Clients From Hell: I received an email from a potential client. My name is Jose. I live...

This client can really go to hell. lol.

clientsfromhell:

I received an email from a potential client. My name is Jose. I live in California.

Client: I am interested in one of your illustrations. I have a budget of $30 U.S.D.

Me: I am truly sorry sir, but that budget isn’t adequate for my illustration services.

Client: I don’t think you…

Gave thanks.

This is a special post since we’re in a special holiday, Thanksgiving.

First and foremost I would like to give thanks to the Lord above for giving me the strength, the patience, and the guidance for my everyday life encounters. Also, for showing me the truth of everything. It is him that I can trust with all my problems and I know that he will always be by my side protecting me and guiding me.

Second, I would like to give thanks to my family. They’ve been there with me through thick and thin throughout my life and although we may argue, in then end we’re always in this adventure together. Friends may come and go, but the family is always there. Something I’m really grateful about.

Third, my best friends. You all know who you are. You all are like my second family with the support that you all give to me in the bad times, but also the great and awesome times we have together  during the good times.  I hope  our friendship lasts forever and never change, because even though friends may come and go family is always there and you all are like my family. I wouldn’t want to see you go. I know I can be annoying from time to time with my weird and constant noises, but I’m glad you all have the patience to deal with me :P And you aren’t afraid of telling me the truth to my face.

This year has been by far quite an adventure for me. Going through my little anxiety attack that proved that I’m not a super human! hehe, has shown me to re-organize my priorities and live every day at once and not trying to figure out what happens in the future (it still a process that I’m dealing with, but little by little…i’ll make the best out of it.) But enough of the sad stuff, this year has also been great year. I had the most amazing experience of being in Japan for two weeks, learning about their culture, their way of life and the simplicity of such an amazing country. It was a dream come true and I’m specially thankful that I was able to enjoy it with one of my best friends and thank him for going with me in this amazing adventure. I hope we can go back soon! :)

However, the year is not over! Adventures are still out there waiting to be taken and changing my life bit by bit, all for the better and for me growing as a person in this small little planet on this vast universe.

I wish you all a special Thanksgiving Holiday! Thank you for reading, thank you for listening, thank you for being you…

Took a stroll around Asakusa and Shibuya as we say goodbye to Japan. What a sad day has been today, although full of shopping and walking. We began our day by going to Asakusa for a bit more shopping for souvenirs a couple of things for me.  After we shopped we headed back to our hotel to drop all of what we bought and then we proceeded to Harajuku for exquisite “Yakaniku” the food incredible and the place amazing. Also not a bad price at all. Once we were done dining, we headed to Shibuya for more shopping and now we’re back with our bags packed… as tomorrow we head back to the states. Japan has been an amazing adventure and I never want to see it end…I sure am going to miss this place. See you guys on the other side.
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Took a stroll around Asakusa and Shibuya as we say goodbye to Japan.

What a sad day has been today, although full of shopping and walking. We began our day by going to Asakusa for a bit more shopping for souvenirs a couple of things for me. 

After we shopped we headed back to our hotel to drop all of what we bought and then we proceeded to Harajuku for exquisite “Yakaniku” the food incredible and the place amazing. Also not a bad price at all.

Once we were done dining, we headed to Shibuya for more shopping and now we’re back with our bags packed… as tomorrow we head back to the states.

Japan has been an amazing adventure and I never want to see it end…I sure am going to miss this place. See you guys on the other side.

Walked through the temple in Harajuku, visited the cementry and shrines and finally got stopped by the cops. After experiencing a typhoon, we headed to one of the biggest shrines in Japan on the town of Harajuku. It was an incredible and peaceful experience walking through the gardens of the shrine and finally finding a well that has a continuous flow of fresh water all year long. This water is believed to be pure and so it is recommended to wash your hands in it, to purify your body. It may be mental, but your hands feel so much softer after washing them in the well. After looking at the shrine we headed to the town of Yanaka. A small town in Tokyo where it seem they haven’t developed as fast as the rest of Tokyo we walked through one of the biggest cementery  I’ve seen and behind a shrine was built before the Edo era (google it!). Afterwards, we walked towards the 5 story pagoda foundation because it was burned down in an attack. But after walking around we got stuck below a tree due to the heavy rain. once it lighted up we walked back to the srhine to see if we could wait for the rain to stop. Instead, a worker at the buddha temple came out and gave us umbrellas, so we could continue our journey. It was amazing the kindness that we received. But not all was pretty colors. After heading back to the station, due to my knee injury, my friend got a bit ahead of me at the stairs. Once i reached down I noticed a cop was walking towards him and finally stops him. I walked towards the cop as we both looked in disbelief on why were being stopped. Anotehr cop came and made a hand signal that was either asking him if we were together, or shooing me away. I quickly said that we were together and we both explained that we only spoke english, by saying the only phrase we know in japanese: “Eigo o hanashi masuka”. The treated us with patience and finally said “ID”, we quickly showed our passports and after a “Thank You” we were on our way back to Shinjuku. I can’t believe in only 2 days I will leave this great country. However, I will not consider this a goodbye. I will like to come once more, but when I fully know Japanese.
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Walked through the temple in Harajuku, visited the cementry and shrines and finally got stopped by the cops.

After experiencing a typhoon, we headed to one of the biggest shrines in Japan on the town of Harajuku. It was an incredible and peaceful experience walking through the gardens of the shrine and finally finding a well that has a continuous flow of fresh water all year long. This water is believed to be pure and so it is recommended to wash your hands in it, to purify your body. It may be mental, but your hands feel so much softer after washing them in the well.

After looking at the shrine we headed to the town of Yanaka. A small town in Tokyo where it seem they haven’t developed as fast as the rest of Tokyo we walked through one of the biggest cementery  I’ve seen and behind a shrine was built before the Edo era (google it!). Afterwards, we walked towards the 5 story pagoda foundation because it was burned down in an attack. But after walking around we got stuck below a tree due to the heavy rain. once it lighted up we walked back to the srhine to see if we could wait for the rain to stop. Instead, a worker at the buddha temple came out and gave us umbrellas, so we could continue our journey. It was amazing the kindness that we received.

But not all was pretty colors. After heading back to the station, due to my knee injury, my friend got a bit ahead of me at the stairs. Once i reached down I noticed a cop was walking towards him and finally stops him. I walked towards the cop as we both looked in disbelief on why were being stopped. Anotehr cop came and made a hand signal that was either asking him if we were together, or shooing me away. I quickly said that we were together and we both explained that we only spoke english, by saying the only phrase we know in japanese: “Eigo o hanashi masuka”. The treated us with patience and finally said “ID”, we quickly showed our passports and after a “Thank You” we were on our way back to Shinjuku.

I can’t believe in only 2 days I will leave this great country. However, I will not consider this a goodbye. I will like to come once more, but when I fully know Japanese.

Walked in the path of enlightenment and experienced a typhoon pass through Japan. Pic is completely unrelated, but was a nice thing to see after quite a few days of adventuring around. The weather started getting a bit rough for a couple of days because of a Typhoon that was headed to Japan (Typhoon 1115 [yes they use numbers…not names]). But before the typhoon arrived we were able to do a bit of shopping in Shibuya (still not done with the shopping.. will probably try to go there again before leaving.) we set course to a small little down close to Tokyo in search for a shrine and the cave of enlightenment. It was truly an experience. For about $1.50 you embark on a journey of the tombs of this shrine that are in complete darkness. The only way to get around is to touch the walls and ask the Buddha of Ligthness for guidance and protection. It is believed that these tunnels will get the host closer to enlightenment. At first was quite alarming and scary. You don’t know where you’re going and your steps are just small little ones to make sure you don’t fall into a hole or anything. But after a few minutes in complete darkness, you do find yourself at peace. as if nothing will go wrong and next thing you know you turn around and se the tomb of the Buddha of light (this is a lighted room… or course). However, since this is a sacred place, they did not allow cameras down in the cave. We weren’t allowed to have even shoes during our journey. However, you may put it it was an incredible experience. I’ve hurt my knee going up and down the stairs of all the trains and well I now look funny going up and down stairs. Until my knee fully recovers. However, i’m not letting that stop me. I’m not used to this much walking and I think that’s what my kneed got bad for, but hey! the show must go on. The next day we spent it walking around Shinjuku and today we spent it watching the amazing power of a typhoon. Thankfully, this wasn’t a strong typhoon, but rather quite the spectacle of the wind blowing off the skyscrapers here. Once everything got settled down around 8pm we proceeded to walk around Shinjuku for a place to dine in and now we’re back at our hotel planning tomorrow. We’re going to the hot springs. :)
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Walked in the path of enlightenment and experienced a typhoon pass through Japan.

Pic is completely unrelated, but was a nice thing to see after quite a few days of adventuring around.

The weather started getting a bit rough for a couple of days because of a Typhoon that was headed to Japan (Typhoon 1115 [yes they use numbers…not names]). But before the typhoon arrived we were able to do a bit of shopping in Shibuya (still not done with the shopping.. will probably try to go there again before leaving.) we set course to a small little down close to Tokyo in search for a shrine and the cave of enlightenment. It was truly an experience. For about $1.50 you embark on a journey of the tombs of this shrine that are in complete darkness. The only way to get around is to touch the walls and ask the Buddha of Ligthness for guidance and protection. It is believed that these tunnels will get the host closer to enlightenment. At first was quite alarming and scary. You don’t know where you’re going and your steps are just small little ones to make sure you don’t fall into a hole or anything. But after a few minutes in complete darkness, you do find yourself at peace. as if nothing will go wrong and next thing you know you turn around and se the tomb of the Buddha of light (this is a lighted room… or course). However, since this is a sacred place, they did not allow cameras down in the cave. We weren’t allowed to have even shoes during our journey. However, you may put it it was an incredible experience.

I’ve hurt my knee going up and down the stairs of all the trains and well I now look funny going up and down stairs. Until my knee fully recovers. However, i’m not letting that stop me. I’m not used to this much walking and I think that’s what my kneed got bad for, but hey! the show must go on.

The next day we spent it walking around Shinjuku and today we spent it watching the amazing power of a typhoon. Thankfully, this wasn’t a strong typhoon, but rather quite the spectacle of the wind blowing off the skyscrapers here. Once everything got settled down around 8pm we proceeded to walk around Shinjuku for a place to dine in and now we’re back at our hotel planning tomorrow. We’re going to the hot springs. :)

went to the Tokyo Game Show for the second time and saw the PSVITA. Tokyo Game Show was full of people everywhere, but we were able to go around and take pics. Finally Sony was letting people enjoy the view of the new PSVITA and we were able to get super close. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to play it as all the lines were all completely filled. It was great to see the new device. Is smaller than I previously thought and is now in line to become a new system that I will buy. Sony also unveiled new PS3 colors like RED Blue and a special FF13 version among others. We played Soul Calibur V and it looks amazing. We also saw the preview to Phantasy Star Online 2 and I can’t wait until that game comes out. Finally, we played Shinobi 3D a quick little game for the 3DS that shows promise for the 3D capable system. :D After enjoying the day at the TGS we stayed around watching Japanese performers and finally headed back to the hotel to begin our planning for the 2nd week in Japan. I cannot believe it’s been already a week since we got here. I’ve seen so much, but i feel i will miss so much. I can’t wait until we go to Kyoto! :D
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went to the Tokyo Game Show for the second time and saw the PSVITA.

Tokyo Game Show was full of people everywhere, but we were able to go around and take pics. Finally Sony was letting people enjoy the view of the new PSVITA and we were able to get super close. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to play it as all the lines were all completely filled. It was great to see the new device. Is smaller than I previously thought and is now in line to become a new system that I will buy.

Sony also unveiled new PS3 colors like RED Blue and a special FF13 version among others.

We played Soul Calibur V and it looks amazing. We also saw the preview to Phantasy Star Online 2 and I can’t wait until that game comes out. Finally, we played Shinobi 3D a quick little game for the 3DS that shows promise for the 3D capable system. :D

After enjoying the day at the TGS we stayed around watching Japanese performers and finally headed back to the hotel to begin our planning for the 2nd week in Japan.

I cannot believe it’s been already a week since we got here. I’ve seen so much, but i feel i will miss so much. I can’t wait until we go to Kyoto! :D

Visited the Tokyo Game Show and played in the electric town of Akihabara Today was a gaming day. After our usual breakfast we headed out for the Makuhari Messe, sporting the new Gamer’s Hive T-shirts,  for the Tokyo Game Show 2011. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of people that were at that convention center. It was packed from Hall 1 to Hall 9. It was great seeing upcoming games, but also heartbreaking knowing that these games will take about over a year until we actually see them in the states. Sony showed off the PSVITA however, they wanted to keep it a secret and they didn’t allow pictures nor cameras to their area. I was able to sneak in a few pics here and there of the outside of the booth, but once they saw me taking pics they proceeded to shoo me away. :P At least I kept all my pics… We had a quick lunch at the convention center and then we moved on to the town of Akihabara (otherwise known as Eelctric town, or the otaku town) and proceeded to play video games at Super Potato’s Arcade. After playing a few fighting games and a couple of oldies but goodies, we shopped around a couple of stores and finally headed back for dinner. Tokyo Game Show is sure an adventure, but it has way too many people. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow when we go back to the TGS. :P
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Visited the Tokyo Game Show and played in the electric town of Akihabara

Today was a gaming day. After our usual breakfast we headed out for the Makuhari Messe, sporting the new Gamer’s Hive T-shirts,  for the Tokyo Game Show 2011. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of people that were at that convention center. It was packed from Hall 1 to Hall 9. It was great seeing upcoming games, but also heartbreaking knowing that these games will take about over a year until we actually see them in the states.

Sony showed off the PSVITA however, they wanted to keep it a secret and they didn’t allow pictures nor cameras to their area. I was able to sneak in a few pics here and there of the outside of the booth, but once they saw me taking pics they proceeded to shoo me away. :P At least I kept all my pics… We had a quick lunch at the convention center and then we moved on to the town of Akihabara (otherwise known as Eelctric town, or the otaku town) and proceeded to play video games at Super Potato’s Arcade. After playing a few fighting games and a couple of oldies but goodies, we shopped around a couple of stores and finally headed back for dinner.

Tokyo Game Show is sure an adventure, but it has way too many people. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow when we go back to the TGS. :P

Explored Odaiba and took a different look of Tokyo from the Tokyo Tower. Woah what a day! After our usual breakfast we headed down the JR line to a new town called Odaiba. This is like mall heaven for people because there are malls after malls after malls. After a bit of shopping we headed down the strip were we visited the smallest museum in the world… the Shell Museum. At least the area we entered, because it was just one miniature set of this “Dream Land” and that was it.  We continued walking in look for the “Big Sight”  and we came across Palette town. If you have played Pokemon, you know this is were Ash lives. haha. We continued walking through the museum of Toyota and saw the new Camrys and finally we saw one of the biggest Ferris Wheel in the world.  Finally, we reached the Big Sight of Tokyo. An upside down pyramid building that offers a huge convention center for many companies. We reached the top of the building and took a look at the city of tokyo from Odaiba. THe view was incredible. We moved on back to Asakusa where we had some dinner at McDonald’s (we figured we should try an american cuisine here too) and to our surprise the food is actually better here. After eating we decided to go visit the Tokyo Tower and wao! what a marvelous piece of architecture! The view of the city is just incredible from 250m (750 Ft) in the air. Then we ate at the small cafe at 150m from the grown and finally headed back to Shinjuku Today was definitely a great day of adventuring. Tomorrow.. the Tokyo Game Show!
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Explored Odaiba and took a different look of Tokyo from the Tokyo Tower.

Woah what a day! After our usual breakfast we headed down the JR line to a new town called Odaiba. This is like mall heaven for people because there are malls after malls after malls. After a bit of shopping we headed down the strip were we visited the smallest museum in the world… the Shell Museum. At least the area we entered, because it was just one miniature set of this “Dream Land” and that was it. 

We continued walking in look for the “Big Sight”  and we came across Palette town. If you have played Pokemon, you know this is were Ash lives. haha. We continued walking through the museum of Toyota and saw the new Camrys and finally we saw one of the biggest Ferris Wheel in the world. 

Finally, we reached the Big Sight of Tokyo. An upside down pyramid building that offers a huge convention center for many companies. We reached the top of the building and took a look at the city of tokyo from Odaiba. THe view was incredible.

We moved on back to Asakusa where we had some dinner at McDonald’s (we figured we should try an american cuisine here too) and to our surprise the food is actually better here.

After eating we decided to go visit the Tokyo Tower and wao! what a marvelous piece of architecture! The view of the city is just incredible from 250m (750 Ft) in the air. Then we ate at the small cafe at 150m from the grown and finally headed back to Shinjuku

Today was definitely a great day of adventuring. Tomorrow.. the Tokyo Game Show!

Explored Tokyo Dome City, Uenon, Ginza and shopped around Shibuya Today was definitely a traveling day! We decided to take the train to the Tokyo Dome city and hopefully ride some of the rides, but sadly when we got there the majority of the rides were close and there was pretty much nothing going on. This wasn’t going to stop us. Once we sipped down on a couple of mango smoothies from the many starbucks here, we headed on to Uenon; famous for a street that spans 400m of just shops and food markets. Then we visited the Uenon National park were we encountered a couple of shrines as well as this lovely acrobatic act by a few locals. After hanging around in Uenon, we headed towards Ginza — The High Class Society City — This city holds the most expensive brands and places in Japan. You can find a bargain, but they are rare. Ginza was also the home of the Sony Building. In that building i was able to play around with the new Sony Tablets that were quite amazing. Then we visited Hybiya Park where the beauty of the gardens was just incredible and also we were greeted by the nice local folk and invited to a beer festival occurring in the park is just a few minutes of us getting there. The lines were incredibly long and frankly I will try sake not the regular beer that they were selling there :P Then we headed back to Shibuya for a little bit of shopping. This city at night is booming! Lots of people walk around and lots of places to shoop around. Saldy not that many places are actually cheap. Heheh. But all in all was a great day for exploring and finally not getting as sore as before from all the walking. :) To end the night we decided to try something exotic that isn’t Japanese food. We ate at a place called the Covet Lodge food directly from Sri Lanka. Curry from India, and it was the best curry I’ve tasted, no matter how spicy this one was. Because it was really spicy. Tomorrow is a brand new day and I can’t wait what Japan has stored in for us :)
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Explored Tokyo Dome City, Uenon, Ginza and shopped around Shibuya

Today was definitely a traveling day! We decided to take the train to the Tokyo Dome city and hopefully ride some of the rides, but sadly when we got there the majority of the rides were close and there was pretty much nothing going on. This wasn’t going to stop us. Once we sipped down on a couple of mango smoothies from the many starbucks here, we headed on to Uenon; famous for a street that spans 400m of just shops and food markets. Then we visited the Uenon National park were we encountered a couple of shrines as well as this lovely acrobatic act by a few locals.

After hanging around in Uenon, we headed towards Ginza — The High Class Society City — This city holds the most expensive brands and places in Japan. You can find a bargain, but they are rare. Ginza was also the home of the Sony Building. In that building i was able to play around with the new Sony Tablets that were quite amazing. Then we visited Hybiya Park where the beauty of the gardens was just incredible and also we were greeted by the nice local folk and invited to a beer festival occurring in the park is just a few minutes of us getting there. The lines were incredibly long and frankly I will try sake not the regular beer that they were selling there :P

Then we headed back to Shibuya for a little bit of shopping. This city at night is booming! Lots of people walk around and lots of places to shoop around. Saldy not that many places are actually cheap. Heheh.

But all in all was a great day for exploring and finally not getting as sore as before from all the walking. :)

To end the night we decided to try something exotic that isn’t Japanese food. We ate at a place called the Covet Lodge food directly from Sri Lanka. Curry from India, and it was the best curry I’ve tasted, no matter how spicy this one was. Because it was really spicy.

Tomorrow is a brand new day and I can’t wait what Japan has stored in for us :)