Random Thoughts Cont. Otsuka Family is great. Izakaya takes long time. Japanese people can drink, its in their blood and culture. I've never drank more. Toilets are pre warmed for us. Butt washing toilets are normal. Nato taste gross. HIroko has good friends. Buy new year mystery bags for better deals. Tax is included in price tag. No need to pay tips. Asian parking is common in asian. Girls in japan look cuter because they are dressed nicer. Forgive me if i repeat myself. Mikate is a bouldering place. New years we eat soba. Karaoke is popular. Find Gothic rock girls on the bridge of Harajiku station. Hiroko is really good at building long lasting meaningful relationships. Must air dry laundry. Smokers everywhere. eww. Easy to get everywhere. Cheaper outdoor sale stuff. Quiet new years countdown with out a countdown. 108 temple bells rung.


Against High Winds - Atsuko Otsuka


Eating A Bug - Me Mark Hsieh


Ebisu Station - Hiroko Otsuka and Kana Takiguchi


Izakaya - Many of Hiroko's High School Friends


Odiaba at Night


An old arcade place in Odiaba


Some of more Hiroko's Friends


The Otsuka Sisters - Atsuko and Hiroko Otsuka

Otsukadaddy
Daddy Otsuka


Ultimate Ninja Warrior - Mark Hsieh


Umibotaru - Yasuaki, Me, Atsuko, Hiroko


Umibotaru - That is the drill they used to make the underwater tunnel to get to this place


Me and Hiroko Otsuka


Hokaido Izakaya - Kana, Ayaka, Hiroko, and Me


Tokyo at night from top of Ebisu Garden.


End of the year soba - Michiko, Hiroko's Aunt


Enjoying Toshikoshi Soba - Hiroko's Cousin, Mom Otsuka, Hiroko Otsuka, Me, Dad Otsuka
Grampa Otsuka, Kougi (uncle), Grandma Otsuka (can't see her), Michiko (Aunt), Nobuyuki

So I have been to the optometrist, doctor, and orthopedics so far. Medical expenses here are amazingly low. Hiroko only come back to japan twice a year, so whenever she comes back she hits up all the doctors. Though the wait is long and very tediously boring at time, it is nice to get a more everyday life perspective of Japan. This last two days we didn't do as much traveling as the days before but I was able to understand the surroundings a bit better. I am starting to be able to locate where i am and go to to where i want to with out Hiroko's guidance. I have never been in a situation where I need her help in getting around and she is enjoying it. Yesterday morning after the orthopedic visit we headed down towards the beer museum. It was funny because we were only there to get their inexpensive beer. 400 yen aprox. ~3.69 for 4 cups of beer. It was only 11:30 am and we are drinking. After we headed down to a climbing gym that we had heard about. It was sorta difficult to find. Let me explain. This gym, J & S Vertical Climbing Gym is the smallest gym I have ever been in. It feels more like a home gym than anything else. Despite its small space it offers everything I need to get out my climbing frustrations. One thing about climbing there is that they use every available space. The climbing there are small intricate moves on slippery holds. Great experience for american climbers. Yesterday night we had dinner with Mai, Mai's BF and Yuu, some of Hiroko's college friends. We had dinner then went to this nice little cafe. The ambiance there was mellow and relaxing. After we headed home for some long awaited sleep.


One of the many bike racks.. they are almost always filled like this one.


Ebisu train station.


J & S Vertical Climbing Gym. Ebisu, Tokyo .. Come here if your ever close to it.
Hiroko Otsuka, Me, 3 random climbers and owner in blue.


This is Hiroko's Patio view of the city. The high rise building is Ebisu Gardens a famous
Shopping area


Our mid day drink - Hiroko Otsuka and Mark Hsieh

Its been a few days since i arrived in Japan. Each and everyday has been full of things to see and do. From Parks to temples to shopping areas and food, each full of new experiences. One things that i really enjoy is that we can get everywhere on foot. Taking the train was fun and confusing. I held up the lines at the train station. Anyways. There are so many things to talk about I don't know where to start. Maybe i'll just right random thoughts? Okay here goes. Fio is the smartest dog i know. I must remember to stand only on the left side of the escalator if I'm not walking. Pea coats are the fashion. Many Japanese people dress really weird. Weather is great in the winter. Avoid squatter toilets. Must take off shoes for, dentist office, temple, and some restaurants. Do not enter malls right when it opens, if you do you will feel awkward when they all bow at you. A store has many floors. Houses are like fun little mazes. Ebisu is the place to live. Don't talk in cellphone in public places. Streets are super small and on the other side of the street. Remember You do not have the right of way, so jump out of cars ways. Hmm I have many more but i'll continue in the next entry.


Odaiba Marine Park, This place use to have canon.. PS good place to traverse
Hiroko Otsuka and me


A place to wash hands before entering temple.


A Large Park


Payers are tied on at the beginning of the year. @ temple


Glimpse of Shibuya.


One of the many Temple entrances
Hiroko Otsuka and Me


Tollet .. haha. Its funny that they didn't spell it right. Hiroko Otsuka


Can you find Hiroko's Place?

Ely Porter has been telling me that he will be out in Joshua Tree for winter break. What i didn't know was that he was bring down his whole passe from Ohio. There must have been 18 Ohians that road tripped there way to Joshua Tree. On sunday i went down to Joshua Tree to hang out and climb with them. Though it was ball freezing cold, I had a blast. We spent each day climbing to our hearts content. Meeting new people and see Ely again was a nice start to my winter break. Though I've been to Joshua Tree many times before, I was lucky to get the chance to go hike Mt Ryan. Mt Ryan is the tallest mountain in Joshua Tree and it hold a beautiful view of J-tree and its surrounding ranges. I also had the luck to tag White Rastafarian, a super high ball V3 R.


Ely leading an aesthetic trad line.


Natalie working out the crux


Painful finger locks to more painful finger locks .. Jon on Thin Crack.. Ely and Kyle watching


Me on high ball White Rastafarian V3 R..... 5 spotters, 4 pads, and a rock to land on..


Jay working the arete.


Me on Mt Ryan..


Matt working a hard trad line.. Nick belaying

I have been eyeing this climb for over a year now. The climb is buildering up a large retaining wall behind Hacienda Heights, Albertsons. I've always wanted to try it but never had the guts to do it. I was thinking about trying it once with rope but i felt that that took away the pureness of a Free Solo Onsight. I knew it was an easy climb, but the height and the fact that there was no rope was nerve wrecking. Today, was the day, I felt it. I put on my shoes and had my brother take pictures. When I started, my body's climb instincts just took over. I cruised right to the top. After reaching the top.. i was greeted by a worried old lady. All i can do was smile at her.


Mark Hsieh (me) Free Soloing Buildering, Albertson's reataining wall, Hacienda Heights, CA

YEs... that is correct. I am officially

Engaged

Man.. that feels good yet odd to say. When did this happen you may ask? well let me tell you. It happened. Last sunday on December 2nd. Putting the date on here is good .. cause i can always look at my blog if i ever forget the date. Here are a couple things about the day that I feel that everyone should know. It may answer some questions that you may have.. about details .. when, where, how.. why.. etc.. So here goes..

I woke up on Sunday December 2, 2007 and said to myself today will be the day. Yes.. it is true.. I am that spontaneous. Though I have been attempting to find a date I never really chose one. I just felt that that day will be the day. Why did i feel like it would be good? A couple reason. I felt this will be the only day in a long time that i will be able to spend a whole day with her on a date. Second we had Wicked tickets tickets for the night, so we are going out to Hollywood that day. So.. after church I picked up Hiroko. By the way.. I planned the whole day during that morning except the Wicket part. I decided that we should head down to Ski Dazzle for some winter sport shopping. Hiroko has been looking at snowboards online for awhile and is hoping to get one. Instead she got a brand spankin' new set of skis and boots and poles and bindings.. and.. you get the point. After that we went to Pershing Square for some outdoor ice skating. Hiroko has hinted a few times that she wanted to go ice skating and that there was one outdoors in LA. The sad part of this was that when we got there they told us that the current session was sold out. We cannot wait for the later one because we we had to get to Pantageous on time for the showing of Wicked. Though we missed out one some ice skating we were still able to have fun and take some pictures and eat a small.. no... large snack. We headed down to Hollywood to watch Wicked and that went well. After that I took her to Yamashiro. A nice cal-asain restaurant on top of Hollywood. Before we went in the restaurant I took her down to the little walk path below the restaurant that overseas the city. This is where I popped the question. I set my camera down with the timer and pretended that I was attempting to get a picture of us two with the city view. As it was about to flash I would ask her and then the camera takes the picture while I received the answer. At least thats how i wished it went. Instead I had to do it 3 times because i forgot to pre-take the ring out of its little bag, which is in my pocket. At the end i asked her.. on my knees.. and I got an "Yes.'

Pictures of the day.


Hiroko looking as pretty as ever..


Us at the Rink.. though not on..

Pershing-Square
Camera on Timer.. what a great idea.


Us touching the butt of a statue chick at Pantageous theater.


Left. Attempt one.. fumbling for ring... Right. Attempt two.. ripping it out of bag behind back


Got the Yes!.. I am engaged.

Me and Hiroko.. @ commune


Christmas Tree at Commune ... ooh my bike too


Testing some camera features on my new camera


Me the Thinker