Christmas Anecdote
Tuesday, 21 December 2004
I know this is bit late but I thought, as it's christmas, I'd share a special moment with you that happened in Japan. One day, after a big day of wondering around in Shinjuku, Tokyo we decided (as we did everyday) that we were sick of Japanese food and started attempting to find a place where we might have a proper indian type curry.
So we wandered and wandered around until we eventually found what we needed - an all you can eat buffet at an indian resturant.
We went in and started chowing down but after a while I started to notice the dude next to us, a smallish japanese dude, was eating at a furious pace and looked like he had be for quite a while before we got there. After a while (and about 3 plates of curry we saw him eat as well as all the trimmings) he started to look quite sweaty and greenish. By this point I was wondering about switching seats cos I was right next to him an I was predicting a Mr Creasote style explosion. He ate about another two plates and by this time he was looking really ropey, it was like someone was forcing him to do it. He looked really upset an still he kept eating.
Then....he started on dessert. The dessert was jelly. Yummy. He went over and got a huge pile of orange jelly on his plate and ate all that with his hands then as a new load of red jelly came out he grabbed a plate of that and scoffed it all down most of the jelly he put in his mouth was falling back out. It was extremely grim. He was burping and farting and making all kinds of grim noises by this point and I really didn't want to be this near him. His eyes were totally glazed over and he was looking semi concious.
Eventually he finished his jelly and staggered over to the counter to pay. He could hardly stand. He handed over his cash and the cashier gave him his receipt...and now comes the best bit....he then just casually eats the reciept as well! We were totally pissing ourselves. It was wicked. So I thought I'd do that too.
When we finished Catherine paid then handed me the receipt and I stuffed it in my gob and ate it. The cashier just seeing the second person of the day eat their receipt had the hugest look of confusion on his face ever. Job well done. The curry, for those curry fans out there, was rubbish.
Yeah, there you go, odd things go on all the time in Japan. I'm going to keep up the receipt eating when I get back to London and go to Brick Lane for curry action.
Anyway, today we are still in Pai and we've decided we need to learn how to ride mopeds as it's a really cheap way of getting around so we've been whizzing around the back streets trying to suss the thing out. Drastic. We've discoverd that Catherine has absolutely no concept of how to operate motorised vehicles with questions like "So what do the gear things do?" and such. She can make the thing go though....like Evil Kenevil. Note to Catherine's parents: Don't worry, I'll look after her.
Hopefully, by tomorrow we'll be confident enough to make it to some of the surrounding waterfalls and hill tribe villages and things. It's most pictureque here but we've as yet taken no pictures. This is because we are lame at being tourists. Nevermind.
On December 21, 2004, Catherine's worried mam said:
Dan you've obviously got no idea what Catherine's like on wheels - you'd better keep an eye on her I want her back in one piece!
On December 21, 2004, Dan said:
Don't worry, this place is a tiny village with hardly any traffic (which is why we are learning here). I was going to do the driving but apparently we both won't fit on one so we've got to get a bike each and it's the only way to get around lots of places.
Also, we are both wearing our very stupid looking helmets so we should be fine.
On December 21, 2004, Fenn said:
Well Im just about finished work for the year....so if I don't speak to you have excellent Birthday. Daz and I will be tearing it up in Stafford in your honor.
C, I dont even want to think about you on a Moped...
On December 22, 2004, Catherine said:
Oh yea of little faith. I am a great driver. I can even use the indicators now and most Thai people don't even know they exist. I did the whole of our journey today at 40km per hour or less and used 3 different gears not including neutral, I also had great fun beeping my horn and calling out "Talley Ho!" Toad of Toad Hall style, so Ner!
On December 22, 2004, Fenn said:
Only kiddin ya luv, Im sure you are a regular Penelope Pitstop
On December 22, 2004, Kev-La said:
Have a wicky-wicky-wile-wile birthday, Dan, and a bangin' Christmas to you both. I'll be likewise rippin' up the Big ST for a few days so expect more silly comments when I return. Fenn: see U and Daz there.
On December 23, 2004, Nicky said:
Happy birthday Dan. We are keeping up with your blog and finding it very amusing.
Merry Christmas to you both.
Love Nicky, Jonah and Annie xx
On December 23, 2004, mum said:
Hi to you both joe tells me you have phoned and are phoning tomorrow had a busy week with nan in hostpital but now i have finished work thank god so life should be less crazy. I have lots to tell tou but speak to you tomorrow if not i will send e mail Take care on the mopeds Have a lovely birthday dan Love mum.
On December 23, 2004, mum said:
Hi to you both joe tells me you have phoned and are phoning tomorrow had a busy week with nan in hostpital but now i have finished work thank god so life should be less crazy. I have lots to tell tou but speak to you tomorrow if not i will send e mail Take care on the mopeds Have a lovely birthday dan Love mum.
On December 24, 2004, Dan said:
Hellooo - thanks Nicky - have a good one too!
Mum - yes, Joe told me - Ill ring 10am UK time. Speak to you then!