First things first:  Create a VM in Amazon’s EC2 cloud:

1. Go to http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/
2. Create AWS account.  Run through Sign Up. Give credit card.  Ect.
3. In EC2 dashboard, click Launch Instance
4. Choose “Basic 32-bit Amazon Linux AMI 2011.02.1 Beta” Micro Instance, since its free for 1 year.
5. Done.  Thats it.  The AMI instance “Basic 32-bit Amazon Linux AMI 2011.02.1 Beta” was created for me.  Easy!  +1 for easy.

Okay, now how do I use it?  Hmm…  Right click instance, select “Connect”:

Connect Help

I’m using Windows, so PuTTY is my only option.  But its not working with .pem key i created….

I posted a thread (https://forums.aws.amazon.com/message.jspa?messageID=278374) in their EC2 forum and got a really fast response.  +1 for fast response.  After some back and forth discussion, i discovered how to connect:

1. Configure your security settings to allow port 22 (SSH) access to the VM.
2. Convert the .pem key to a .ppk key (http://docs.amazonwebservices.com/AWSEC2/latest/GettingStartedGuide/index.html?ConnectToInstanceLinux.html).
3. Thats it, now I can SSH in via PuTTY!

So, while the connection information wasn’t strait forward, I was still able to connect.

Next task: Get a LAMP environment going:

1. http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-create-a-lamp-setup-apache-2-php-mysql-on-centos-5.x-in-an-amazon-linux-ami

Wow, that was easy!  Now lets test it:

1. Use Pageant to keep the ppk key in memory.
2. Connect to my instance using SFTP via FileZilla.
3. Copy some html scripts I created.

Success!  You can view my tests at http://ec2-107-20-88-81.compute-1.amazonaws.com/

Now to test perl:

1. Using Komodo IDE, connect to my instance via SFTP
2. Create a simple script
3. run perl test.pl

Success!

Now, there are 2 things not working:

1)  Remote SQL editing.  I cannot seem to connect to my mysql instance via Toad IDE.  My credentials fail.  Not sure why

2) Mason:

Amazon uses Mason, so I need learn it.  It *should* be easy, but I can’t even install it.  Should be as easy using entering CPAN, and running “get HTML::Mason; make HTML::Mason; install HTML::Mason”.  get downloads it without issue, but then the issues start with make:

This module requires Module::Build to install itself.
  Install Module::Build now from CPAN? [y]

Okay, sure, go for it

---- Unsatisfied dependencies detected during ----
----    DAGOLDEN/Module-Build-0.3800.tar.gz   ----
    Module::Metadata [requires]
    CPAN::Meta [requires]
    Perl::OSType [requires]
    ExtUtils::CBuilder [requires]
    Parse::CPAN::Meta [requires]
    version [requires]
    Test::More [requires]
Shall I follow them and prepend them to the queue
of modules we are processing right now? [yes]

Well, you gotta do what you gotta do.  Lets add them to the queue

---- Unsatisfied dependencies detected during ----
---- DAGOLDEN/Module-Metadata-1.000007.tar.gz ----
    version [requires]
Shall I follow them and prepend them to the queue
of modules we are processing right now? [yes]

Ok, fine…

---- Unsatisfied dependencies detected during ----
----       JPEACOCK/version-0.94.tar.gz       ----
    Test::More [requires]
Shall I follow them and prepend them to the queue
of modules we are processing right now? [yes]

Just do it already…  After 20+ times of pressing “enter”, the make process fails with this:

[BIG SNIP]

Running make test
  Can't test without successful make
Running make install
  Make had returned bad status, install seems impossible
Couldn't install Module::Build, giving up.
Warning: No success on command[/usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site]
Warning (usually harmless): 'YAML' not installed, will not store persistent state
  JSWARTZ/HTML-Mason-1.46.tar.gz
  /usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site -- NOT OK
Could not read '/root/.cpan/build/HTML-Mason-1.46-qTpob6/META.yml'. Falling back to other methods to determine prerequisites
Failed during this command:
 JSWARTZ/HTML-Mason-1.46.tar.gz               : writemakefile NO '/usr/bin/perl Makefile.PL INSTALLDIRS=site' returned status 512

Many of the dependencies fail to make, thus HTML::Mason fails to make.  There is so much text scrolling during the final make that I can’t see what the root cause is.  All from trying to get Module::Build installed.  I scoured the net for an answer and found none.  Seriously?

Not t sure what to do, but i will continue hammering until i solve it.

[update] Nina has since passed away and i am no longer updating the blog

Early in the day, we visited a camera district; camera shops were everywhere.  I bought a lens cleaner to clean up Kota’s and Midori’s work from yesterday.  It amazes me how Tokyo has certain areas that cater to one field, such as a many, many camera shops in a very close radius.  I wonder how economically feasible it is to have so many competitors geographically right next to eachother.

We visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government district.  The area was very clean and beautifull.

We saw other tourists walk by and take pictures.  Some people carried professional cameras and tripod.

Staring up at the towers of the metropolitan Toyko government office.

There were many statues like this.

A restaurant “La Terrazza” was at the top of the building.  The service was awful.  I learned that some government entities, such as government restaurants, have the worst customer service.  I was actually shocked, since I haven’t had one bad restaurant experience before in Japan.

The view from the top of the metropolitan Tokyo government building.  The view was amazing.  Many buildings, very dense and close together, yet organized and beautiful.  Its enough to take your breath away.  The whole experience was a hundred times better than visiting the top of the Empire State Building in New York.  I haven’t posted my New York trip yet, but its coming.

Looking all the way down, in a park with gorgeos trees and a waterfall, we were able to see a little white dot run back and forth from a little black dot.  Looking very carefully, we saw that it was a dog playing fetch.

Its lunch time now, and there are hungry government officials everywhere!

Lunch time!  We both had a bowl of incredibly yummy ramen. mmm mmm.

We walked along Tokyo and saw very many colorful buildings and natives.  The arcade – with the “space invaders” character – looked pretty cool from outside.  I didn’t have enough time to visit the arcade.  However, i did visit more arcades than i expected, so i didn’t mind walking by this one.

Many more interesting buildings and inhabitents.  This is the area where Ai and I had our Japanese Wedding pictures taken…

And here we are, in traditional Japanese marriage attire!  Ai is so pretty ^_^

Afterwards, Okaasan treated us to a very special sushi dinner.

This was our very own sushu chef!  We just pointed to any of the fish on display, and they sliced a bit off to make sushi  It was all very tasty, and from what was told, the price was very reasonable too.  I am a bit of a newbie with sushi ettiqutte, so when i dipped the wrong end of the sushi into soy sauce, you bet he let me know that i was doing it wrong ^_^

So this is the end of day 4.  Unfortunately, it looks like i will have to find a new picture provider before i can start with day 5, since it seems that with my free account on Yahoo’s flickr,  only the latest 200 uploaded pictures are viewable for the public, unless i upgrade to a paying account… which is reasonable, but i’m always trying to save a buck here or there, so i’m on the lookout for a new picture hoster…

This is the view from her house.

After breakfast, we helped her shop for food at a discount grocery called the “AC Store”.

On our way back to her restaurant, there were many beautiful bonsai treas.

We helped her bring the groceries into her restaurant.

Stocking her restaurant.

The inside of her restaurant.

Mother and daughter cooking.  Adorable!

After, we ate lunch at sukiya; a chain store that has really good beef bowls!  It was soooo good, and the price was very reasonable.

We visited a circle-K.  Everything looked so good, it was hard to resist for only a couple items.

Inside, there were so many good things.  Its very hard to contain one’s self in a Japanese convenience store.

The magazine section.

They had my favorite popsicle, Gari Gari Kun!

We visited Ai’s old High School!

There was a park nearby.  Ai’s friend Tsukki and her children joined us.

Cherry blossom season was over right before we arrived, so most cherry blossom trees finished blooming and their green leaves began to grow.  There were many cherry blossom flowers  covering the ground.  It was still very beautiful.

There was a good-sized playground in the park.

One of the many things to play on.  Really cool!

Kota and Midori sliding.

Ai giving Kota a push on a tethered rope and pully swing.

Two separate owners with the same breed of dogs.

There was also an outdoor auditorium. Very cool!

A traditional Japanese garden was next to the park.  It was very beautiful!

A tea house at the edge of a pond.

Many turtles were sunbathing.

The garden was very beautiful.  So peaceful.

Me and Midori.

Ai, Midori, Kota, and Tsukki.

Aaahhhh, I wish i could go back.  Such a beautiful and serene garden.

Ai next to a stone lantern.

A restaurant on the edge of a lake.  We only walked past, but it would be such a beautiful place to eat.

There was a water area for kids to play.  So nice!

I kept Midori busy for a little bit.  Both kids played with my camera after eating yummy home-made mochi, so the picture is a bit smeared.

if (what == 0) {
// Code Block A
}
else if (what == 2) {
// Code Block B
}
else if ((what == 1) || (what == 3) || (what == 5)) {

if (what == 1) which = 0;
if (what == 3) which = 1;
if (what == 5) which = 1;
}

// Code Block C omitted for sanity/brevity

if (what == 5) FooBar(position, 3);
else doWibble(position, what);
}

If what? Then which?! Send to FooBar(), else doWibble(). I love the programmer’s naming conventions!

Ah, it has been a long time since I last visited Japan.  8 months to be exact!  That is where I and Ai met, and we traveled together all over the big island.  This time Ai came with me, from our Burien suburb to the Tokyo metropolitan, where we stayed and explored.  We took 750 pictures total along with about 10 movies.  I shortened it to 170 pictures for anyone to see.

日本おさひぶり。八か月ぶり！去年、八月に愛に会いました。今年、日本へ帰りました。

Day 1:
一日

After arriving, we took a bus that took us close to Ai’s Mom’s restaurant.  I took some pictures along the way.  Above are party boats.  They can be rented out for large parties.

We stayed at Okaasan’s condo for the first couple days.  The first day, we left Seattle at 1pm and arrived at Narita airport at 3pm.  Then we took a bus all the way to Okaasan’s suburb and ate dinner at her yummy onomiyaki restaurant.  After, we fell asleep watching my favorite kind of Japanese TV:  the silly kind.

Day 2:
二日

We had a traditional Japanese lunch with Ai’s Family. Ai’s brother’s family: Maruyama family: Takeshi (Ai’s brother), Akiko (wife), Kana (daughter), Marina (baby daughter). Me, Ai, and Okaasan in the back.

私と愛と愛のかぞく　は　昼ごはん　そ　食べました。(^～^)モグモグ。　後ろ：愛、ジエフ、お母さん。前：まるやまかぞく：たけし（おとおさん）、みりな（あかちゃん）、かね（おねえちゃん）、あきこ（おかあさん）。

The lunch was very, very good.  So many kinds of seafood and vegetables, and so many different servings.  We ate so much that at the end of the meal, both me and Ai were saying “ooooh, onaka wa kurushii!!!”  (stomach hurts)  But it was worth it.  Ai’s mom used to work there and knows some of the employees, and they were nice to give us a free giant cooked tuna neck.  Very delicious!

昼ごはん　は　とても　おいしかった！　愛　と　ジエフ　の　おなか　は　くるしかった！

Kana was provided a kids meal.

The lunch was great. Thank you again Takeshi for such a great lunch!  たけし、 ｻﾝｷｭｩ♪(o￣∇￣)/

Photo after lunch. しあわせ。

Ai holding baby Marina.  愛　と　まりな。　あああああ Marina looks a lot like both her mom and dad.

We headed back to the Maruyama apartment and spent some quality time with them.

Kane and Takeshi playing ramen chef with an Anpanman ramen play set.  Lots of “here you go, thank you, that was yummy”, and then having the cardboard food disappear to underneath the table.

かね　わ　あんぱんまん　の　らめん　そ　あそびました。

Kane likes to do puzzles.  After everyone has put down a puzzle peice, we would do rock-paper-scissor to see who goes first.  いつも　じゃん、けん、ぽん！　いつも　かな　わ　いちばん　 ﾆｺ(*^_^*)ﾆｺ 　  Kana always chose scissor, so i would chose paper to let her win   We were also watching horse racing on TV; its very popular in Japan.

Their neighborhood was a mixture of modern and traditional buildings.　まるやまかぞくのきんじょ。

We walked to the local department store Ito Yokado, owned by the 7-11 corporation.  It seems that 7-11 is very popular among the Japanese, so they bought it.  I just discovered that myself recently.

7-11　デパート　へ　いきました。大きいよ！

The department stores aren’t how American’s know them as.  Rather then having only clothes to sell, Japanese department stores have a little bit of everything to sell; kind of like a compact mall.  Every floor has something different.  If I remember correctly, the basement level was full of bakery’s, little food kiosks, and anything yummy you’d ever want to eat in your life, ever, which is true for pretty much any Japanese food.  The first level was a grocery store which had the best food and ingredients you’d ever want to take home and eat, ever.  The second and third floor had clothes for men and woman, electronics such as TVs, home appliences, ect.  The fourth floor had a camera shop, a photo-sticker machine, many other shops I can’t remember, a book and manga section, a kids play area, and a Sega World arcade section.  Seriously, if I wanted, I could get an apartment close by and just live the rest of my life off that department store.  That is something I greatly miss.

The top floor of the department store, with the book store and the Sega World arcade.　　セガー　アケデ！　ヘ(^_^ヘ)(ノ^_^)ノ

A grab game for snacks.  About $2 for 1 try, or $3 for 2 tries.  I bit expensive seeing that I can just go downstairs and buy the real thing for about the same price.　きかい　わ　ちょとたかい。２００円　オリオ　チアンツ！？

This caught me off guard.  The mannequins in the clothes section have anime faces.  Haha!  　アニメ　マニケヌ、ヒヒ　 (=^_^=)

The Japanese bakeries are the best i’ve ever had.  I made sure to browse through each bakery I saw and buy something.　　日本　パンや　だいすき！

This particular bakery had condensed milk melon pan!  Its by far the tastiest melon pan i’ve every had.　このメロンパンはちょうおいしい！だいすき！

Here is the bakery from a farther view.  Mmmmmm…..　　さようなら、パンや。。。

We did some grocery shopping too.  Its much more colorful and appealing compared to the oh so hum-hum grocery stores in Seattle.　日本のかんぶつや　は　はでね！　シアトルのかんぶつや　は　はでじゃない。

We have left the department store and are on our way to an onsen:  a traditional Japanese hot springs.  On the way we ran into a KFC and McDonalds right next to each other.  I only take pictures of American fast food restaurants; my stomach can’t handle eating them.　アメリカンのファーストーフード　ぜんぜん。

We also stopped by a local Mister Donut; the best donut chain store on earth.  Seriously, you’ve never had a premium donut until you’ve been to a Mister Donut. 　ミスタードヌト　だいすき！

They have many, many different kinds of donuts.  My favorite by far is Pon de Machi:  Green Tea ring donut.  Its chewy, yummy, and great with coffee.  20 please!  Okay, not that much 　　ちょうおいしい！　ヘ(^_^ヘ)(ノ^_^)ノ

From www.mister-donut.com.  Now that i just read the mister donut website, i had no idea that it was started in Boston.  What I don’t understand is how could Dunkin Donuts be more popular than Mister Donuts in the States?  I’ve had a Dunkin Dohnut once, and thats the last time I ever ate there.  However, the standards in Japan are much higher than the USA, so I guess I can understand that…. just another example of how the USA is falling farther behind the times.

We finally arrived at the tradition Japanese hot spring.  It was very relaxing.  I met a middle-aged Japanese IT worker who travels around the world to teach other IT businesses.  The conversation was very hard because of his heavy accent, but he was a nice guy.

おんせん　へ　いきました。　だいすき！

After, we went home and fell asleep to more funny Japanese TV.  　日本のテレビ！ ヽ(^◇^*)/ ﾜｰｲ