CONTRIBUTED BY STACI HAWLEY

I don't have to remind everyone of the strict drinking and driving laws here in Japan. The blood alcohol limit is .03 (which is really less than a half a drink). So don't risk it. Pretty much, I don't drink anything and drive. It's just too risky altogether. The thought of injuring someone- or spending a few years in a hard labor camp should be enough to keep you from getting behind the wheel.

Plus, there is no excuse to avoid a good holiday shin-dig if you want to drink, with the brillant invention of a service called DAIKO. How convienent is DAIKO taxi service? It's available 24/7. They will pick you up on/off base, and transport you AND your vehicle home! The cost of the service is only 1.5 times the cost of a regular taxi. Not bad. When you call do the following:

Request "Daiko Service"

Give your location, description of your vehicle, and your final destination

Here's the number to Daiko: 645-8888 OR 098-970-8888.

Perhaps you prefer a more traditional ride- here's the numbers to a variety of off-base cabs:

Hijagawa Taxi, KAD 956-2215

Kita Koutsu Taxi, KIT 935-2138

Meiho Taxi, OKI 937-2467

Okito Taxi, KAB: 634-5900, Foster: 637-5900, Courtney: 622-5900 (9 passenger vans available)

Toho Taxi, CHA 936-6393

Toyo Kotsu, CHA 936-7027

Yuuna Taxi, KIT 932-6771

Additionally, most taxi cabs will accept both yen and American dollars. You can also call the base operator on each base to connect you to an on/off base cab.

Okay. So what does this picture of me in my thongs have to do with being carfeul while being overserved? It has something to do with the British government and too many ales. Read it here.

So readers, do you have a good reliable cab company that you use?

What's the easiest place to "hail" a cab?

Do you have a good place that you leave you car-then cab?

Share your wealth.

Unfortunately, the author does not get out much past seven.