Green Tea Jetstreams

A shipment from Duckhorn. Nice little surprise. #duckhorn...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:02:29 -0700

A shipment from Duckhorn. Nice little surprise. #duckhorn #wineclub #napa

Some people say its hard to find a watch for any and every...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:01:15 -0700

Some people say its hard to find a watch for any and every occasion. I disagree. I take my Audemars Piguet Offshore Diver everywhere. Dressed up, dressed down or even in downward dog as I’m about to do here, it’s a go-anywhere, do-anything and wear anything with it piece

This past December I had the pleasure of seeing Napa Valley for...

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:13:24 -0800

This past December I had the pleasure of seeing Napa Valley for the first time ever. And the time of year was perfect. Complete off season. A tip? Go to Silver Oak. For 20 bucks, you can kill a bottle of Silver Oak’s Napa wine.

It wasn’t really my idea. But I’m glad I’m...

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:20:00 -0800

It wasn’t really my idea. But I’m glad I’m going through with it. This shit is pretty nasty if you compare it to regular human food, but for the most part it’s good for you and if you remember that, it’s not so bad.

The only thing that keeps me going is juicing only fruit during the day as a reward for myself. (I’m not the biggest fan of celery or kale like most of these new age artsy hipster types)

If this doesn’t warm you up for the upcoming summer, what...

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:13:31 -0800

If this doesn’t warm you up for the upcoming summer, what will?

Good morning. #nofilter #osaka

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:01:37 -0800

Good morning. #nofilter #osaka

If In-N-Out had a Japanese cousin, this is it. (at Mos Burger)

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:42:06 -0800

If In-N-Out had a Japanese cousin, this is it. (at Mos Burger)

Maui Brewing Co. Bikini Blonde for this #USC football Saturday. ...

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 16:30:41 -0700

Maui Brewing Co. Bikini Blonde for this #USC football Saturday. (Taken with Instagram)

Nothing like the start of college football at our beloved...

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 06:41:00 -0700

Nothing like the start of college football at our beloved Coliseum in Los Angeles. Summer air, temperatures in the high eighties and impatient fans waiting for the return of their team to show what they got.

This is going to be a special year for us Trojan faithful.

I couldn’t think of a better watch to bring to campus. Durable and stylish. Under the radar.

Partying plus steel bezel equals me crying over dings/nicks the next day. Cermet/Ceramic? Bring it on! This thing suffered no imperfections after a rowdy day on campus drinking, partying and then watching football. Love it.

travismathew: TM I AG Collab That’s what I’m...

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:26:40 -0700

travismathew:

TM I AG Collab

That’s what I’m talking about. Golf. Work. Drinking.

I know it’s only August but I’m already excited...

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:31:00 -0700

I know it’s only August but I’m already excited about 2013. While many may already be feeling the effects of post-summer depression before it’s officially over, I’m somewhat rejoicing. I’m spoiled.

Southern California is a spot meant to be enjoyed year-round. Especially around the coast. While the warm winds of the summer are usually welcomed, I feel they overstay their welcome come mid to late August. Fall of course is my favorite season but “winter” in the city of Angels and surrounding area is quite magical as well. I’m usually not one to be all hyped and amped on “new beginnings” when new years eve rolls around, but this year was a bit of a tough year so I guess I am already placing a lot of expectation on things getting better in 2013.

One thing I’m already getting pumped for in 2013 is Coachella. I took this year off, still recovering from the effects of 2011. I’m glad I missed it though. Looking at the line up, it was a little bit of the 2011 regurgitation artist-wse and it seemed very house-music heavy. As much as I enjoy the Sahara tent, I definitely am more into the main stage headliners. (I’m a little bummed I missed Snoop though, no lie.)

Another thing, I hope I see my team in the National Championship game after the start of the new year. Jesus it’s only August.

Can you feel it? it’s almost fall in California. Although...

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:55:10 -0700

Can you feel it? it’s almost fall in California. Although the recent temperatures hovering in the 90’s won’t make you think that. I’ll let you in on a little secret for the uninitiated.

early fall is the best season in Southern California. it’s “my own summer”.

The kids left for school. the tourists are gone. inland folks…stay inland. what does this mean? uncrowded beaches with the most consistently warm weather and chances of offshore winds make Southern California your best bet. oh yeah, and the beach? water temps can reach 70 degrees on occasion. usually once it’s 67+ degrees in the water the rubber comes off and it’s boardies time.

can’t wait for September. Oh, and college football starts….

the standard. the “beater”. the daily wearer. my travel...

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:45:00 -0700

the standard. the “beater”. the daily wearer. my travel companion.

The GMT-II was originally intended to be a pilot’s watch. With this one watch, you could essentially tell time in three different time zones. The “regular” hour and minute hands I usually keep on my home time (Pacific), the green 24 hour needle on Japan time. The third time zone is essentially whatever you set the rotating bezel to. (Typically you’re supposed to set the green needle to GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time…somewhere in Europe (c’mon, seriously, you should know this…anyways and then if you know how many hours +/- it is from GMT in the third time zone you wish you know, just turn the bezel and VOILA! you have your third time zone.)

Being that I don’t care what time it is in GMT and I don’t care for a third time zone, for simplicity’s sake I always keep the green arrow on Japan time and keep my rotating bezel set at the middle.

Now that the technical stuff is out of the way, I’ll tell you why I love this watch.

I’ve grown up in a family where the men love watches. As I mentioned in an earlier post, watches are one of the few things men can wear in terms of jewelry. I guess where I was different was that I was always an admirer of Rolex growing up. My father never cared much for the brand. He thought it was “too typical” or “a real fanatic would find other brands to be passionate about”. To each his own.I always loved them.

I guess where most enthusiasts find issue with Rolex is that maybe it’s a bit played out. Perhaps it’s all too common. Maybe too noticeable. Whatever critics may say, I think some of these attributes are what make it iconic.

Let’s face it…if you’re ever in a bind, let’s say you’ve been taken hostage in a foreign country…or you need cash in a pinch…there’s probably not an easier watch to hoc (for cash) or trade (for your life from the hands of a killer) than a Rolex. It’s like currency. It’s like what the American dollar used to be. I think everyone knows what a Rolex is and what one might look like.

Back to why I love this particular watch…well, it was shortly after graduating college that I got it. March of 2010. It was while in Japan for business. It was because of this type of flying internationally-kind-of-work I do that I wanted this watch. The desire for the watch was born from a utility-driven desire…I wanted something stylish, durable, sporty but elegant, not too showy, and ultimately something that was versatile.Something that could be worn with jeans or a dress shirt.

Since acquiring, this watch has traveled to at least 4 countries and kept me current in two time zones (at least) at a time. Being that it’s pretty durable I love that I don’t have to baby it. I can wear with and not worry about it too much. At parties it’s a conversation starter. People who don’t even know watches will say it’s pretty. I’m guessing it’s the shine from the ceramic bezel or the bracelet. Either way, I can recall a few scenarios where both ladies and gentlemen would ask me about it, or comment on it. It’s an eye catcher and it isn’t even as pricey of a watch as some of the others I like to wear.

The resale value, being that it’s a Rolex, is great too. Rolex increases their prices every year, so if you hang onto it and want to sell it, you probably won’t lose too much money on the second hand market.

I will put money on it that when most people think of a Rolex, they think of a Submariner, a very close cousin of my watch shown in the picture. And trust me, if you didn’t know any better, from a distance you would think the two are the same.

In their most current references, the GMT-II (ref 116710LN) and the Submariner (116610LN) both have a bezel made from what Rolex calls “cerachrom”. Cera=ceramic Chrom=from the Greek word “chroma” meaning colored. Essentially a ceramic dial that holds up against scratches. Ultimately these watches are both considered sport watches.

The differences are subtle to some, not so subtle to others. The Submariner was made as a dive watch. The case is slightly thicker compared to the GMT-II. This is because the Submariner is meant to withstand depths of 1000 feet. Also, the Submariner’s bracelet is brushed. The bezel is also in increments of 15 (the first 15 being minutes and are dotted, for timing dives).

The GMT-II is rated for 300 feet (although apparently due to the triple lock crown it can go almost, if not as deep as the Submariner at 1000 feet). The bezel has a 24 hour hand for the green arrow which makes a full rotation every 24 hours. The big difference between the two models comes from a different bracelet. The GMT has polished center links, which give it a dressier look when compared to the sporty Submariner. The minor difference between the two would be the squarer lugs on the Submariner…but I doubt you’d notice.

This is the one that probably gets the most wrist-time by default since it’s what I take on the road. All in all, if there was just one watch to own, for me this one is it. It can hit the desk, the club, the plane and the meeting and do it in style. Although my collection has expanded, if I had to go back to being a one-watch kind of guy, the GMT-II takes the cake.

Rory McIlroy, the fucking man! If there was ever a Tiger killer,...

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:46:58 -0700

Rory McIlroy, the fucking man!

If there was ever a Tiger killer, this kid is it. Natural swing. Plus, he’s hitting it with Caroline Wozniacki , which, I’m sure helps get him motivated.

Plus, look at his wrist! What a stunner. Good on ya Rors!!!

hodinkee: Beautiful day for a walk. Sporting vintage...

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:41:00 -0700

hodinkee:

Beautiful day for a walk. Sporting vintage @audemars_piguet Royal Oak Jumbo. (Taken with Instagram)

Clean. Classic. Understated. The beauty of the Royal Oak. When your taste grows up a bit this is what you start to want I guess.

And so it is…this is it. my grail. the object of my...

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 09:39:00 -0700

And so it is…this is it. my grail. the object of my desires. the one watch that’s hard to find, hard to get, and so worth it all when it finally came to me. i flew to japan to pick it up because it’s only available from their company owned boutique in Ginza (aka the most expensive square footage for land price shopping district of Japan)

it may seem silly to want and lust after something that keeps time. it’s not like a Nixon or a Casio doesn’t do the same exact thing. but that’s not the point…in fact it’s never the point.

it’s an outward projection of your ego sometimes. i won’t lie, this one is for me. Audemars Piguet is a statement. it’s not just about an “investment” in a watch. it’s very now. it’s also very “always has been”. but most of all its progressive enough to be very tomorrow as well.

it’s all in the details…little bits of gold, a little diamond action, forged carbon composite materials, and a ceramic bezel for protection against unsightly nicks and dings…as valuable as it is, it’s definitely got the protection to be worn every day. because let’s face it…if you’re not wearing it…there’s no point to owning it. i’m guilty of it myself. having something because it’s awesome but never using it for fear of damaging it. the first nick or ding usually takes care of that fear….this one is tough though, i’m not scared.

whenever something new and shiny comes along though i always run the risk of wanting to give it 100% of my attention. it’ll be hard not too…but i always gotta remember to make sure it goes in the rotation to be rotated…not worn 100% (like i really want to).

this is one of 200 pieces ever to be made. i got #30. a feel good fact: part of the proceeds from this specific model go toward helping the victims of the Japan tsunami/earthquake that rocked Japan in March of 2011.

this piece filled a big void in my collection though. I love my two Audemars before this. both steel. one on bracelet. one on rubber. one a chronograph, the other a diving watch.

this one is black. it’s made from carbon fiber. and it’s got a ceramic bezel. it’s shiny but tough, sporty but elegant.

all i know is i can’t wait to wear it to Vegas.

#Kyoto sunset (Taken with Instagram at The Westin Miyako, Kyoto...

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 02:42:03 -0700

#Kyoto sunset (Taken with Instagram at The Westin Miyako, Kyoto ウェスティン都ホテル京都)

There’s nothing like eating sushi in Japan. I just landed...

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:47:00 -0700

There’s nothing like eating sushi in Japan. I just landed this morning and the first thing the girl and I wanted to do was find a sushi bar for lunch. So we did.

Sushi in Japan…It just can’t be beat. I don’t care how much of a connoisseur you consider yourself to be, or how “authentic” your “secret” sushi bar is. It sucks to anything compared to Japan. (just because you spend $250 a person in LA or NY on sushi doesn’t mean it can compare to the stuff in Japan either). If you’re really curious, I’ll tell you where the closest-to-japan-tasting-sushi bar is. But you’ll have to ask me.

Being that I was raised half my life in japan I have credibility in the field. (and yes, half of my family is from Japan and Japanese was my first language). Even the most mediocre sushi bar in Japan is probably way better than 90% of the sushi bars in the States. And it might be cheaper too.

In the US (and other western, non-third world countries), sushi is a luxury. In Japan it’s not an every day food by any means, but it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. I’ve eaten my fair share of “Holy shit I’m going to explode”kind of sushi meals in Japan and I’ve actually gotten out with paying just under $35 US. (and no, i don’t order California rolls. Most sushi chefs will cut you if you ask for one in Japan) On average for the good stuff, prepare to shell out close to $50 a person though.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner The plane that’s suppose to...

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:38:00 -0700

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The plane that’s suppose to revolutionize flying all over again.

Will it? hell, we were supposed to find out a while ago but delays at Boeing have caused a bit of a long in the tooth wait for delivery of these new birds.

30% bigger windows (touch operated to adjust dimness…not the “pull down” shade…fancy huh?)

the cabin pressure is reduced to 6000 Feet of perceived altitude (down from 8000 feet in jets up until the 787)…which is supposed to help reduce fatigue and jet lag symptoms (this is also due to the higher humidity available in these jets).

the lighting is also LED based and can be configured to show pleasant color schemes to simulate day and night based on coloring…not just harsh “lights on and lights off” kind of feel with older planes.

the main deal with these is that it essentially is about the same size as a Boeing 767, but has longer range (it can handle New York to Hong Kong Direct…a long ass flight) and uses 20% less fuel than a similar sized 767. essentially this plane can be used for thinner routes that go longer distances. For example, ANA (the Japanese flagbearer for the Star Alliance network shown above) is about to open a Tokyo-San Jose route with this new plane. It will also replace the current 777 for its Tokyo to Seattle route. It currently services Frankfurt to Tokyo. United will use it for Houston to Auckland, New Zealand (a LONG ass flight as well)

My very first AP. Mind you, this wasn’t something that...

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:24:00 -0700

My very first AP.

Mind you, this wasn’t something that just came up out of nowhere. You remember a lot of the very “firsts” in your life. I don’t need to get very graphic, but when you think about your life, there’s always a few “firsts” you never forget.

In this case, this was my first big watch purchase. I’ve dabbled in Sport watches in the past. Sport watches are my favorite. Maybe it’s just the time I’m at in life, but I don’t desire any “dressy” watches (save maybe one, we’ll get to that in another post in the future). I’m rarely in a suit for anything business related, and even then I wouldn’t wear something super expensive on my wrist. My go to for work related functions is my stainless steel Rolex I used to wear every day. Understated, but also appropriate for a under-30 male in my opinion.

It took months of admiration. My love had to blossom for it. Like most things, I think growing to love something is a longer bond than something you instantly love off the bat. Think of those songs on the radio. They’re catchy at first, but you grow tired of it. You buy that person’s album, and you’ll find deeper tracks that you love more and listen to for a long time thereafter.

I went from not being too impressed by it at all (I always have been a great admirer of Rolex) to falling in love with the look of AP watches so hard I thought about them every vacant moment I wasn’t concentrating on something important or necessary.

The weight. The look. The intricate details. The use of different materials. Different grades of steel. The hand placed details. The hidden heart of gold. All of these things.

It’s crazy to think how much the brand has exploded in the past few years. Maybe it’s because Jay-Z is a big fan. Maybe because Rick Ross is a huge fan. Maybe because their “brand ambassadors” (basically people paid to sport their watches and wear their logo during play since most are athletes) are famous people. Whatever the case, as much as the brand has taken off, I’m still so happy that for the most part, it’s not instantly recognizable by the masses like a Rolex is.

This just means I can wear it and most people wouldn’t know what it is. I see this as a great thing. I don’t think watches and luxury items are things that should be worn to flaunt. First and foremost, something luxurious should be admired and treasured as something luxurious, intricate (for watches) and something meaningful. This watch is Stainless Steel. Not the most expensive metal in the world, but inside of this watch, ticks “a heart of gold”.

You see, Audemars Piguet is an old company. And I believe it’s still owned by the original families. And what sets them apart is the details you can’t see with the naked eye. This timepiece has gold on the inside. Not on the outside. I always thought that in the age of making more money with less expensive materials, Audemars stays true to its roots by still using gold on the inside of their watches. Although it’s not my last Audemars, it will be special because it’s my first.