TeeJay

Thanks, amigo Indeed, if you ever do get the chance, it is one worth taking As you say, it's very stimulating to be immersed in a different culture. I guess I didn't find too much of a problem with that, as I have studied Japanese culture quite extensively, and although I can't read Japanese, I can say things like 'yes, no, please and thankyou', and to be honest, that was all I actually needed to be able to speak, as I have a Japanese phrase book app on my iPhone, which I simply used like cue cards for if I needed to ask anything complicated, so the language wasn't really an issue, and although the exchange rate isn't 1:1, the prices were easy enough to take at face value, and not worry about over-spending

No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed reading it It trailed off a bit towards the end, as once we'd left Japan, there pretty much wasn't anything else to report

Thanks Some didn't come out as well as I'd've liked, but never mind I really wanted to go to Osaka, but sadly, we just didn't have the time or cash to make the trip

Thanks It was one of the worst movies I've watched Utterly cheesy, but sadly, not really funny, poorly acted, and way too busy trying to be 'ironic' to actually succeed in that attempt... Of them all, the best movie was the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Infact, I'd say that's one of the best movies I've ever seen, so I'd highly recommend giving it a look

As above, the universal translator is off-line, R-san, but domo arigato It really was awesome, and all came off without a hitch Well, I did break a pair of sunglasses (and nearly a finger) tripping over the table in the karaoke joint, and get a taxi to deliver us back to the hotel, but other than that, it was smooth as silk And of course, any time, I'm only too happy to document my travels, it gives me something meaningful to do while traveling Thanks, man The third sentence will answer that question for you

Thanks, it was a fantastic trip Well, the 12 hour plane flight was a bit of a drag, but it really was a fantastic occasion Thanks, I'm glad you like it I freehanded the designs with Sharpies while watching Miami Ink, and Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels the evening before the flight

I'm afraid my universal translator's off-line, but domo arigato

I think you're quite right there, and it was certainly my own ignorance of the ethos behind the first Submariners which lead to me being dismissive of them as watches, and Rolex for being 'cheap' as manufacturers (ie not being prepared to innovate in their designs, as Omega have over the years) but, once that ethos was explained to me -Practical, lightweight, reliable tool watches, not luxury items- I began to see the brand in a different light, and with a different appreciation for them. Oh I still think Rolex are behind the game in terms of innovation, and their latest releases at Basel were insults to both the eye and the wallet, but there is a simplicity about the earlier watches which is incredibly elegant, and that can only be appreciated, rather than dismissed

That's cool that you didn't have any trouble adapting to the local time, maybe it was just a case of me not adapting well, and then subconsciously trying to blame the watch

Okay, as I'm sure folks know, I've just come back from a seven day trip to Tokyo. This trip actually combined three events/occasions into one: Our honeymoon (and as such was paid for by my mum as a wedding gift) Emily's birthday, and, my best friend's wedding. Folks may recall that Andrew was my best man when I got married, so there was absolutely no way that I could live with myself had we not attended his wedding. I also bought a Rolex GMT to take in the hopes it could be used to put some competitive fun into the stag event. Initially, we had considered go-karting, but this didn't come to pass due to costs (both of the event, and the need for public transport) I had suggested an auction of the watch, with the proceeds going to Andrew as a wedding present, but, it was decided that with the amount of drinking planned (and there was a lot ) it would have been too easy for bidding to get out of hand, and someone wind up blowing their budget, so in the end, I wound up actually keeping the watch for my own collection I would still have given it up on the stag if the need arose, but it never did, so it came back with me... Time for some photos, I think... I had a pretty limited budget, but figured I could use it for some photos: By this time, the watch had been essentially rebuilt compared to it's 'out of the box' state, including: New bracelet and clasp (combined from two bracelets) new caseback (donated by my project Sub) and replacement crystal. Once it became clear that I might be keeping the watch, I decided to flame the cyclops off. However, I left the flame over the cyclops for a second too long, and the result was a cracked crystal (which obviously had to be replaced) I worked out that the crack was not due to heat per se, but because it was still fitted in the case, the bezel insert would have prevented the crystal from expanding while heating, thus causing it to crack under it's own compression... Oh well... I also worked on the bezel insert a little, by adding a few dings and scratches. I didn't want to be carrying a pristine piece through customs, and some over enthusiastic official thinking it was too new, and a Rolex, and working out it's origins. As it was, I never had any problem, even when I actually handed the watch over to a customs official in Tokyo. Why would I do such a crazy thing? Well, on our trip back, I forgot to take my phone and camera out of my pockets, and having set off the metal detector, when putting my belt, camera and phone into the tray, without thinking, pulled off my watch and threw it in as well. It was returned without a second glance from the officials (and there was even a nice display of counterfeit goods at Narita, which included a Sub ) Oh well, time for more pictures... Emily bought a new suitcase for the trip, and asked me to decorate it for her, which I was only too happy to oblige: The rear design, in particular, got a lot of admiration from the female members of staff who saw it We flew Virgin Atlantic, and had a very pleasant flight: It was awesome flying over Japan, and seeing how the urbanization flowed with the environment, rather than fighting against it... Before long, we were on the ground. Going from the conditions on the plane, to on the ground, the change in pressure, humidity and temperature, was like beaming down to an alien planet, and infact, that's how I felt for the duration of our trip, but, knowing the culture and a little of the language, I never felt unhappy, unsafe, or uncomfortable. Okay, I know that Emily and I would have stood out like sore thumbs, but, as I wasn't seeing myself, I was able to just immerse myself in the culture and felt totally at home However, after getting through customs, I was pretty thirsty... We took the JR Narita Express, and I was totally struck by how apt a phrase about Japan actually is... Yappari aoi kuni da! -/- It is a green country! But it wasn't long before we hit civilization When we arrived at Ikebukuro station, we first had to drop Andrew's relatives off at their hotel, before he showed us the way to our hotel, the Sunshine Prince, which was about 15 minutes walk. The room was simple, but comfortable, and very enjoyable to stay in This is what Tokyo looks like from 29 floors up: As Andrew had to work for a few hours, we took the opportunity to grab a few hours sleep before meeting up with folks for the evening. When I woke, this was how things were looking: That's when it actually sank in that I really was actually in Tokyo! It was like being in Blade Runner, and I have to admit, I was so excited, that pushed any tiredness well and truly into the background, and I decided to set up a quick watch-shot before we went out and met up with everyone: Something which was nice, and especially special about this, was that I got to catch up with three friends who I haven't seen in over five years, and that alone was worth the distance of the flight. First port of call was a small bar (no pics, I'm afraid) but we then moved on (rather unsteadily at this point ) to a karaoke joint Even during the fun, there was time for a couple of wrist shots of 'my new watch' That was absolutely awesome, but in all the frivolity, I nearly broke a finger while tripping over a table There is more sin than profit in wine and games of chance... That's what it says in the Qur'an, and it's now been well and truly proven to me... Emily and I tried to make our way back to the hotel, and, despite actually still being in walking distance, managed to get totally disoriented, so in the end, had to take a taxi back to the complex where the hotel was... The next day, a combination of fatigue from the traveling (during which I didn't sleep) drinking after only one pot of noodles (so essentially an empty stomach) and hypoglycemia combined to leave me feeling seriously grim when I woke up However, a few bottles of Pocari Sweat, and I was feeling well enough to go out for the 'stag afternoon'... We went to a games arcade with all manner of video games, air-hockey and a batting cage: After a little fresh air (relatively speaking ) and the adrenaline from four dozen swings, and I was actually starting to enjoy myself again After that, we moved onto a British-themed pub called the Hub, where we had some drinks (I stuck to Cola ) and had a light meal (bite sized Fish N Chips), After which, I took part in a little foos ball, which my friend Matt and I won but, the adrenaline and sugar started to wear off, the fatigue started to kick in, and we had to bail out of the 'main event' and headed back to the room... The following day was Emily's birthday, and we spent that shopping, exploring the surrounding area, and went for another meal in the Hub, before finding an awesome park right next to our hotel... We didn't meet up with any of the others that day, so it was a quiet evening prior to the wedding... The wedding was a traditional Shinto ceremony, and truly awesome to participate in. We didn't take any pictures during the ceremony, but did take some before, and at the reception Before the ceremony, we got a special waiting room Being a traditional ceremony, Andrew wore kimono and hakama: There were quite a few guests for Andrew's side of the ceremony. Some, as mentioned, were friends I already knew, but it also gave us the opportunity to make some great new acquaintances After the ceremony, Andrew was able to change into something more familiar for the first reception... And it wasn't long before he had an awesome accessory... After a quick parlour game, it was time for Andrew and Keiko to cut the cake... Then it was time to move on to the second reception... And it was great to see Andrew having a good time with his dad and sister... I've always felt that people I would die for are my family (related or otherwise) and those are three people I would die for without hesitation. Two awesome people we met, and became friends with, were James and his wife Ayumi, who also live in Tokyo. It would be fantastic to be able to meet up with them again, insha'allah The next day was spend wandering the shopping mall under the hotel, collecting gifts and trinkets, but there was an event going on as well I then encountered what appeared to be a HAL unit... It didn't start singing 'Daisy' or call me 'Dave', so I think I had a lucky escape The next day, we left Tokyo to head back to Narita for our flight the following day (saved us getting up at 5AM to make the 11:30AM flight...) We stayed at this Travel Inn, which was actually a more luxurious hotel than the hotel in Tokyo Then it was back to Narita airport where Totoro-san got a lot of attention from the ladies... There was a really nice waiting area by our departure area... And we ran into an old friend... And then we were gone... Totoro-san proved a nervous traveller... This was somewhere over Russia (near the Caspian Sea) After that, it was pretty much just a case of waiting for the plane, and taxi to get us home. On the flight, I watched quite a few movies... Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Burn After Reading, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Lesbian Vampire Killers, Yes Man and Notorious. Some were good, some less so, and some were awesome... I hope you've enjoyed the pictorial, thanks for taking the time to read it

Those're fantastic rings Custom work FTW

I have to admit, I'm surprised you didn't like the Yacht-Master. I've trashed mine (whoops...) but I love the 3-D bezel. I guess they're not for everyone, but nice watches

I just wanted to bring this up so as not to drag my upcoming pictorial off track, but I really wanted to get other's opinions and feedback on wearing a watch with a GMT function while in a different timezone, ie business trips/vacations, and most specifically, do people find that it helps, or hinders their ability to synch to the local time? Here're my findings... On my last trip to Spain, I wore my 029a, and used it to keep track on UK time (only minus an hour, but still fun to do ) I didn't have any problem adjusting to local time, I guess because it was so close to GMT anyway. However, on my trip to Japan, I wore a Rolex GMT and never adjusted to the local time at all. I'm back home, and having no problems with the UK timezone and the difference with Tokyo. Okay, I admit, I'm somewhat tired and mentally a little 'fuzzy round the edges', but a 12 hour flight will do that to a person I'm wondering if my inability to synch to the time in Tokyo, was because I was always aware of what the time was in the UK, rather than simply ignoring UK time all together, and just living purely on Tokyo time. I admit, I find the GMT function very handy to be able to track a second timezone, and I like having that function on a watch, but I'm not so sure that it actually helped me while in a second timezone... Might I have adjusted better had I not been using a GMT function... Might I have adjusted better had I stayed longer, or would sleep deprivation simply have driven me round the bend? What are other people's experiences?

I have mixed feelings about Rolex... I'm currently wearing Rolex (as much necessity as by choice ) and have to admit, they are very practical watches. They do what they need to do. I think the more recent releases have been monstrous gaudy junk, and I do think that Rolex have been very slow to make innovations to their line, such as AR coating, improvement of the oyster clasp etc etc. I've always enjoyed wearing the Rolexes which I owned, but I have to admit, when I first got my Submariner, I did feel that I might be 'too young' to be wearing such a watch. I didn't care and carried on wearing it, but, it was a thought at the back of my mind... I wore Rolexes on my recent trip to Tokyo (pictorial coming soon ) and didn't get a single comment, compliment, call out, or even interested look from passers by, and that was an awesome feeling, because it reinforces what everyone says, that the majority of folks don't care what someone else is wearing, and also made me feel that the watches must not have looked out of place on me, or someone (only an iteki gaijin, of course ) might have said something

I think there are times when large dials are useful and appropriate, I guess it's just a matter of personal taste. The other day, and for the first time in my life, I saw a guy wearing what was blatantly a woman's watch. A DJ clone, with a dial size around 20mm. It was very much a double-edged sword, in that it was obviously a woman's watch, and looked a little out of place, but, it didn't look totally stupid... I guess the only option is to wear what you want and just enjoy it, regardless of others opinions

I like RWI, it's a fantastic forum, and an awesome mix of people

It looks absolutely fantastic, bro, there's not much else I can say

Nothing wrong with quartz watches at all I think it's simply a case of mechanical watches being a product of their time (ie quartz not being available 100 odd years ago) and those brands now having a prestige reputation. I think that the simplicity of a quartz movement compared to a mechanical movement, is part of the reason why quartz are popular in some circles, mechanical popular in others, in that it's a case of whatever interests the person more. It'd be cool of some of the 'prestige companies' were to start making affordable quartz watches, but I guess they won't do it, so as not to impact on the prestige of their mechanical watches Here's a quartz watch I enjoy wearing

Good to see you, bro, I trust life's been treating you well?

I'm glad you're enjoying it That's an awesome offer, but I'd feel bad if I didn't pay you something for it It'll be interesting to see a comparison between the two watches

And perfect for what I have in mind

When you get your replacement, I'll be happy to buy that one off you for the full price you paid for it

I applaud your taste, my friend I have to admit, I'm starting to hope that no one will want to get in on an auction for the watch so I can keep it for myself My Yacht-Master's pretty versatile, and my project Sub is fun, but, there's something about a GMT which I really like That's an awesome strap, by the way, where did you acquire it?

Welcome, indeed