December 31 pictures start here

In Kyoto station after buying omiyage to take back to our co-workers. I thought the Snacks picture looked like genitalia so I took this picture. Not as funny as I thought it would be.

Shabu-Shabu Viking, round 1

Beginning to cook the meat in the hotpot of vegetables, tofu, etc. The start of a delicious meal.

The aftermath! After countless trays of raw meat, vegetables, tofu, etc, we were left with nothing but a disgusting pot of remnants.

I was properly defeated by this dinner. It was delicious, but I was pretty much incapacitated for a good few hours after this.

Brian also didn't feel too good. Thankfully neither of us puked, although we probably could have.

January 1, 2007 pictures start here

Umeda Sky Building somewhat close to JR Osaka station. Pretty sweet building; one guidebook called it a futuristic Arc d' Triumph, which is pretty accurate I suppose.

Getting even closer to the base of the building, you can see that it's not really just an arch, since there are all kinds of crazy ladders and other mini-towers in between the two main towers.

Luckily the observation deck was open on New Years day and we were able to see a 360-degree view of Osaka.

Sweet fox/alien/clock mascot for something. There was a poster inside the Sky Building.

I thought the airplane made for a good panoramic shot.

From the very top, looking down towards the center of the tower. These are the two escalators that take you up the last part of the way from the ground to the sky.

I own Osaka.

We had a few hours to kill before our Shinkansen, so after loitering at the huge Umeda Yodobashi Camera we went to find the Pokemon Center (my suggestion). Unfortunately it was closed. Brian looks shocked.