COOL STUFF IN JAPAN 19 - “LITTLE SHRIMP CREATURE FROM HELL”

This was the only worthwhile picture that I took while inside the Kochi aquarium and it took FOREVER because…

a. Vicki couldn’t hold the damn magnifying glass still

b. The little shrimp creature from hell wouldn’t stay still

c. I couldn’t figure out how to focus my my damn camera

Answer: Definitely not “c”, but I’m torn between “a” and “b”.

Also, I can neither confirm nor deny that this creature is in fact a shrimp. But what I can confirm is this… it is certainly, without a doubt, from HELL!!!

PLACES OF JAPAN 12 - “KOCHI BEACH IS BETTER THAN OCEAN CITY”

Vicki and I spent most of our time in Kochi following Vicki’s dad around. He’s a rather quiet guy and English is definitely his second language, so sometimes I didn’t quite know what was happening.

Anyway, on this particular day all I knew is that we were going to see the “Kochi Aquarium” (This was a favor to me as I’m a big fan of any organism that can breathe underwater). So when I hopped out of the bus and walked up some steps and saw this beautiful beach scene my mind was blown. I didn’t even realize we were near a beach, much less a beach with epic cliffs and lush shrubbery.

I should mention that the only beach I’d really been to before this is the rather eclectic beach at Ocean City, Maryland. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have many fond memories of getting stung by jelly fish and getting sand in my bathing suit during summer vacations to Ocean City, and Thrashers Fries are the best fries ever… but never in my life have I seen such beautiful blue water as I did in Kochi. It was quite magical. 

Oh, and if you’re curious, the Kochi Aquarium is just outside of this frame to the right.

PEOPLE OF JAPAN 06 - “A FISH, A CRAB, A MAN, AND A FLOPPY HAT”

This is what happens when the perfect storm of a goofy fish, a quiet man, and a “giant nightmare freak-a-zoid crab creature from hell” suddenly collides before your eyes. I feel bad knowing that most folks will ever experience an event of this magnitude in their lifetimes.

Also, there is a top-secret second fish hiding somewhere in this photo, and no, it’s not hiding under the floppy hat. Although I wouldn’t rule out a hermit crab being under there.

PEOPLE OF JAPAN 05 - “A PRETTY NICE MOMENT”

I wish I would have gotten this guy’s email address as I think he’d probably like this picture. He really looks genuinely “happy”. 

Note: I’d be happy too if I had a daughter with such awesome hair. Usually one would need a balloon and carpet to achieve that sort of hair style, but not her, she’s got it and she knows how to work it!

PEOPLE OF JAPAN 04 - “BABY SIMBA”

I probably shouldn’t be taking pictures of other people’s kids, but when this guy held up this adorable baby “Lion King” style I simply could not resist.

Sort of funny/sad story: I told Vicki that I thought this baby looked liked she did as a baby and she said that I was a bit of a racist for assuming that all “Half Japanese Half White” babies looked the same. I then told her that she was a bit of a racist for assuming that the baby was “Half Japanese Half White” just because she was with a Japanese woman and a white man. Vicki was not amused.

COOL STUFF IN JAPAN 02 - “STING RAY SUPER TUBE OF MINNOW MAGIC”

Had one of these things existed when I was a kid my head would literally have exploded from “awesome overload”.

Seriously, I’m an old married dude and as I was walking through this tunnel I could literally feel the “awesome meter” in my brain getting close to the danger zone. Had a shark swam by in a Santa Hat my brain literally would have exploded and Vicki literally would have killed me.

PEOPLE OF JAPAN 02 - “NOT INTERESTED”

Apparently not everyone was as into the Crazy Christmas Dolphin Show as I was. Seriously, that article must be damn good if it’s more interesting than the Santas swimming with dolphins some twenty feet away.