'...and me, just another dream theory, lost inside your eyes...'

Hong Kong, what to say about Hong Kong? With the exception of Kowloon, its a beautiful city; lovely islands, great panoramas, good hiking, lots of history, and so on... A bit heavy on the nightlife, though. Next time, the nightlife gets a pass. In fact, next time its back to being a lone-traveler. Having someone around always ruins traveling. Its like being bipolar.
The Stanley Military Cemetary in particular is quite poignant, and very quiet...no gawking, overly zealous, misguided patriots there to ruin the day. A near miss, though, a near miss. Timing is everything and so are work schedules. Victoria peak is recommended, day or night. Fantastic view.
Back to routine in Tokyo, though the 4 and a half is in dire need of a not just a cleaning, it needs a rubbish bin or perhaps several bales of gun-cotton. Christmas on Monday.
Merry Christmas!

'...now the morning after, it's just you and yours...'

Travis has sent out his annual Top Five request and its perplexing. What to pick? So far its been an okay year for indie and underground music but most of the LPs that have been getting regular play around here come from the reissue bin. Chavez is a good example. Spoon's recent reissues are another. However, if choices must be made best act soon. Perhaps the new Melvins LP should get the spot. Or Cat Power. Or perhaps the comprehensive Chavez reissue.
"You ask me who I pick? I pick Chavez."
So much better than all that predictable pop and 'alternative' music that made the other principles' lists.
Two men from Spain are currently residing in the apartment, making life a little tight. Members of a Spanish straight edge group. They are, however, really funny guys and have a knack for teaching one dirty words in Spanish. Juvenile, maybe, but also fairly entertaining. So far, its been a riot and will, one surmises, continue to be so. December 10th: Hong Kong to visit Ryan. Hopefully that will be a riot too.

'...i wish i saved up for rainy days, 'cuz they're the hardest to stay dry...'

Been a while. Rainy and very chilly, not so good for camping. Why so quiet? Who can say really? Busy, tired, away, depressed. Busy for the sake of argument...partially true, anyway. Off to Hong Kong to visit Ryan in a month, should be fun. One can hope, there's always that until the door is finally slammed. No news coming from the direction of home so things at home seem to have settled with all of the drama that was happening. Good. Drama sucks.
Missed BORIS and Merzbow on the weekend. Damn. Canada's conservative government is currently the best entertainment going.

'...do you miss me, miss misery, like you say you do...'

Missed opportunites? Mispent youth? Is something really mispent if so much is learned from it? Melancholy. Mixed news from several quarters back home today: health problems, marital problems, psychological problems... These things set thought and worry in motion, motivate self-evaluation, self-doubt...and that terrible feeling of helplessness that sometimes comes so far from home. Helplessness...is that even a proper word? Feels like it should be echoing down a deserted urban canyon. Nothing to be done, of course, but these are the moments that stick. Life. Always sticking on the rough patches and never on the smooth ones. Memory can't stick to a smooth surface, it would seem, only one that's been roughed up a bit.
Beautiful. Chilly. Good for camping.
God bless Elliott Smith.

'...there she goes, leaves a portrait in my soul...'

"Do Kokomo!" A common request of late. While it's not a problem as the song's not difficult, it does suddenly stand as a testament to how bad mainstream pop music was in the '80s. Yesterday SATY was playing 'Africa' and the greatest hits of Toto at the main entrance...
Ah, Japan.

'...don't look for hidden meanings in a Cardinals song...'

A melancholy world this a.m, bathed in watery grey light and the smell of car exhaust. Only the birds seem unaffected by it all. Trip number four to Kamakura today if the weather holds. If not perhaps some other distraction, the parasite or salt museums, Parco 4, Starbucks. Starbucks' World Domination Program continues to be a success...world hegemony is only an espresso shot away.
Spoon have released an iTunes exclusive by the name of "My First Time Volume 3".

'...you could always see into, the dark for miles around...'

Happy Halloween! A few more stares on the train than is normal...
'Twas a good party. Selected pics may appear on the Photo Guild at some point.