Now let me share some photos of these unique encounters. Images help settle some confusion from mere imagination.
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| Eggs do expire |
Eggs have an expiration date. The closer they are to the due date, the cheaper they become -- as with everything else in the groceries here. That's why you need to get out of bed each day and head out to the nearest store to check the deals. BTW, don't be surprised if the egg yolks are orange-y vs. the yellow we're all used to seeing.
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| The Japanese washlet because AUTOMAGIC |
Of course, the washlet deserves a special mention. Not sure if I had any prior engagement with one the last time I was here (ca. 2004) but I immediately spent time with it on my first day back. And I can't help but burn almost an entire hour because -- heated seat. ZOMG. I don't know if I can live without one now, lol.
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| Your average trash bin at McDonald's |
They are pretty serious about waste management. There is a big poster at my wife's apartment detailing what goes where, what color of trash bag to be used when throwing all of them away, and how and when to do it, properly. I am definitely keeping that poster, bring it back home, share, and reproduce. The City of Golden Friendship -- Cagayan de Oro -- and all its residents need some garbage school discipline.
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| Separate. Always separate garbage. |
It took me a week to get some confidence in deciding which should fall into the yellow bags (combustibles) vs. the friendly green bags or recyclables. Where I'm from, all we ever do is put all of them in one bag and that's it! We need to change that soon to prevent the next great CDO flooding.
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| How grocery deals look like (mostly) |
Should you decide to drop by the nearest grocery store, always make it a point to look around and check the goods arranged away from the formal aisles. This is where the cheap stuff usually are. Pro-tip: check expiration dates other than price. Heck, you can even start with the expiration date since you'll mostly end up holding the cheapest in the batch. So when it expires tomorrow, better buy it now (not later) and eat it, too.
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| Folders or foldies |
If you can't find a bike you like to take home, then you are most likely not in The Land of the Rising Sun. Just about every bike imaginable is here, like WOW. You can find folders (or foldies), MTBs, BMXs, Mom-bikes or Dad-bikes, kid bikes, toddler bikes, trikes, road bikes, weekend bikes, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-ggggggg (so I can stop enumerating)!!
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| Bikes on sale. Some new designs, some oldies-but-goldies... |
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| That F6F got my attention like love at first sight... but fell out of love because, price. |
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| Saw EABs (Electric Assisted Bikes) for the first time here! |
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| Fat Bike by Jeep. Badass. Guess for off-roading ? Awesome. |
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| And of course (shameless plug), my modest foldie by Asahi! |
I bought a folding bike on my 5th day. Why a folding bike out of all makes, shapes, and types of bikes available here ? Because I've already owned all MTB sizes before -- 26, 29, and 650b -- and I can't use them without sporting the gears plus I can't carry them anywhere. I also wanted to bring something JDM home -- so it has got to be this Asahi Thrift-G 6-speed folder from Cycle Base Asahi. I love it and I can't wait to carry this back to the Motherland!!
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| Immediately night-rated after purchase because I brought the Jido & Omni CatEyes with me |
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| Bike locks come standard with every purchase. This one's from my wife's bike. |
Also wanted to share that when you purchase a brand new bike, you should also buy its license so when it, unfortunately, gets lost (or stolen), you can ask help from the police. Spent ¥500 for the green sticker here in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture.
