fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #3490 ]

[ SECRET POST #3490 ]

⌈ Secret Post #3490 ⌋

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Notes:

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For someone who had never been on a trip outside of the US or to many big cities, would Japan be too chaotic for a not big traveler?

Japan has big cities, but there are more rural areas too.

The rural areas will not be accessible to foreigners though. They like it that way.

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-07-24 22:13 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 00:16 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 03:28 (UTC) - Expand

If you're not a big traveler then Japan will annihilate you. The culture difference is too vast, and do not underestimate how disorientating it is to not even recognize the alphabet on advisory signs. Take some time to try Europe first, France, Italy, or Germany, where you'll be able to ease into not recognizing what is going on without it being a whole completely different culture with virtually no shared cultural components.

I really don't see why people say Japan has such a "vast" culture difference. It's practically considered the most "Western" country of Asia. It's really not as exotic as all that except maybe if you go very rural. Tokyo is not really that much different from, say, London (I've lived in both).

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-24 21:22 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-24 21:34 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-24 21:43 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 03:23 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 04:47 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 14:27 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 21:22 (UTC) - Expand

STOP.

Re: Advice

(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 14:29 (UTC) - Expand

I would actually say Japan - particularly Tokyo - would be one of the EASIEST foreign countries to visit (that isn't English-speaking).

Tokyo is, for one, very safe - especially if you look like a foreigner, the chance of you stumbling into an unsafe situation is extremely low. Tokyo also has some of the best, most convenient, and most logical public transportation you'll find in a big city.

Furthermore, Tokyo is extremely English-friendly. While not many people are GOOD at English, all major signs will be bilingual and there are a lot of people who can at least communicate in basic English, and people are generally very helpful.

That being said, it is a big city, and if you aren't used to big cities, there's definitely a different pace to things. Japan certainly has many lovely rural areas with gorgeous castles and shrines - or you could try a city like Kyoto instead, which is a little more "gentle" than Tokyo (if slightly less English-accessible). But if you don't speak Japanese, you probably want to be more cautious in rural areas because the further you get from the biggest tourist cities, the less English signage and guidance there will be.

The equivalent to Tokyo that I have been to is NYC. I imagine Tokyo is probably much safer and less annoying than that.

I;d probably stick to tourist-y areas (even the more rural ones).

Re: o

(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 21:36 (UTC) - Expand

I think it will be if you're not used to big cities OR speak Japanese.

The rural areas are beautiful but there is a bit of a language barrier and if you're not used to the big cities, Tokyo will overwhelm you. I spend so much time in and out of NYC, that Tokyo was like a breath of fresh air compared to how smooth everything ran.

That said, if you plan on doing a tour, go for it. Honestly, my recommendation would be to either explore big cities in the US and see how you handle that or do a tour group to Europe. If you want suggestions, feel free to reply. I've been to several countries in Europe and have traveled fairly extensively in the US and spent a summer in Japan.

I've been to NYC and survived so maybe I could survive Tokyo!

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shortysc22 - 2016-07-24 22:56 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 00:00 (UTC) - Expand

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shortysc22 - 2016-07-25 00:52 (UTC) - Expand

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(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 06:51 (UTC) - Expand

Re: op

(Anonymous) - 2016-07-25 02:37 (UTC) - Expand

I've been to NYC, DC, and Dallas. Not sure how much more chaotic Tokyo would be than those? I expect the people can't be any more rude than the people of NYC.

It's not just rudeness, though. Try to imagine navigating NYC except that most of the street signs aren't in English, you cannot understand what people are saying, nor can you make yourself understood easily. Also keep in mind that public etiquette is very different in Japan than it is in the U.S., and if you know nothing about it, you'll be misinterpreting other peoples' actions as well as being unaware of your own mistakes.

I don't wish to discourage you. Traveling in Asia can be a very rich and rewarding experience, but going in blind assuming you'll be fine in a big city in Asia because you've been to NYC is... perhaps a little naive. It's alarming to me because you don't appear to understand that cultural differences make a huge difference and the mental expectations you have might not match up with reality. If you go, I strongly encourage you to read up on guidebooks, watch some documentaries, google tips about Japanese culture, things like that.

Depends on where you go, how comfortable you are in an unfamiliar environment and how much familiarity you have with the language, I'd guess. I haven't been to Japan, but I've traveled internationally and I will say there is a certain amount of challenge to navigating a city where you don't speak the language well. Everything is a little harder, including things you take for granted at home or in a place that uses your native language like checking into a hotel or ordering at a restaurant. That can throw a lot of people and be very stressful.

If it were me, I'd want a little more experience under my belt first. But you have to decide what's best for you.

Don't stick your dick in anything that glows. There, that is my advice for you.

Does the opportunity come up a lot?

It does if you go to Japan and take a trip to Fukushima.

What about glow in the dark condoms tho

try and fucking stop me buddy

I need you to be a bit more specific here. Exactly why wasn't it fun for you and in what way wasn't it fun for you? Do you mean both glowing things and glowing people?

I need a good cheesecake recipe. I am making one for my sister for her birthday and there are so many online! Do any of you have ones you've tried and enjoyed? Are there any cheesecake making tips you know?

Unusual cheesecake recipes (chocolate, carrot, etc) welcome as long as they are not super complicated.

This is my mom's recipe. The topping she refers to is either blueberry or cherry pie filling you buy in a can, but really anything can do. We make them at Fourth of July for red, white, and blue cheesecake. They're super simple and really yummy.

3 8 oz. size cream cheese
5 eggs
1 cup sugar

Mix the above with a mixer. Put 2 paper cupcake cups in cup cake pan and then fill with mixture 2/3 fill. Bake for 27 minutes at 325.

By hand mix:

1 pint sour cream and 1/2 cup sugar.

Spread over tarts and bake another 5 minutes. Cool well. Then put on whatever topping you want to.

Re: Cheesecake Recipe!

kaijinscendre - 2016-07-24 23:42 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Cheesecake Recipe!

shortysc22 - 2016-07-24 23:53 (UTC) - Expand

I made this for my sister's birthday; it was very popular: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/White-Chocolate-Raspberry-Cheesecake/Detail.aspx

It's a bit of work if you're making the raspberry sauce from scratch, but you can probably get by with some jam instead if you prefer. Cheesecake tips...hmm, your batter will mix better if ingredients are room temp (especially the cream cheese - otherwise you'll have little chunks of cream cheese floating around). Don't bake until it's completely set; you want a little bit of wobble in the center (it'll keep cooking once the oven is off). I'm usually too lazy to use a water bath (and I don't really have a container that fits my springform pan), but leaving the cheesecake to cool in the oven rather than immediately taking it out can help with cracks.

Good luck!

Re: Cheesecake Recipe!

kaijinscendre - 2016-07-25 11:38 (UTC) - Expand

I'll see if I can find the cheesecake recipe my Mom got from a former coworker tomorrow. The woman who gave it to her used to sell her cheesecakes in local restaurants; she has since passed away. I highly recommend using a sringform pan for it. It is one of the cheesecakes that need to be baked in an oven.

Re: Cheesecake Recipe!

kaijinscendre - 2016-07-25 11:37 (UTC) - Expand

Though I'm not in the business now, I used to work for a bakery/caterer and have made a ridiculous amount of cheesecakes in my life. These days baking is a hobby (occasional side business), and this is my 'go-to' cheesecake (when I can pick the flavor).

This cheesecake recipe is super easy, amazingly delicious and quite forgiving, which is my favorite part.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/7385/white-chocolate-cheesecake-with-white-chocolate-brandy-sauce/

Honestly, I skip the wrapping the springform in foil... I do grease it though. But I also make a simple oreo-cookie crust for mine. (1/3 cup butter and 2/3 bag oreo cookies crushed - OR - just buy a premade Oreo cookie pie crust and repurpose!) You could also do a graham cracker, or nilla wafer crust. I like a crust just because I find it easier to serve with one.

Also -I don't place my springform in a pan of water, I just put a separate pan of water on the lower rack in the oven. (I do this for any cheesecake... putting the pan IN the water is just always a pain in the ass).

The trickiest part is not overcooking. You still want a little wiggle in the center.

Oh - and I do all of my melting of white chocolate in the microwave! 30 seconds at a time in a microwave safe bowl. Easy peasy.

The sauce is easily made by microwaving the chocolate & cream in slow increments, mixing occasionally then adding the brandy when done. Takes about 2 minutes max.

You can modify this as you want as well. I've swirled in lime curd, or fruit purees/sauces, or crumbled oreos. I tend to top mine with some homemade whipped cream rosettes (heavy cream, sugar & vanilla) because I like to make it pretty. I've also done a white chocolate or dark chocolate ganache.

If you're really feeling adventurous and want something really extravagant, I've also got an amazeballs recipe for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cheesecake, but it's a bit more involved that the one above.

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