Before the pandemic, going around Japan solo was fine. I mean, foreign tourists were not obnoxious and there were no idiot influencers/content creators like Logan Paul, who featured the body of a suicide victim in Aokigahara.

I go to Japan for work and also to find peace. Back in 2009, it was still possible to go around Kyoto during Golden Week without running into hordes of foreign tourists in major sites like the Golden Pavilion and Silver Pavilion. Most tourists during the Golden Week then were locals. In the subsequent years, I avoided Kyoto and Nara because Instagram-addict people were starting to crowd these places. Of course, I can’t avoid Tokyo since our office is right smack in the center of Otemachi. But generally, I avoid the touristy places.

These days it seems like even trips to rural areas in Hokkaido will still be blighted by unruly tourists.

Because of the influx of tourists, applying for visa is taking longer and the embassy has become stricter. My multiple entry visa expired in 2022 so… And I’m so lazy reapplying for a new one.

And I screeched while everybody is still sleeping.

Well, it did rain.

And the rain reminded me that Bavi was battering China yesterday en route to Japan.

This is literally my nightmare. What the f*ck am I going to do with 900 snakes swimming around me?!

And this, this hunger defines every Filipino athlete who comes up the world stage. Hunger. Don’t we know it in the literal and figurative sense.

Meanwhile, my bet is that the World Cup finals will be between Norway and Spain.

I cannot forget the beautiful passes made by Xavi, a half-back who paved the way for Spain to win the World Cup in 2010 against the messy Netherlands. So yes, Spain is a strong team. Imagine, the star of the cup was not a forward but a midfielder.

Norway, on the other hand, is not historically a strong team but this year, the play is centered around Erling Haaland, which allowed the team to score and score and score… He is a mean striker with a huge 6’5″ frame, which will terrify a goalkeeper like me because I wouldn’t able to see the ball! Haaland takes full advantage of that. His head can meet the ball to score a goal before anybody can reach the ball from the sky.

I’d hate that for me as a goal keeper. 🤬

What’s fun about Haaland is that he is very, very fashown, like man, he has custom Hermes HAC and Birkins.

So I will loose sleep by next week. I will be cheering for Spain because I hope I will see the precision playing I witnessed in 2010.

If there is one thing that I’ve learned in covering typhoons/disasters in the Philippines more than a decade ago, is that the clearer the eye of the storm, the stronger it is.

This freaking thing is scary because it’s still far in east Pacific but its eye is already very distinct and the cloud system is organized. PAGASA already made a forecast that it will start barelling its way into Philippine Area if Responsibility by Wed or Thurs but it still couldn’t predict which way it will go.

But one thing is sure, it will suck up the southwest monsoon, so it’s going to be a lot of rain and flood.

So far, the Japan Meteorological Agency is projecting that it is heading to Batanes. But the thing is, the southwest monsoon could pull it lower. Damn.

God bless us. Super El Nino until 2027.

@positivepredictions

Dark Predictions For Asia. Category 5 typhoon (hurricane) predicted to be going towards the Philippines, Taiwan, and China. Weather forecast prediction. #weather #darkpredictions #typhoon #philippines #taiwan

♬ original sound – Dark Predictions (OFFICIAL)

I don’t know how it got there but there it was!

Twin I woke me up at 1 am today to tell me there’s a f*cking snake on her curtain. Even though I hate snakes, I needed to check it so I can seek help in removing it.

I got out and sought the compound guard. He was nowhere to be found. I went out of the compound and saw the patrol car of the university police and called their attention. I told them my dilemma.

However, since our property is already private land and is no longer within their jurisdiction, they told me to call the barangay watchmen to seek help (to mitigate risks for both sides). Only then can the university police can enter our house.

Long story short, there were four men who tried to catch the f*cking snake.

The barangay tanod are familiar with such requests because it is not uncommon for snakes to be invading human homes here. We’re at the foot of the mountain after all. It’s just that the official snake wrangler of the barangay is not with them so it took four men to remove the offensive animal because they were not professionally trained to do such thing.

One of the tanod told me the snake is venomous. 😱

No, I can’t take it anymore.

I hate snakes. 🫠

It might have entered through the cat balcony. The screen is always left open there so the cats can go in and out.

Wait, can snakes climb walls???

The f*ck, they do!

Nhooooooooo!!! 😭

I know what my problem will be with this. I will develop a crick in my neck for trying to stoop low to view what I’m typing.

I can make the tablet upright but that means I have to bring this ikea tablet/phone stand for that. Additional weight to my handbag.

I also bought the wrong cover. I thought the folio cover would be better because it has a slot for the pen but the cover becomes annoying since it hinders me from gripping the tablet with one hand.

I have to buy the more expensive one that has a detachable cover. It also has air vents because the tablet does get warm when the processor is pushed to the hilt. However, it has no pen slot and I just ordered an original Lenovo pen for this model. 😑 I hope there is some way I can attach the pen to the tablet. Maybe I can use the Traveler’s Notebook penloop for this. 🤔 I now realized the importance of the pen when I was sent a pdf form from my bank that I needed to fill up and sign or else they won’t be able to top up my UITF. No need to print the form, sign and scan to send back to them. Not sure though if there is a free Android pdf sign/editor app out there because what I used to fill out the bank form with the pen was a Samsung app. I can’t see a Lenovo marketplace for its ecosystem.

Or maybe they’re in Chinese. 😭

This has Chinese ROM but I was able to change the language to English and install Google Play. I also uninstalled all Chinese apps. I didn’t add my financial apps (banks, e-wallets) because I distrust the machine.

Some apps that are supposed to be in English that I downloaded from Google Play are hybrid in English and Chinese.

Annoying. I never thought this would annoy me more than expected.

I’ll try to download some games or an emulator to see how this performs. After work or else I will get distracted.

Alex Eala is flying high these days. 🇵🇭

Wohhooo!

@espnw

Alexandra Eala continues to make history 🇵🇭 #tennis #usopen #wimbledon #alexeala

♬ original sound – espnW

@mommyoyie

🏆 🎾Alex Eala is the WTA Birmingham Champion! 🏆🎾 After an epic battle and a brilliant display of courage, determination, and skill, Alex Eala stood tall when it mattered most and captured the championship title! 🎾✨ This video shows the unforgettable moment she receives her trophy and celebrates a remarkable achievement that has inspired tennis fans everywhere. Let’s show Alex some love! ❤️🇵🇭🎾 @Alex eala Congratulations, Alex Eala! The best is yet to come. 🌟🏆 #AlexEala #WTABirmingham #Champion #PinoyPride #Tennis

♬ Heartfelt Moments – Melody Silver Copper