(no subject)

[cjsmith]

Hi. My hotel room in Osaka has free wireless access. I am so @#$! spoiled.

Long day today. Tired. Got around okay, though. I think we did the right amount of planning for this trip: my knowledge of katakana, my ability to say a few things, Rob's knowledge of some kanji (and his Palm Pilot program to translate any others we're desperate for), and Rob's previous study of the rail system. We'd be pretty sorry if we were missing any one of those key things.

I have a love-hate relationship with Japanese toilets. The one in our hotel room has about a hundred different controls -- you can warm the seat, wash your behind with water (and warm that water too if you like), air-dry yourself, and Lord only knows what all else. The labels on all this are even bilingual! Now the flusher... where would that be? Heh. And of course, there are the squat-over-a-hole-and-squirt type. I wound up in one of those today too. What the heck, I have good quads.

OK, more later.

(PS: It's really 6PM.)

Comments

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted a bidet, actually. Sometimes really getting clean with toilet paper is just a hassle. I'd be willing to learn a 50-knob toilet to have the assistance of gentle warm water.

The pits, on the other hand, sound like the pits. ;)

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

Speaking of toilets.... (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050105/ap_on_fe_st/boy_plumber)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I guess he's found his calling in life!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Rob agrees with your assessment of just paper, but he reports that the bidet is merely "okay". He says you get wet and then all the TP just falls apart all over you.

I think the pits are just fine. I was amused to learn that many Japanese dislike Western toilets because you TOUCH SOMETHING, iiiiick. :-)

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

I think the pits are just fine...

Well, I haven't used them. I don't worry about the physical contortions, what worries me is ... well, I guess I just imagine it as being quite smelly, but that might be unwarranted.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ah. They're porcelain and they flush, like Western-style toilets.

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

Oh, wrong mental picture on my part. No problem at all then, although I'd expect to be nervous the first time I tried to use one--the whole "aim" thing. ;)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I realize my description wasn't very complete :-) My "aim" is pretty easy 'cause I just get down low. It is odd not being able to see what I'm doing at all, though. Every time, I start worrying about my pants and shoes.