Wednesday February 15, 2012

zaichik's past comments

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    zaichik

    I was ready to be derisive about this article, but was quite charmed by it. I wouldn't try hitching unless I was desperate (the one time I've hitched was in NZ, when our car broke down in an area with no mobile phone reception and Mr Zaichik and I got a lift back to the nearest town so we could call a tow truck), but I'm quite pleasantly surprised to hear that it is possible to hitchhike in Japan....

    Posted in: Want to see the real Japan? Try hitchhiking

  • 0

    zaichik

    Is this alcoholic ginger beer?

    Posted in: Anna Tsuchiya

  • 0

    zaichik

    I'm not keen on chocolate-scented things - chocolate is fine, but bath products should smell of fruit or flowers or perfume.

    Would recommend Lush products (there are outlets in Tokyo) - beautiful fragrances, minimal packaging and not tested on animals.

    Posted in: Chocolate bath fizz

  • 0

    zaichik

    But no great Japanese beers.

    Personally, I'd be more inclined towards the view that there are no great mass-produced Japanese beers (while remaining fond of Kirin and Yebisu). I do think there are some damn fine ji-biiru (had some wonderful local brew at Tainai in Niigata Prefecture).

    Posted in: Beer has been walloped by cheaper and perceivably healthier alcohol drinks.

  • 0

    zaichik

    I remember trying Ask Jeeves years ago, but it was never as good as Yahoo.

    The thing is, why would anyone choose Ask in preference over Google or Yahoo?

    Posted in: Ask.com hopes to make search faster, more relevant

  • 0

    zaichik

    9 years in Niigata and I had no idea there were bears there. Probably because I never went to raid their larder :-) I always said the countryside was dangerous....

    Jose, whereabouts in Niigata are you?

    Posted in: Two people attacked by bear in Niigata

  • 0

    zaichik

    Wow, that's the second article about it in JT in the space of 6 weeks.

    Posted in: Pocket proficiency

  • 0

    zaichik

    yeah, and be closed down after 3 years. guaranteed.

    C/f failed attempts by Boots to establish a presence in Tokyo....

    Posted in: New York drugstore Kiehl's to open in Isetan

  • 0

    zaichik

    You've been to an Yngwie concert in Niigata then, Lipscombe? :-)

    Posted in: Avril Lavigne starts Japan tour in Hamamatsu

  • 0

    zaichik

    I adore Kyoto - have visited countless times and would love to spend more time there. I didn't enjoy the Imperial Palace tour, though - the guide had DREADFUL English and made what should have been a fascinating tour into a tedious chore.

    Posted in: Escape the tourist mobs among Kyoto's hidden palaces

  • 0

    zaichik

    A Japanese friend of mine in Auckland has just gone back to Japan to have her Lasik done there because it's cheaper than here, even with the plane fare home.

    If I was going to do it, I'd definitely head for Japan for the procedure - one of the rare occasions where medical expenses in Japan are cheaper than NZ!

    Posted in: Palin's glasses give boost to Japanese company's sales

  • 0

    zaichik

    Niigata?! Good grief!

    Apparently she's playing the convention centre where my old office is. That's quite a coup for Niigata (I'm not a fan of Avril myself, but she's unquestionably a big name). I think the last Western artist of any renown to play Niigata was Yngwie Malmsteen (saw him twice - not a bad was to spend an evening), and before that, Radiohead (the year before I went to Niigata).

    Posted in: Avril Lavigne starts Japan tour in Hamamatsu

  • 0

    zaichik

    I've heard the argument from Japanese people that the reason that they don't have public bins on the beach is to stop people dumping their household rubbish in them.

    Posted in: Volunteers clean up Hokkaido beach

  • 0

    zaichik

    And I thank their poor English for putting food on my table.

    Amen to that, my friend.

    Met this guy yesterday.

    And you didn't think to do your translator friends among the JT readership a favour by assassinating him due to the threat he poses to their livelihoods? :-)

    Posted in: The English of most would-be translators is awfully poor. Few Japanese can actually read English accurately.

  • 0

    zaichik

    zaichik - she's a tarento... skills are optional and usually superfluous.

    Silly of me to forget - I've evidently been out of Japan too long.

    Posted in: Marie spreads a bit of cheer

  • 0

    zaichik

    nessie - with you there, sadly girls who wear glasses slowly disappearing.

    I still wear glasses - I've never been keen on the risk involved in Lasik, although it seems to be becoming increasingly popular. Apparently your vision has to have been stable (i.e. no change in prescription) for at least two years before they'll do it.

    I believe that the procedure is comparatively cheap in Japan - around 100,000 yen. It's at least 3-4 times that price in NZ.

    Posted in: Palin's glasses give boost to Japanese company's sales

  • 0

    zaichik

    Why do women go crazy over a SHINY ROCK ????

    Because diamonds are a girl's best friend....

    I think many women are hardwired to like sparkly things, much like magpies do. I'm afraid that I'm equally keen on diamonds - bought myself a very nice ring to celebrate my divorce five years ago.

    Posted in: Ayako Kawahara waiting for Mr Right with a diamond ring

  • 0

    zaichik

    Altogether now: Gandaaaala, gandaaaaala, they say it was in Iiiiindia....

    Yes, yes, I know that was Godaigo....

    Posted in: Masaaki Sakai to release 1st album in 21 years

  • 0

    zaichik

    This happened only a few km from where I used to live. It's a really peaceful area and it's not inconceivable that the wife left the doors unlocked when she went shopping, given that her husband was at home.

    Apparently a 76-year-old woman's been found murdered in her home in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, as well. In that particular case, it seems that the window was smashed to gain entry to the house.

    Posted in: 63-year-old disabled man stabbed to death in Niigata home

  • 0

    zaichik

    Very best wishes to you and your wife, kjunluc2. Glad to hear that you've been receiving the support of your community - I know that not everyone is so fortunate. Doesn't justify murder, though (and why kill the son too?!)

    Posted in: Man fatally stabs wife, son; then tries to kill himself in Saitama

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