http://www.mikeylambe.com little irish jackhammer Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:48:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The current issue of Kyoto's CF magazine is themed around the joys of cycling and thus, as I have a rather spiffy mountain bike (thanks Helen!) and I'm friends with Taga-san at KTCP there's a picture of me in there too, cheesing one of my cheesiest of cheesy grins. ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/09/04/im-in-club-fame-yes-that-is-actually-what-it-stands-for/ September is here, summer is over and I'm back at work already. This time last week I was in an African desert, but tomorrow I'll be standing in front of Japanese teenagers once again teaching the past tense of irregular verbs. I got back last Saturday and I'm still jet-lagged ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/09/02/south-africa-pictures-1/ I'm off to Africa today. AFRICA!! Fancy that! Specifically, Cape Town in South Africa to visit Udo and Fumi. They live in Seapoint which I believe is a bit posh and they can it seems see whales gambolling in the ocean from their balcony. Fancy that! I told my mother ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/08/18/and-hes-off/ A fresh post up on Deep Kyoto today for the cafe/bar Salut Ya. Top slogan they have there: Soup! Hamburger!! Last weekend I went to see the long-awaited follow-up to Batman Begins (which I loved), The Dark Knight. I'd heard it was dark, but man, that's a really dark ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/08/13/whats-been-going-on/ I went to Osaka Kaiyukan last weekend. They have nice collection of wonderful beasties and weirdy creatures from another world. It's all set up to be both entertaining and educational and so a good place to take the kids (if you have any) and get them interested in the natural ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/08/08/%e5%a4%a7%e9%98%aa%e6%b5%b7%e9%81%8a%e9%a4%a8/ Here's some thoughts from Masaya Kanzaki on my last post: Thanks for the new poem. It's a simple poem but I like the message in it. And your translation and explanation are very good. The poet tries to see positive aspects in negative things. It's very Zen, isn't it? I like this ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/08/04/%e8%87%aa%e5%88%86%e3%81%8c%e8%87%aa%e5%88%86%e3%81%ab%e3%81%aa%e3%82%8b-you-become-yourself/ Here's a couple of links before I get started. One to Deep Kyoto and the Cafe/Bar/Knick-Knack shop Smoke Room. Then up on Pink Tentacle I love these beautiful 19th century Japanese ghost scrolls. Nice and creepy for the Obon season. Now for today's message from Hozouji which is a poem by the ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/08/02/manure/ Here are some pictures from Gion Matsuri I've been wanting to put up all week but bubbleshare has been acting up lately so... Anyway, the first set are from last Sunday, I got a couple of tickets to go and look inside two of the festival floats which was pretty ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/07/18/%e7%a5%87%e5%9c%92%e7%a5%ad/ Here's a news video from the BBC on the super-enviromently friendly "zero waste" policy of Kamikatsu town in Shikoku, Japan. If only the whole country world would follow suit... LINK And here's an amusing video from The Onion: Bush Tours America to Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency. And here's my ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/07/11/zero-waste/ I want to get a couple of links out of the way first so... There aren't enough posts on bars on Deep Kyoto. This summer I aims to remedy that. God help my liver! Anyway, the first of many is up tonight: Bar Hawkwind. It's a good place. I like it. And ... http://www.mikeylambe.com/2008/07/09/masayas-meditation/