Thursday, February 28, 2008

27...30...3...?

I'm back! ...not that I was gone for all that long, but still!

I was going to blog during my trip, but the combination of eating, meeting up with people, and cold-ness...well, you know the same old story. A week was hardly enough, so I really had no time blogging whilst I was there!

Anyways, the first thing that hit was the change in temperature. It was expected but, it was much more drastic than I had imagined. As the title suggests:

27 degrees. The temperature in Melbourne when I left. It had been rather cold-ish (at least for Melbourne at this time of year) the past few days, so mother nature of Melbourne was giving me a nice warm send off, with the return of the uncompromising sun glare.

30 degrees. It was slightly hotter when I landed in Singapore. The bad thing is that it stayed that temperature (or there abouts) for most of the night and following day. It was that kind of mucky, humid weather. You just start sweating, standing there.

3 degrees?! Bloody hell! As soon as I landed, on went a sweater, a big wintry jacket, beanie and scarf. It was literally like that scene from "Cool Runnings". It was just cold, the wind chill was nasty! It cut through your clothes and to your bones!

So there I was traveling from a place where:
if you wore thongs, you'd get sunburned (and I have my foot to prove that!) to a place where,
if you wore thongs, you'd sweat like you've been working out to a place where,
if you wore thongs, you'd get frostbite and your toes would fall off!

Really made me appreciate how BIG, our small world really is...

peace,
Ippei.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Tattoo me up!

ah, the consequences of sleeping all day...now it's almost 3am and you're in your PJs and still wide awake, blogging away...


Tattoos.


They have always been something I was interested in, but for whatever reason (be it time, guts or money) I never got around to getting one. Well, I guess it's time to change that now. After all, it is the year of the rat! (I know that has nothing to do with anything, but give me a break. lol)


Now, I've gotten the okay from pops. Ma, I'm sure wouldn't mind but her being in Japan probably helps things. Other than that, it's just me I have to get okay from and hell, I think I've waited long enough.


Grandparents are another story though. I think they would absolutely freak! (I've probably mentioned this before somewhere, but they are traditionalist Japanese.) So my plan now is to get it after I return from my short trip to Japan in a week's time. Then at least they won't know about it for another while. :P


Another problem is that they may not let me into the hot springs (known as the Onsen) in Japan. They tend to ban people with tattoos. But I've been told that that is because in Japan, people with tattoos are a part of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Apparently no body gets them as a fashion statement. So it'll be interesting to see how they treat me after I return with one. And NO, I don't look like a Yakuza! lol. :P


As for where on my body, I've narrowed that down too. I'm thinking two at the moment. Well, I'll start with one and see how I feel/how much it costs/how much it hurts, before getting another.


One on my right shoulder/back. Essentially on my shoulder blade. The second just on my left upper arm. The traditional place.


As for the design...well, that's where I'm stuck at the moment.


My dad, the joker that he is, suggested that for my shoulder, I get his label (if you've ever been to dad's restaurant, you'll know what I'm talking about. If not, it's essentially a caraicture of him with the words "dontac" under it) done.


I asked him, "Why?"


And he replies, "Well, I'll always be watching over you..."

Which I thought was kinda sweet. Then he says, "...and eventually I'll become a burden and be a load on your shoulders!"


Funny man, my pops. LOL.


I was thinking about getting a guardian angel/dragon/phoenix type design there anyway. I came across this, which I thought didn't look too bad...

But as for the second on my left upper arm...I've got no idea at the moment. I'll keep searching I suppose. I'm open to any suggestions too. lol. (But please, no Chinese/Japanese charaters.) Something small and meaningful...well, it doesn't have to be tiny but definitely meaningful!

I've already acquired a location to have the tattoos done (friends and facebook are extremely useful in these situations). And as I mentioned, as soon as I return from my trip, I'll go about getting it done.

I'll post up pictures when I do.

Peace,

Ippei.