Where's the beef? | 牛肉在哪兒？|牛肉在哪儿？

Kobe, Japan home of the sake fed beef. I reckon if I was gonna be a beef cow and be slaughtered anyway, a Wagyu Kobe cow would be the best. You get to eat great food, drink sake, get massages and basically live the good life before getting whacked. Been here for two days but haven't eaten it yet. I'm building up for a good climax, well not really, just haven't had time to go out and eat yet. So for now it's shitty ass cold bento boxes.

I did however, manage to make it out to the last night of the Luminaire festival in Kobe. This is in memory of the 95 earthquake and the special lighting was designed and made by  some Italians. Why Italians? I have no idea. We actually happened upon this by mistake while walking around downtown Kobe. At around 5:30 we saw the cops blocking off the streets and a huge crowd walking in one direction and so like the sheep that we are, we decided to follow. We turned a corner and the giant crowd was at a standstill. At this time we still didn't know what the hell was going on. We ended up waiting for half an hour before the street opened up and we were allowed to proceed. Once we turned the corner, we saw it in all of it's Disneyland electric street parade glory.

This light-brite arcade stretched on for two blocks and although it was a bit cheesy, it was impressive in it's scale.

The arcade led to a park where this thing was sitting...a giant lit-brite house!

Look at the crazy tension wires stabilizing the structure.

Something totally different...Japan is the only place where I have seen people adhere to the, "Stay to one side if you're not walking" rule on escalators. In the States or in HK people are strewn all over the escalator and then they give you dirty looks if you try and get by. But Japan is about order and respecting the rules.

My only question is: In Tokyo people wait on the left but in Kobe, they wait on the right. Why is that? Is there some historical significance? Was there some kind of schism between Kansai and Kanto that caused the people to choose sides? Like many questions I have about Japanese culture, I may never know and may never find out.

|神戶，以出產用米酒和特別飼料餵養的菜牛而聞名。我在想如果我是頭牛，既然免不了被殺，最好能當一頭用米酒餵養的和牛，可以吃好飼料、喝米酒、享受按摩， 在被殺之前過好日子。但我到了兩天，還沒吃到名聞遐邇的神戶牛肉。我的期待日益達到頂點，但其實只是沒機會出門去吃。現在一直在吃極難吃的冷盒飯。

昨晚總算出門參觀了”Luminaire神戶之光”慶典。這是為悼念95年阪神大地震的死難者舉辦，特色燈光方案由幾個意大利人設計。為什麽是意大利人?我不得而知。其實我們是不小心在神戶市區閑逛時撞上的。大約5:30我們看到警察封鎖了道路，大群民眾朝著一個方向行進，於是我們象羊一樣決定跟著走。轉過一個街角，更多民眾聚集在那兒，這時我們還不知道大家都在做什麽。等了半小時後道路開通，我們被允許通行。再轉過街角，我們看到了一條耀目的迪士尼樂園拱門燈光隧道。燈光裝飾的拱門伸出兩塊木頭，雖然有點廉價，但以其規模令人印象深刻。

拱廊把我們引領到公園中的一個建築…一間巨大的閃亮房子!

看看這些為了穩固而拉的瘋狂電線。 有些事截然不同…日本民眾是我所見到唯一堅持乘扶梯”如果不走動就靠一邊站”的民眾。在美國或香港，人們隨意站在扶梯裏。如果你試著往前走，他們會給你白眼。但日本人制定並遵守站立規則。

我唯一的問題是：在東京，人們站在左邊，但在神戶，大家站右邊。這是為什麽?有什麽歷史意義?難道關西、關東有不同教派讓人們站在不同邊?就象我對日本文化的諸多疑問，這個問題也許永遠也無法得到答案。 |神户，以出产用米酒和特别饲料喂养的菜牛而闻名。我在想如果我是头牛，既然免不了被杀，最好能当一头用米酒喂养的和牛，可以吃好饲料、喝米酒、享受按摩， 在被杀之前过好日子。但我到了两天，还没吃到名闻遐迩的神户牛肉。我的期待日益达到顶点，但其实只是没机会出门去吃。现在一直在吃极难吃的冷盒饭。

昨晚总算出门参观了”Luminaire神户之光”庆典。这是为悼念95年阪神大地震的死难者举办，特色灯光方案由几个意大利人设计。为什么是意大利人?我不得而知。其实我们是不小心在神户市区闲逛时撞上的。大约5:30我们看到警察封锁了道路，大群民众朝着一个方向行进，于是我们象羊一样决定跟着走。转过一个街角，更多民众聚集在那儿，这时我们还不知道大家都在做什么。等了半小时后道路开通，我们被允许通行。再转过街角，我们看到了一条耀目的迪士尼乐园拱门灯光隧道。

灯光装饰的拱门伸出两块木头，虽然有点廉价，但以其规模令人印象深刻。

拱廊把我们引领到公园中的一个建筑…一间巨大的闪亮房子!

看看这些为了稳固而拉的疯狂电线。有些事截然不同…日本民众是我所见到唯一坚持乘扶梯”如果不走动就靠一边站”的民众。在美国或香港，人们随意站在扶梯里。如果你试着往前走，他们会给你白眼。但日本人制定并遵守站立规则。

我唯一的问题是：在东京，人们站在左边，但在神户，大家站右边。这是为什么?有什么历史意义?难道关西、关东有不同教派让人们站在不同边?就象我对日本文化的诸多疑问，这个问题也许永远也无法得到答案。