greeted me, handed me a brochure and told me how to navigate through the museum was an old lady and she could not be less than 70 as well!

This F-117 is known as Black Devil is on display in Palm Spring Air Museum. I was afraid to touch it but when I did I realized that it has a foamy coat on the top of the actual metal structure, perhaps to help it to avoid radars. It was difficult to get a good shot due to both the length of the airplane and crowd but I had a few good ones, including this. I had a short discussion with the gentleman attendant there, possibly a volunteer, in the hanger and at the end he told me to get a panorama! And I did and it turned out great! It would not have happened, had he not told me. The shot is not seen here, of course but thank you sir for your help!

The museum has different section which is divided based on different timeframes that there was a conflict such a Vietnam War and then there's a large open space that a number of airplanes and helicopters are displayed and that's how you make a museum! You gather all of old and out-of-service airplanes in one location and there you go! You have a museum! The only thing left is to gather a few small things and you're complete! But the museum has more than that and it will be an experience of life-time. For me seeing MiG 21, A6, F-14 and other fighter planes and alike and reading about them was a great experience.

But the highlight of the day was seeing an F-117 on display, one of the only 64 that has ever built! The story of F-117 is a long one but there're a few interesting segments here:

1) The F-117 design and test program started as early as 1980's. Many tests took place in town of Tonopa where I visited in late 2022 and had another failed attempt! I will go back there to hit the summit. Nevertheless the plane was mainly known during the Operation Iraqi Freedom or Desert Storm, the one that the bastard Saddam called Westerns in Arabian Desert! 

2) Despite being considered Stealth, one F-117 was shot down during the Yugoslav War. The story of that is very interesting and too long to be said here. 

3) The plane is retired now and is only used for training purposes!

(Photo, top: A MiG 21, one of the earlier developments of Mikuyan-Gurovish Soviet/Russian aircraft manufacturer on display in the open space of Palm Spring Air Museum. This most likely has brought back to the US from Vietnam)

The Week-long Course

Just came back home after a miserable week in a hotel, near a training center. The course was not bad and learnt plenty but the living condition was awful, except for a ting bit. Stayed in the same hotel and despite the fact that it's generally quite and clean, the damn mattress was killing me! The first first four days had difficulty sleeping which certainly affected my learning abilities. Adding to that is the garbage food all around. Fortunately for a few times I managed to find a nearby Safeway and get fruits and better food. Breakfast was mostly eliminated, completely. We had a couple of day going to the lab and that was were I learnt a lot and for it, I appreciate the institute. The instructor this time was a young East Asian fella who was very nice, polite, patient and helpful. Although he was not as knowledgeable as it is expected but I believe he did his best. BigHead felt less stressful and showed more confidence and I pulled my revenge on him but he didn't seem to be bothered a lot! He said that he had used his car service which is as convenient as I would have picked him up! On the way back he did the same thing and I went for a bit of shopping after telling him I was going to Edmonton! 
This class also had much brighter students. The majority of them had long overseas experience and education in the subject and they were there just to be re-certified. My employer does not want us to be certified nationally. This course was just learning purposes and being able to be certified internally so we can do the tests. However I do not know who would sign the reports because we would technically be allowed to do that.

We also tried to food businesses in the nearby neighbourhoods for the first time and the experiences were not so great: Edo Japan, which has been the worst fast-food joint that I've ever set foot on, at the same level of McDonald's and Fat Burger which is not as bad but still full of trans fats, sugar and all other harmful substances for your body. The funny thing is the second fast-food joint asks you to tip the staff simply because they walk 7 steps to put a small plate of food on your table! You can refer to the full review of my experiences with these two joints in Google Maps, near the training center. 

Another good part of the trip, in addition to what I learnt and I would like to stress that it was a good learning experience, was the ability to shop near YEG. There're lots of nice stores and it was very convenient for me to by what I wanted on my way back home. It's recommended to see the place called Premium Outlet Collection when you're in the region. 

(Photo: A Fat Burger meal. It's a Mushroom hamburger, I think and Sweet Potato Fries with an awful dip! I think I added a shake, which did not taste anything but sugar and the total cost was nearly $27 and some change, approximately! Adding tip! And taxes, of course!)

Confluence Park

Sometimes it doesn't matter how long you live in an area, it seems there're still places that you haven't seen, even for me who always is looking for new places to discover. I try to avoid the places that I've been, as much as I can but it's not always possible and cost more too! For example for jogging that I'be been doing it for the past 3 months or so, it's boring to do the usual neighbourhood. I, at times go to Nose Hill Park and I even have done my jogging in Downtown pathways! 
Today I decided to go where to this green area that has passed by few times. I checked the map and when I was there, the signed said: Confluence Park. I had never been to this place! I took the pathway and despite the drought the park was green. But what was greener was the adjacent golf course which was busy. The park's pathway which is part of Nose Creek Pathway goes up and you have a nice view of the course. Despite the warmth, it was not a bad walk and then I turned the other way and walk towards east which basically gets you close to Deerfoot Tr. I certainly didn't want to hear the traffic noise, besides there seem to be a bunch of people there, so there were good reasons to avoid there! (Hell is other people!). I ran the way back and continued a little bit to complete my 21 minutes. It'd be new jogging spot at least once a week until I get a job because I know it'd not be very easy to continue exercises but I do it now that I have the chance.

(Photo: I took a panoramic by my phone. I think it looks nice. There was an eagle circling above when first I enter the park and then sat in a tree in the center of this photo, which I don't think it can be seen)

A Jewel in Alberta

One of a very few smart decisions made in by City of Calgary is establishing Nose Hill Park in the northwestern part of the city. The fact that they were able to keep this part of the city away from the filthy palms of the nasty, stinking, greedy builders, is a bless. Builders or as they are stupidly called " Developers " here in North America (and everywhere else for that matter!) are one of nastiest, filthiest greedy animals in the entire universe. They grab  a bunch of guys, buy cheap material in bulk, steal lands and lots, with the help from municipalities and build, mostly, cheap, disgusting homes out of wood and make millions and millions of dollars every year. Their hands, as I just said, has been cut off that beautiful part of the city. I've been going to Nose Hill since 2003! Not frequently, especially now that I live outside the city, but I always enjoyed it.
I went there for a little walk yesterday around 11:00 and fortunately it was not crowded. I'm walking on a trail and as usual I'm looking for any photo-op although I only have my phone on me and all of a sudden I see two beautiful deer with big antlers staring at me! I had my phone in my hand, brought it up and tried not to spook them. I got a few shots and then left quietly, made sure I don't disturb their peace but I know the shot would have been amazing, had I have my camera on me. It was a beautiful day and surprisingly a bit cold. It was only 14 ℃ (~ 57 ℉) but there were a few people around. I regretted that I had not come earlier because after a few minutes I felt that I really needed to go! I left all the beauty behind and went back home before something catastrophic happens! 

(Photo: I think I should have at least one more walk with my camera before winter hits. Perhaps I'm lucky to catch these two or anything worth taking picture, once again)

Visiting Las Vegas (3)

Las Vegas, and generally the State of Nevada, is not just about gambling and other so-called adult entertainment. Not that there's anything wrong with them. You can enjoy every other thing that you can imagine. That's why I'm planning to go again and I'm neither a gambler nor a smoker! These two seem to be the things that people enjoy the most in Las Vegas and probably the rest of Nevada. Not to mention alcohol and prostitution, of course. 

One of the interesting places that we ran is this military-motivated(!) place called Battlefield Vegas. I don't want to get to the whole argument of gun control and mass shooting that the US has been facing for years but Americans loved this place because there's a shooting range, store and outdoor display. make sure you check this place out, even if you're not a shooting fella! They have nice stuff, and their outdoor display is interesting too. 

Two of many military vehicles on display in Battlefield Vegas

I have been wanting to buy a nice M-65 jacket for years and haven't been able too. These guys didn't have it and told me to check a surplus store in the city. We didn't have time for that.

Photography is another hobby that if someone is into it, they could find lots and lots of places to take photograph. There is everything from nature and architecture to people and food! Not to mention great restaurants. We unfortunately didn't have time to check many restaurants, rather than Gordon Ramsey's Pub & Grill and Urth Caffee but it will certainly be in my next trip's list. In fact, I would like to make this list for my next trip, which I hope I can make it again next year, although it might seem excessive:

1) Go to Gordon Ramsey's Hell's Kitchen. Booking might be needed.

2) Watch a Golden Knights game. This should be interesting as the arena is fairly new. So is the team! 

3) Go up to the tower and probably have a coffee or a meal there. I think early morning and night will both be good times.

4) Have one or two hikes and photography in nearby regions. 

5) See one of the shows.

6) Go to Frenchman Mountain.

7) Go to Valley of Fire State Park.

It shall take as low as $500 out of your account only! Add to that the cost of flight, hotel, transportation and gifts you'd buy for your loved ones! 

(Photo, top: This interesting light rail transit system connects major hotels, but we didn't ride it)

Visiting Las Vegas (2)

This is a continuation from the previous post: We then spent a little time to look around, but we needed to get our stuff out as we had planned to stay only for one night. I'm not a gambler. So there was no stopping at any tables or machines, but Alphonse was being tempted and played a couple of times. The next challenge of ours (the first one was finding a good breakfast place!) was to get the damn rental car which Alphonse had booked because he didn't want to drive his fancy SUV on a mountain road! The fact that he later denied it! We had to get the damn car and then drive to where Alphonse had parked his car, transfer the personal belonging to the rental, park Alphonse's at a free(!) parking spot and drive the rental. By the time we did that and had our lunch it was almost 17:00, two hours after the planned time to head out of the city and drive to the town of Tonopah! I saw two Gordon Ramsey places quite close to each other and they both were in or within the vicinity of the Caesars Palace. One of the reasons that I preferred to have our breakfast outside the hotel or outside any gambling area, for that matter, is that smoking is allowed in all these places, and you can feel the smell and see the smoke inside! For lunch we simply ignored this fact and when I approached Gordon Ramsey Pub and Grill, I was told we had to wait half an hour. We didn't mind. Alphonse used this opportunity(!) and played one of the machines. 

You see lots of nice and luxary cars in Las Vegas, many from California as it's close and many people come for entertainment. This electric BMW caught our eyes. Alphonse liked it a lot although he drives an almost Porshe SUV

An investment of $20 gave him $0.56(!) he didn't even bother to go to the cashier and handed it to a guy who was sitting close to us!We then went to Gordon Ramsey's Pub and Gril as our time had come up. The first impression was nothing special: Regular Western Bar, ill lit, to save money on electricity bills and probably make it romantic(!) at the same time. The service was prompt though. Menus were brought over quickly, and the servers were pleasant. The prices were and still are(!), Gordon Ramsey's prices! I think we both ordered, the least expensive or the second least expensive item on the menu! I had Fish & Chips and Alphonse had the Chicken Tikka Masala. Both the meals came after not much of waiting and they look and tasted almost fresh. My meal was very filling and that was mainly because of the amount of potato I had! The only problem with the meal was its Green Pee Puree which lacked any seasoning! Gorson Ramsey fans who watch his shows know how many times he says SEASON & TASTE, SEASON & TATSE. 

My Fish & Chips dish at Gordon Ramsey Pub and Grill. Now I regret that we did not try Hell's Kitchen! It has already been added to my list

This was forgotten for this part of the meal. Then we decided to have Apple Pie and coffee for our desert and this time it took a bit longer than what we expected. When the pie came, I didn't notice that they were not actually pies! Alphones actually pointed at that, and I ignored it because were at Gordon Ramsey's! It was warm and delicious with a scoop of ice cream on the top! It definitely was not the Apple Pie we had ordered(!) but silly me already had started and it was too late to ask to take the Puddings back! After the disappointing hike to Boundary Peak, which in fact was not a hike, was only a drive up a very narrow mountain road, we head back to Las Vegas and there were a few hours to spend. We decided to go to Strat which is the tower, and we went but because the net says $24 and they wanted to charge us $36, we didn't! While it sounds cheap, it was mainly Alphonse who seemed disgusted by these cheaters who advertise something and charge something else! I'm aware that it is a selling technique. People go all the way to the place (restaurant, supermarket, etc.) and see the actual price is way higher than what they had read. Mostly go ahead. Alphonse though despite having a steady and secure job, which he said he would retire there, having a second part-time job which makes him a good chunk every month and his wife working, still is very careful with what he spends on! We then went back to Luxor, the hotel-casino which has been designed based on the Egyptian Pyramids and Sphinx. The design inside and outside is not bad, but we wanted first to eat something and that turned to a disaster! We looked around and we were not searching for a whole meal, we were just looking for something light and found a few places on the second floor including a pizza place and that was a bad mistake! The piece of shit was asking $9 for a slice! Alphonse got something else, a little cheaper from the assholes and I ended up in the nearby Starbucks! I don't mind spending money on good food but that much for a slice of shitty pizza? No way! I was given a ride to LAS airport after that. I'm not a shopping maniac but I found some of the items in the airport as much or even better than the city.

(Photo, top: Trump Hotel in Las Vegas is off the boulevard but must be nice to stay in. Expensive though. Maybe I try the next time I'm in Las Vegas!)

Visiting Las Vegas (1)

My plan was to change my flight to sometime earlier but when I checked the website, there was nothing available. Living less than 15 minutes from YYC (you to judge me however you want!) I relaxed in the afternoon and around 17:00 I decided to head out. Bad mistake! There was an incident on the highway, and I first panicked! Then I said to myself that even if I reached there 45 freaking minutes from the flight, I'd be fine. The congestion was cleared after nearly 10 minutes, and I was at the airport shortly after that. That, then, I should say, was the easiest entry to the US for me! There was only one lady at CBP counter, and I spent there as much as 10 seconds! 

The flight was alright. I guess what the airliners, and specifically WestJet, do is they make the flight comfortable to Las Vegas to encourage people to go there more often! I remember my flight to Houston last year and I didn't have the leg room that I had on my flight to Las Vegas! And it was just not this year. It also was the last time I was there, 2019. 

Alphonse picked me up at LAS shortly after I had landed, and I have to mention that my phone died immediately after the plane touched down! The telephone didn't die. It was the damn service, which there's no point to discuss it here. I got connected to the airports Wi-Fi and called Alphonse! Finding him took only 10 minutes and we drove to Conrad Hilton where he had booked our room. 

I quickly left my items inside and went out to have a look around while we had time. 

I don't remember how much they charged at Urth Caffe for this piece of cake but that was not bad. I only regret that I forgot to eat the flower, I think! 

I had thought the weather be kind of warm, but I had closed my eyes to one fact: We were in the middle of the desert. The good thing is I had my jacket on. We were looking for a good place to eat but to our surprise every good restaurant, which I had read their review, was closed! McDonald's, Deney's and so-called Mexican place were open around the hotel. We tried, the last two! Or perhaps it's correct to say that we tried Deney's, and I tried Tacos El Gordo, a cheap and subpar place! Cheap not in terms of price but the value of what you pay for! The place was full of mostly Latinos and I'm sure that there were happy. I just wanted to see how the food tastes. Alphonse was smart and skipped it! I regretted that later! 

My first plan the next morning was to avoid the mistake we had made the night before. Alphonse wanted to eat in one of the restaurants of the hotel but I asked one of the hotel's staff and she was nice enough to lead us to Urth Caffe! It was a busy place but worth waiting a few minutes. I've gotta say it's a very nice cafe and if you're late forget about having a comfortable table! No wonder why there's no sign outside the building! These guys need no sign and no advertisement. Their service speaks for itself and once you're there, you can't go for something lower than that. I asked for refill as their coffee is really good and they filled it for me twice! 

(Photo: Conrad Hilton on Las Vegas Boulevard when I and Alphonse spent a night, not together[!] of course. I'm not gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Nice Hotel)