Monday, December 29, 2008

Leeuwin Art Series



Tonight felt like some nice wine. Took out the Leeuwin Art Series that I bought almost a year ago in Perth, Australia. The 2004 and 2005 Art Series Chardonnay. One of the best wines to come out of Australia. Perhaps I was tired from all the walking and felt parched, perhaps its just melancholy.


This is Chloe admiring the bottle (empty) of the 2004 vintage. She loves the smell but does not like the taste of anything alcoholic.

Meiji Jingu (明治神宮)

Some historical outing today. After Chinese Yam Cha at a nice Hong Kong Dim Sum in Ebisu, it was foot trekking and train to Harajuku. The first visit to Meiji Jingu near Harajuku. Meiji Jingu is a Japanese Shinto shrine, dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shouken. Emperoro Meiji, who dies in 1912, from the Meiji restoration fame. He supposedly put Japan on the modernisation path.

Meiji literally means "enlightened". So Meiji era means enlightened era. After the emperor's death in 1912, the Japanese diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration. Upon his death a new tradition of giving the late emperor the name of the era coinciding with his reign was established. Following Meiji, it was Showa and now Heisei. An iris garden in an area of Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken had been known to visit was chosen as the building's location.

Personally, I am unsure if all the Japanese people are revered by the Meiji Restoration, but that is just my personal opinion. Perhaps, just perhaps, they existed more meaningfully or were happier as a civilisation without the influence of American capitalism. After all, Cmdr. Perry did pressure Japan to open itself up with his armada of black ships, something which the Americans are still perpetuating in the world today, until recently.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Alpine PDX 4.150

The Alpine ICE amp I won on ebay finally arrived. It is a 150W X 4 channel Class D amp, with power being supplied by B & O Patented ICE Power.



Although built in China, it exhudes quality and seems to be very well built. Cost me $350 plus shipping $100. In Japan it is retailing for JPY105,000 or $1,200, more than triple the price I paid.


In bridged mode it will put out 300W per channel into 4ohms.

Installation will have to wait till 2009, as most businesses in Japan are closed to 4Jan2009.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Competition

Airline industry competition today a Taiheyo Narita.

Friday, December 19, 2008

河豚 (fugu) or Blowfish

Tonight at fugu restaurant. One of the 慕年会 (bohnenkai) or year end parties. This restaurant is in Ningyocho (人形町)and they use famous Fugu from Shimonoseki (下関)in Yamaguchi (山口県) prefecture。

The whole course is fugu, from sashimi, to the skin, to deep fried fugu and nabe. The taste was great. The dish was accompanied by ひれ酒 (hirezake), where a hot cup of sake comes with an immersed roasted fin of the fugu. Interesting. It gives it a smoky, fishy tinge to the sake. Last dish was josui, a congee like dish.

The restaurant was fully packed and enjoys turnover of up to 3 times daily...We had to sit at the counter, even with reservations. But in such Japanese restaurants, e.g. sushi, teppanyaki, it is better to be seated at the counter so that you can also watch and experience all the action going on at the kitchen behind the counter. Plus you also get the attention of the chef himself.

With such brisk business, no wonder the owner seems to be always smiling.

ww.tc (Girard Perregaux)

Today collected the ww.tc (worldwide time control) from Sowind k.k. Japan. This is the BMW Oracle limited edition of 750pcs worldwide. It runs on GP's Movement GP033C0 Caliber 13.

The movement sports 63 jewels and runs at 28,800vph. Power reserve is an amazing 46hours ! There are very few of these limited edition watches left in the market, new. You're advised to buy it before it disappears, if you like it. You won't regret it.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

My companion

This my travel companion for this trip: Hagakure bushido of Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a samurai from Kyushu.

はるか to Kansai Airport

After shinkansen [新幹線]from Shinagawa[品川]to Shin Osaka [新大阪]station, now on Haruka express to Kansai Airport to catch my flight.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Carrozeria Subwoofer


Latest addition to my ICE arrived yesterday. Its a Carrozeria active unit, or better known internationally as Pioneer. Its a top of the range Japan only model with a 500W class D amp driven subwoofer. Its also the only model in the current line up that is made in Japan.
It has to be mounted in the trunk of my car, as its too large for the passenger cabin. Weighs a hefty 15kgs ! To be installed this Sunday.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

ICE

Recently had been pre-occupied with ICE or In Car Entertainment. First acquisition was a pair of Pioneer Carrozeria TS C06A speakers for the front. Then a Kenwood L909 CD-head unit was installed. Next I ordered a 500W active sub-woofer, but yet to receive it. Just found out that the left tweeter is a bit weak. Will bring back to Autobacs tomorrow. Never realised listening in car can be so enjoyable.

Bento Lunch 5Dec


Today's business lunch was at Iidabashi at a famous Kansai Food restaurant. The Shokado Bento was excellent. Another memorable meal.

Golf 28Nov


Last Friday was golf invite from a client at Kingsfiled Country Club in Chiba. He had hip injury and still have screws in his hip bone. It rained in the morning but weather cleared by then end of the first nine. The autumn leaves were still hanging around.