finally

I’m probably way behind the times, but I just found out that google maps (GM) has icons for your saved lists.

I don't know about you, but I have so many lists on GM, so this is kinda helpful

When I’m out and about I try not to use cell data, so now that I can put an icon to represent the list, hopefully I’ll be able to remember what the icon means when I see it 

civitas & semi-rant

Stopped into Civitas before Satoshi's appointment to buy a new cell phone.

I'm glad I got to try their coffee float...780 yen (tax included)

Satoshi had their passion fruit soda...880 yen (tax included) (no photo)

I usually get their hot cakes but it was close to dinner time…it was nice to try something different.

Semi-rant: getting a new cell phone is as painful as buying a new car...

(In Japan, you can add all sorts of things to your cell phone account...internet, gas, electricity, any kind stuff...) so they try to "sell" you all kinds of stuff

on top of that, there is so much that changed from the time you bought the cell phone you have until the time you intend to buy a new one...

I was disappointed (kinda mad) at the way the "young" staff member spoke to us, it seemed super condescending.

And then we had to go back the next day because we had gotten rid of a cell phone email address (because they were gonna charge us a monthly to keep it) when we bought the new cell phone, but realized that the trashed email address was attached to the cell phone’s point card account and couldn’t change the address to a new one...sigh

Luckily, we didn't have to make a new appointment and the woman at the shop was able to help us

Anyway...he has a new phone, Kat was super stressed trying to set it up (we usually get the new cell phones at the same time so that Kat can be “someone’s” tech support)

Hoping Kat's cell phone lasts a little longer, otherwise we might have to do this again...

softbank

In the past, my cell carrier, Softbank charged us about $20 a day to use unlimited data overseas

I thought this was krazy, so I solely relied on Wi-Fi whenever I was in Hawaii

This trip though, I checked to see what the latest was and it turns out that somewhere over the years, Softbank now gives subscribers, unlimited data and calls are now FREE in Hawaii, it’s a little different for calls to the mainland (continental US) and other countries

In Japan, I usually turn my data off and rely on Wi-Fi only because my plan isn’t a flat rate and the more I use the more they’ll charge me.

So this trip, being able to use maps in Hawaii was a treat, I told Satoshi that the month that I’d be in Hawaii would be a sort of test, hoping that it truly was free data and calls

So I wouldn’t forget, before boarding to come back to Japan, I turned off my data

I just checked my billing for July and it was truly free data & calls…whew!

bummer

Back in June (I think), we received word that our SIM card for our pocket wi-fi would end and that the company we deal with had new SIM plans.

In my opinion, the plan we had was the best because it was a flat monthly rate of 1000 yen (plus tax).

You could use it for however many (bazillion) bytes, but I guess the company was losing money because of that.

So, the new SIM plans would be based on how many bytes you used.

Instead of paying a monthly fee for something we hardly use, we decided to cancel our plan.

In essence by subscribing over the past 5 years, we bought the pocket wifi gadget, so I am on the lookout for a SIM card that will let me use it as I need to.

Right now, though there are only 2 ways to use SIM cards here..1) monthly rate based on usage 2) 7-day or 30-day usage (mainly for tourists)

We really don't need the monthly version.

And the 7-day/30-day version is a junk option too because it starts counting down from the day you activate it and depending on your usage, you could use it up before the 7 or 30 days.

When I was wandering around in Tokyo, the amount of free wifi was limited, but way more than what we have in Osaka and even way more than what we have on Oahu (Hawaii).

Why can't the whole world have some kind of "free" wi-fi connection? First world problems, yeah?!

wi-fi

We just got this portable wi-fi router. Our internet provider said for an extra 300 yen a month, we could use this router for 2 years.

Pretty good deal as my cell phone provider wants to charge 490 yen a month for wi-fi service at their gazillion spots.

Since we still have our LAN service (we still have a laptop not a tablet), I didn't set up our computer to use the wi-fi, just my iPhone.

Next step is to get Satoshi to start using a smartphone, though he's waiting for the iPhone 5...

Oh and our rainy season has started...let the humidity and uncomfortableness begin...

the past couple of days...

Before I left Hawaii, my Aunty M1 made some delicious scones. Some to try while I was still in Hawaii and some to bring home with me. The ones that she made for me to take home were lavender scones! They are so flavorful and fragrant. We enjoyed them on my first morning back from Hawaii (Thank you!!)

Sunday, it rained ALL day long. I "semi-"planned ahead and decided to do all of my grocery shopping ahead of time. I said "semi-"planned ahead because as I was about to make my veggie soup, I realized that I had forgotten to buy carrots, so I had to go out into the rain. :(

I did get to try out my new Crocs, though. I have no idea where I heard about this shoe, but they are great. I think I did see someone walking in the rain here(Japan) once before and with the rains in Hawaii, they are all the rage! They have their own little kiosk at the Ala Moana Shopping Center, but I got mine at Down to Earth. They are easy to walk in and the water goes right through. Just rinse and dry your feet off when you get back. Nice!

My lunch yesterday was smoked salmon with thinly sliced cucumber on raisin toast with the leftover tarragon sauce from the other day, and vegetable barley soup.

Changing the subject, the technology of cellular phones still amazes me.

Satoshi left for a business trip on Saturday. He is managing a tour to Ayers Rock, Australia. This tour was a charter, so all the passengers on the flight were only from this tour. At first, the tour wasn't selling and Satoshi thought that I may have to fill a seat, since they were going to fly the plane at full capacity or not, this meant I had to come back from Hawaii a bit earlier than planned, but it turns out that the tour filled with no cancels...oh, well, I guess he'll just have to take me one day :)

I thought he had to be the tour guide for this trip (he did too), but since he's a manager, he's just there to make sure everything goes smoothly.

This morning, the phone rang at about 8:30am...you could hear very strong wind in the background...I said, "Hello"in English....no answer..."Moshi-moshi"in Japanese...still no answer...finally, I could hear Satoshi...he was calling from the TOP of Ayers Rock! (I've noticed that a lot of Japanese do this, call people from the TOP of some mountain and say, "guess where I am...the top of---".) I wonder if it is some kind of trend?...although, he and his group of baseball friends often after getting drunk, call other baseball friends and say, "guess who I'm drinking with...---" and then they pass the phone around to talk to each other.

Well, today is a sunny day, so you know what day it is....laundry day!

Enjoy your week!