Bidet Fascination in Tokyo Japan

The Bidet was one of the things that I was most excited about seeing as I anticipated my trip to Japan.  I had heard about it, but I wanted to experience it.   So within in my hotel room was the bathroom pictured above.  I had to step up into it.  It reminded me of a "cruise ship" compact experience.  It was self contained and probably easy to clean.

I have extremely dry skin so I only use liquid soaps.  They provided great liquid soaps, and I brought my own as well.

The Bidet functionality is available for purchase in Japanese stores for about $350 US dollars starting prices.  I do not know how much plumbing adjustments are required but the bidet button is for the female front area.  There is also a "spray" button for the "posterior" in which everyone can use.

The airport in Japan offered the bidet experience too.  I was too intimidated upon arrival in Japan to experiment with the bidet until I got to my hotel room.  I was like a kid with a new toy trying to see which spray button felt the best.  You can adjust water pressure and temperature as well - but I didn't make any of those adjustments.  The toilet seat was heated itself.

I would love to have my own bidet one day.  I never thought that I would dedicate a blog article to a toilet experience, but there is a first for everything.  I hope you love the education.

Confessions II: The Joke was Never Funny

On July 4, 2014, I published the first "Confessions" blog article:
https://applebaumparadigm.blogspot.com/2014/07/confessions-this-joke-isnt-funny-anymore.html


Almost five years later,

this is Part Two of  "Confessions"

To all those who question my December 2018 release of the name of my date rapist:

There are still too many political plays going on for me to give a full statement surrounding the timing of the release of the Identity of my date rapist.  Just know that the decision I made was the right decision for the dynamics in play in my life.  It was God's timing.  It was perfect timing.  Also,  on that night of the rape, my date rapist asked me this question:

How does it feel to be fucked by someone who does not give a damn about you? 

I was going to answer, but I remember him holding his head down in disbelief that I was going to speak.  So I never answered that question.  Now,

He should be able to answer to his own question.

Futhermore,

The Joke was Never funny.

To my attorney who showed up in small claims court to tell the judge that Coastal Federal Credit Union was within their rights to renew a ten year judgment against me:

North Carolina State Bar has multiple grievances on file against you.  My grievance being one of them.

The Joke was Never Funny.

To Carolinas Healthcare Systems (now Atrium Health):

My Blog articles surrounding my part-time hairdresser employment experience made it into a US Department of Labor report.  

The Joke was Never funny.

To the 2016-2018 Mecklenburg County Sheriff Administration:

You had no way for Mecklenburg County citizens to file complaints against your sheriff deputies.  Your administration had a lot of corruption.  Now, there is a portal for citizens to file complaints.  Now, there is a new sheriff administration in office in 2019.

The Joke was Never Funny.

Familiar USA names abroad

Frankfurt, Germany had both Aldi and Lidl grocery stores.

I also saw McDonald's, Starbucks, Subway, and KFC in Frankfurt, Germany.

Tokyo, Japan had Microsoft and Canon skyscrapers.

Frankfurt, Germany had H and M department store.

Tokyo, Japan offered a special floor for IMAX movie showings.

GE had a skyscraper in Frankfurt, Germany.

I saw Hilton and Residence Inn hotels in Frankfurt, Germany.

I also found a Maserati showroom in Frankfurt, Germany.

2019 Charlotte NC public transportation

Charlotte's Light Rail train

I had someone to tell me that I blessed them by sharing the truth about Charlotte's lack of public transportation. The individual was new to the area and could not figure out why so many were struggling with transportation.

First of all, let's start with the lack of a train system in Charlotte.  The NBA All Stars game Event is in Charlotte, NC this week.  In many major cities, when a flight arrives at the airport, the passenger can then hop onto a train system that is attached to the airport and ride it to the stop closest to their hotel.  Rental cars become less necessary when one's hotel is near a transit stop.

Well, Charlotte has a single train system that travels around in a circle from South Charlotte to University of NC at Charlotte.  There is no N-train, no S-train. And if the light rail needs major maintenance, then it is literally shutdown. People are then forced to use the bus system exclusively. 

And how about those bus services? The Charlotte bus system changes routes and drivers about every three to four months.  So for anyone to base housing or a job on a bus route in Charlotte, NC would be risky. Times or routes could change in the not so distant future.  Also, bus frequency averages every thirty minutes versus every five minutes in a major city.

Frankfurt, Germany

Major cities in the USA (like Boston, MA and Manhattan, NY) as well as abroad, have underground train systems built into the city.  The city then continues building structures around the train system.  An efficient and vast train system drives foot traffic.  Foot traffic drives business.

Tokyo Japan train

Charlotte is one of the largest cities in North Carolina, and with an average housing rental rate of $1200 a month, a vast public transportation system is needed to offset personal vehicles and traffic jams.

Yet, I see skyscrapers and buildings going up everywhere without any underground infrastructure going in.  I see more train tracks being laid down the streets.  Sadly, I don't see Charlotte, NC ever being able to meet the public transportation needs of a major city.  They are not laying the foundation to move massive amounts of people efficiently.  It will forever be a small town with a lot of people in it.

Food porn from 2019 Japan and Germany travel

Pizza in Japan with Salmon topping and made with White sauce.

Dessert in Japan:  Sherbert wrapped in mochi, sliced strawberry, etc.

Breakfast in Japan:  Mackerel and salmon, french toast, hotcake, fruits, sweet roll

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Breakfast in Japan:  salad, corn soup, fruit, eggs, thin bacon, thick bacon.

One of my meals on my ANA flight: Japanese beef, rice, vegetables, fruit, and yogurt.

Turkish food in Germany:  Salad, rice, and Shredded Beef

Turkish lamb chops in Germany with Salad, slaw, and some Japanese plum wine.

McDonald's (McCafe) has its own counter with bakery in Germany.

Movie theater in Germany serves its popcorn in a box not a bag.

My new favorite: Peach juice in Japan!  (Move over orange and cranberry juices!)

I also took my Herbalife meal replacement powders for multi-vitamin purposes.  Exercise is definitely top priority to burn up all the calories you see and don't see.  The complimentary breakfast options in Japan were unbelievably VAST.  I loved me "some Tokyo, Japan!"

That's all the juice for now!

My Regional Frankfurt Germany 2019 Adventure

The CineStar movie theater had a separate listing for movies showing in English.  I was able to watch the Mule (English version, no subtitles) in Germany.  They also had the brilliant idea to put their movie popcorn in a box to carry instead of a bag.  Loved the popcorn, the box, and the movie.  Nice architecture of the building too!

Movie Popcorn!

Alot of German buildings are definitely not "cookie-cutter."  They have their own unique flavor. Mountainside.

More and more Architecture the farther I got away from the Frankfurt City Limits.

Windmill energy was also a part of the recycling efforts in the villages in the Frankfurt Germany region.  The villages get more snow.  The snow accumulation pictured is from before I arrived in Germany.  It did NOT snow while I was there.

Germany's electrical outlets are very distinguished.  Thank God that the USB ports are built-in for charging cellular phones.  For any other potential electrical devices that were not already provided in the hotel room, you are probably out of luck.  Thank God I have natural, locked hair. I stayed on the move.

Look close at the sign.  I saw Frankenstein. LOL I passed through on the "long distance" train ride to Kaiserslautern to see a German friend in one of the villages.  The villages do not have homeowner associations either.  Everyone mines their own business.

Elevators had negative numbered floors.

Affordable regional buses are also available.  I took the FlixBus on my return back to Frankfurt City.

Public transportation is definitely built into this city.  Plenty of pedestrians.  Foot traffic drives success of businesses.  This is something that certain cities don't understand.  You need sidewalks.  All cities should force foot traffic for shopping and exercise.  I didn't see any traffic jams in Germany.

Nothing wrong with a little window shopping in Frankfurt City. (Did you smile?)

I watched the Superbowl through the middle of the night because of the time zone.  Frankfurt Germany is six hours ahead.  So I started watching the SuperBowl at 11pm with German commentators.  I didn't understand what they were saying, but singing is singing, and football is football.

Old and new buildings co-exist in Frankfurt City.

Mixed used buildings with residential living and commercial businesses are also popular in Frankfurt City.  As far as people being helpful with directions and assistance,  I found the Germans (in passing) to definitely be more rude and not even wanting to be bothered with the English speaking. Hotel staff was wonderful.  Most tourist attractions are going to be bilingual and friendly.

Common areas/courtyards allow more art showcases. Homelessness was very visible from inside the Frankfurt airport to the Frankfurt city street corners.  Sleeping bags and beggars.  No one was rude.  No one ran them off.  Mine your own business.  Help or don't help. Human beings gave respect to each other.  As far as public water closets or toilets go, they are only in restaurants.  I even had to pay a Euro to use the "water closet" in the train stations in the villages.  Yeah, I was in shock, but with so much homelessness, I suppose they don't need everybody taking a wash in the public water closets.

My hotel room was modern.  The comforter/sheets were "all in one." This was a cool concept.  It has to save on laundry time.  It was the thickness of a sleeping bag, but no zipping.  You just cover up with it.

Yeah, the see-through shower was a cool design.  It is still just a shower for the independent traveller. LOL

I enjoyed the sauna at the hotel too!  My locs loved that dry heat!

As far as hair goes, Germans were NOT wearing any wigs nor rainbow colored hair.  Both my Japanese hotel room and my German hotel room had electric water kettles.  Drinking Tea is built into both Japanese and German cultures.  They also have heads full of hair.  I bought me a electric tea kettle upon my return to the United States.  Notice the electrical outlet. These countries got their own thing going on.  The American dollar is weaker than the Euro currency at this time.  Most businesses are also closed on Sundays in Germany except the restaurants.

The grass is not necessarily greener abroad, but it certainly gives you a better world perspective.

Tokyo Japan 2019 Adventure

Japan was 14 hours ahead.  I flew over the dateline.

My hotel room was designed for the independent traveller.  Practical  and compact.

The bidet button is for cleaning feminine parts.  The spray button is for posterior.  These specialized toilets were also in the airport.  

The Aqua Park was amazing!  I saw day and night dolphin performances.

My native Japanese friend captured this entertainer riding the dolphin.

The Aqua Park had a few rides available for a separate fee.

My Sorority colors. 

I called these fish "nosy." LOL

I captured a lot of video of jellyfish, stingrays, eels, turtle, etc.  There were a lot of different fish, penguins, otters, reptiles, etc.  I also watched fur seal and sea lion performances.

Shinagawa was a great location to enjoy fine food, fine shopping, movies, AquaPark and more. It is a short train ride from the airport.  I also saw quite a few clothes hanging on clotheslines.  The residential areas definitely do not have Homeowners Associations.  The commercial areas had no visible trash cans around and the STREETS were clean!  As much as the Japanese focus on being clean; many people wore masks EVERYWHERE.  I believe the flu was bad, and people just wanted to take precautions.  Although, my friend said some women wear masks because they didn't apply their cosmetic makeup that day or just go incognito.  Who knows?  I enjoyed Tokyo.

The airplane food was served every two hours as a full meal or a snack. I needed a fitness room by the time I got off the plane.  They had some Italian face and body products inside the toilets making them smell great. My ANA flight was the best plane trip ever!!  I loved my movie selection too!

I caught this penguin in mid-air! That's all folks!