Snowboarding

Snowboarding
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This picture is dedicated to all the people who had the privilege to see the 'Alien' in Stockholm :D

Boarders: Tommy, myself, Pablo and Rasa. First time on a snowboard... the picture was taken before the action started, and luckily all of us survived. There was no need to call sergeant Ripley for 'Alien Returns'.

However, I fell down hundreds of times, following my own tradition, but I had a lot of fun, and would like to repeat the experience. Maybe in Pirineos?

Snow is cool!

Chinese New Year in Kobe's Chinatown

Chinese New Year in Kobe's Chinatown
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

We went to Kobe to visit the city and enjoy the celebrations for the Chinese New Year (around the first week of February), held in the big Chinatown of this important japanese port.

During the whole day, there was a white dragon dancing through town and entering the shops and restaurants. In the picture, you can also see a traditional chinese gate ('mon') marking the west border of the town.

Kobe Tower and Maritime Museum

Kobe Tower and Maritime Museum
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

I love these night pictures... :)

The picture was taken at Kobe's port area. The tall red building is Kobe Tower, whose shape reminds of a traditional japanese hand drum. The other structure is part of the maritime museum, and my guess is that it's design is inspired by a ship.

Hakone

Hakone
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This is a picture taken on a day we decided to go hiking with the japanese teachers, to Hakone area. I wanted to show how beautiful and impressive Mt. Fuji is, but... it got cloudy!

Mt. Fuji is supposed to be behind those clouds on the left, I have seen it several times and it's really amazing. However, I have good news for my fans, because I have in mind climbing the sacred mountain of Japan this summer, and I'll show you the pics!

Careful Elephants!

Careful Elephants!
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

In my dear homeland of Spain, you can find traffic signs warning you about deers. So far, normal.

In Sweden, it was already shocking to see those famous signs that warn drivers about mooses, those horse-like animals with huge horns that appeared in the TV-series 'Northern Exposure', in spanish 'Doctor en Alaska'.

In Cambodia, you can see what kind of fauna you have to be 'carefull' with, I wonder if the insurance covers it...

PS: In Japan, I haven't seen any 'Mind the Godzilla' sign yet. XD

Birthday Present

Birthday Present
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

I know it was long ago (my birthday is on Nov 21st...), but here it goes anyway. This is the place where my friends in Tokyo took me, without previous notice, to celebrate my birthday.

It was a 'theme restaurant', like a prison-psychiatric-dungeon style, with very cute waitresses. They even made a very funny performance in the middle of the dinner.

BTW, I know what many people will think when they see the handcuffs, but the present was not that good... XD

Osaka - Picture with Drumming Man

Osaka - Picture with Drumming Man
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Well, let me explain... this is a picture with a drumming 'dummy' in Osaka. And the reason of taking a picture precisely there is just because everybody does it. Conclusion, people take a picture there because it's what you're supposed to do.

I think I'll have to live longer in Japan to understand this kind of stuff, but I'm starting to get the point... XD

From left to right: Tommi (FIN), I, Pablo (CHI) and Petr (CZ).

Floating Villages

Floating Villages
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Holidays in Cambodia, boat trip from Siem Reap to Battambang.

It's indescriptible what one feels when travelling through these floating villages in the manglar (flooded jungle) and all the children around want to greet you.

Indeed, one of the best experiences in my life, the kind that you usually watch in National Geographic but it's hard to believe it's real.

Yokohama Bay

Yokohama Bay
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Sightseeing around Yokohama, the biggest port in Japan. Actually, Yokohama is a huge city itself, but it's impossible to tell when Tokyo ends and Yokohama starts...

This is the area around the bay, with the famous ferris wheel that gets lighted in the evening and the promenades over the water. In this area there's also the Landmark Tower, the highest building in Japan, and several other great sights.

Funenbutsu Team

Funenbutsu Team
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

One of my 'admirers' got surprised when she got a glimpse of me wearing suit and tie... well, here you have a close-up ;)

This picture was taken in December, right after the final presentation of the japanese language course. We had to speak in japanese for 15 minutes + 15 minutes of questions. The topic was 'Resource Usage' and the name of our team was 'Funenbutsu', i.e. 'The Unburnables'.

From left to right: Juan, Rebeca and I. Spanish team, as you can see...

Automatic Vending Machines with Eggs!

Automatic Vending Machines with Eggs!
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Japan is crowded with automatic vending machines. Recent studies show that there's one of these machines for every 30 japanese!

They usually sell beverages, but also newspapers, transportations cards, meal tickets and... eggs! Yes, this is one of those machines, quite close to my apartment, and it sells fresh eggs.

I haven't bought any though...

Kendo in the Street

Kendo in the Street
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

One of my last extravagant ideas: going to kendo lessons! :)

Kendo (literally meaning 'the way of the sword') is the martial art derived from traditional japanese fencing, which samurai warriors practiced.

In the picture, Rasa, who's also taking lessons with me, and I are trying the bamboo swords, called 'shinai', in the street in front of the kendo gear shop.

I promise future pictures of ourselves with the full equipment on... don't miss them!

Korean Traditional Costumes

Korean Traditional Costumes
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This funny and colourful picture was taken at the Korean Folk Village in Seoul, where tourists could try traditional costumes on themselves for a reasonable price.

I'm still laughing when I see myself dressed in such a way... but apparently, Korean people liked it long ago!

From left to right: Tommy (Fin), Rebeca (Spa), I and Rasa (Lit).

National Museum of Khmer Sculpture

National Museum of Khmer Sculpture
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This is the inside of the National Museum of Khmer Sculpture, in Phnom Pehn, the capital of Cambodia. The Khmers are the people who built the most powerful empire in South-East Asia about 1000 years ago.

The eye-catching decorations on the roof are typical of Cambodian architecture, and they can also be seen, for example, at the Royal Palace or at many of the Buddhist temples around the city.

Angkor Wat - Flower Pool

Angkor Wat - Flower Pool
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Angkor area is located close to Siem Reap, in Western Cambodia. The main temple, Angkor Wat, is the biggest religious building in the world.

This is a front view of the inner palace and one of the flower-covered pools that surround it.

Just look...

Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Jinja

Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Jinja
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This picture is especially dedicated to my good friends (Alex, Ines, Nacho, Uge and Nicola) who are going to visit me in Easter.

You can see here the start of the 4 km. long path that leads to one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto. The way is very densely covered with these beautiful red 'torii' (shinto gates) that make this walk a very special one indeed.

NTT Welcome Party

NTT Welcome Party
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This is the welcome party that NTT organized for me and my Vulcanus mates at an izagaya (japanese style restaurant-pub) in Nara.

We had a great time there, we're all quite happy with the atmosphere at the lab. The man to my left is Ishizuka-san, the supervisor of my research, and the girl to my right is Yoshimura-san, kind enough to solve many of our daily 'gaijin' problems.