Travelogue One: Tokyo Not So Strange
March 20th 2003
Really it's not as bizarre as I thought that it would be even with the jetlag. But it is really interesting, busy, diverse, ancient, cosmopolitan and often confusing. Today we're taking it easy- checked out Tokyo Hands this bizarre we have everything store that must be over 8 stories of household goods, art supplies, hardware, everything. Andrew of course wanted to buy this amazing toilet seat we encountered the other day- heated seat and not one but two bum washing options including pulse or stream flow. Okay so maybe the toilets are buzzer- most of the common ones are pit toilets, at least here they're porcelain and flush, I'm sure that won't always be the case in Thailand.
Anyways, enough of the potty talk.... we've spent most of our time just wandering around and intermittently getting on the subway. We've managed to get around without getting lost, but it would be impossible if we didn't have an English street and subway map and have our noses in it every 500m. We checked out this unbelievable fish market yesterday morning at 8a.m., they sell 670 000 tonnes of fish per day!!!! they have anything and everything that swims, some still swimming and some really frozen. We of course had to have sushi for breakfast, YUM! After that we checked out an elaborate Jodo Shinshu or Pureland Buddhist temple where the priest were chanting and making offerings. Next we strolled to Ginza, which seems as if it could be Chicago or NY with all the shops and wide streets. We found this tiny Shinto shrine that was only 20 by 20 feet encapsulated with this huge high-rise built right over it- since they couldn't tear it down. Next we headed to the Imperial gardens- 10 acres of land right in the heart of Tokyo with winding paths, huge moats and guardhouses. Last stop of the day was another Shinto shrine, this one housing a memorial to fallen war heroes. We shelled out the cash to check out their museum-one of the best we've ever seen that examines Japan's war history, including their interpretation of the bombing of Pearl Harbour, which basically they state they were forced into doing by the sanctions imposed by Roosevelt. Very interesting.
Well, this is getting long enough. Tonight we're going to head to an onsen or traditional local bathhouse to clean up since Victor's place is small and the tub about 1.5 by 1.5 feet, totally square but 3.5 feet deep, so not a satisfying stretch out by any means. We've met a bunch of Victor's friends and they're an interesting and diverse bunch from all over the world, we have plans to hit a few parties this weekend, then check out the park where everyone hangs out in full blown costumes ranging from an Elvis section and 1950's poodle skirts to extreme Goths and motorcycle freaks. Lots of love to you from halfway around the world. Big smooches,
*steph* and *andrew*
