I Have a Special Plan For This World
Tuesday, 29. August 2006, 11:11:49
Well, I just got a cluster map account, and the only place I can think of to put the link to the map is here, so, even though I have nothing to declare, apart from my plan for world domination, I am writing this blog entry. Here's the map (if it works):
WIDGETIZE
devans # 29. August 2006, 20:05
Do I get to be a dot on it?
Hope so, never known what it would be like to be a dot.
Maybe know I'll know.
Quentin S Crisp # 29. August 2006, 20:10
devans # 29. August 2006, 20:23
I came that way because I had just arrived from the "Worlds Longest Blog" page after making many feeble attempts to contribute.
San # 29. August 2006, 20:57
Eagerly awaiting my dot, on the west coast of Canada.
Quentin S Crisp # 30. August 2006, 10:25
Anonymous # 31. August 2006, 01:01
Hi
You should also get a dot for Tokyo as I read your blog regularly (British girl now living in Japan). I stumbled across your writing when I was looking for information about Yukio Mishima. You write extremely well and ... joy... your posts are a decent length! Please keep up the good work.
Abby
Quentin S Crisp # 31. August 2006, 08:10
Thanks for popping by. It loooks like I'm late getting the dots, although apparently it can sometimes take 2-3 days towards the end of the month because of bottlenecks or something.
As you probably know, I spent some time in Japan, too, but I never lived in Tokyo (only visited). I sometimes wonder if I missed out on the 'real' Japan experience because of this. I suppose it depends on whether you think the capital or the provinces are most representative.
I think I'm going to have to make the cluter map sticky, which is a shame. Apparently, if I let it slide past the front page, it will stop counting visits.
By the way, I wonder if I might ask what you're doing in Tokyo?
lesoldatperdu # 31. August 2006, 08:40
Mel # 31. August 2006, 17:50
Or part of the dot, not to be arrogant or anything ...
San # 31. August 2006, 18:02
Mel # 31. August 2006, 19:07
San # 31. August 2006, 19:10
Mel # 31. August 2006, 19:30
Quentin S Crisp # 31. August 2006, 21:47
Hang on. I'll just make sure I haven't miscounted.
Quentin S Crisp # 31. August 2006, 22:33
San # 31. August 2006, 22:41
You should serve drinks here, make it like a speakeasy. You'll get more visitors than you want that way.
Quentin S Crisp # 1. September 2006, 10:47
Anonymous # 1. September 2006, 12:47
Hello again
First ... I can see my dot! I can see my dot! Man alive that's cool.
Second (as requested) ... I have always wanted to visit Japan. Six months ago my boyfriend was offered a posting here by his company and I jumped at the chance to go with him (although I only arrived eight weeks ago). Currently I am attempting to learn Japanese in a language school in Tokyo (80 kanji down, only 1,920 commonly used kanji to go).
My first impression of Japan is that Tokyo is highly unrepresentative of the rest of the country and that for the quintessential Japanese experience, it would be better to live elsewhere. That's not to say that I don't love Tokyo so far - I do, it's a fantastic place - but it's a world city. I could imagine living here for ten years, learning only a handful of Japanese phrases, and getting along just fine (in fact, I know some people who have done that). As I understand it, that would be difficult elsewhere in Japan. I read an article once that suggested New York and London were the 21st century equivalent of nation states, having more in common with one another than with the countries in which they are sited. I'm not sure you could say the same for Tokyo, as it doesn't seem to me like any place I've ever been. But it does seem relatively divorced, culturally and economically, from the other areas of Japan that I've visited so far.
But then, I haven't been to Osaka or Nagoya yet. And pesky combinis are everywhere, I am told.
Quentin, if you have any thoughts or tips on Japan I'd love to hear them!
Abby
Quentin S Crisp # 1. September 2006, 13:23
Let's look again.
Quentin S Crisp # 1. September 2006, 13:35
Tips for Japan, eh?
Well, you have to visit Kyoto. I lived there for a year and a half, and although I was deeply unhappy there, I still think it's a great place to visit. Personally, I like temples, and there are thousands of them in Kyoto (probably literally). One great way to see lots of temples in one day is to take the Walk of Philosophy (Tetsugaku no Michi), which starts from Ginkakuji temple and ends, where was it? Round about Eikandou, I think. And it's a lovely walk, with lots of teahouses and temples along the way. That is possibly one of the most quintessential Kyoto experiences. Also, if you want to see a real Geisha, go to Gion, the road ending in the T-junction with the very red-and-white Yasaka Jinja, and find the road called Hanami Kuoji (Koji?) Doori, which turns off from the main Gion road, and the chances are you'll see a geisha (or a maiko-san, anyway) get into or out of a taxi while hordes of Japanese take photographs. There's also a great shop for souvenies along there called Kasai - lovely compacts, bags, handkerchiefs, with yuuzen dyes or embroidery of cherry blossom patterns, autumn leaves and so on.
Hmmm.
Well, I should be working really, but I'll try and think of more tips later.
Quentin S Crisp # 1. September 2006, 13:39
Depressing. Who are these people?
Anonymous # 1. September 2006, 13:48
I'm going to Kyoto tomorrow for three days! Thank you very much for the tips.
Abby
Quentin S Crisp # 1. September 2006, 14:50
I might also add, then, that if you want to buy lovely ceramics, you should have a look along Gojo(u). Kyoto is arranged on a grid, so that is basically, Fifth Street. In particular, the number of ceramic shops increases as you move... let's see... east, towards Gojozaka (the slope) leading to Kiyomizudera, a famous and very beautiful temple, which, apparently boasts the largest all-wooden structure in the world.
Er....
Places to eat... Pontocho, parallel to the river between, let's see, Shijo and Sanjo. I'm trying to think if there's a particularly good place I know that's easy to find. Will let you know.
San # 1. September 2006, 15:13
lesoldatperdu # 2. September 2006, 12:10
Quentin S Crisp # 2. September 2006, 13:11
That's what I'm telling myself, anyway, as I can no longer live with a mere sixteen readers.
San # 2. September 2006, 17:01
Anonymous # 3. September 2006, 08:54
As you requested: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=904+Cumming+Avenue+Superior,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=46.727724,-92.096195&spn=0.001905,0.006781&t=k
Though the arrow has missed its target; I am, in fact, in the second house from the corner -- not the first.
Hope the day finds you well.
Quentin S Crisp # 3. September 2006, 12:41
If I watch long enough, will I see you leaving the house?
Hello Sandy.
Sorry I haven't written anything recently. A combination of things. I've had some unexpected editing work, and I've also been staying with a friend. I still have to get on with some editing work today, but rest assured, I have a few blog entries in the pipeline.
Quentin S Crisp # 3. September 2006, 13:05
That's quite fascinating. When I zoom in and out I get vertigo. Does 'WI' stand for 'Wisconsin'?
Anonymous # 5. September 2006, 03:49
Allo Mr. Crisp,
Yes, "WI" is the postal abbreviation for "Wisconsin." I was something of a galley slave for the Post Office for four years and some odd months. Some oddier than others. I had to leave as I did not desire to wear the cliche of Postal Employee gone bedlam; much better to be an eidolon of random violence.
If my behaviors were not hermitlike, you could perhaps witness me leaving my house. The satellite project is supposed to have encompassed all of the world's land masses; you should be able to enter your own address. My understanding is that the U.S. Government has much higher resolution images -- though they are not for public perusal. Not a comforting thought that; such tools in such hands.
-Justified Hermit-
San # 5. September 2006, 03:51