The rest of wonderful Japan

My, my. I certainly let the weeks carry me don't I?  It does not feel like it, but it's already been a month since I was in Tokyo! And three weeks since the beautiful trip to Alaska, which is my next goal for a blog and will hopefully not take me another month to write! If it does, I'm afraid I may have no more details left in my memory to recount for you. They will have all shriveled in time and all I'll be able to say is that Alaska was beautiful, would you like to see a picture? So, I'm hopefully going to get my butt in gear and write that sometime this week. 

Moving on to dear Tokyo- It really was fun, and beautiful in its own way. It took me about three days to really get my bearings, and for those who know me- you understand that that's saying a lot. Part of my confidence in traveling comes from my good sense of direction. If I had none, I would never travel alone. But as it is, I've got some ancestral compass that determines North from South wherever I go. Remarkably, my compass did not kick in until the third day I was in Tokyo, and even then it was a little off (I blame it on the massive amount of leftover radiation from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but that's just a guess.)   So, as my compass was all over, I was all over. I walked miles upon miles around the posh area of Omotesando, the eccentric (truly) Harajuku, the largest intersection and entertainment area of Shinjuku and then around Roppongi (the night district full of panting males when the sun is down, yet rather endearing in daytime- very strange), then to my favorite area of Ginza- the shopping district and extremely posh area structured much like Oxford Street in London. 

Needless to say, my feet and knees were sore by the time I found my favorite district. So I found myself a little niche in a very quaint, Western style brunch cafe where I ordered spaghetti bolognese. I ate every bite without guilt, and even had a foofy coffee drink to top it off.  As I was finishing my feast, a kind voice next to me spoke English in my direction.  I turned to make sure she wasn't talking to someone else as that does happen, and it's frightfully embarrassing to turn at some who is speaking to someone else.  But, by her soft "Hello, where are you from?" I knew it was my attention she sought. I replied and we began to chat. She was a very sweet girl, 100 percent Japanese and very good at English. She had studied in Boston a few years ago and was very excited to meet an English speaker again. We talked about many a things and as we both paid our checks we decided to spend the rest of the day together. Her, with no job, and me, with no itinerary, were suddenly hitting the town as if we'd known one another for years.  We decided to go to a Kabuki show which is a traditional Japanese style play.  They tend to be very tragic and dramatic in style and appearance. They are performed only by men, and the most famous of Kabuki performers tend to be all in one family. Meaning, these performers are trained from youth, generation after generation. I thought that was kind of a neat tradition, so was very excited to see a show. Only, with my luck, there were none playing live until after I left Tokyo.  So instead, Mami (that was the sweet girl's name) and myself ended up seeing a taped performance.  Like going to the movies, we bought tickets and popcorn. I snuck in chocolate. 

My experience of Tokyo when on my own was a very silent one. I could not oooo and ahhh at much without a friend to do so with me. Its just not the same, you know?  So I was very happy to have met Mami. She enhanced my journey ten fold. On the last day we went around Asakusa area and souvenir shopped. I bought a few things for some people, who hopefully have gotten them by now :)  And thereafter I went for sushi.  Ahem. Sushi. I was quite uncertain about it. But I figured that if the gods were sweet enough to introduce me to Mami, that the least I could do was 'just try' it. And.... it was good! So good!  I have to say, I could now go for a couple of salmon rolls!  Amazing how much truth there was in Green Eggs and Ham. Below is a picture of me trying it. I believe my expression is "fuck it, let's do this".   And I'm very very happy I did. :D  

The rest of Tokyo was a blur of lights, people, technology, old buildings and shops. I had a wonderful time, and I hope you enjoy my pictures just as much as I did taking them. 

The beautiful Tokyo at night from Tokyo Tower. (A whole other story - with bad wax figures and a Guiness Book of World Records Museum).  This was my other favorite place, on top of the world so to say.
The entrance into the shopping area at Asakusa. Also where I met Mami for our last excursion. 
A beautiful buddhist temple off the tourist map. I happen to stumble upon it when still trying to find my bearings.
Sweet Mami and moi. We are in front of the Meiji Temple (think that's right, but it's now been so long!).  It's in Asakusa too.
Mami is "healing" herself with the good vibing incense outside the temple.  Supposedly if you waft the smoke onto your ailments it will cure them.  -Mind you, I didn't get swine flu- perhaps some smoke stuck around?
Trying a traditional Japanese jelly snack in the Ginza shopping mall. It was really sweet and really really delicious! Oishi!
The John Lennon Museum: Another story of course. It took me nearly two hours to find it. But once I did, I stuck there for four hours. Making it a whole day excursion, and well worth the time ^^.   
Here I am outside the temple trying to see the future. Really I am. The box/stand behind the wire thing with ties on it is full of fortunes for certain numbers. You shake a small tin with sticks inside it- they have the numbers on them. Then pull one out and pick out a paper from the corresponding box. I got a "Medium" fortune, which was actually a bad one as it said I should not travel anywhere soon, and I should also quit my job.  Hm... stupid fortune telling thing. I folded it up and put it on the wire stand where it is supposed to be washed away in time...     I made it to Alaska and back, so I think it worked.

Ah! Sushi! Oishi

Another sweetheart of a girl allowed me to try her yukata on at 7 o'clock in the morning on Sunday. So exact, I know. But it was terribly random and thereby extremely memorable. This girl was also 100 percent Japanese. Her name was Eri and she was from two hours north of Tokyo. Very kind of her. And if I don't say so myself, I look rather at home in a yukata!