Jonbu the baker

Photography is such a costly hobby. I can’t justify it, yet I embrace it. Just like slot machines.

Now that I got my first roll of film back from that Tc-1, I should be able to decide which way to go with it. Initially I was hoping that the pictures would turn out soso, then I can truthfully say to myself “Oh, I guess I should just forget about this and dive back into the new age.” But some of the pictures were quite nice, and so film. Maybe photoshopping all my pictures into film-like will make me happy enough, but that’s like 4000 pictures, junk ones omitted. Here is my favorite.


I’m in the picture. That’s a give-away. But it’s not that. If instead of me, some jerk stood there with that [insert word you like]-y facial expression on while I took the pic, I would still like it. The color, the contrast, I don’t know what it is but I’ve never been able to get something like this before. (Maybe it’s the location -_- took hundreds of dollars, this picture.. -_-”) Now I gotta prove that wrong by shooting a roll in Japan.

ai.. Still stuck in the mud.

After coming back from HK I gave the roll I took to our local friendly supermarket. They scanned the film for me, and here are the results!

I made them small cuz I think it’s cool this way. The bike ride over was so cold. I had to buy a “tuke” there just so I don’t loose my ears during the return ride. On the way back, while I was admiring the Solar Arc’s twinkling lights, Steve said “whao” which made me turn my head back to the road.

Right infront of me was this DEAD CAT like 30cm away from me. I quickly dodged it while yelling out “Shit, Shit” The swearing was involuntary. I notice I do that sometimes.

The wind-down period for this Japan journey is starting. There are no more long breaks until the end of my work term. I still have more than 3 months to go, but my mind is starting to go over things that have to be wrapped up before I leave. Mostly about the stuff I’ve accumulated over the various online-shopping sprees.

But more important is the one month of free time my plane ticket allows me. Japan? Elsewhere? Home? And where is home? I’ve lived in Taiwan for 11 years, and Canada 11. This past year I’ve lived my life in Anpachi. All facts aside, this remote Sanyo dorm feels most cozy at the moment.

Now I have all these cameras with no travel time. What is a guy to do.. I’ll photograph Nagoya like crazy I guess…

Yesterday was the day when I actually unpacked from Hong Kong.
It was also the day when I went to shower without bringing my towel.

Most of what I bought was clothing, and two bowls of Chinese instant noodle.

I also bought some omiyage for my friends back in Japan. Luckily I bought two boxes. Because I accidentally ate one.

Has it occur to you yet the consequences of going into shower without a towel? Especially when my room is 5 floors away.

On my last day in HK, I was all packed up and ready to leave. I took care of all the currency by paying off my debt. The train to the airport costs 90 HKD, so I kept 100HKD on me.

The plan was:
1. Take free shuttle bus to Kowloon Station
2. Take 90$ train to airport
3. Get on plane and go home.

Nothing really went wrong. At step1…

Man this post is going to be so long and boring. I’ll just say that at the Kowloon station, I got hungry, and had no money to buy food, so I opened up the omiyage and ate it..

Have a good look at it, cuz that’s as close you’ll ever get to it.

I thought that was something fun and worth mentioning. Ok i go sleep.

Legend has it that during the new year season many Japanese retails stores have the so called “Fortune Bags”, or “Fukubukuro”. They’re mystery bags with assorted merchandises in them, and you won’t find out what you’re geting untill you buy them.

Alex, Steve, and I went shopping in Nagoya on Sunday to hunt for such bags. It is said good deals can be found within.

I happened to have a picture of such a bag with clear English explaination on it.

First stop was Bic Camera. They had “Digital Camera Fortune Bags” for 20000yen, with various surprise cameras. After ripping opening one of them and peaking, I bought one. The result is the Minolta Xt. I can’t believe I bought myself another camera. [shake head and sign]

[sign...]

I was happy that I got a black one. Now I have to spend more on the accessories…

Alex and Steve both brought UNIQLO bags. So much stuff for 5000yen. I almost bought one too. But there’s many things in there that I don’t really need. INSTEAD, I had to go back in and walk around and get myself a 4000yen jacket…[sign...]