Today is the last day of my world tour. I can't believe I've been on the road for so long. Has it been productive? I'd like to think so.

Now it's time to go home (although I'm not sure if I can call Korea home as I'm technically homeless) and follow-up on all those projects and meetings I've had in the last 2 months.

LOST IN TOKYO...

I'm now in Tokyo. The last time I was here was 18 years ago and I didn't really dig it back then. Now I'm absolutely fascinated by the city, the people and especially the Nigerians in Roppongi. How the hell did they end up here? I'm talking about those bouncers/managers/possibly pimps out on the street, hustling. That suddenly reminds of the Oscar winning song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from HUSTLE & FLOW.

Speaking of which, I'm so happy for Ang Lee and Philip Seymour Hoffman but what an upset that CRASH won the Best Picture! But in a way, it was predictable. CRASH is a good film with many flaws, which were somehow covered by some outstanding performances. Is it Oscar worthy? I don't know. Many great movies don't get recognized by the Oscars. It's ironic that CRASH won in the year Robert Altman received the honorary Oscar whose brilliant SHORT CUTS, as usual, was overlooked by the Oscars.

Pictures from Budapest...

The famous bridge known as the Chain Bridge or
Széchenyi lánchíd named after count Széchenyi.

In front of the Parliament, rather across the Danube from the amazing building.

My girlfriend Kendra in front of the Korean Embassy in Budapest.

The oldest cafe in Budapest called Ruszwurm.
The place has been around since 1824.

I saw Ang Lee last night. At the Focus Features party. He looked tired or nervous. Maybe both. But he said he just wanted to get over with all this. Will he win tonight? I hope so. His win will mean a great deal not only to Asian American filmmakers but also any other minority filmmaker. I think he will be the first non-white male filmmaker to win the director award. Last night was the highlight of my world tour. I hooked up with Jeffrey Wright again and we went to Chateau Marmont where the real action was taking place. I said hello to Philip Seymour Hoffman. I had a long talk with Matt Dillon who actually gave me his number to send him my script (I know he's probably too old for Jeremy but hey, who's to say such a thing?). I shook hands with Sienna Miller without knowing who she was. Then I exchanged eye contact with Lindsay Lohan while thinking, "man, she's grown up now!" It was surely surreal. I felt out of place. But hey, this could be my reality sooner or later. Tomorrow I'm off to Tokyo. My last stop before the journey ends. I hope this results in EXPATS becoming a reality.

Busy is good. And this could be a very busy week for me. That also means a lot of subway and bus rides in LA. That's right. I'm riding subway (metro) in LA. But I must learn how to drive. Everyone says it's easy but I'm not so sure about that.