I got to ride the Shinkansen (bullet train) today from Tokyo to Odawara so that we could go to Hakkone--with an overnight stay--and then Osaka. Those things are the best, the best, I tell ya. On the way to Osaka I found myself totally drooling off. It was so comfortable; the rocking motion, the repeating sound of the tracks. While waiting on the platform you can see the express trains pass though and you can’t even focus on anything because the most you can see is a blue line passing by. I loved it!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Japan -- day 2
Fun, fun, fun! Poor Dan is going to end up killing me at the end of this trip. We got at about 4am to check and checked emails etc.--I got to Gchat with Ivie over the Internet. Then we went back to bed and woke up late so we asked the hotel staff to extend our check out time by an hour, well, Dan did. We have had to change hotel rooms about 3 times because when i made the reservation not all suites were available. But the hotel is good; affordable, clean and relatively well located. Anyway, finally we got out and walked about towards the business supplies district which is close to Kaminarimon. We had breakfast at a cafe where I had pretty good pancakes and a coffee. I'm drinking a lot of coffee here. I'm not sure why. Finally we made it to Asakusa/Kaminarimon. I'm not taking as many pictures as I thought I would so I'm not sure if I'm just not noticing as many things of if I'm just not excited about what I've seen so far. It's interesting.
Ok, so we then walked all over that place and all the little souvenir shops, etc. I saw some devout buddihst people at the temples. It was interesting. Japan really needs God.
We all hit Ueno park and the area around it. It's a nice park and lots of people take advantage of it. Many cute dogs. We bought a charcoal baked sweet potato and that was delicious. It was funny to see us eat it because it was very hot and we both sounded like developmentally challenged people make incoherent sounds and opening our mouths to let the steam come out. It was fun.
We walked to the hotel and rested a bit to then head out to Roppongi where I wanted to go to this place called Cafe Latino. I really wanted to see what the Salsa scene is like in Tokyo but I have to say it was quite a disappointment. Well, first we couldn't find it because it was tucked in on a side stree somewhere. We stopped at an English Pub to have a beer while I sulked on the fact that we walked up and down the street about 3times and didn't find the place. Finally, Dan found it and I was happy. It was fun but not that good. There was one older Dominican staff member at the Club that was very nice, from La Vega; everybody else was Peruvian, it seemed. I also danced with this guy named Ali who is from Dubai and is half Puerto Rican. He was very nice and works for some medical company here. He got me this really good drink which I forgot the name of but it was tequila and Baileys I think. Really yummy. Dan and I stayed there there until about 5am so that we could catch the train back rather than pay a gazillion dollars for a cab ride. Actually, I kinda forced him to stay there. Poor guy, I feel like I should give him a break and let him have some time to himself. I take forever to get ready in comparison to him, I'm totally indecisive when it comes to where to eat and/or what to do. I hope he's having at least an interesting time. Back to the Roppongi scene, it's full of foreigners all the time and drunk-ish people at 5am. We got on the train to head home. I feel like some people really stare at non-japanese. It's kinda funny to see people look at you and turn away when you look at them. I have gotten some smiles but not major conversations or connections with anyone. I hope that Osaka is better since people seem to be more gregarious than Tokyo folk.
Well, I'm going to go back to bed now given that it's 1.50am. I'll talk more about stuff as I remember. Nite!
Ok, so we then walked all over that place and all the little souvenir shops, etc. I saw some devout buddihst people at the temples. It was interesting. Japan really needs God.
We all hit Ueno park and the area around it. It's a nice park and lots of people take advantage of it. Many cute dogs. We bought a charcoal baked sweet potato and that was delicious. It was funny to see us eat it because it was very hot and we both sounded like developmentally challenged people make incoherent sounds and opening our mouths to let the steam come out. It was fun.
We walked to the hotel and rested a bit to then head out to Roppongi where I wanted to go to this place called Cafe Latino. I really wanted to see what the Salsa scene is like in Tokyo but I have to say it was quite a disappointment. Well, first we couldn't find it because it was tucked in on a side stree somewhere. We stopped at an English Pub to have a beer while I sulked on the fact that we walked up and down the street about 3times and didn't find the place. Finally, Dan found it and I was happy. It was fun but not that good. There was one older Dominican staff member at the Club that was very nice, from La Vega; everybody else was Peruvian, it seemed. I also danced with this guy named Ali who is from Dubai and is half Puerto Rican. He was very nice and works for some medical company here. He got me this really good drink which I forgot the name of but it was tequila and Baileys I think. Really yummy. Dan and I stayed there there until about 5am so that we could catch the train back rather than pay a gazillion dollars for a cab ride. Actually, I kinda forced him to stay there. Poor guy, I feel like I should give him a break and let him have some time to himself. I take forever to get ready in comparison to him, I'm totally indecisive when it comes to where to eat and/or what to do. I hope he's having at least an interesting time. Back to the Roppongi scene, it's full of foreigners all the time and drunk-ish people at 5am. We got on the train to head home. I feel like some people really stare at non-japanese. It's kinda funny to see people look at you and turn away when you look at them. I have gotten some smiles but not major conversations or connections with anyone. I hope that Osaka is better since people seem to be more gregarious than Tokyo folk.
Well, I'm going to go back to bed now given that it's 1.50am. I'll talk more about stuff as I remember. Nite!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Japan.... flight & day 1
The flight to Japan was very good. Not much turbulence so my PTSD from Spain did not kick in. It was amazing flying over Alaska. Mount McKinley was just gorgeous and I felt that it was too much to take in. God is amazing in his creation. For a moment there I had the reliazation that I really didnt believe that He is the creator because my head could not really grasp the vastness of it. It was just so crazy to fly over that strech of land and see all the snow-covered mountains, the ravines with clouds/fog in them, and the places where the avalanches had taken place. wow! I couldnt believe it.
After I got to the airport I waited for my friend Dan to get here from the West Coast. While I was waiting, I stood towards the entrance. All of the sudden this group of old Japanese folk was being gathered around me. It seemed that they were coming from a tour and the guide--with the green flag waving in the air--was calling them to that location. There I was, the only none 70+ person or Japanese person of the group. It was hilarious. If someone looked, it would seem to them that I was really misplaced. Or very adventurous to be a guide for such a group. It was funny! Finally my friend Dan found me and we started our trip to the hotel, may I add it was during RUSH HOUR! WITH BIG SUITCASE! Wow. I felt like I was the clumsiest of persons and the only one not wearing a black suit. ;D After checking-in we went out to get some food. I decided on a beef donburi at this place. It was really good. $5 bucks for miso soup, salad and a bowl of rice with minced meat & scallions on top, plus a raw egg yolk. They give you a little egg yolk separator and you can use yourself. At one point we were laughing because Dan pressed a button on the table that happened to be a `waitress-call` button so the girl just looked at us and laughed after realizing that it was a mistake. It was funny. We`re staying near the Ueno Park area so Im looking forward to exploring more.
Anyway, its about 4.30am and I woke up to check my email. I have to go back to bed or I will look like hell all day. Bye!
After I got to the airport I waited for my friend Dan to get here from the West Coast. While I was waiting, I stood towards the entrance. All of the sudden this group of old Japanese folk was being gathered around me. It seemed that they were coming from a tour and the guide--with the green flag waving in the air--was calling them to that location. There I was, the only none 70+ person or Japanese person of the group. It was hilarious. If someone looked, it would seem to them that I was really misplaced. Or very adventurous to be a guide for such a group. It was funny! Finally my friend Dan found me and we started our trip to the hotel, may I add it was during RUSH HOUR! WITH BIG SUITCASE! Wow. I felt like I was the clumsiest of persons and the only one not wearing a black suit. ;D After checking-in we went out to get some food. I decided on a beef donburi at this place. It was really good. $5 bucks for miso soup, salad and a bowl of rice with minced meat & scallions on top, plus a raw egg yolk. They give you a little egg yolk separator and you can use yourself. At one point we were laughing because Dan pressed a button on the table that happened to be a `waitress-call` button so the girl just looked at us and laughed after realizing that it was a mistake. It was funny. We`re staying near the Ueno Park area so Im looking forward to exploring more.
Anyway, its about 4.30am and I woke up to check my email. I have to go back to bed or I will look like hell all day. Bye!