All the Little Details: Korea & Japan

One thing I've missed is getting home from a vacation and being able to sit down with my family and flip through ALL the pictures while describing the subjects and telling all our favorite stories.  So this post will be an attempt to do that, with less pics.

Bathroom Business

Yes, I realize this is a weird topic.  But I was seriously impressed.  And it only took a couple days before I decided every country needs to learn from Korea and Japan.

Men's stall in Miryang, South Korea

• The electronic toilet with heated seating and remote-controlled bidet isn't new to me, but I did not expect almost every public bathroom in Korea & Japan to have them.  And, in addition to the motion-sensor flush, some restrooms even had motion-sensor soothing waterfall sounds to ensure auditory privacy and prevent peeing-in-public-shyness. 
• They also had toilet seat sanitizer, which is absolutely more environmentally friendly than the paper covers.  Some also required you to get your TP before entering the stalls--which I guess probably help limit how much is used (or puts you in an awkward situation).
  
• Speaking of environmentally friendly:  in the majority of public restrooms, flourescent lights were on near the mirrors and sinks, but the rest of the lights were off.  The light in each stall turns on only when your stall door is locked.  
• Handicapped bathrooms were genderless, HUUUUUGE, and if there were a hallway to the standard restrooms, the handicapped bathrooms were located immediately before the hall.  This is (weirdly) exciting to me as an OT for many, many reasons:  1) No one without special needs ever uses these restrooms, which means they are actually available and cleaner for those who truly need them  2) No need to struggle with navigating a wheelchair/walking device through a hallway, bathroom line, or around teens doing their hair in the mirror  3) The sliding doors are button-activated, thereby maximizing space and increasing accessibility for all!   Sigh...It was beautiful.
• Parent-friendly:  Men's restrooms (reportedly) have the occasional stall with baby-changing table and/or toddler toilet.  At least one stall in every women's restroom had a high-chair like seat attached to the wall for a 0-2 year old child.  And if there were several stalls in the women's restroom, there was also a little tiny urinal outside the stalls so moms can bring their young boys in with them.  In addition, every single bus and train station, museum, mall, etc. had a nursing room--usually within EACH restroom, but sometimes only within specified ones. I don't even have kids but could appreciate how much they catered to families.

Regional Foods

• Yuna introduced us to honey-butter flavored chips.  They're amazing, and my mouth is watering just thinking of them.  Please submit that flavor to Lays in the next flavor-creation contest.
• Green tea-flavored everything.  I personally don't care for this flavor if it's not the actual liquid in a cup, but Liban was head over heels for green tea ice cream, cake, and KitKats.  There is currently a bag of the KitKats in our fridge--just do not expect Liban to share.  

Robots

• They're not everywhere but are around a lot more than they are in the US.  The robots assist with your customer service needs, take (and edit) your picture at tourist attractions for a fee, and might be your waitress if you go to an expensive restaurant.  (We didn't as we are cheap).
• At Miraikan, one of Tokyo's science museums that focuses on the new innovations, we saw a robot that imitated the human body quite closely.  Between "her" eyebrows raising up and nose twitching, hand gestures, and skin that is a little squishy like human skin, it was a little bit weird and futuristic.
• The same museum had a Honda robot that has more motor skills than some of my previous OT clients. It could do sign language to a song, kick a ball at a target, and hop on one foot.  I predict a connection between this and helping kids with autism learn gross motor skills in physical therapy. 

Random Thoughts

• Why ALL the photos are of only me:  Liban uses his phone to take approximately 10 photos a year, but put him on vacation and he turns into a professional photographer and refuses to be the subject of 95% of the photos I attempt to take of him.  While traveling, he decided he "needs" a Go-Pro and a drone to continue his newfound (*temporary*) passion.  So, Mom, there's his Christmas list for the next 3 years.
• Did we like the food in Korea? YES.  The spice, the kimbap=all delicious. Did we like the food in Japan? Yes, for a few days.  Then we drooled on every street that had an Indian restaurant because we really really missed our masala.
• South Korea is OBSESSED with coffee shops.  Near transport hubs, there might be 8 coffee shops lined up next to each other with nothing in between.  
• Japan's koi ponds are picturesque, and I want one.  
  
• Most neighborhoods have these random little outdoor "gyms."  I played on a few to try to understand the physical benefit but found none other than momentum and balance.  At one point, we sat and watched a middle age lady on one because her legs were basically flying.