Now since I left a lot of you have changed hair I hear. Please send pics!!! I'm so curious and a slight change in hair is always like a cheap thrill. Miss you guys!
xx
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thoughts (long post)
I used to be so disciplined and write about every experience no matter how banal. Now I seem to like to be selfish about them. I want to keep them framed in their context and let time do its natural blurring as the memories become further and further from my everyday reality. But then I remind myself that I meant to document everything, but I left out the experiences and left for you the banal. The un-emotive and very matter-of-factual experience of Tokyo. The context isn't relevant to the readers, rather the readers aren't relevant to the context; so to begin already a sense of experience is lost. I decided to present it as is, unfiltered by opinion... but then I feel something else was lost. I haven't even left a skeleton for you because I ate all the marrow and now the bones are malnourished. So here is my promise to those who take the time to read. I will add more photos and make an effort to make the text at least remotely exciting.
Having said that...
There is a time when we all need to realize we are adults and take responsibility for our actions. That time usually comes around when you reach that not-so-exciting physiological threshold: when you realize your body doesn't react to things the way it used to, when you realize your brain isn't as sharp, and gravity has more profound effects on your shape (especially for women). With all that in mind, our aging bodies also become our responsibility. I'm somewhere in between those thresholds of aging... all to say that I managed to get a bladder infection and mild heat stroke soon after. Ugh, I've been sick here but I'm better now after some costly doctor visits (VERY COSTLY!!!)
So.... if you do travel to Tokyo, take care of yourself. Travel health insurance is NOT overrated (which I don't have). But it is also good to know that there is an International Clinic right around the corner. Also drinking a lot of water is always a good idea.
Having said that...
There is a time when we all need to realize we are adults and take responsibility for our actions. That time usually comes around when you reach that not-so-exciting physiological threshold: when you realize your body doesn't react to things the way it used to, when you realize your brain isn't as sharp, and gravity has more profound effects on your shape (especially for women). With all that in mind, our aging bodies also become our responsibility. I'm somewhere in between those thresholds of aging... all to say that I managed to get a bladder infection and mild heat stroke soon after. Ugh, I've been sick here but I'm better now after some costly doctor visits (VERY COSTLY!!!)
So.... if you do travel to Tokyo, take care of yourself. Travel health insurance is NOT overrated (which I don't have). But it is also good to know that there is an International Clinic right around the corner. Also drinking a lot of water is always a good idea.
Monday, March 16, 2009
kawaii
This is pretty much the first thing we were confronted with on Sunday... 
People are very mobile phone friendly here.
People are very mobile phone friendly here. KAWAII!!!
Everything is Kawaii here.
The weather's finally looking up and I've been terribly ill for a few days so I haven't been enjoying myself. Sunday, I think I can say spring has officially started in Tokyo. Alex and I went to Yoyogi park in hopes to find some Harajuku girls but the only ones we found weren't even Japanese... they were some American goths just pretending... pretty unexciting.
I feel I'm losing my edge and just getting sucked in by all the Kawaii. The following videos and photos will give you an idea of how the day went.
a few recommendations
These are two restaurants you absolutely must try if you come to Tokyo.
1. Gonpachi
http://www.sobatempura.gonpachi.jp/en/casual/home/index
You probably would need to make reservations to go. It's the infamous restaurant where our good ol' friend George W. regurgitated it after having a tad bit too much sake. Make sure to order a lot because it's basically many little appetizers, some stranger than others but all delicious. Definitely have Sake! They have a variety you can choose from. The decor is very pleasant and you might recognize it from a few films (ie: Kill Bill). It isn't cheap though. It's not hard to find and it is in Roppongi, which also means there will be a lot of foreigners.
The photo is Alex and I at Gonpachi for our anniversary, we were both quite drunk when we left.
2. Umai Sushikan
The best sushi I've had thusfar. For all those who know me well, you are quite aware that I am repulsed by fish... but I loved it here and ate everything. It's so fresh and of such great quality that it doesn't have that strong (aged) fish scent or taste. I have yet to go to the fish market but this sushi place takes the cake out of every other I've tried. I recommend you try perhaps something off of the seasonal menu (it is completely in Japanese though). This restaurant is in Akasaka so you won't see too many foreigners, but that also means their might not be anyone who understands you. I've been to this restaurant twice already and the first time a Japanese woman sitting next to me fed me tempura (really good!) so we I can say we managed quite well with Alex's limited Japanese.
1. Gonpachi
http://www.sobatempura.gonpachi.jp/en/casual/home/index
You probably would need to make reservations to go. It's the infamous restaurant where our good ol' friend George W. regurgitated it after having a tad bit too much sake. Make sure to order a lot because it's basically many little appetizers, some stranger than others but all delicious. Definitely have Sake! They have a variety you can choose from. The decor is very pleasant and you might recognize it from a few films (ie: Kill Bill). It isn't cheap though. It's not hard to find and it is in Roppongi, which also means there will be a lot of foreigners.
The photo is Alex and I at Gonpachi for our anniversary, we were both quite drunk when we left.2. Umai Sushikan
The best sushi I've had thusfar. For all those who know me well, you are quite aware that I am repulsed by fish... but I loved it here and ate everything. It's so fresh and of such great quality that it doesn't have that strong (aged) fish scent or taste. I have yet to go to the fish market but this sushi place takes the cake out of every other I've tried. I recommend you try perhaps something off of the seasonal menu (it is completely in Japanese though). This restaurant is in Akasaka so you won't see too many foreigners, but that also means their might not be anyone who understands you. I've been to this restaurant twice already and the first time a Japanese woman sitting next to me fed me tempura (really good!) so we I can say we managed quite well with Alex's limited Japanese.
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