Fruit Prices in Japan

You are wondering why I took pictures of fruit? Well, listen to this. Grapes = $63, Cherries = $49, Mangoes = $150, Honey Dew = $52.50

yummy...

Tokyo

Well Well, it's been a long time since I have been to Japan. This time I went for an interview of a very different kind which did not allow me to take many pictures and so. Therefore I will only present snippet of my Tokyo trip.
Firstly, there is Markus. Yes of course he has a family, but like I said, it was sort of a working interview... So therefore only limited amount of picture taking opportunities. Now, here we have a form of Japanese Pizza. a Ferris Wheel in a shopping center and pictures of fruit in a grocery store.

Birthday

and another year has past, my Birthday has come once again...

Update to SaarLouis

Here an update to my SaarLouis trip.  A little dark camera video of me singing Bohemian Rhapsody on my jump into my 38th b-day.  Thank Tony!!! You rock and cool irish pub man.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZOddOCrz4t

Saarluis is a party town

Went for a surprise visit to Tony and Tina in Saarluis in their Irish Pub O'Dwyer and it happened to be karaoke night... wow.  It also happened to be the graduation party of 10th graders (they just turned 16) and the party was on.  Drinking age laws are as follows, 16 for beer and wine no problem, bars and restaurants. Smoking, 18.

OK, for all the bar keepers on Maui, tell me how many violations you can spot on these pictures...

Now, we also received a visit from the traveling "Handwerker" which belong to a "Zunft" and are on their way "aud der Walz".  Basically these two fellows are a roofer and a cabinet maker (Handwerker).  They belong to a professional community/organization (Zunft) and part of their training requires them to go traveling, find work for trade of acommodations and food and a small pay.  This is a 3 year thing (auf der Walz), where they travel from place to place and have a network of hostels they can stay at.  Of course they dont have money, so they ask at bars, with a little rhyming story what they are doing, for the hope to get a beer.  These particular gentlemen belong to the "red" club of the organization.  This tradition goes back more than 900 years.

Monte Rosa

me and Biggi got back from the "Monte Rosa" our Family's little log cabin in the black forest which is still one of the most satisfying excursions ever.  We packed our traditional farmers picnic, real beer from the black forest, cake and coffee, finished by a schnapps or two.  This is done so we can roll down the steep hill comfortably.  This all got started with a ballon in the sky is Stuttgart before we left for the forest. Cool man.  Of course we also stopped by our Grand Ma's grave "Oma Rosa", and planted some flowers and paid our respects. RIP 11.XII.2007.

some interesting differences

In the last week, I visited more friends around Germany and have lived more of a german life.  I visited Sylv and Kurt (who visited me in Hawaii 2007) and was taken hostage by them.  I was not allowed to leave until I had at least 3 parties under my belt and practiced my ouzo drinking ability...  Had a fantastic time, picture attached.  Now, since October 2007 smoking is no longer allowed in all public facilities (this is in Germany) and interesting is, that of the 20 friends I visited this week, 15 are cigarette smokers.  How such a law could be passed in such a smoke oriented culture, i dont know.  Supposedly a lot of bars are closing cause of the non smoking law.  Here some other facts.  one standard glass of wine contains 8.5 ounces of wine.  And there is no water service like in America, they look at you funny if you have beer and water...  Gasoline prices are $8.77 per gallon, diesel $8.58 per gallon.  Last week I went to a Restaurant, ordered a salad and a flammkuchen (alsacian pizza) and next to the menu item they had 1*3*5*7 and I thought it meant that that particular salad was only available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, but that was not the case.  It is law in Germany that you must state if the meal contains preservatives, msg, artificial colors, nitrates, phosphates, artificial sweeteners etc etc...  very interesting.

I probably had my best half chicken here, the meat fell of the bone like an order of perfectly made babyback ribs.  Wow, awesome.

Today I go back to the Blackforest with my cousine, Biggi, and do a little trek to the Monte Rosa, pictures will follow...

Happy Mothers Day!!!

and more friends to say high to...

Here I am with Susan and Leon, of course another surprise... and here we go drinking prosecco...  wooohooo

Stop #3 Merkwiller-Pechelbronn

I have come now to my third stop which is always very traditional.  My favorite Restaurant Auberge de Puits VI or also known as Der Schacht in german.  A beautiful Restaurant in the Alsace (Merkwiller-Pechelbronn) not far from Karlsruhe (where I was born).  The owners, Marie and Norbert Koehler, are great people who know how to live the good life.  My first visit was with my father were I learned how to enjoy great food and drink.  It was never easy to find cause there were so many turns involved, and that made it even more special, not knowing if you'd ever make it.  Well, after 10yrs, I still found it by memory and I was very proud.  Of course, on the way I surprised some more friends of mine and in Alsace and ended up having dinner there.

Cheerio

Hammer hart is det

my second stop is always to my good friends Juergen and Laura May.  And of course, surprises are so great.  I arrive at their home, they are not home, so I decide to take a nap in my rent a car.  After an hour I see Juergen's car pull up and I get out and greet him, with a reaction to die for.  Juegen just read the latest Cafe Marc Aurel Newsletter and found out that I was on my way to Germany.  We eat and drink and call another friend (Volker and Connie) and visit them and continue the fun and jokes.  When Laura found out that I am here she responded with "Hammer hart" which is a fun way of saying "cool".  Off they both are to see Jack the horse and do some cowboy/girl stuff.

Germany here I am

So, jetzt bin Ich in Deutschland und, natuerlich, wie ueblich als erster stop ist immer der QuatschTreff in der Banwaldallee in Karlsruhe fuer immer das erste und best Pils der welt, Hoepfner!!  Wie ueblich, als ueberraschungseffekt, wusste keiner dass Ich da bin.

Jedefalls, bilder von Holger und Susan.

Yeah, and you did'nt belive I would write in german, hehehe.  Well, it's may day here and evryone is in the forest getting drunk or something...  Went to the US Embassy and it was empty.  Public Holiday...

Mayday, Mayday

and by the way, smoking is no longer allowed in any public facilities anywhere.  All you see is herds of smokers, freezing their asses of outside.  This is as of August last year.  

Very Interesting...

Bis Bald und tschuessi.