Through the Eyes of a Wombat

For the last few days I've been staying here in Okazaki with one of my host families from when I was here last time... they've recently rebuilt their house, and are definitely using the latest in bathroom technology.
Im actually getting used to ceiling lights having remote controls (coz its such a long way to walk to the wall to change the light setting), and have the remote for my room's light on the floor beside my futon, next to the remote control for the heater. All the bedrooms and living areas have fixed lights, but the hallways and corridors are set up on motion sensors and timers, as are the lights in the garage and on the front porch.
The toilet lights are also on a motion sensor: simply walk into the toilet and the light comes on... but it gets better. Step closer to the actual unit and the lid lifts up, (and for some reason there's a light in the bowl too...?), sit down and the seat is already nice and warm. Until youve become used to this experience in winter you dont realise what you're missing! Anyway, if you stand close to the toilet and DON'T sit down, after a short while it even lifts the seat up as well. Very kind of it. It also detects when you walk away from it back to the hand basin, and operates the flush by itself. For the first couple of days I really had to make a conscious effort, telling myself "Dont touch anything, it all works by itself", but now I'm more used to it. This is going to come back and bite me when I go to Saitama for sure, I'll be expecting the toilet to work by itself but its going to need some human manipulation...
The bathroom is similarly hi-tech; but requires at least a push of a button to turn the lights on. What is fun about it though is sitting in the hot water up to my neck, and pushing the little grey button beside my head. The lights dim, and from under the bath lights shine in, and the water glows blue.. or green.. or orange.. or light blue.. or red.. or purple.. you can change the colour to your liking.
This from a country in which Eftpos doesnt exist...

Im not sure if it works or not, but Ive put a Guest Book up on the right hand side of this page... If it works the way I think it will, you can leave notes up on there for me to see - though unless you check 'Private' I think everyone else will be able to read it too.

Its getting cold and late - time to write an email then go to sleep.

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