Brog.

So,

Christmas has come and gone, and passed off pretty enjoyably.

Christmas Eve Eve, we went to see Memoirs of a Geisha and ended up going for a few Guinness, which made me kind of homesick (not the geisha, the guinness). The film is a total chick flick, being 2 hours of women being bitchy to each other and struggling to overcome all the odds to find true love. Yawn. There was a bit of boob though.

It was also snowing, and we went to Kinkankuji (after begging our sensei to let us off class). It was amazing. It's amazing even without the snow, but with the snow it was super amazing. Or something. Enda and Laura have pictures up on their blogs - just click the Friends link.

Christmas Eve was spent making a trifle for the exchange students party. That got MESSY, and my kitchen still hasn't completely recovered. It worked out ok in the end though, even with the lack of custard or whipped cream.

The party itself was a little dry, but I had fun. A little bit of irish dancing, a lot of lovely food and I got a closs bottle of sake as my secret santa (whoever that was!).

Christmas itself was *weird*. Woke up, myself and Enda cooked everyone an oirish breakfast, which was heavenly. Watched Father Ted, spoke to Liz, played a bit frisbee and then out to the irish pub for dinner, and a guinness or two, or three. Dinner was good, chicken, spuds and veg - not quite like my mammy's christmas dinner, but good enough. (I'll be expecting TWO PORTIONS next year though)

After the dinner, things started getting a bit mad. Bowling. Dance Dance Revolution. Betting on plastic horses. Not something you'd usually associate with Christmas!

But anyway, moving on from all the festivities, I'd like to share a touching moment.

Myself, Enda and Victor heard rumours of a 3-story bath house, complete with elevator (or escalator). So we set out to find it, and eventually we did. Turned out to be pretty run down, but we did get to ride an elevator naked.

So anyway, I was sitting naked in this bath with some japanese guys and was asking one of them why the bath water was red - just trying to practice a bit of japanese. So this old guy was chatting away back to me. And he moved to lower himself in the bath, as he did so, his hand rested by my ass-cheek. I thought nothing of it, I'm not one to be paranoid or homophobic or anything. But anyway, things moved on from that when the afformentioned hand moved to squeeze and massage my calf, under the cover of the murky red water! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I was sitting naked in a bath having my lovely boyish leg molested by a dirty old japanese pervert. Things, quite quickly, moved on from this, to me getting out of the bath and relating what happened to Victor. I was abuuuuuused!

Touching.

What's new?

Well, since the last update it's been fairly quiet. That big shameful night of debauchery was something of a landmark, and since then I've tried to lay off the sauce, and largely succeeded!

So Chiaki and Minako came down from Tokyo to see Yukari and we hung out for a bit. Karaoke and all that sort of thing. Was good fun, but a shame the lads couldn't come down too!

Oh, internet finally arrived too, and it only took a few weeks of pissing about before it was working properly, not bad in this country!

Being keeping up (ish) with the whole studying etc too, argh. We're off for Christmas on Thursday, so that'll be a welcome break from all my hard work!

So, keeping off the sauce, we've been having a lot of gaming nights with the other exchange students. They're a great laugh, and cheap as hell. And Dennis, the german guy, who is a little bit psycho, has the funniest movie ever on his PC. It's all Hitler, nazi marches etc, put to the tune of... YMCA. It's brilliant.

Apart from that? Been slowly doing a bit of Christmas shopping (none of which is in the post yet). Gonna send it all tomorrow, FACT*.

I can't really think of much else. Worst. Update. Ever.


*actual lies may vary

Just the highlights, I guess...

So erm, had a few decent nights out with the adventuring club. We went to a house-party, sat around eating some food and then Enda and I broke out the drinking games. An hour or so later, we were off to karaoke, and perhaps a little tipsy. Karaoke was fun, Jaun sang Duran Duran - Notorious (again), and I sang a a shit load. New favourite karaoke song: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Maybe the next night, we went ghost hunting, again with the adventure club. We cycled for hoooooooours out to some lake, and stood around in the freezing cold until we were moved on by the fuzz. So we cycled to another lake, where the Kyoto Accord on climate doohickeys was signed. We walked around it, and myself, Enda, Pierre and Melwin hid in the bushes and scared everyone else. Gas men.

I think all that happened last weekend, but my memory is shit so I'm not sure.

Yesterday, we were taken out by the Chancellor of our uni to a big swish, formal-wear only meal. Myself and Enda splashed out on some class suits, and we looked swanky. We even got out hair cut and I bought new glasses.

So we left Gaidai in a fleet of cars and arrived at a very posh chinese restaurant. I was seated at a table with Diego (mexican), Nancy (italian) Rebecca (merkin) and some Important Japanese Person. Once the shindig as under way (after lots of standing, clapping and bowing, sometimes all at once), they brought out the food. ...And drink. Food was lovely, lotsa seafood and stuff, it looked, and tasted, very expensive. Myself and Diego set the pace with the drinks, and before long I was on my ear. Had a laugh with the Important Japanese Person, who was impressed with my wide vocabulary (included drunk, hungover, and alcoholic...), and thought it hilarious that I knew the Japanese chant equivalent to "chug". Didn't learn them in uni!

By the end of the meal, myself and Diego were pretty cut. The chancellor disappeared and we stood around enjoying more free drink. Too much chugging for me, and I spewed some beer on the floor. Oops. (not the first time *that's* happened). Then it was on to nomi-hodai, even dragging along the Important Japanese People.

I'll be honest, and say that I remember very little after this. Apparently, I dropped my phone, posed with a Hard Gay look-a-like, proclaimed my love for my girlfriend to anyone who'd listen. I do rememeber a little of the nomi-hodai, and vaguely remember being in Kyoto Station.

After that it was on to Metro. Apparently Laura, Rebecca and the mexicans were there. I don't remember. I remember dancing with Yukari for a bit, and also lying drunk in a stairway. Apparently I blew chunks into a plant, and Alvaro did so on the floor, and Diego did so in a cab. We're classy guys.

So that's all I remember. Tonight, we might head to the cinema.

Peace out,
Pinky & The Bren

Shit, best thing:

In metro, I got talking to some Japanese girl, and when I told her I was irish, she said she knew Father Ted! And she told me to take her to Craggy Island, ahahaha! She knew the dancing priest routine and everything, fucking crazy.

What a week!

Kicked off on Tuesday with my birthday, woot. I became the big two-zero, and to celebrate that magnificent occasion, we dragged out a rag-tag group of Exchange Students and Japan People Whom I Met In Bars. First on the itinery was a sushi bar. Nothing like gorging on raw fish before a night out, I guess. So we gorged.

After that, it was down to Gayagaya, where Hide, the barman, had baked me a cake. It was gorgeous, cream sponge with strawberries, yummy. By this time Brian had arrived from Kanazawa and was up for partying. A few drinks later, we were ready to depart for Metro, club 80s night.

So we arrived there, I drank god knows how many 75% rum and cokes and it wasn't long before I was hammered. Memory is a bit hazy, but I remember being on stage having happy birthday sung at me, dancing on the railings with brian, getting nekkid, and dancing with a 60+ year old woman. Oh, and robbing a giant afro wig.

After that, it was on to karaoke, where myself and Brian broke the ceiling (we were jumping on the tables, I think). I sang Weezer, Pixies, Sinatra, Franz Ferdinand and who knows what else. Me and Enda wandered about looking for a party, and we stole some menus, a mop and I think some more beers. When we returned to the room, Aki-san was pissing everywhere, so we had to leg it.

Then we lost everyone so me, Brian and Enda had to navigate our way home. We stole some bicycles, fell off them, hurt ourselves and Brian sprained his ankle. Hahaha!

Next day was Kobe for Dance Dance Revolution and betting on plastic horses.

Next day was college festival and gayagaya again.

Next day was a spur of the moment trip to a gaijin bar, dancing, but not karaoke because brian scared everyone away being a lout. Aha.

Today was trips to temples with a buddhist monk - see, it's not all bad!

Yeah so I went out for Beatles and Rolling Stones night at Metro last night. As well as Enda, Laura, Stephen, Rebecca and Nancy, Hide, barman of Gayagaya, his wife, and Watanabe, patron of Gayagaya, came out. It was a great night.

It kicked off in Gayagaya, where we had a drink or two - some even sampled the Brendans, which were, on the whole, good. Wah! Hide was the daddy and paid for all our drinks. Closs.

Then it was onto the main event: Beatles & Stones night. The place was pretty empty at the start, but it was good. We had some pretty strong drinks, containing 75% rum, so I was quite merry. Myself and Enda cajoled the whole room into dancing, and eventually the dance floor filled. We broke it down, busted some moves and whatnot, and some random guy bought me a tequila - bless. Hide and his wife were great craic - at one stage I was carried around the room by a loutish Hide.

So the music eventually ended, after a big love-in for Hey Jude and a few others, and we started for home, via Shop 99 for some tasty snacks!

Woke up this afternoon and somehow managed to drag myself to class (not closs), which seemed to go for ten hours. It was tough going. Liz posted me over a t-shirt for my birthday though, which definitely was closs. Garlic bread? Am I `earin you right? Closs. Best presents evurr.

Anyway, I`m gonna spend what`s left of the day watching Seinfeld and eating Spagbol, so catch you cats later.

Peace out,
Brennon & McCarthy

Right, so long time no update!

Had an action packed week this week, but I've an awful memory so I may not be able to convey it all.

So anyway:

On Wednesday myself, Enda, Yukari, Ayuko and Maru went to Club Metro for 80s night. Club Metro is closs, and very cleverly named, being in an underground station and all. 80s music is the best music in the world to dance to, and we variously got down and boogied until 4 or 5 in the morning. Good fun was had all round! Also, Japanese 80s music is The Shit.

The next morning, had to endure another 3 hours of Japanese, which is hard enough to bear when you're sober - but being hungover, tired and, in Enda's case, a little drunk, makes it so much harder to get through!

That night was Super! Furry! Animals! They were, naturally, pure closs. We had a bit of an adventure getting there, but it was worth every single yen I paid in the end. They're so much fun, from the A-Team soundtracked intro movie where they all ride on around on the SFA gold cart, to the cryptic messages they tease us with before the show, to Gryff wearing a gigantic red power ranger helmet, to the cheesey end-credits, it's pure closs. They're one of the best live acts around, and their new album it closs to boot!

The next day we had a field trip with the gaidai. First stop was some Jinja, which was good. There's only so many temples and shrines you can see before it gets a it repetitive though! We saw some chick putting on a million kimonos, and then she waved a fan around for a bit and left. Was gripping stuff.

We lunched on Weird Stuff, and then it was on to Ye Olden Samurai House, which was pretty good. Never knew Samurai had TVs and air-conditioning though. Japan really is the country of the future, I guess.

Then we went on to the Sake Factory, where we could sample some sake and plum wine. It was all gravy. 18litre bottle of sake was a tad overkill though.

After that we went to make our own traditional style Japanese fans. I drew a Geisha and some abstract art of nothing in particular, certainly not a penis and testicles, as some have alleged. Can't wait to get my hands on that!

Yesterday we went to Jidai Matsuri, or festival of the ages. It was a big parade in Kyoto of people dressed up in various different types of dress from the various different ages. We had samurai, archers, geisha, the works. It was kind of ruined because there was loadsa cars driving down the other side of the road, and every single photograph I took features the golden arches of McDonalds in the background. Thanks a BUNCH, America.

Yesterday night we went back to Gayagaya, for Happy Hour. Once you enter Gayaga, it's hard to leave though. So we stayed until a fair bit after midnight, chatting with Hide, the best barman ever, and some other customers. I even created a drink, which is now front page news on the menu. Midori, Mangoyan, Pineapple Juice: The Brendan. We also had a couple of shots in honour of Sarah. (Happy Birthday, if you're reading!)

Got absolutely soaked on the way home, fucking rain.

Got up to go to Purple Sanga match this morning, but it actually turned out to be on yesterday. Oops.

Next Tuesday we're heading out for Beatles/Rolling Stones night in Metro. Hide said he'd come, as did some other randomers we got talking to in the bar. Should be a good night!

So that was the week that was. Expect pictures soon, or never.

So we all went to Arashiyama (Monkey Mountain!) yesterday. It was closs, lots of monkeys. They're so cute, yet so vicious. I was feeding them until one bullied me and stole my bag of bananas. That's not how it's supposed to work. :\ Still though, monkeys.

Afterwards we went out for a meal for En's birthday to a fancy restaurant, where we got to GRILL our own MEAT. And that's always good. Portions, as ever, were tiny though.

On Friday, we all went out for Noaad's birthday. Birthdays are so in these days, all the cool kids are having them! Bit of a dull night, but most of the exchange students were there, including a guy with a mullet bordering the wrong side of the ridiculous. Though I guess I can't be throwing stones on that one!

So apart from that, it was a quiet weekend.

Peace out,
Dr. Brendan

`allo,

Got my phone bill today, was big. I`m so broke it`s not even funny. And there`s a birthday on Sunday, 80s night on Wednesday, Super Furry`s on Thursday, trip to Nara on Friday. Fuck!

Mastercard seem to like me though, because they`ve given me more free money to tide me over until I can sell my kidneys!

Today`s class was closs. Our lecturer is a bit off the wall, very animated! She can be hard to take first thing on a friday morning, but you gradually warm to her!

Yeah so no other news anyway. Gonna buy my Super Furrys ticket today. Gonna take it easy this weekend methinks, gotta save the energy, and benjamins, for next week.

Peace out homos,
Brendante`s Peak

Also, fellator is my new favourite word. Sounds like an evil villian from a cartoon.

So myself and Enda got ourselves up at 3am to go watch Ireland draw with Switzerland in the most frustrating 90 minutes of football known to mankind. We`re out of the world cup before it`s even begun. Boo.

Still though, at least we won`t have to spend next June waking up at 3am to see Ireland make a hash of it in Germany.

Our teacher for this morning`s class had a bike accident and hurt her leg. Only IDIOTS have bike accidents and hurt their legs. Right Enda? Wah!

Long time no update!

My last entry was on the brink of a pretty fun weekend. Went out on Saturday with Laura, later to be joined for Enda, in Gayagaya, my new favourite place on earth. It has the most animated and lively barmen in Japan. While that might not be saying much, they`re pretty lively. It was supposed to be for one or two social drinks, but as all beers were 100yen (for the bar`s birthday) it turned into 4,000yen tab. Somehow. It was a fun cycle home, though not for Enda - who crashed his bike and has a booboo on his leg now. That`ll learn him!

The next day was spent hungover and I don`t think too much happened.

Monday, which we had off for Sports Day, was fun. Victor rented a car and we drove up to Like Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan. The car journey was great fun, I kept myself entertained by driving other people crazy. Anyway, Biwa was a pretty shit lake, and we couldn`t go kayaking or anything, but we did go up a mountain on a cable car and go to an onsen (bath/spa/spring dealie). It was good fun, very relaxing.

We were going to be late returning the car so Victor sped through downtown Kyoto, running lights and swerving in and out of lanes, it was great! On the walk home we came across two TVs just abandoned on the foothpath. I got this cool old-skool red beast, which despite with Laura may say, is the best TV ever. Oranga schmorange.

At some stage over the weekend I also bought a turtle, but I`m not sure what day it was. I called him Rafa, after the turtle and Liverpool manager. I also had a FROZEN BANANA covered in CHOCOLATE, which was really good. You don`t get that kind of thing in Ireland!

So that`s all that`s happened me over the last few days, I think. Next week is looking good though, we`ve got a birthday, Super Furry Animals and some day trip with the college in the space of three days. Closs. And tonight, at 4am, is the crucial Ireland - Swiss game. Probably go to a net cafe for that one.

Peace out,
Kansaibren
(seewhatididthere?)

Quick first entry into my new blog:

You can see photos I've taken at: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brendancing/my_photos
Needless to say, they're not very organised. There's some pictures of my apartment, Kyoto, our recent day out in Osaka and lots of temples and stuff.

So anyway, I'm just sitting in my local coffee shop enjoying the start of a long weekend after a tough week of lectures, exams and homework. College isn't supposed to be like this! I'm not used to these early mornings at all, it's quite a shock to the system being dragged out of bed at 8.30 every morning, and even more of a shock that I'm dragging myself out! How can I be so cruel to myself?

No solid plans for the weekend at the moment, though there's talk of Victor (a San Fransiscan exchange student) renting out a car and taking a trip, which is nice. Haven't been out since Enda's birthday so I'm gonna try and get out over the weekend too, funds permitting (which at the moment, they're not).

So that's all the news I have. I'll update with more pictures and words when I can.

Bren