(no subject)
So at long last - Tower Time. After the first failed attempt I would not be denied:
So after class I roped in some very hungry people with the deceptive notion that it wouldn't take very long to walk halfway across Minato-Ku to see the tower. The Tower itself is a candy-stripped antenna akin to the Effiel Tower - it has a lower deck with a temple, some food, and a giftshop, and a small higher floor with the commanding view of the city. I don't want to say its a ripoff per se - I don't know the history. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Tower) well okay - there it is - so it was based on it. Along with being a huge UHF TV transmitter its also completely festooned with Cel repeaters and the like. Keep in mind that 20 Million of the 130 million in Japan live in the greater Tokyo area - all of whom more or less have line of sight of the thing. Its official - I've been to every point of interest in this whole country above 1,000ft. (Mt. Fuji excepted).
At the bottom there is a series of gift shops and whatnot. This includes a "Thrilling Economics House", "Screen Lounge THANK", "Tokei (Statistics) Plaza" and wax museum, a Guniess World Records place, and a "Curry Lab". But - despite the THRILL of economics I didn't want to shell out the extra 700 yen for the premium ticket (particularly since my classmates would then kill and eat me). One pictoral note: What the hell is with this place and Hello Kitty? Mickey Mouse doesn't have half this much exposure:
Anyway - at long last the night shots of Tokyo I've long been craving:
And from the highest deck:
And no - the Mori building does not actually have giant floating words next to it (although its not for lack of money or ambition). Its a cool reflection that came out nicely. Anyway - I'm particularly proud of this one (Much higher res, 1600x1200):
After this we had to head back to the lower level. You want a thrill to make you leap in instinctual terror in a blur of instinct and Vertigo? (of course you do) - Look down through that little gap between the threshold of the floor and the elevator when you're boarding it. Ever look down and see a 1,000ft well lit shear drop under you with NOTHING between you and it?
Anyway - if you're on the lower level and want a half ass version of this experience:
Heres another - looking straight down. I know its a strain from the scratches on the window - but you can see the legs of the tower. Also - note the bus with the Hello Kitty on top (the madness):
Yeah - every day in this city you (as they said in Chinatown in Philly) "see some sh-t". Today was no exception (actually - it gets worse):
Anyway - it was finally time to get my emaciated and loyal (gullible) compatriots some food in Roppongi. Now generally I give Roppongi a hard time. A lot of classmates live there. It has a lot of foriengers, a lot of money, a lot of Yakuza; it can be (very) shady and it can be expensive. That said - its actually very worth seeing. If you have an image of Tokyo of crazy high end clubs and ultra-lounges, crazy architecture, the unecessarily trendy slick and ornate, and a center of fashion, design, style, and the other trappings of way-too-much-money, this is definitely the place to see. I'll go back and get some pics of the over-the-top malls and clubs later - till then continue to behold the Mori building; the complex amounts to a real estate developer's wet dream:
We had a good lead on a very good Chinese place - and it was (but in typical Roppongi style it squeezes the wallet fairly hard). Apparently the chicken is good - but its really known for its cock:
Notice the details on the bell too. Come to Tokyo - see some shi-t. But this is only the beginning - I've pulled one punch. The following is not for the feint of heart:
I ate some......scorpions
I ATE some fucking scorpions
I ate SCORPIONS
I ATE FUCKING SCORPIONS!
.....SCORPIONS!
That is all. Venom hasn't (yet) killed me. They are crunchy and salty and taste like a bar snack. If you couldn't see what it was I would dare call them good. (although I still have trouble even looking at this picture) I ate the 3 little ones. A classmate ate the abdomen of the big one and assured me it tasted like ass. I tried to get a claw but the carapace was too hard. YEAH. Seen some shit.
Then after this I made my innocent walk to Shibuya home past Hachiko and the masseuses on love-hotel hill (MAN! - can't an honest man walk from point A to point B in this city without getting offered hot, hot kinky sex!?). Anyway - I'll call THAT a night.
So after class I roped in some very hungry people with the deceptive notion that it wouldn't take very long to walk halfway across Minato-Ku to see the tower. The Tower itself is a candy-stripped antenna akin to the Effiel Tower - it has a lower deck with a temple, some food, and a giftshop, and a small higher floor with the commanding view of the city. I don't want to say its a ripoff per se - I don't know the history. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Tower) well okay - there it is - so it was based on it. Along with being a huge UHF TV transmitter its also completely festooned with Cel repeaters and the like. Keep in mind that 20 Million of the 130 million in Japan live in the greater Tokyo area - all of whom more or less have line of sight of the thing. Its official - I've been to every point of interest in this whole country above 1,000ft. (Mt. Fuji excepted).
At the bottom there is a series of gift shops and whatnot. This includes a "Thrilling Economics House", "Screen Lounge THANK", "Tokei (Statistics) Plaza" and wax museum, a Guniess World Records place, and a "Curry Lab". But - despite the THRILL of economics I didn't want to shell out the extra 700 yen for the premium ticket (particularly since my classmates would then kill and eat me). One pictoral note: What the hell is with this place and Hello Kitty? Mickey Mouse doesn't have half this much exposure:
Anyway - at long last the night shots of Tokyo I've long been craving:
And from the highest deck:
And no - the Mori building does not actually have giant floating words next to it (although its not for lack of money or ambition). Its a cool reflection that came out nicely. Anyway - I'm particularly proud of this one (Much higher res, 1600x1200):
After this we had to head back to the lower level. You want a thrill to make you leap in instinctual terror in a blur of instinct and Vertigo? (of course you do) - Look down through that little gap between the threshold of the floor and the elevator when you're boarding it. Ever look down and see a 1,000ft well lit shear drop under you with NOTHING between you and it?
Anyway - if you're on the lower level and want a half ass version of this experience:
Heres another - looking straight down. I know its a strain from the scratches on the window - but you can see the legs of the tower. Also - note the bus with the Hello Kitty on top (the madness):
Yeah - every day in this city you (as they said in Chinatown in Philly) "see some sh-t". Today was no exception (actually - it gets worse):
Anyway - it was finally time to get my emaciated and loyal (gullible) compatriots some food in Roppongi. Now generally I give Roppongi a hard time. A lot of classmates live there. It has a lot of foriengers, a lot of money, a lot of Yakuza; it can be (very) shady and it can be expensive. That said - its actually very worth seeing. If you have an image of Tokyo of crazy high end clubs and ultra-lounges, crazy architecture, the unecessarily trendy slick and ornate, and a center of fashion, design, style, and the other trappings of way-too-much-money, this is definitely the place to see. I'll go back and get some pics of the over-the-top malls and clubs later - till then continue to behold the Mori building; the complex amounts to a real estate developer's wet dream:
We had a good lead on a very good Chinese place - and it was (but in typical Roppongi style it squeezes the wallet fairly hard). Apparently the chicken is good - but its really known for its cock:
Notice the details on the bell too. Come to Tokyo - see some shi-t. But this is only the beginning - I've pulled one punch. The following is not for the feint of heart:
I ate some......scorpions
I ATE some fucking scorpions
I ate SCORPIONS
I ATE FUCKING SCORPIONS!
.....SCORPIONS!
That is all. Venom hasn't (yet) killed me. They are crunchy and salty and taste like a bar snack. If you couldn't see what it was I would dare call them good. (although I still have trouble even looking at this picture) I ate the 3 little ones. A classmate ate the abdomen of the big one and assured me it tasted like ass. I tried to get a claw but the carapace was too hard. YEAH. Seen some shit.
Then after this I made my innocent walk to Shibuya home past Hachiko and the masseuses on love-hotel hill (MAN! - can't an honest man walk from point A to point B in this city without getting offered hot, hot kinky sex!?). Anyway - I'll call THAT a night.