Sigh, vacation’s over. Arn and I are back from Japan but it hasn’t quite sunk in yet ((I bowed and almost uttered “arigato” to the customs officer at NAIA. This is what happens when you spend two weeks in Japan. (You just gotta love the Japanese, they’re such a polite society.))). Our legs and backs still ache ((Ahh the signs of aging…)) from all the walking, hiking, and running after trains we did, but so what? At least we were able to bring home a lot of happy memories, pictures, and Crunky ((I love Crunky chocolate but only second to Melty Kiss, particularly the Matcha (green tea) flavor. Unfortunately Melty Kiss was late coming out this year so I didn’t get to hoard boxes of them like I normally do, hehe. (It only appears on the shelves during late fall and winter.))) to last us til… well, the next chance for another holiday ((Whenever that may be, sigh. Bitin!)). I’ll write a decent travelogue soon — there’s way too much I want to share about the trip but I have to finish unpacking first. Seeya later. 🙂

1. Wall of lanterns, 2. Astroboy, 3. Tendon setto at Minggei, 4. Wishing blocks, 5. Meiji Jingu Shrine, 6. Tokyo National Gymnasium, 7. Tokyo National Gymnasium, 8. Yoyogi Park, 9. Takoyaki, 10. NHK Studio Park, 11. NHK Studio Park, 12. Shibuya crossing, 13. JR train map at Tokyo Station, 14. Self-portrait at the Shibuya crossing, 15. Shibuya Station Mural, 16. Laputa Robot Soldier at the Studio Ghibli Museum rooftop garden, 17. Welcome to the Straw Hat Cafe!, 18. A side street in Shibuya, 19. Halloween masks at Tokyu Hands, 20. Manhole cover at the Ghibli Museum courtyard, 21. The “Nekobasu” (Cat Bus) shuttle service to the Ghibli Museum, 22. “Maid in Japan” girls in Akihabara, 23. Akihabara TX station, 24. Capsule toy vendos, 25. Entrance to the Ghibli Museum, 26. Postcard-pretty view of the lake at Mt. Bandai, 27. Hello, fishies, 28. Koi fish, 29. Autumn leaves in Fukushima, 30. Sticky rice balls, 31. View from the Tsurugajo Castle, 32. Tsurugajo Castle, 33. Aizu Samurai Residence, 34. By the lake at Mt. Bandai, 35. I’ve got Tokyu Hands, 36. Arn at the Design Festa Gallery
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More photos in my Multiply galleries:
* Harajuku, Shibuya, Omotesando
* Nippori, NHK Museum, Tokyo Olympic Gymnasium
* Studio Ghibli Museum
* Shibuya and Akihabara
* Fukushima Prefecture

… and in Arnold’s Flickr set.

1. Design Festa Gallery, 2. Design Festa Gallery, 3. Design Festa Gallery, 4. Design Festa Gallery, 5. Design Festa Gallery, 6. Design Festa Gallery, 7. Design Festa Gallery, 8. Design Festa Gallery, 9. Hallway of Design Festa Gallery, 10. Mural by the Tokyo Design Academy, 11. Adult costumes, 12. Various stuffed toys, 13. Happy Harroween, 14. “Pet Paradise”, Takeshita-dori, 15. Takeshita-dori, 16. Crepe, 17. Rainy Monday, 18. Takeshita-dori welcome sign, 19. Tsukuba, 20. Tsukuba

Many many more photos in my Multiply album. 🙂

Thank you, Getty Images.

Gorillaz + Madonna: what an audio-visual feast huh??

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About a week ago, our good friend Earnest invited Arn to talk to the students of CSB’s School for Deaf Education and Applied Studies and what an experience that was. About 50 Deaf students (and a handful of hearing ones) showed up and “listened” to him talk about visual storytelling via able interpreter Nicky (who teaches at SDEAS). It surprised us that the kids actually knew who Arn was and that most of them have read his novels – After Eden in particular, and it was so touching when they all stayed about an hour after the talk just to ask him to sign their books, among other things. You can read more about what Arn talked about (bloopers included!) in Nikki’s post.



Pia left a comment in one of my phlog entries: “Isn’t sign language awesome?” I wholeheartedly agree. Nest and I were saying that somehow, it’s the ones who can’t speak who are able to communicate their feelings better. When Arn walked in amidst a roomful of silent, visual applause (in sign languange, a frantic waving of raised hands), I felt that it was the most genuine form of appreciation I’ve ever witnessed.

Thanks for inviting us over Nest, it was great seeing you and Indi and meeting Nicky and the students. (:

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My magazine-mates and I trooped over to Cebu last weekend to oversee stuff for our next issue. Some pics are in the phlog. And yes I took all those tourist-y shots because believe it or not, it was my first time to go as a tourist. The last time I was there was for the ’99 Ad Congress and my pals and I didn’t really have time to go around.