Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This is also S.O.P. in Athens, except that is more sneaky there. While attending a conference there in 2001 or 2002, I went out for dinner alone one evening. Weather was nice, the Ouzo was cheap, and frankly I got pretty drunk. I was sitting at an outside table in a restaurant. I then started talking to a local guy who convinced me to accompany him to a bar for a drink. Sure, why not, thought the naive Northern European...Once in the bar, I immediately recognized the nature of the place, but what the hell--a few drinks could not hurt...until I was presented with a bill for 500 EUR which I simply refused to pay. After a long negotiation with the manager of the place in his office the bill was reduced to 100 EUR and I staggered back to my hotel, cursing the Greeks along the way. Nathan On 22-jan-2008, at 6:28, Ted Grant wrote: > OK you guys and gals dancing on the table & scotch... how's this? :-) > > My briefing from a well experienced world traveled friend > journalist trying > to look out for me prior to first assignment in Japan. He started: > "You are > so stupid here's what not to do in Japan! Remember pay attention to > every > single word I say!" > > 1/ Do not go into bar with a guy on the street telling you they > have the > prettiest girls in the world and the booze is cheap!" > > 2/ Do not buy the girls a drink! > > 3/ Do not sit at a table and order a drink! > > 4/ Do not buy the girls a drink! > > 5/ Do not order munchies with your drink > > 6/ Do stand at the bar! > > 7/ Do not order the girls a drink! > > 8/ Do not sit at a table with a girl > > 9/ Do not order Scotch, order Suntory > > 10/ Do not have more than one drink! > > "Are you paying attention? Says he. > > Me? "Yep every word! And shook my head in the affirmative! > > Arrive in Tokyo early evening, check into hotel, decide a walk will > help me > sleep! > > I can't go wrong, walk up this side of the street, cross over and > back on > the other side. Seemed simple enough. Right? > > I'm dong fine Leica slung on shoulder in case and just about to > hotel and > guy says, "hey you American?" Me, "No Canadian." Fuzzillogic sets > in! > > He says, "Many Canadians come here! You from Vancouver?" Dumb ass > says, > "Yeah that's close." He takes me by the arm and says.. "Best girls > in world > here, drinks cheap!" > > And like a lamb to slaughter I walk in. He says something in > Japanese and I > have 4 gorgeous women on my arms and breathing about my neck! > Smiling and > giggling, damn if they were any closer I'd have "neck Hickies" > before I "sat > down at the table!" :-( > > NOTE: How many rules have I broken at this point? :-) > > "You like drink?" as she sits down beside me at "my table?" "Sure > I'll have > (ready?) "A single malt scotch!" And she says, "and me?" I like a > kid right > off the farm says, " Sure OK but only one!" She smiles and I kind > of wilt! > Another wench sits down, the most gorgeous wench in the place and > smiles. > Damn another drink! :-) > > Guy brings bowl of munchies with drinks and adds it to the tab now > written > in Japanese! Now a girl on each side are so close I can hardly > drink let > alone breath! > > Oh heck order another "scotch!" Followed by, "And me too?" Big > smiles! > > "Oh well what the hell I've never been to Japan before why not? OK!" > Fuzzillogic hits again! > > Finally I figure I better get out of here as time had slipped by > quicker > than a witch in flight. So with a hundred yards to the front door > of the > hotel and safety I order the bill!! Well OK eh? There goes my per > diem as I > look forward to bread and water for the next five days! :-) > > So I tried to remember the rules about what not to do in Japan but > Fuzzillogic intervened as I made my way to the hotel and figured; > > "Oh well what the hell there's a first time for everything and > rules are > made to be broken!" Fuzzillogic forever!! > > ted > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > Nathan Wajsman nathan@nathanfoto.com General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.frozenlight.eu Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog