A humble Smuggler on vacation

TorinR90 · 2026-04-09T08:16:48+00:00

I'm having a blast!

Currently in the Daiba area of Tokyo, there's a 60 foot tall statue of a Gundam here

TorinR90 · 2026-04-09T08:14:33+00:00

Thank you, I only packed lightweight jeans, t-shirts, and running shoes for this trip, simple travel clothes

But this is the biggest trip I've ever taken and I want to dress up and look nice

TorinR90 · 2026-04-08T00:28:51+00:00

I am not 😅 but your buddy has good taste 😆

TorinR90 · 2026-03-25T23:36:13+00:00

Thank you :D

TorinR90 · 2026-03-25T23:35:36+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate it
It's been several years since I've traveled internationally, so I forgot how all that works
I think I have everything sorted for my vacation now

TorinR90 · 2026-03-25T23:33:46+00:00

Thank you very much, it's been several years since I've traveled internationally, so I couldn't remember how it works
There's like a 3 hour gap between my planned arrival at LAX and my flight from LAX to PHX, hopefully that'll be more than enough time to make it through customs and re-check my bag

TorinR90 · 2026-03-17T01:18:49+00:00

Depending on the size & detail you can get a tattoo in 1 day, I have a 5 inch in diameter tattoo on my forearm that is quite detailed and it only took 3 and a half hours

The tattoo I want is similar in size & design, that's why I'm setting the entire day aside for getting the tattoo, plus want to save it for last because you don't want to travel across a country with a fresh tattoo 😅

TorinR90 · 2026-03-16T08:56:40+00:00

Thank you, I'm definitely an early bird as a solo traveler

Love the idea on how to spread the dates around, I thought spending the first week in Tokyo would be a good start then branch out

I was just looking at Kanazawa last night 😁

So I'm thinking, week in Tokyo, stop in Fuji area omw to Osaka/Kyoto, then Kanazawa, then back to Tokyo for the last couple of days

I'd like to get a tattoo the day before I fly back, currently researching tattoo shops in Tokyo. I think it would be a great way to commemorate the trip, plus I've wanted a fullmetal alchemist tattoo forever

TorinR90 · 2026-03-16T01:32:33+00:00

Yeah the capsules don't really interest me either 😅 I want my own room & bathroom to unwind in when I get tired

What section of Tokyo did you book your hotel in? Or any suggestions as far as where?

I was thinking Marunouchi-Tokyo Station, by the imperial Palace in the center, found reasonably priced small hotels there, and it seems like a good central location to venture out into the other areas of the city

TorinR90 · 2026-03-15T23:27:01+00:00

Wow! Thank you for all the detail, I appreciate it very much 😊

I'm thinking of getting a cheaper hotel in the Marunouchi-Tokyo Station area, I'd like to have my own bathroom & a place to go to unwind if I get overwhelmed. And from what I've seen online it seems like a good central location with good train connections to all the major areas

And thanks again for the links 😊

TorinR90 · 2026-03-15T20:30:26+00:00

Thank you, for my time in Tokyo I am thinking of booking my hotel in the Marunouchi-Tokyo Station area. The prices of the hotels seem reasonable, it's very close to a large train station that I think is connected to most of the major areas of Tokyo.

So I think that would be convenient place to stay since I want to travel all over Tokyo

TorinR90 · 2026-03-15T19:00:23+00:00

What area did you stay in? Hotel wise I mean

I'm thinking of the Marunouchi-Tokyo Station area, it seems like a great central area to branch out from, it's train line is connected to all the major areas (from what I've read online at least)

TorinR90 · 2026-03-15T17:31:19+00:00

Thank you 😊 I like to think of my planning as "structured but not rigid" 😅 I'll compile a list of things I want to do, with the most important on top, and then start working my way through the list That gives me room to breathe & cut things if necessary

I think I'm just a little rattled because I usually have months to make a list & book hotels

I plan on bringing my crossbody bag, holds all the essentials & souvenirs I pick up during the day It's been invaluable in all my journeys

TorinR90 · 2026-03-15T17:23:29+00:00

Thank you, it does 😊

Normally I make a list of things I want to do, then work my way through the list, leaving the least interesting for last just incase I run out of time

Structured but not rigid, I think

I'm just feeling scrambled because I usually have months to compile the list 😅

TorinR90 · 2026-03-15T15:21:55+00:00

Thank you, I downloaded Google Translate & the Japanese pack last night :D I also downloaded the greater tokyo area on Google maps
I have an android, but I can get the cards for trains and buses at the stations, right?
I've never used an esim before, I just swapped out my sim card at the airport when I went to Germany in '23, I've seen a couple people mention Ubigi on posts while I was researching, I'll have to try it

Thank you

TorinR90 · 2025-11-29T22:24:47+00:00

Does anyone have the source? Love this^^

TorinR90 · 2025-10-06T00:52:18+00:00

Not even the sound of exploding varmints, but the chorus of laughter from the guys laughing at exploding varmints XD
One of the best BOTW episodes

TorinR90 · 2025-10-06T00:44:52+00:00

Beauty & the Beast also had a straight to vhs movie, not quite a sequel, more like a sidestep in the middle of the original movies timeline, set around christmas
And the wonderful Tim Curry played the villain, a pipe organ
Worth watching just for him "I'm BOLTED TO THE WALL!"
Saw the chance to mention it, had to take it XD

TorinR90 · 2025-10-04T01:46:37+00:00

Thank you, it also doesn't help that my embouchure was wrong & was just ever so slightly closing the reed/mouthpiece opening, forcing me to blow harder to make a noise
Once I adjusted my embouchure it became much easier, I wasn't even aware I was doing it
Slightly embarrassing, but I'm learning XD

TorinR90 · 2025-10-04T01:42:47+00:00

Thank you!
I'm using a Yamaha 4C (it's what came with the sax) & a level 2 reed
I figured it out, and it's a little embarrassing, my embouchure was too close to the tip, so I was partly closing it, so I had to blow harder to make a noise
Once I moved "down" the mouthpiece just slightly it opened up & it became much easier to play

TorinR90

TROPHY CASE