U.S. Dollar Tumbles Below ¥118

The new year isn't exactly starting off on a good note financially.

According to Jiji Press:

Tokyo, Jan. 7 (Jiji Press)--The dollar briefly tumbled below 118 yen in Tokyo trading on Thursday, as another cut in the yuan's exchange rate by China fueled risk aversion among investors.

At 5:00 P.M. today (Japan time), the dollar was at 118.02-03 yen.

To read more, go here.

Why The Voters Are Angry

Monica Crowley has penned an article that the Washington political elites of both parties should read and memorize. And take heed.

The ruling class of both parties in Washington have the people in uproar, that's why unconventional candidates such as Sen. Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and socialist Bernie Sanders have been making gains against the "establishment" candidates.

In her article in the Washington Post, Crowley wrote:

Happy new year. If you thought 2015 was an unpredictable political year, wait until you see what 2016 has in store. The political dynamic that has brought us to this point has been unprecedented, which means the coming months will continue to deliver wildly unforeseen outcomes. 

There is one thing we do know for sure. American voters are doing something they haven’t done in a very long time: showing the political elites the door. 

On the right and the left, they are angry at the state of the nation. But more importantly, they are angry with leaders who appear more interested in protecting themselves, their interests and each other than in advancing the country’s interests and serving the American people. 

They are disgusted with an irresponsible, unresponsive and unaccountable government that empowers only itself.

To read more, go here. 

38 Airlines Get Lowest Safety Ratings

Above, the Singapore Airlines jet I flew to Japan on last October. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When one climbs aboard an airliner to fly to a vacation destination, the idea is to get there in one piece, a hopefully alive piece.

Travel + Leisure has an article on the safest and the unsafest airlines. Sadly, 38 airlines have been rated "unsafe". You'd probably want to take look at this article before you take your next trip by air.

On the plus side, the article also names the world's 20 safest airlines, one of which is pictured above.

They begin with:

When thinking about the range of qualities we look for in an airline, the ability to deliver us to our destination alive is at the top of the list (just slightly edging out leg room). Safety is primary when flying: we want to travel on airlines that are rigorous about safety inspections, use innovative navigation technology, and adhere to basic best practices, like making sure the plane is heading in the right direction and closing all doors before taking off. 

Unfortunately, some airlines—as per the ratings listed on AirlineRatings.com—have some work to do.

To see which airlines you should probably want to avoid and the ones you can confidently feel safe aboard, go here.

New Year's In Las Vegas Photos

As promised, here are more photos from the New Year's trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, known also as "Sin City".

Above, our New Year's party headquarters, The Mirage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Kiara receives a visit from ex-boyfriend Joey. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

                

Above, a shot of Denise and I before heading out. Photo by Joey.

Above, even Chewbacca showed up in Las Vegas. Photo by Denise.

Above, Denise dancing in The Mirage to wrap up 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Kiara and Denise at Rhumbar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Denise blowing a kiss to the cameraman. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, what happens in Vegas... ends up here. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

JapanTravel Article Posted: Atami Hot Springs Hotel Shin Kado Ya

Above, the front of Atami Hot Springs Hotel Shin Kado Ya. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My latest article for JapanTravel is now up. Apparently, I didn't receive the notice that it had been approved and posted. Either that, or I just missed it. After all, with Christmas coming up, it was a busy time.

It is on the Atami Hot Springs Hotel Shin Kado Ya where we stayed at last October.

There's plenty of information available in the article along with many photographs.

To view it, go here.

Odaiba's Hidden Oddities

Above, a view of Odaiba from a Sumida River cruise boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Odaiba section of Tokyo is best-known to monster fans as the battleground of Godzilla and Megaguirus in Godzilla x Megaguirus (2000).

But Odaiba is also known for its shopping and amusement centers.

Japanista has an article on Odaiba's hidden oddities that are "off the beaten path".

It begins with:

Odaiba, a must see city on the backpacker’s checklist when traveling through Japan. This manmade island features some of Tokyo’s most popular tourist attractions and an extensive selection of shopping, dining, and date night hot spots. 

What a lot of travelers don’t know about are the gems waiting to be discovered under the cover of what might appear to be a tourist trap island. While the Rainbow Bridge, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Fuji TV Building, and the “life size” Gundam statue in front of DiverCity Tokyo Plaza are worth the journey to explore, there is a side to Odaiba that also appeals to the traveler looking for an adventure off the beaten path.

To read more, go here. 

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My Aunt Rose Made Her Transition

Above, my Aunt Rose and I on February 24, 2015.

News that our family has been dreading to hear arrived today.

My aunt Rose Ledoux passed away around 12:20 this afternoon. She seemed to be rallying in recent weeks but took a turn for the worse this morning.

I am so glad that I stopped by to visit her at her home in Mission Viejo after buying The Beast. It had been a while since I've seen her and driving The Beast home from San Diego was the perfect opportunity to see her and give her a tour of the RV.

Above, my Aunts Gloria and Rose during their teen years.

Also, it warmed my heart a couple of weeks ago when my cousin showed her one of my samurai photos that I had taken in October in Japan and she had a big laugh over that.

She was loved by our entire family and will be missed greatly, but it is good to know that her suffering is over.

She will be buried with my Uncle Ralph at Riverside National Cemetery.

The Rainstorm & The Beast

Above, The Beast at Reseda Automotive. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A winter storm has arrived, and it is the first real rainstorm to help relieve a parched California.

Sure, we've had some rains here and there, mainly light drizzles and occasional showers, but this is the first sustained rainstorm of the season, courtesy of El Niño. It has been long in coming.

I heard on the radio that California could get a foot of rain this month. That would put a big dent into the drought.

Of course, it had to hit on the day I had an appointment to have The Beast serviced (oil change, etc.) at Reseda Automotive. But, the job has been completed and The Beast is ready for the next road trip. I decided to switch from regular motor oil to synthetic oil. It will last longer and protect engine parts much better (The Beast has a Ford V10 Triton engine).

This rain also forced me to buy an umbrella to keep in The Beast. This was something I had intended to do anyway.

Now to dry off indoors.

Godzilla's Horrific New Design

Images of Godzilla from Godzilla Resurgence have leaked this past week.

Photo leaks of upcoming Godzilla movies aren't anything new, except it appears that the leaked images have attracted the major news media.

Godzilla Resurgence (also known as Shin Godzilla) is currently in production in Japan by Toho Co., Ltd. and the completed film will be released this year.

The Huffington Post apparently felt the images warranted a posting along with some comments.

They begin with:

Godzilla will be back in this summer's "Godzilla: Resurgence," and it looks like he's had an extreme makeover. 

The King of the Monsters will make his first appearance in a Japanese film since 2004's "Godzilla: Final Wars," and images leaked online show what appears to be a frightening new form:

Above, one of the leaked images.

The design does hearken back to the original 1954 Godzilla design. I like it!

To see more, go here.

Savvy Tokyo: "Tokyo's Top Five Shopping Districts"

Above, Ginza Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When people vacation, one of the most enjoyable activities is to shop. This is especially true while visiting foreign countries. There are unique shopping districts offering goods that may not be available back home.

Savvy Tokyo has posted an article on "Tokyo's Top Five Shopping Districts".

The Ginza section of Tokyo is the most famous as it is also the most ritziest. But there are four other shoppng districts that visitors should check out.

Writer Linda Haberberger begins her article with:

Japan's capital is deservedly known as one of the world's shopping meccas, offering numerous vibrant and trendsetting districts in which you can find everything from the high-end to the offbeat, from subculture favorites to traditional crafts and vintage wares. Beyond department stores, the city has countless shopping streets—ranging from posh boulevards packed with flagship stores to back alleyways focused on a particular niche such as sport or vintage clothing—as well as some impressive malls. Read on for the low-down on Tokyo's five most popular shopping neighborhoods.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's 2015 Tourism Numbers Should Be Out Shortly

Above, the Godzilla mural at Toho Studios in the Setagaya section
of Tokyo during our visit in October. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that 2015 is over and done with, we should be hearing at any time the final tourism numbers from the Japanese government.

At present, it is anticipated that the final count of the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan may be 19.9 million. It is possible that 20 million may have been reached. That was the goal the Japanese government set for the year 2020.

The figures will probably be disclosed through the Japan Tourism Agency.

Whatever the final tourism figures are, 2015 was still a record-breaking year for the Japanese tourism industry. We did our part when the three of us vacationed in Japan last October.

Barbara Weiler Performs

While in Las Vegas for New Year's, I stopped by the Ellis Island Casino for a late dinner and briefly met up with Barbara Weiler. Barbara and I served together as committee members for the G-FEST conventions in Chicago.

She works as a blackjack dealer and singer. She performs as "Bette Midler" and I managed to capture a little of one of her performances on video.

If you are a Facebook follower of mine, the video is there.