As geeky as I am, I did suggest engraving binary inside the band, but thought the silversmith would go bonkers, but I see this crowd actually used binary as its feature for the binary wedding ring. When I showed Mick, all he said was "Meh!".
Heh, gwan gwan gwan... the Tedfest is happening this weekend at Inis Mor, Galway. There's a Song for Europe event as well... My Lovely Horse... brilliant. And much more, hope they have some quick clips of the happenings, I'm sure it's a laugh.
Ok, I realised as we were looking at some pricey laptop bags in the spectra store by Grafton Street, that it reminded me of man bags while I was in Tokyo.
Guys were walking around with man bags (sort of similar to this). I swear, it can be any colour, even pink! They are just young guys, same ones that have they long LV wallets sticking out of their back pant's pocket. And there are alot of guys carrying manbags!
Tokyo is a strange, strange city. Haven't been outside of Tokyo, so cannot comment about the cities outside of Tokyo.
... in the land of unheated toilet seats, non-self-flushing toilets, non-automatic doors, and crap service attitudes.
Well, what can I say, so spoilt when we were in Tokyo. People are just polite in general. Things I noticed in Tokyo, no matter how posh the place is you are visiting, they will always greet you. They will not dog you (like in Hong Kong, even if you tell them you are okay) unless you ask for their assistance. It's a bit odd, because they are all looking at you in the store, but don't say anything. It's not a nasty gaze, to them a customer is highly regarded.
Say in any restaurant, big or small, the waiting staff and kitchen staff will greet you when you enter the establishment, and say thanks and goodbye. And everywhere, after you pay, they will take the money with appreciation (they have to sound it as well), then with care hand you back the change. And then they bow when you leave the counter. And they are still efficient!
Service-wise, they won't stop apolagising for things that are a minute late, like coffee. It's crazy. I arrived back in Ireland on Thursday night, but I headed down to Limerick for Chinese New Year, and went to town Saturday afternoon for lunch. I asked for a mug of coffee and half of one arrived, with a nice thump on the table in front of me, just to let me know my coffee has arrived. (I know I gave up coffee, but I am not addicted now. I drink to enjoy it now. The joys of not wanting caffeine to wake oneself up.)
It was a culture shock in itself coming back home and get treated like that! Now I am use to the crap service, and all the niceties that were so readily available in Japan. Now I can be surprised when I go back again on how everyone is so polite, and how it really makes a difference to feel good being somewhere, and not be worried as much on what you look like. I did feel awkward more from other clientale rather than the staff. Being scruffy looking instead of wearing head-to-toe Burberry, LV, Gucci etc etc. They really like their labels over there! Still, I enjoyed it over there. Everyone is so welcoming. Till next time!
Well, since last night. Argh, was so knackered last night, I really don't like this timezone thing, was stuck on Tokyo time when I landed. I woke up near the end of the Tokyo to London flight, and was expecting brekkie, instead got a dinner!
I'm heading down to Limerick today for Chinese New Year. And it's my turn to give out Lai Sees.
Talk about taking my breath away and leaving the best to last, that is the Mandarin Oriental s the coolest ever! The reception is on the floor 38! And our room is on floor 30. Heh! The reception was very impressive, albeit we were a bit tired after getting here 2 hours later. It takes 51 mins alone from Narita to Tokyo, then we got a taxi. Long story short, we got here, and ordered room service cos I was famished. Well, it's passed midnight here in Tokyo, so gonna get ready for bed.
It's nearly 2 weeks since I was hitched! Time flies, jetsetting all over the place. Will update on what's been going on in HK and Sydney. Here in Cairns now, really wet from Cyclone Nelson. So Cairns being mostly an outdoors place, there was nought to do! But we did The Skyrail and it was really nice. The train was out cos of all the water from the rain, so it was the cable car up and down. Anyhoo, it's our last night in Cairns and we are having a proper dinner at the hotel. Tip for folks, don't come to Cairns in Feb, it's wet and the Great Barrier Reef is a just great murky waters now. It really sucks if you want to do alot of the activities here at this time of year! Sydney was brill though. Maybe chance Melbourne next time we are in town, espec that alot of the conventions are held in Melbourne.