If Roller Coaster is scarring, why do we feel so excited?

Roller Coaster. Typing this world already freaks me out.  But, even so, I met some friends and went to an attraction park in Yokohama to face the giant toy. There was a long time I had not gone to this attraction, maybe more than 15 years. However, what I felt was just the same of last time: scared at first, scared during, but happy and excited when it finished.

But, if Roller Coaster is scarring, why do we feel so excited and have so much fun? I think the friend who was with me gave the right answer to it: "because makes us feel alive". Getting into a cart which takes you up and down really quickly as if you were going to die at any moment is what moves us to this attraction. This excitement which makes us feel alive is what we like it so much. We want to feel excitement in life!
Because of that, some people like to do dangerous things to feel this same status of excitement. I've a friend who ran a big avenue naked, despite the fact he could be caught by the police and be under arrest. Another friend likes to surf, but only when the waves are very brave, despite he can be caught by the ocean and die. For them doing dangerous things makes them feel excited, but we do not need it to feel that way.
A big proof of it is passion which also makes us feel excited. And also nervous, with heart jumping and hands sweating, this is what we feel when we are in love...and that's what I felt when jumped into the Diving Vanish Coaster Roller too! As words are very limited to describe that moment, you can check the video bellow made by a fellow who was much less scared than I was.

Meeting my friends that day was also exciting. And if you wanna make new friends all over the world, download Taptrip app and meet them during virtual trips!
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Why the same food can taste differently in other places?

Yesterday there was a special lunch in Taptrip`s office. As we had a long meeting to discuss improvements, nothing better than something delicious to give us energy during it! As part of us wanted pizza and the other part wanted paella, we ended ordering both. 
This was my first time to have european cookery in Japan. Although it was very good (the paella's rice has the right portion of salt and the sea food on it was so soft as the pizza), the taste was different of Brazil, my home country, and probably might be different of the original spanish and italian cookery.

"It tastes much better in my home place." - I am pretty sure you've heard that from someone or also said that to someone in life. But, why? Why the same food can taste differently from one place to other? I wanted to answer to this question during the conclusion of this post, but I can answer right now: because people are different and their taste for meals is different too. That's why the cookery has to be adapted according to the flavor of everybody from a specific place likes. Simple, huh? 
But, some people are against it. For example: sushi - a traditional japanese meal made with rice, fish and condiments - is also prepared with strawberry, mango, kiwi and other fruits in Brazil because it's a tropical country where many people love fruits. My japanese friends always say a big "WHAT?!" every time I tell them this and complement saying "a japanese sushiman would be very upset if sees something like that!"
But, we need to accept it as something new, an opportunity to try a different flavor of something we like very much. When I went to France, was surprised to see the fritter is different of Brazil because has no chocolate cream inside. According to a friend, the japanese curry is less spicy than indian curry probably because indians are stronger for spicy food. The japanese sausage is much smaller than the argentinian one, I found it by myself when went to a latin restaurant in Tokyo...don't know if will be back someday.

New experiences are good in life, specially if they are yummy. By the way, did you already download Taptrip and has the experience of making friends in the whole world? You can also send them pictures of what you had for breakfast and lunch. Install it now and have fun!

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Japanese night clubs: how they are, where to go and how much they cost!

Some say clubs in Tokyo are very expensive, but one of the best in the world. In the last months I've been checking how true it is and now I can finally synthesize the japanese clubs in three genres: happy hour clubs, free entrance clubs and really expensive clubs.
Happy Hour: all you can drink for just one price!

Although there are many expensive clubs (not only to get in, but also to consume), you can find some cheap and good options. The Happy Hour is one of them. Many pubs and clubs offer all you can drink for a reasonable price of 1000 ienes (about U$ 10) from 7pm until 11pm. 
The first time I heard about it, couldn't believe how cheap it was. Specially because most of those places are located in Roppongi, one of the most expensive areas of Tokyo. And this is where I stop every Friday night after work to have a bunch of drinks. 
By the way, the way how japanese bartenders prepare the drinks are really disappointing. If you order a cocktail in some countries, for example, the person will cut the fruit, smash with sugar, cover with alcohol, shake and give you a beautiful cocktail. Here they just mix a cheap juice with the alcohol and "voila", your drink is done. This same one costs 1000 ienes each when the Happy Hour is over, that's why it's important to enjoy it as much as you can.
Clubs with free entrance...really?

However, one day I decided to stay overnight and see what happens after 11pm. While I walked through the streets of Roppongi, saw a lot of people and many clubs which looked very expensive. Suddenly, a friend who was with me wanted to get in one of them which, for my surprise, had free entrance.
But, as nothing fun is free, everyone needs to buy a drink after getting there which costed about 1000 ienes. And the bar is just in front of the entrance to avoid people to get in and go to the dancing floor without buying anything. 
But, that day was so crowded that some people went to the dancing floor without ordering anything (me included). And then I found out the staff in there is not so stupid: part of them walks around the dancing place with lamps to see if everyone is drinking. If someone is not holding a bottle or glass or if it's empty, they approach with the menu and say "order something now". And this is how I was forced to spend more 1000 ienes for a little bit of fun.
Really expensive clubs: get your wallet ready!
Ok, there is no much I can tell about the really huge and nice clubs because I've not been there yet. And the reason is obvious: they are very expensive. According to friends, they cost between 3000 and 4000 ienes (about U$30~U$40) for the entrance plus everything you order. 
I've met people who only go to this kind of place and the reason is the same as everywhere in the world: they feel if the place is expensive, than it's the best. But, it is not true. 
If you just want to have fun during the nightlife of Tokyo, my recommendation is joining the Happy Hours and the places which entrance is provided if you buy a drink. If you are worried about the staff checking out all the time if your bottle or glass is empty, do like me: order a bottle of black beer or other thing which bottle is nor transparent and no one can see the content. Then, pretend you are drinking during the whole night. This way, you drink less and enjoy more and avoid ending like this.

Now, a curious advice: in some places is "forbidden" to dance due to an unusual situation which happened in Japan awhile ago. So, be sure it's ok to dance before starting to shake your bones.

And how is the nightlife of your country? Please, leave a comment describing how it is and upload pictures in Taptrip! People from the whole world want to see how people from your country have fun!    Download Taptrip App and make friends in more than 200 countries worldwide!
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Japanese convenience stores: 3 reasons why they are so good!

Even before coming to Asia, I've heard a lot about the convenience stores, but didn't know what they were. Basically they are stores which offer the same products you find in the supermarket, drugstores and bookstores, everything in just one place.

This is a famous convenience store in Japan, you can find everywhere.

"But, what is the advantage of going to there instead of going to supermarket or drugstores and bookstores?" - you might be asking. Well, I will explain it in this post.
Basically, there are three advantages: conbinis (this is how the japanese call the convenience stores) are open 24 hours, they are everywhere and offer discounts and promotion for clients. These advantages are the three reasons why they are so good, specially if compared to many western countries where this kind of business is not so strong as in Asia.
When I just arrived in Japan, went to the closest conbini to buy some stuffs. After paying, the cashier asked me to put my hand in a box full of papers and get four of them which had pictures of an ice coffee, a coke and two snacks. Suddenly, she said: "Congratulations! You won all this!". 
I just went there to buy a bottle of water and credits for the cell phone, but ended caring a lot of things to home. Then, I realized that the convenience stores do this kind of action very often to get loyal clients. Another store to my work gave me a point card to get discounts because I buy things in there everyday. My coworker got two prizes after buying many goods and gathering many seals.

My coworkers were gathering these seals from goods bought in the conbini to change for exclusive products, like a Hello Kitty's plate. 

During my first weeks in Japan, I didn't know that conbinis were open 24 hours. As the commerce here mainly closes between 8pm and 10pm (yes, very early), I thought the same thing happened with the convenience stores. Until the day I saw one open during the night, since then I could stop running from work to get the supermarket still open.
Of course, the prices are a little more expensive (about 5% which is ok) and there is no much variety as the supermarkets, drugstores and bookstores do. But, you can still find the basic goods for your daily activities in any store close to you, including other services as ATM, photocopy & print.

This is the stand with "bento", cheap meals which can be found in any conbini. 

There are magazines and comic books for the clients to buy or to read right there.

The copy machines can be handled by the clients, each copy costs ￥10 (about U$10 cents).

I would like my country to have this kind of commerce too, but as some western countries are not so safe as Japan, could be difficult to run a store during the whole night. By the way, are there convenience stores in your country? So, take some pictures and upload them in Taptrip for the whole world to know.

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Hanabi: meet how a typical japanese firework festival is!

Fireworks are very common in many places in the world, but it can vary according to the celebration. In Brazil and some other Western countries everyone watches fireworks during New Year. But, in Japan normally they occur during the summer and this is not the only difference. 
Another difference is the duration. Before going to hanabi (that's how japaneses call fireworks), I was surprised when a friend said it takes about one hour while in my country it must take mere 15 minutes. 
This same friend invited me to my first hanabi when summer had just begun in Japan. I had to meet her near to the place where it would be held. I was very afraid of getting lost, but was easy to find the place because many people dressing yukata was going there. Yukata is a typical japanese clothing (similar to kimono, but a little more simple) and many people use it to attend summer festivals. And, of course, I was not an exception.

Although the fireworks were scheduled to start at 7pm, we got there much earlier, about 4 hours before to get a good spot near to the lake. We took a picnic towel to mark the spot in case we need to leave to buy food, drink or something. Everybody did the same and some people used adhesive tape to write their names on it.

By the way, it's important to buy foods and drinks in advance to avoid long lines in the tents and very long lines in the convenient stores near to the event. As we need to stay there for hours until the hanabi starts, nothing better than enjoying this time with friends having some snacks.
When you realize, the time has passed and the show has started. Yes, we could call it a show because, during the fireworks, japanese and international songs are played on the background which makes the spectacle more beautiful.

When it was done, we decided to take the way back right away and it was a big mistake because many people decided to do the same and that's when we realized how crowded the place was. Everybody had to walk slowly until the nearest station and wait a little more than usual to take the train. So, a good recommendation is staying more in your spot until everybody leaves and the streets get more empty.
This is how a typical firework event occurs in Japan. What about your country? Which kind of firework festivals happen in there? Leave a comment and tell more details. If you took pictures, upload them in Taptrip and share with the whole world!

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