Home of the Gods

The five peaks of Angkor Wat, reflected in a pool of lilly pads and lotus blossoms, pierce the sky, silohetted by the rising sun. The innermost tower represents Mt. Meru, center of the Hindu universe. Its four surrounding spires symbolize the peaks of the Himalayas.

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

The legendary origins of Angkor Wat (or Capital Temple), according to locals, lie in the story of Preah Ket Melea, son of the king of heaven and a mortal woman. The gods complained that he smelled, and asked his father to send him down to Earth. The king agreed, offering his son the opportunity to have an exact replica of any edifice in heaven erected on Earth with the help of the celestial architect (whom villagers still invoke whenever a building is constructed). A modest man, Preah Ket Melea chose the stable. An ox was released onto the plain of Angkor and the place where it layed down became Heaven on Earth: Angkor Wat.

The Bread-Head Incredibles

A young mother and her pre-school child share a tender moment admiring his superhero snackables.

Anpanman is not alone in Anpan Land! The Bread-head incredibles are always saving the day with their special super-pan powers! Where as Anpanman`s bun is bursting with sweet bean filling, Currypanman`s cranium is crammed with curry (center of the photo). Shokupanman, a slice of white bread, has no delicous filling, but he makes up for it with his dashing good looks (upper right). Shokupanman is Anpanman's closest and most handsome superhero friend. Patron super-snack of school lunches, he is the resident gaijin of Anpan Land, complete with the gaijin powers many foreign men recieve upon entry in Japan. He`s quite a hit with the ladies! Suprisingly enough, Shokupanman's secret headquarters lie deep within Toaster Mountain.

Be Prepared for the Sprouse Twins invasion!!

You may remember them as the little boy from "Big Daddy"...or if like me you have an unhealthy Disney channel obsession from "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody". Now, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen have chosen the 13 year old twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse as the faces of their new boy's divison. With the brand name of D.C. Sprouse, Cole and Dylan will be the face of a division that will include DVD movies, CDs and other merchandise for the Olsens' Dualstar Entertainment Group, the newspaper reported Monday.

Home video sales and product sponsorships ranging from a fashion line to toothpaste have made the "Mary-Kate and Ashley" brand a billion-dollar enterprise. Each twin is estimated to be worth more than $150 million US.

..in short what does this mean? It means that Dylan and Cole are bloody lucky, they are set to become the most famous and rich male twins in the world..

...damn my lack of an identical twin...maybe if i fashion one from everyday household items Mary Kate and Ashley will pay me billions of dollars to front another Dualstar division?

I'm off to make a ladle look like me..

Breaking News: Britney Bursts!!

Courtesy of Yahoo News: Britney Spears has given birth to a baby boy, Us Weekly reported. The baby was born Wednesday by Caesarean section at the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center in California, the magazine said. No other details were available. A call to Spears' publicist by The Associated Press wasn't immediately returned. It is the first child for the 23-year-old pop star and her husband, Kevin Federline. Federline, 27, has two children with ex-girlfriend Shar Jackson



Hooray LONDON has been born...finally..hasn't she been preganant for like 2 years?



...oh and the pic is fake....

Victoria is pointless

A UK poll associated with the tv show "The Death of Celebrity" has voted Victoria Beckham as the "most pointless" celebrity.

Um...I'm no celebrity poll professor but surely the people of the UK are forgetting someone....



...um....



...our favourite chav?....



...JODIE MARSH!....



Victoria Beckham used to have a huge singing career and now makes a career out of pouting and bronzing, but even that is more than Jodie Marsh, the woman who makes a living out of wearing candy bikinis...her JOB is to be photographed wearing sweets!!!???!!! Oh i give up trying to educate the UK about levels of celebrity pointlessness....

Anpan Man Begins...

The story of Japan's most beloved super-hero snack-man.


Anpan (あんパン) is a Japanese bread (or pan, as it was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese,) filled with sweet, red bean paste- the secret to Anpanman's super-snack strength!

Uncle Jam's bread factory nestled in a forest..."Let's make living bread!"

"This time will it will really work!"

Dear God, please give us living bread...That night....

In a distant sky, a Star of Life was born.

....The bread is baked!.........Waaaaah!

Living bread! Come to Dada...Walk... Ah! He can fly!

He got bigger and bigger and became Anpan-man. "I'm going to help the hungry!"

Someone is crying! Go for it, Anpan-man!

It's coming from the bottom of the valley...Who's that?

"Baikin-man, arch- enemy of justice! I was born to fight you! "

"Until we meet again, Baikin!"

I'm coming...come on! You're OK! Eat this! It will make you feel better!

"Yummy Woof! "...."Let's call you cheese!"

The Original Anpanman Cast:

Uncle Jam, the kindly old baker who made and raised Anpanman, and replenishes his sweet-bean strength.

Batako, Uncle Jam's young, female assistant.

Cheese, their adopted puppy.

Anpanman, the super-hero snack man fighting hunger with his delicious sweet-bean filling.

Baikinman, a dirty germ, and arch-enemy of anpanman.

Modern Maiko

A maiko checks in with her Okiya on her ketai, or mobile phone, as she strolls Shijo-dori with her Yakuza-looking patron during Gion Matsuri's Yoiyama. A few geiko followed behind. (The Yakuza is like the Japanese mafia).

Tono Crew Conquers Mount Ena

At 2190 meters, Mount Ena is listed as one of the top 100 hikes in Japan. (The view from near my apartment last spring).


Following the Nakatsugawa river back to its source...




The narrow trail winds its way through thick, green vegetation.


What trail, you ask?


Just follow the slippery, moss covered rocks uphill for, oh, let's say 2,189 meters!

Along the way, don't forget to stop and smell the fungi!







The view from the summit, after 3 and 1/2 hours of hardcore hiking. Somewhere, tucked beneath the folds of those mountains, is my home.


J looks remarkably excited about the prospect of sliding down Ena on his oshiri as he slips over the edge.

The tough kids who climbed Mount Ena, and lived to tell the tale.

A Walk in the Rice

Ena's emerald waves of grain cover the foot of the mountains like an old, patchwork quilt from Gee’s bend.

A friend, who shall remain nameless, requested that I take a few pictures of my surroundings (obviously he does not appreciate my obsession with Geisha). Since I've had Kuruma-chan (my beloved car), my rice feild wanderings have significantly decreased, which is an absolute travesty! I decided to rectify the situation by reaquainting myself with the country side through which I so often meandered when I first arrived in Ena.


Ena's countryside is dotted with Edo period store houses, built separate from the main house to protect family heirlooms and valuables from fire.

Back at home in the states, I remember smelling winter on the autumn winds, shuddering with the brightly colored leaves. In Japan, it is the mouth-watering aroma of autumn, wafting from rice field to rice field that I look forward to during the long summer months. Imagine the sweet smell of popcorn mingled with the fresh scent of summer rain and the smoke of a campfire; the sound of water flowing down from the mountains into moats encircling each emerald patch; pine covered mountains, rising like islands from the steady waves of wind-blown rice; dragonflies hovering over swaying stalks, heavy with the year's harvest, as butterflies dance to the chorus of chirping insects and burping frogs. As autumn draws near, the smell of the rice begins to hang so thick in the air you can almost taste it. 美味しそう!

Memoirs of a Geisha: Gion, Hollywood Style

Watch the Memoirs of Geisha trailor by clicking here!

I have quite a bit to say about this movie...I'll write about it tomorrow! In the meantime, you can compare what you've seen here to what you will see in a theatre near you soon!

The 2005 VMA's

The 2005 VMA's recently took place right in my current place of residence, Maimi.

Jessica and Ashlee Simpson decided that dressing as drunk french maids was the way to go:



Likewise, Lindsay Lohan and Gwen Stefani shared fashion tips:


Paris had an incident with her home tie dye kit:

Orlando and Kirsten looked cozy, funny that they are promoting a film at the same time:

Hillary Duff continued to morph into Kylie Minogue:

There are no words except "ew"

Eva of course looked flawless

Also, I think I saw Jessica Simpson a few nights ago in South Beach, if anyone has any pics of her out and about recently wearing a white vest, denim skirt and hoop earrings please send them, otherwise it was just an impostor!

How you doin' ?

According to Sky News, Sarah Ferguson will be starring in the TV series "Joey" in the near future. "Friends star Matt Le Blanc is stopping at nothing to make sure the next series of his solo show, Joey, will be a ratings hit. Matt has enlisted the cream of Hollywood for guest slots, and has even recruited our Fergie, aka, the Duchess of York. He told my mole: "The pressure is on this series. We have to hit the right target. It's tough but the writing in this series is stronger. We have a few surprises in store too."
I'm still waiting to see the Queen do a guest spot on "Desperate Housewives", she'd fit right in.

The Girls of Gion

A crew of Geiko and Maiko gathered outside the famous noren of the Ichirikiya to cheer the men on as they carried portable shrines down the Hanamikoji (Gion Matsuri).

The new London

Apparently Britney Spears is going to name her child London Preston Spears - after the city where she met Kevin Federline - contrary to reports last month that she would name him simply Preston. She says, "Ever since I was a little girl I thought, for a boy I love Sean Preston - or London Preston. Isn't London pretty? And for a girl I love Addison Shye. I think that's pretty."

Firstly, London is a city not the spawn of two hillbillies.

Secondly, what is it with people naming their children after places? London? Brooklyn? Africa? and also fruit items, Apple for example?

I predict that the next really trendy thing to name your child after will be office supplies..look out for Jennifer Lopez baby "Copier" or perhaps Jessica Simpson's little boy " iBook 4.5"...I'm telling you, it'll happen

Alexx Jr. In MIAMI!

Alexx Jr. is having a great time on his Miami vacation, he has already visited the Versace mansion (note his funky clothing)

and climbed the rigging of a pirate ship

Versace and pirates...what more do you need?