JAPAN Day 5 of 11

We stayed on Michael's boat in Kurihama at the Marina. It was hot! But at 5:40 a.m. we set sail for Shimoda, nine hours away. Halfway across we killed the engines and took advantage of some good wind. We also saw a shark cross our bows, which rather killed the plan of a swim.

Shimoda was the first place Commodore Perry landed when he visited Japan in the middle of the 19th century. His Black Ship was a scary thing to the Japanese who lived in a closed society. This is a replica that is used to amuse visitors to Shimoda. It didn't seem to be operating on the day we arrived.

Perry is also "celebrated" by a little river walk in the town named after him. During our walk around I tried most unsuccessfully to persuade a bar owner to open up an hour early (at 6:00 p.m.) as he was bustling about inside. I spoke fluent English and he replied in fluent Japanese. I did the get the gist of it, however, which I think was roughly "Piss of fool! I don't open until 7 for you or anyone!"

JAPAN - Day four of 11.

We did the baseball match on the last night of our Tokyo visit. "Our" team, the Giants lost. But we found the event a lot of fun. Remember, no applause when your team is not at bat!

On the Friday morning, in spite of rain, we had a look at Shibuya, the world's busiest crosswalk. And it was busy! Evan and I are obsessed with not losing Eiko. She can easily blend in with the crowd and we would be totally lost. It's like being a little child.

In the square of Shibuya is a statue of a famous dog, Hachi. He faithfully waited for his master every day at the station. Sadly he even waited when his master died.

Japan 2nd Day

There was a small problem with my luggage coming over. I have case which has served me well over many years. It has a retractable handle and will fit in any overhead bin. On our first leg of the trip (I had gone cheap so we had to go via Canada) a problem developed. The handle refused to retract and gave the appearance of one of those warnings given out on TV about Viagra. You know, where they warn you about "extensions" lasting longer than four hours! In such an event, you should seek immediate medical assistance. As there was no luggage doctor on board, I was forced to jam the beast into the overhead with it's protuberance taking up all the rest of the bin. I was not popular with my fellow passengers! I have to admit it has been many years since I was faced with the problem of such an uninvited swelling.

Letter from Japan Day 1 of 11

We had a good flight from the USA to Tokyo and arrived a little early. Nonetheless the 1 1/2 hour bus ride to the city seemed even longer than usual. Also it was very hot - about 95 with high humidity. Thank God for beer!
The next challenge is to learn to use Eiko's brand new iPad. This is her birthday present from Michael and so far she hasn't had a chance to use it as Michael has monopolised it, followed by me, and of course Evan.
We've been out and about on this first day, but it's been raining! Also we forgot our cameras - sorry Grandma!
But baseball with the Tokyo Giants tonight.

Tokyo

When I first visited Tokyo in the mid-seventies, I was recommended to the Palace Hotel. "A nice mix of occidental and oriental guests," was the way it was described to me. On my subsequent visits I always stayed there and it's been a kind of hub for me.


Since my son, Michael lives here, I no longer need the facilities. However even with my absense it seems to me there was no need to tear the place down. Rather sad! It is shown here to the extreme right of the photo. Part of the Imperial Palace is on the left. I look forward to seeing what will take it's place.

Movie Going

Mile high movie theater in Big Bear

Recently I went to see Inception. It was an odd film, but because I was determined not to lose the thread of it, I concentrated a little more strongly than I would normally have done. I saw it locally and therefore the experience was entirely about the movie, and not the surroundings.

This week's column is about the experience of moviegoing and how it has changed over the years. No more cigarette smoke for instance - one doesn't even see it on the screen, unless the character is really really bad; like a Republican politician for example.

My first viewings of movies were in huge cinemas with everyone, including the underaged, all puffing away. It's amazing that the projector could break through the fog to the screen.

A couple of weeks ago I went to one of the new megaplexes and was impressed with the quality of seat, sound and picture. The regulars were of course quite used to it by now, and I wonder how they would have got on with our local place and the showing of Inception. You can read the entire article at www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels

Music Track

I've never quite understand why so many people hate ABBA. Perhaps someone could explain it to me. The group were huge in Europe in the 70's and combine the three most important elements in music - melody, harmony and rhythm

The last song they recorded "The Day Before You Came" is particularly poignant considering what happened to the two principle relationships. This video on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIV2ZE-cf6A is over nine minutes long but has some shots of the individuals - they don't look happy.

The popularity of Mamma Mia on both the stage and the screen has no doubt done a lot to keep the music alive.

Le Tour

I was asked the other day if we fans of the Tour de France enjoy the crashes as much as NASCAR devotees enjoy their spills. Having devoted a period of my old man's mid night insomnia to the question, I have come to the conclusion that the answer is "No."

Now this is not because bicycle fans are nicer people or less bloodthirsty - you only have to look at the fans along the top of the hill climbs to know that's not true. What is it with these people? What drives them to dress in crazy outfits and run alongside panting racers screaming at them? Altogether far too much time on their hands, I think.

The reason we T d F fans don't relish crashes is because they are far too painful. Nearly all of us ride or have done in the past, and we've all come off as well - it's a nasty experience. When we see a spectacular crash in motor racing we rarely see the human enclosed in the flying machine. But when there's a pile up in bicycling, we all feel the road rash and the scars. Not an enjoyable experience for any of us -riders and fans alike.

MOTOR MAID

I met up with a very interesting lady yesterday. Grace McKean has been riding a 1947 Harley Davidson since she bought it in 1948. She's 76 next month and lives in Running Springs.

"I was sent out here to Catholic School from Illinois," she said. "But I realised this was riding country. So I left school a year early to get a job so I could earn some money to buy a bike."

She is also a member of the Motor Maids group and looked the part in her uniform of white leather jacket and black leather pants and boots.

She came up to meet with Big Bear Choppers who are weathering the economic storm by selling their bikes overseas.

As well as the '47, McKean also rides a Sportster, a couple of Indians and a Kawasaki Drifter.

Japan

JAPAN

I am shortly taking off for Japan. I've been lucky in my life to have visited this far away country many times. I went there first in the mid seventies on business and over the last ten years, I've been back most years. My eldest son, Michael is in the financial markets there, hence the reason for my current visits.

This trip is a little different as I'm taking my grandson Evan (15) with me. It will be quite an experience for both of us. A first for him, and it will be an interesting take on a place I know quite well but this time through very different eyes.

We will stay in Tokyo for three or four days then move down to Yokohama and thence on to Michael's big catamaran, Milestone, when we shall do some sailing out into the Pacific. Michael's wife, Eiko has volunteered to stay at home with the dog. S.W.M.B.O. has decided that the boat, although very comfortable, is about 100,000 tons too small to really enjoy.

I will report as we progress, provided we have all the technologies in place. The photo is of the Temple Bell at Zodoji Shrine in Tokyo

Little Tokyo

This week's column covers Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. It's a very small area and has been in existence since 1977, when it was developed by a group of local Japanese businessmen. It's only about two square blocks and the central shopping area is even smaller.

As it happens I am going to Japan at the end of the month and so it was somewhat prescient that I was in the area doing other assignments. Lunch loomed and there was absolutely no reason not to go along for some of my favorite Tempura Noodles.

There are a couple of good Japanese restaurants there and coming in from the realistic decor outside you almost feel that you are in modern Japan. The customary shout from the sushi chefs, as you duck under the cloth front door covers, completes the experience.

As expected the noodles were first rate and the broth was so hot it had to be made with steam. It made me look forward to my upcoming trip. You can read the entire column at www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels

Got Milk?

The other day I was talking to a friend about home deliveries. They occured a long time ago and although I have lived in the US for 28 years, I don't remember seeing any here. Maybe Express Dairies in the UK still roll along in those little electric "floats" in the blue and white regalia. I don't know. Perhaps you can tell me.

I remember growing up just after the war, we had a milkman who delivered pints and half pints of milk to the doorstep every day. He had a horse and cart. Should the horse make his own delivery while in the vicinity, we would quickly find a shovel and the offering would be dug into the garden as soon as possible. There was no charge from the milkman for this additional service.

When I used to visit my grandparents in Sussex in the 40's and early 50's the same service was provided but this time by a "Milk Maid." She delivered the milk in churns and used a measure to fill up a jug we gave her at the back door. "Milk Maid's here!" Would be the cry when she appeared - and also on Saturday when she came around for the money. She wore a blue uniform and a mop cap. It all seems very quaint now looking back.

iPods

I put off getting an iPod for ages. "Delayed gratification" I believe the experts call that. In fact at my advanced age it was plain stupid. Now it's one of my most important possessions. Soon I shall be going on a long trip with lots of aircraft time. I shall board the plane with my iPod and my Kindle (another wonderful boon) and be absolutely set fair.

I first heard recorded music when I was about 7, I think. It was on an old Victrola with a horn coming out of it and of course, a wind up handle. I can remember the music too. It was a selection of National Anthems - all very stirring particularly to the nations involved. The records themselves which spun at 78 R.P.M. were quite brittle, and the way we played them was with a steel needle placed in the head that came down on the surface of the disc.

Needles were expensive and furthermore used to wear out the record. So we used to put in pine needles which were good for about one play. From that we advanced technically to LP's, which spun at 33 1/3 R.P.M. and allowed entire symphonies to be played on a disc - both sides usually for the long works. Pop music was generally sold on the smaller 45's and contained one song on each side.

From there we changed to eight track players, although I never went that route. Then to cassettes, of which I had hundreds - mostly self recorded. And now we have MP3 players with enormous storage. I have about 3,500 tracks on mine and I've hardly started to fill it up. I wonder what the next development will be?

The Geffen

The second incursion into the world of contemporary art in Sunday's column is to the ultimate museum for it. It is in downtown Los Angeles at The Geffen. http://www.moca.org/ This used to be the original MOCA until that worthy institution moved to the upper part of the downtown area about a mile away.

The Geffen houses works of art from 1980 to the present day. It's close to Little Tokyo and we'll be popping in there for some lunch later on.

The museum has some very weird stuff as you might imagine. A friend told me that he can't take it seriously, but the number of security guards inside the galleries indicate that someone considers the collection highly valuable.

Now of course, it's no good trying to be judgemental at a place like this, although I do so enjoy that lofty position. "Leave your prejudice at the door" could be the motto as you enter. However I do wonder if elephant dung is really necessary as a painting medium. It also can't be that easy to obtain as it's not exactly lying around the streets of LA.

To read the entire column visit www.sbsun.com/trevorstravels