Jess and Amy in Tokyo (1)
Things are winding down and my days here are numbered. Soon it will be back home to my non-existent job, expensive insurance, a city with substantial odds I'll be shot and fingernail-pullingly expensive food and gas. But at least I'll be with my friends.
Time for Finance and IBT exams. Since its finals, not much interesting WOULD be going on......but.............JESS AND AMY WERE HERE!!! I'll spare the actual pictures of them since I'm paranoid, and I assume other people are paranoid and wouldn't want their pictures on a semi-public internet page. If you want 'em they'll be on Facebook.
Now, when I deplaned at Narita in Tokyo I was so deliriously sleep deprived and exhausted tired that I couldn't understand the crazy language of the giant rabbit at the customs counter, and got lost in the corridor made of candy canes leading to the magical baggage claim fairies. But of course they actually could sleep in the veal-calf unacceptably small coach seat that reclines 3% - and arrived totally with it and alert (grumble).
Now, one person who actually reads this that wasn't here, let me recount a little bit. I started by trying to wow them with neat things inside the airport - hoping something crazy would happen to let them know they've arrived. (so far no day I've left my apartment has disappointed - even today I saw a life size domo-kun cut out in a doorway of a store) I tried with whatever the airport gave me to work with. OOOO Pocari Sweat!! - Hey, look HOT coffee in a CAN - in a MACHINE!! Wasn't working (although they were infinitely more impressed with the strips for the blind on the ground:
Well, I gave it rest (no - not really) and we went down to the airport express train to Tokyo. Thats when it happened. A train pulled in, we tried to board, were told to wait. Then our casual conversation was interrupted as, like synchronized swimmers, every seat in the train (I'm talking like airliner seats, not Amtrak/NJTransit/Septa seats) arose - then rotated 180 and settled. Why is this necessary? This is Japan. They had arrived. Starting the next night they would be staying at the Yoyogi park, Northeastern-looking Hostel. It was awesomely cheap, but note that its Japanese style group showers only from the hours of 5-11pm.....and you have to leave between 9-5 am.....and be under 25.
Day 1: All we wanted to do is walk to Harajuku.
But then - BAM Hippies.
We stumbled accidentally and ass-backward into a right proper Hippie Jam fest in Yoyogi park for Earth Day:
We learned thousands of uses for hemp (yet oddly smelled nary a whiff of marijuana anywhere), and had our choice of tribal necklaces, apartment tapestries, and pre-wrinkled linen pants and skirts. Also the music - was terrible.
But there were also some corporations there being green/apologist:
Who could argue with that? Also......Elvises:
Finally to Harajuku - with the standard crazy cosplayers:
Also - lots (and lots) of other people:
And lots and lots of Sushi:
Then to the Meiji Shrine (which I neglected to take new pictures of) - but hey look - a Wedding!!! (to which we weren't invited). Being escorted through a crowded tourist attraction full of gawking foreign tourists - now THATS a wedding:
But I DO have copies of Jess's pictures - which are actually really good. Too good. Emasculatingly good. Hence, here I get to claim them as my own! But seriously, props Jess:
But anyway, back to Harajuku (these two also courtesy of Jess):
With crazy shirts! (You'll see me around in mine):
There is PLENTY more to go, this is just day 1. But I tire, time for sleep. But here is a nightcap of EPIC engrish in Yoyogi park:
Time for Finance and IBT exams. Since its finals, not much interesting WOULD be going on......but.............JESS AND AMY WERE HERE!!! I'll spare the actual pictures of them since I'm paranoid, and I assume other people are paranoid and wouldn't want their pictures on a semi-public internet page. If you want 'em they'll be on Facebook.
Now, when I deplaned at Narita in Tokyo I was so deliriously sleep deprived and exhausted tired that I couldn't understand the crazy language of the giant rabbit at the customs counter, and got lost in the corridor made of candy canes leading to the magical baggage claim fairies. But of course they actually could sleep in the veal-calf unacceptably small coach seat that reclines 3% - and arrived totally with it and alert (grumble).
Now, one person who actually reads this that wasn't here, let me recount a little bit. I started by trying to wow them with neat things inside the airport - hoping something crazy would happen to let them know they've arrived. (so far no day I've left my apartment has disappointed - even today I saw a life size domo-kun cut out in a doorway of a store) I tried with whatever the airport gave me to work with. OOOO Pocari Sweat!! - Hey, look HOT coffee in a CAN - in a MACHINE!! Wasn't working (although they were infinitely more impressed with the strips for the blind on the ground:
Well, I gave it rest (no - not really) and we went down to the airport express train to Tokyo. Thats when it happened. A train pulled in, we tried to board, were told to wait. Then our casual conversation was interrupted as, like synchronized swimmers, every seat in the train (I'm talking like airliner seats, not Amtrak/NJTransit/Septa seats) arose - then rotated 180 and settled. Why is this necessary? This is Japan. They had arrived. Starting the next night they would be staying at the Yoyogi park, Northeastern-looking Hostel. It was awesomely cheap, but note that its Japanese style group showers only from the hours of 5-11pm.....and you have to leave between 9-5 am.....and be under 25.
Day 1: All we wanted to do is walk to Harajuku.
But then - BAM Hippies.
We stumbled accidentally and ass-backward into a right proper Hippie Jam fest in Yoyogi park for Earth Day:
We learned thousands of uses for hemp (yet oddly smelled nary a whiff of marijuana anywhere), and had our choice of tribal necklaces, apartment tapestries, and pre-wrinkled linen pants and skirts. Also the music - was terrible.
But there were also some corporations there being green/apologist:
Who could argue with that? Also......Elvises:
Finally to Harajuku - with the standard crazy cosplayers:
Also - lots (and lots) of other people:
And lots and lots of Sushi:
Then to the Meiji Shrine (which I neglected to take new pictures of) - but hey look - a Wedding!!! (to which we weren't invited). Being escorted through a crowded tourist attraction full of gawking foreign tourists - now THATS a wedding:
But I DO have copies of Jess's pictures - which are actually really good. Too good. Emasculatingly good. Hence, here I get to claim them as my own! But seriously, props Jess:
But anyway, back to Harajuku (these two also courtesy of Jess):
With crazy shirts! (You'll see me around in mine):
There is PLENTY more to go, this is just day 1. But I tire, time for sleep. But here is a nightcap of EPIC engrish in Yoyogi park: