Unique and Strange "Welcome to Hotel Bodies"

Unique and Strange "Welcome to Hotel corpse" - In Japan, the bodies also have special hotel name Lastel. How did it come to a deceased person also has its own luxurious place?

As countries 'sunrise' may be Japan's most advanced in Asia, but the death toll in Japan continues to rise. An average of 23,000 more people die each year during the last decade (Reuters).

While, in a country with a majority of the followers of Shinto, cremation is a top choice for those who died. With so many deaths, many bodies have to wait at least four days to be cremated.

Apparently this opportunity exploited Hisayosy Teramura establish Lastel - located on the outskirts of Japan's second largest city, Yokohama. That is, for the families who are grieving can leave family members who died in this place.

Facility is luxurious. Supplied with a refrigerated coffin rents JPY 12,000 or USD 157 per day. The hotel can accommodate up to 18 "guests". An automatic storage system made ​​coffin can be seen by friends and family. And, they can pay their respects to the deceased until there is space in the crematorium.

Permit crematorium in Japan quite difficult, so the hotel as Lastel a practical answer to the needs in this cherry country.

SOURCE : RIDSABS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Gili Meno information

Gili Meno information - Only a kilometre from Gili Trawangan and set in the middle of the three islets lies the real Robinson Crusoe experience of the Gilis with some of the best beaches to be found.

Only two kilometres long and one wide, Gili Meno is the smallest of the three islands and by far the most peacefull and under developed. It’s possible to walk around the island along the beach or paths of Gili Meno in under two hours.

Most visitors are attracted to Gili Meno for the lure of total escapism and it is therefore very popular with honeymooning couples and adventurous castaway types.

The dining scene is predominantly local cafes with grilled fish on the beach as dusk approaches.
Lazing around in a hammock, reading books and playing chess with the friendly locals  also ranks very highly on the daily Meno agenda.

For divers and snorkellers, the island boasts the infamous ‘Gili Meno Wall‘ where during the day turtles freely swim by and giant gorgonian fans hang amongst the colourful corals. At night divers can witness huge Moray Eels and the entertaining Spanish Dancers, baby cuttlefish and a whole array of crustacians.

GETTING to MENO
Most visitors arrive via Gili Trawangan then jump on a connecting island hopper boat for the fifteen minute trip over the channel.

Boats depart from Gili Trawangan at 9.30am and 4.00pm daily (Cost is approximately IDR 23,000) and from Gili Air at 8.30am and 3.00pm (a twenty minute ride, Cost is IDR 25,000).

Visitors from mainland Lombok leave from Bangsal harbour in public boats for the twenty-five minute crossing (IDR 25,000). Purchase tickets only from the concrete Koperassi Karya Bahari building and not from the touts that line the roads into Bangsal.

There are no set timings for the crossing from Lombok to Gili Meno, it’s up to the captain once the boat is full but it is possible to charter your own public boat for a fixed price of IDR 190,000 or buy up remaining available tickets for a speedier departure.


The most popular stretch of sand on Gili Meno is to be found to the
left of where the boats pull up on the beach. This southern beach strip is where the majority of accommodation getting there beach life on the island is to be found. There are no hawkers to disrupt a day’s sunbathing and the beach huts lining the sand offer a perfect respite from the heat where visitors can buy drinks and snacks from the neighbouring warungs.

Snorkelling equipment can be hired from any of the local operators. Swimming is perfectly safe in the calm waters here but don’t venture too far out from the shoreline.
As with Trawangan, visibility is constantly good year round. Expect to see Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles, schools of Batfish, Blue-spotted stingrays and many varieties of hard and soft corals. If you look hard enough you could be lucky enough to find rare and unusual nudibranchs amongst other lesser-spotted micro critters.

EATING MENO
Although it may not appear so at a first glance there are actually a fair number of places to eat along the beachfront all with spectacular views over to Lombok or Gili Trawangan. Balenta is on the north of the island and specialises in local Sasak cuisine with Mount Rinjani and mainland Lombok as a dramatic backdrop.
Bibi’s Café is part of Villa Nautilus and has the usual mix of Western and Indonesian dishes with reputedly the best pizzas on the island.

The Jungle Bar is to be found inside the Tao’ Kombo bamboo huts set up literally in the bush! A quiet and secluded spot on the far southern tip of the island.
Malia’s Child is a popular gathering spot for budget travellers and serves a heady mix of Indonesian and European cuisines.
The Rust Bar and Restaurant right at the harbour front is street side in a central location with cool music and plenty of punters hanging around for after dinner drinks.
SLEEPING MENO
Don’t come to Gili Meno expecting to find the top level of accommodation as on Trawangan.  The charming Thai style huts on the main beach are very popular as they are the only rooms on all three islands that are situated actually close to  the water’s edge.
Mid range bungalowsare generally situated slightly back from the main path whilst budget rooms can be found dotted throughout the whole of the island and can be found just along the main strip.


The thatched bungalows and rooms are situated in a shady tropical gardens on the northern part of the island.

There’s a mix of cheaper rooms and better-appointed bungalows with freshwater shower facilities and fan. The beach out front is quiet and charming in its own right and visitors will find few distractions or disturbances.

There are not too many activities to be found on Gili Meno, which is part of its appeal. Those who simply cannot refrain from some form of activity will find the Bird Park in the centre of the village an entertaining distraction for a morning or afternoon.

The Gili Meno bird park hosts over three hundred birds in a natural, free environment.

Peafowls, Pheasants, Hornbills, Eagles, Pelicans, Macaws and parrots galore are amongst the feathered citizens and ambassadors gathered from all over the world.

Accommodation is also to be found onsite but most make the trip for the guided tour of the park, restaurant and pool table.

The Turtle Sanctuary plays an important role in protecting and hatching baby turtles for release into the Gili waters. Small donations are welcome to this worthwhile cause.

Apart from these two pursuits it’s back to tropical beach-combing and book reading activities to whittle away the Gili Meno hours..

Gili Trawangan information

Gili Trawangan information -  The largest of the three islands, Gili Trawangan attracts the majority of visitors, it is around thirty minutes boat ride from the northwest mainland of Lombok and regular daily fast boats depart Bali directly to Trawangan island and all boats stop off at Teluk Nare on mainland Lombok as part of the return journey.

The beaches of the Gilis are still powdery white, the water a beautiful clear blue and they are positioned perfectly for sunsets over Bali’s Mt Agung and sunrise over Lombok’s Mt Rinjani. Thirty years ago the Gili islands were uninhabited and only discovered by the seafaring Bugis people from Sulawesi. It was only a matter of time before the more adventurous backpacker types discovered the islands and developed Trawangan into a hippy party paradise destination.

Gili Trawangan now identifies itself as a great holiday destination suitable for families of all ages. Various new hotels, luxury villas, and boutique bungalows now cater to children and offer good value. Some have baby-sitting services, and with lots of activities on the islands families are sure to enjoy their beach holidays to the full.
Unique to the Gilis all forms of motorised transport are still not allowed – meaning the only way to get around is on foot, by bicycle and in pony carts known as Cidomos.
One sign of change is the recent introduction four ATM machines on the three Gili Trawangan to be found at Hotel Vila Ombak and Coral Beach.
It’s possible to follow the beach around the perimeter of the island in around two hours on foot. The most popular stretches of beaches are `Goodheart’ (the main stretch) and `North Beach’ where the best snorkelling is to be found.

All dive centres and many shack operations lining the beaches rent snorkelling equipment for around IDR 50,000 for half a day.
Hawkers are not so much of an issue on Gili Trawangan as in Bali; you’re likely to attract afriendly conversation from the locals rather than a hardcore sales pitch.
Beware of strong currents and do not attempt to swim between any of the islands.
With over twenty-five dive sites surrounding all three islands there are opportunities to dive any of the Gilis regardless of where you base yourself.

Most visitors stay on Gili Trawangan for the facilities and make the short hop out to the dive sites. Each dive school has its own fleet of traditional outrigger boats that ferry divers offshore to the walls and reefs where the best diving is to be found.

Aside from the obvious lure of snorkelling and diving, sunbathing and bar-hopping, Gili Trawangan has a fair amount of distractions to keep visitors both amused and entertained throughout the course of their stay.

Fishing trips and charters can be made with the local outrigger fishing boats who offer day trips with line fishing and trawling.


The Bio Rock is an environmental initiative set up by the Gili Eco Trust that over the last six years has hosted an annual Bio Rock workshop on Gili Trawangan. The artificial metal reef cages are fed a constant voltage of electricity to encourage coral regeneration and are a natural attraction for all forms of marine life. There are now thirty three individual projects in the Gilis and it’s possible to snorkel or dive around them and there’s even a PADI specialty course tailored to educate and involve a wider community.

THINGS TO DO –
Golf Trips to mainland Lombok and the very picturesque Lombok Kosaido Golf and Country Club are highly recommended. Suitable for all abilities this trip is a must as golfers arrive at hole four by speedboat where they are collected by a buggy and driven to the clubhouse prior to tee off. The course structure and landscaping makes for a relaxed golfing experience, neither too challenging nor too demanding.
Next door to the golf course is Hotel Tugu Lombok, perfect for a post-golf round of drinks before heading back to the islands by boat.

Horse Riding with the boys at the Stud Stables, is a great way to see the whole of the island. The perimeter of

Gili Trawangan can be walked along the beach and Stud Stables have experienced and professional guides. Even though the routes are very relaxed and not at all challenging the horse rides are  suited to more practiced riders.

Karma Kayak is the perfect way to combine sports with nature. Full training and a practice session with a qualified NKB/BCU instructor is given prior to embarking on a paddle across the channel to neighbouring Gili Meno for a picnic lunch.

A good way to round off a beach day is to catch sunset at `North Beach’ with jugs of Sangria and fresh Tapas and BBQs.


 






Soures : http://www.gili-paradise.comhttp://www.gili-paradise.com/gilis-information/about-gili-islands/gili-trawangan/

Senggigi Beach, LOMBOK INDONESIA

Senggigi is the most developed area for tourists on Lombok.

Senggigi Beach, LOMBOK INDONESIA - You can find a variety of restaurants, bars, discotheques, travel agents, photo processors, money changers, souvenir shop and a range of accommodations starting from budget guest house to 5 star hotels. Restaurants and small cafes line the colorful main beach road. Swimming off the beach is safe.

The town of Senggigi spreads out along nearly 10 kilometers of coastal road. This road continues north to Bangsal, port for the Gili Islands. Along the way, a fantastic scenery of the north west coast of Lombok awaits. Most travelers start or end their stay at Senggigi because of the easy access to Mataram Airport and accommodations options are available to all budgets. If you are frugal or intrepid and take the slow ferry from Bali, it's best to arrange transport in advance from the ferry dock to Senggigi, since the dock on the Lombok side is in a remote spot several kilometers south of Mataram.

 

There are plenty of activities you can do to complete your holiday. Sightseeing or touring organized by reputable local tour operators is the best option to discover what Lombok has to offer. Renting a car or motor cycle is also good alternative to get around, either self-driving, or with a driver so you can relax and enjoy the view. Car rental in Lombok is more expensive than Bali. Tip driver pocket money for meals if you stop for lunch or diner. If you are pleased with service, tip the driver or local guide at the end. If you collide with anything, or it collides with you, you are responsible for all costs

 

 

INFORMATION

Senggigi Post Office located on the main street of Senggigi, opposite from Pamour Art & Antique shop. Health Centre or Puskesmas located near Hotel Puri Saron. Drugstore or Apotik available next to the gate of Intan Lombok Hotel. Dentist available at Meninting Puskesmas 10 minutes drive from Senggigi towards direction to the airport.

 

Bank BNI available during office hours 5 days a week located near the Post Office. ATM's (Automatic Teller Machine) are easy to find. ATM BCA, ATM BNI, ATM Mandiri are available, you can swift your credit card and withdraw local currency IDR (Rupiah).

 

Police office located in Senggigi Art Market, near The Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort. Telephone Service (Wartel) available near Melati Dua Hotel. Internet Cafes are: Millenium Internet (opposite Papaya Restaurant) and Star Internet Service located in Senggigi Plaza with dedicated broadband speed at reasonable rates. Cellular phone in Indonesia is GSM and CDMA. If you have brought your cellular handphone, you can purchase prepaid calling cards to make outgoing calls at lower cost than calling on your home SIM. Shops which sell these cards are prolific. Major service providers are: Telkomsel, Satelindo and XL Ritel. Look for signs and banners with those markings.

 

Money changers are available almost in every corner of Senggigi. Double count your money before leaving the money changers to get the accurate amount. Hotel reception also change foreign money with lower rates.

 

Mini markets are located next to Bank BNI and near the Papaya Cafe.

Local Indonesian Foods sells nasi campur and warung Padang can be found right opposite from Taman Restaurant. At night, you can find the famous Nasi Goreng at Warung Cak Poer.

Tipping

Most larger hotels and restaurants automatically add Government Tax and Service charge up to 21% to the bill. Tipping is expected in main tourist area, but you're not compelled to tip at restaurants. If you like your driver or local tour guide, a tip of 10-15% is appreciated.

Carry small changes with you as taxi drivers often have none.

Airport or hotel porters expect Rp. 2000 - 10,000 per bag depending on the size and weights.

Disabled

Wheelchair ramps and van lifts are non existent. Many major hotels have limited handicapped facilities and accommodation. Advise your tour operators or hotel for special assistance.

News Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet 2014

News Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet 2014 — The utter joy of being able to drive a car the way was designed to be driven without fear of the revenue-generating arm of the law completely killing the fun is simply wonderful. The E-Class, which debuted in 1993 (E standing for Executive), is a prime example of just how much fun it can be to drop the hammer and enjoy life in the fast lane.

The 2014 E's rework brings a much sharper-looking car — notably the new twin LED light tubes that form the daytime running lights. When compared to the horizontal afterthoughts seen on some Mercedes models, the effect is dramatic. In Canada, all Es will wear the AMG look. This brings a stronger face, bolder side sills and a tight tail that accents the twin exhaust outlets.

The headlights have also been reworked to great effect — all models now use LED lighting. On the V6 models, the headlights are passive, however, optional on these models and standard on the V8 E 550, they are active and adaptive. In operation, the headlights are in the high beam mode for maximum illumination most of the time. However, relying on two windshield-mounted cameras, the light pattern changes to prevent the brightness from blinding a pedestrian or oncoming motorist.

Inside, it is more of the same. The materials take a big step forward, as does the reworked centre stack. The colour palette is also strikingly different. The Cabrio tested was finished in a steel grey with a red convertible top. Inside, the black on Bengal Red (burgundy to my eye) Nappa leather was highlighted by aluminum accents. The combination casts the cabin in a very favourable light.

When the E-Class Coupes and Cabrios land in May, they will be offered in E 350 and E 550 guises. Initially, the E 350 will continue with M-B's 3.5-litre V6 engine. It makes 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Next year, this engine will be phased out in favour of a 3.0L, twin-turbo V6 — it should make 329 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, which is a significant boost.

Until then, I would opt for the E 550 and its sublime 4.6L twin-turbo V8. This thing spins out an effortless 402 hp and, more importantly, 443 lb-ft of torque. It shows up at 1,600 rpm and remains clocked in through 4,750 rpm, which is within a whisper of where the horsepower comes online. In Cabrio form, it drops the E 350's zero-to-100-kilometre-an-hour time of 6.4 seconds to a sizzling 4.9 seconds for the E 550. It also sounds the part, especially when the top is lowered. Both engines also adopt a new idle/stop system that shuts the engine down whenever the E comes to a standstill.

Both models feature M-B's seven-speed manumatic transmission. It is dialed in and up to the task of relaying the power to the rear wheels (there is an all-wheel-drive version of the E 350 Coupe) with the desired alacrity. It also features three driving modes — Eco, Sport and Manual. While the modes work as advertised, I would like a normal setting. Eco pulls away in second gear while Sport likes to hold its gears a little too long when tooling around town. The ability to employ all seven speeds without having them held for so long would be nice. Mind you, get out of an urban environment and the Sport mode comes into its own — the transmission and both engines work hand in glove. The addition of a "temporary" manual mode, which can be accessed with the shifter in drive, adds to the fun quotient.

The handling is, again, nicely dialed in. All models earn an adaptive suspension that allows the driver to select comfort or sport modes. The sport setting is noticeably firmer, but not in the least bit harsh. Helping things in the Cabrio is the fact there is no cowl shake — an unsettling sensation that makes the steering wheel feel as though it is moving laterally relative to the driver. The E is commendably good at resisting the temptation to shake and shimmy like a go-go dancer regardless of whether the top is up or down. The roofed Coupe is tighter to the feel, but not by much. Throw is a competent electrically assisted steering system and both Es go where pointed with reassuring poise.

The Cabrio's top is well sealed and, even when pushing 200 km/h on the Autobahn, it remained quiet — it is, remarkably, almost as hushed inside as the Coupe. When the top is down, the Cabrio's Aircap (a spoiler on the windshield header deploys at 40 km/h, which directs the air over the open cabin) and the rear wind blocker combine to reduce the windy backwash to a minimum, even at a speed that would see the car impounded were it driven at the same speed in parts of Canada.

Other features include Collision Prevention Assist, which operates between 7 and 250 km/h. Using sensors it warns the driver if the car is in danger of rear-ending the vehicle ahead both visually and audibly. It can also, at speeds below 50 km/h, bring the car to a halt all by itself if it determines a rear-end collision is inevitable and the driver is not taking evasive action. Then there's Parktronic with Active Parking Assist — it, after finding a suitable parking spot with sensors, can park the car with the driver simply controlling the speed. Finally, four cameras provide a 360-degree view around the car.

The reworked E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, especially in V8 guise, blends the attributes of a sporty speedster with those of a luxurious boulevardier. Mercedes-Benz has yet to announce pricing, but the new E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet will likely mirror recent launches — more equipment while toeing the line on pricing.

© Copyright (c) Driving

Sources : http://www.driving.ca

School girl Trend Fake Dragon Ball Attacks

 School girl Trend Fake Dragon Ball Attacks - 

As covered on jakican yesterday, photos of schoolgirls doing faux manga style martial arts moves have been popping up on forums and threads in Japan. Those photos, however, are just the tip of the iceberg.

During the 1980s, when the Dragon Ball anime was on primetime television, kids would unleash Kamehameha attacks on each for fun at school or in the park. The difference here is that teens these days can snap digital photos and upload them for instant internet fame.

Why now? It's perhaps because a new Dragon Ball anime, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, is slated to hit Japanese movie theaters at the end of the month. This is the first Dragon Ball animated feature to get a theatrical release in 17 years—and the first one to get viral pics of teens doing its signature move.

More manga style attacks below:

Very important update: The trend is spreading from schoolgirls to bikers!

Japanese Kids Pretending They Are Insects

Japanese Kids Pretending They Are Insects - How many more Japanese photo memes can there be? When will they stop? At this rate, never.

In the last 24 hours or so, the above photo has been going viral in Japan. It's been retweeted over eighteen thousand times. On the original tweet, it says in Japanese, "We're sick of guitar!! We want to play Mushiking!"

The four students put their guitars on their backs and pretended they were beetles. Mushiking: The King of the Beetles was an originally a Sega arcade and collectible card game in which insects battled. It was very popular in Japan about a while back and even spawned an anime series, an animated feature, and a DS game.

Online in Japan, people are saying things like, "This is too clever" or "I want to play Mushiking, too". Of course, some people in Japan are wondering when this seemingly endless stream of teenage photo memes will end. Others are joining in:

Japanese teens, like teens anywhere, like to goof off on the internet. And thus, we get trends like this—trends that sometimes go global.

What's interesting about this particular is that the original photo and its catchphrase are spawning parodies.

The cultural context means some of the humor is lost in translation. The tweet for above image says, "We're sick of L'Arc-en-Ciel!! Let's play Mushiking!"


This one says, "Since there's no Yu Jin, we're tired of being the Five Elite Generals!! Let's play Mushiking!" 

This meme is, as previously mentioned, just starting to take off. And it's unclear how far it will spread or how many kids will start playing "guitar Mushiking" for internet kicks.


source : http://kotaku.com