AstroBanana Trilogy Part IIc

After a somewhat turbulent February, Eric Banana had to travel to Tokyo to work on another project the following month (read: March 2007). The thing with Japan is that it deploys a cellular network that is different from what the rest of the world uses. Basically it does not use a GSM network so GSM phones are not supported. Only some foreign 3G phones can be used in Japan.

By then, Eric Banana was exchanging SMS with Astro Girl on an almost daily basis. He was not using a 3G phone at that time (note: he was using a Samsung E930), so he would not be able to communicate with Astro Girl via SMS while he was in Japan. Unable to bear the thought of having to go through a communication blackout, Eric Banana decided to upgrade his phone to a 3G one and bought a Samsung Z720 Ultra Edition 13.1 before he set off for Japan.

Eric Banana was looking to find some time to shop around Tokyo for a little gift for Astro Girl. As it turned out, it was a particularly intense business trip and he got more than a glimpse of the vibrant Tokyo nightlife a.k.a. late nights of drinking with his Japanese colleagues - Eric Banana could not find any time to shop around at all! Thankfully, he extended his stay by one day, which gave him a chance to look for the gift.

Another of his juniors - "Impossibly" Ashley - was working in the Japan office then, so she volunteered to be his tour guide for the day. They went to several places before ending up at Meiji Shrine (明治神宫) where Eric Banana saw some Japanese amulets for sale and decided to get one for Astro Girl.

With his eye for aesthetics, he quickly picked the prettiest one. Ashley had a look of doubt on her face and asked, "Are you sure you want to get that one?" Eric Banana replied confidently, "Yah, it's the prettiest one." Ashley mumbled in a deadpan tone, "But it's for 安胎 one."

OOPS~! In his obsession with picking the prettiest amulet, Eric Banana forgot to read the fine print. Okay, so the print wasn't that fine :P He then wanted to get one for love but decided against it. They were not even an item so he was afraid Astro Girl might be somewhat offended. He eventually chose one for good health :) He also bought a Japanese doll figurine as a complement to the amulet.

After he returned from Japan, Eric Banana arranged to meet up with Astro Girl on 18 March 2007. It was a trip to the Asian Civilisation Museum to see an exhibition. He passed her the gifts and related the story of the amulet blunder to her. He was rather distracted on that day as he planned to...