Japan: Day 3.
Chris and I are now enjoying a 3-hour "all you can geek" pack at a mangakisa -- an internet/game/comic cafe with free drinks and cheap food. These things are nirvana.
I have 55 minutes remaining. I will attempt to recount our travels as best I can.
As always, being in Japan sets my brain into a notch filter noise burst. I think too much. I look forward to being sucked into the daily scramble like an automaton (i.e. like a good Japanese) in order to escape my own self-deprication.
Day one:
Here we come.
The flight was uneventful other than watching an unexpectedly hilarious movie called "Music and Lyrics" with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. The writing was superb. Drew Barrymore played a character named "Sophie". Upon the first mention, I rang the flight attendant bell: "another rum and coke, please."
WELCOME TO WARP ZONE ... er... train...station.
After a few train lines from Narita, we managed to emerge at Ueno station. Of course, Chris was a bit baffled... I can't imagine his reaction had we first surfaced at Shinjuku, which, to my knowledge, is the busiest station in the world.
This was fortunate: Chris collects Hard Rock Cafe shot glasses, and one of Tokyo's THREE HRCs was right there in the station. Thereafter came our first Japanese meal. Of cheeseburgers. It was a little kid's birthday and he was subjected to a very rousing Happy Birthday production care of the very zealous staff. I wanted to sing loudly in English. The kid really looked shocked.
We capsuled in Shibuya. I was obviously a bit rusty: the check-in was clunky thanks to my language skills having rotted considerably. Even worse: we wore the outdoor sandals inside, before arriving at the bath to have a Japanese man become rather upset. This is fucking low-level stuff -- I blame fatigue and mental overload for my failure to remember to lose the sandals.
Boy, do I love jetlag. The first night was a seesaw bout of alternating sleepiness/insomnia. We rose at 7am, hit the capsule sauna, and set off for our first day in Tokyo. I'm not an early riser, normally. I also don't normally fall asleep at grandma'o'clock, either.
I'm having a hard time ensuring that all our plans some through.
omg reading lol
I need to email George Plamantouras, whose book my kid and I have just finished.
I will now invoke a semblance of innovation and request to make this blog a bit more ludic (or lazy). I will post pictures. You piece together our 2nd Day in Tokyo.
Collect call from Japan LOLOLOLOL
Some real washoku, huh?
Dopplar Cat says "QUIT HITTING THE BATTER, DUMBSHIT!"
Ferris Wheel Farse
... and there you have it.
Day 3:
(Please note: I am saving witticisms and fit-for-clerisy observations for later.)
We emerged from a capsule hotel in the neighborhood where the video game Yakuza takes place. Yes, that means it's dangerous. Great fun.
Rain and lots of it. Off to Yokohama, we decided. Once there, we nailed another HRC and took the *Sea Bass* sea bus to get there. Soundtrack courtesy of the Beatles -- swear to Kamisama.
So, I guess right now I am ein llama in Yokohama.
Then, to Fujisawa station. This is where my Japanese friend Maasa grew up. I could probably still find her house.... but, I have lost contact info, sadly. I wish I could entreat her family for a floor to sleep on...
From Fujisawa, we take the wonderfully kitsch and coastal Enoden line to shrine-peppered Kamakura. A former capital, now it's not much more than a picturesque suburb and a tourist tank. This isn't to detract from it's worth -- it's a great little place.
Don:t you wish this was in YOUR backyard?
A nerdy photo of the triforce at *Zenarai Benten* shrine:
PLEASE PAY ME FOR DOOR REPAIR LOL
(If you get the joke, I might kiss you.)
OK, a few more pictures before I wuzz out of completing this prolix post with any semblance of pointedness whatsoever:
That's a LOT of stairs.
Only YOUR MOM gets photgraphed more naked.
We walked a lot today.
Finally, a picture for Shefik -- since I promised his Father's restaurant would be my first Turkish food, we declined to eat here:
Turkish food in KAMAKURA?
Lastly, some facts:
- I've yet to play a single arcade game
- I've yet to play a UFO Catcher- 50% of all drinks I have consumed have been alcohol (oops)
- Japanese porn is GROSS
- A hair service at a salon: " CUT&BLOW"
Alright. Sore de owari desune.
More updates (with hopefully more robust content) coming soon.
ONWARD TO CAPSULE HEAVEN LOLOLOLOL OMG BBQ
