04-05-2016, 03:35 PM
(04-03-2016, 01:24 PM)Canard Wrote: I forgot to mention something rather embarasing that happened, that I'm going to chalk up to being so to exhausted from my schedule.
At an ultra-packed subway station, I tried to tap-out of the the turnstile with my Suica (railway) card. It didn't go. I tried again- nope. Tons of people behind me. "sumimassen, sumimassen..." (Sorry, sorry...) and I went over to the station masters both.
I asked him (in Japanese) if he spoke English and he said "a bit." I explained I'd just tried to exit and couldn't with my Suica; maybe something was wrong with it.
He kind of looked at me like I was a stupid gaijin. "Not Suica." And he points to my card. I look down.
I'd been trying to tap out with my hotel room key.
I think they're going to deport me.
Nah. You've just reinforced the stupid gaijin stereotype. Blame it on the jetlag and eat some more sushi :)
...you know, it never occurred to me that there was no cheese or dairy, really, in the cuisine while I was there. My wife's lactose-intolerant, so usually it's a thing we need to look out for... But you're right. Casting my mind back, there was nothing. And you're right about the bread. T&T-brand bread can be found in some of the Zehrs back here which is the closest I've been able to find to real melonpan or anpan.
Be sure to find some taiyaki that are still warm, and if you venture further south get your okonomiyaki on.
Oh, that reminds me of the Ramen we had in the hole-in-the-wall behind Shinagawa-eki... Ah, I need to return.
(( It occurs that food to me might be what trains are to Canard. And I'm okay with this. ))