Tuesday, January 26, 2010
In the beginning...
So a quick rundown:
Flew into Tokyo last Wednesday after leaving Tuesday. Flights were good, Yusuke Asakura of SHC fame picked us up at the airport. Went to Akihabara, which is a crazy Electric Town. Stories upon stories, buildings upon buildings, bazaars upon bazaars of electronics and accessories. It is nuts on a grand scale. Estimated at 35 million for Tokyo and its burbs, the city puts everything in America to shame. Like humiliating, cry in your soup shame. Spent the next day sightseeing, typical tourist stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary if illegible writing, hoards of Asians, urban shrines, lights so bright midnight feels like noon, pachinko parlors, screaming sushi chefs, short-skirted schoolgirls, smoking businessmen, and the most crowded and complex train system these Alabama eyes have ever seen is ordinary. And chopsticks.
What a blast.
The next day, after Meghan got bit by 'Tiger Mosquitoes'--an insect of questionable existence--the 3 of us headed to Nikko, the Japanese town of shrines. The motto is 'Nikko is Nippon'. Maybe. A little too many folks with cameras for my taste. But hey, I was one of them. And at least we were nearly the only Westerners. Beautifully crafted shrines and temples. It is the home of the Shogun warriors, sworn to protect the people of Japan. I felt like I was in Ninja Scroll. Some really interesting prayer rooms and legends surround the area and I was happy to have a translator. We will miss YuCrunk.
After sleeping in a forest lodge run by a monk, we went back to Tokyo and Meghan and I met up with John Alexander of Fairhope/Prague lore. John is a man of all cities, so to speak. A chameleon of a man, yet he keeps his roots. He and his Japanese fiancee (congrats!) take us to what else but Karaoke. And what a time it is! So much better than American. You have your own soundproof room to belt your heart out. We ran the gamut. The Doors, Sir Mixalot, Alan Jackson, Limp Bizkit, B-52s, Weezer, Biggie Smalls, Ricky Martin, and some Japanese flavor to name a few. I was way hoarse, but no complaints here! Then on to the hipster barrio for a little shisha hookah action. Nice hippie Japanese folk. Grateful Dead as we arrived, turned into some Phishy noise as the hours turned wee. Strange juxtaposition, but an absurd laughable life this is anyway! Then to an Andy Warhol-inspired bar with surfing movies playing projection stylee.
The next day, John and Maiko took us to an art festival on the outskirts of the city, off Tokyo Bay. Nutso bananas. Everything from traditional Japanese art to anime, photography, light art, performance art, live music, interactive art, bondage, artists painting as it happens, robot art, zombies, video games, sex art, minimalist, abstract, post-modern, terror, death baby dolls, and Hello Kitty.
We came and left with a subway with no human controller. A 30 minute ride between skyscrapers with no visible hand at the wheel. The urban jungle is growing a brain.
This morning we said our goodbyes to Yusuke, a wonderful host!!!!! Thanks so much you made our time in Japan unforgettable!
Now in Bangkok. Near Khaosan Road. Overrun with Westerners, but at least they're of the groovy laid back ilk, and not a bunch of people from Birmingham. I hate Birmingham. Just stuffed ourselves with $1.50 amazing Thai food and about to plan the next few days before heading to a Thai island perhaps? Or maybe a national forest? We shall see! I hope all is well in the States. We are doing well, although it is near 90 degrees with no A/C. Maybe a week will get us right.
If you've been to the region, let me know, I'd love to hear some stories/suggestions!
Good luck and good spirits!
Flew into Tokyo last Wednesday after leaving Tuesday. Flights were good, Yusuke Asakura of SHC fame picked us up at the airport. Went to Akihabara, which is a crazy Electric Town. Stories upon stories, buildings upon buildings, bazaars upon bazaars of electronics and accessories. It is nuts on a grand scale. Estimated at 35 million for Tokyo and its burbs, the city puts everything in America to shame. Like humiliating, cry in your soup shame. Spent the next day sightseeing, typical tourist stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary if illegible writing, hoards of Asians, urban shrines, lights so bright midnight feels like noon, pachinko parlors, screaming sushi chefs, short-skirted schoolgirls, smoking businessmen, and the most crowded and complex train system these Alabama eyes have ever seen is ordinary. And chopsticks.
What a blast.
The next day, after Meghan got bit by 'Tiger Mosquitoes'--an insect of questionable existence--the 3 of us headed to Nikko, the Japanese town of shrines. The motto is 'Nikko is Nippon'. Maybe. A little too many folks with cameras for my taste. But hey, I was one of them. And at least we were nearly the only Westerners. Beautifully crafted shrines and temples. It is the home of the Shogun warriors, sworn to protect the people of Japan. I felt like I was in Ninja Scroll. Some really interesting prayer rooms and legends surround the area and I was happy to have a translator. We will miss YuCrunk.
After sleeping in a forest lodge run by a monk, we went back to Tokyo and Meghan and I met up with John Alexander of Fairhope/Prague lore. John is a man of all cities, so to speak. A chameleon of a man, yet he keeps his roots. He and his Japanese fiancee (congrats!) take us to what else but Karaoke. And what a time it is! So much better than American. You have your own soundproof room to belt your heart out. We ran the gamut. The Doors, Sir Mixalot, Alan Jackson, Limp Bizkit, B-52s, Weezer, Biggie Smalls, Ricky Martin, and some Japanese flavor to name a few. I was way hoarse, but no complaints here! Then on to the hipster barrio for a little shisha hookah action. Nice hippie Japanese folk. Grateful Dead as we arrived, turned into some Phishy noise as the hours turned wee. Strange juxtaposition, but an absurd laughable life this is anyway! Then to an Andy Warhol-inspired bar with surfing movies playing projection stylee.
The next day, John and Maiko took us to an art festival on the outskirts of the city, off Tokyo Bay. Nutso bananas. Everything from traditional Japanese art to anime, photography, light art, performance art, live music, interactive art, bondage, artists painting as it happens, robot art, zombies, video games, sex art, minimalist, abstract, post-modern, terror, death baby dolls, and Hello Kitty.
We came and left with a subway with no human controller. A 30 minute ride between skyscrapers with no visible hand at the wheel. The urban jungle is growing a brain.
This morning we said our goodbyes to Yusuke, a wonderful host!!!!! Thanks so much you made our time in Japan unforgettable!
Now in Bangkok. Near Khaosan Road. Overrun with Westerners, but at least they're of the groovy laid back ilk, and not a bunch of people from Birmingham. I hate Birmingham. Just stuffed ourselves with $1.50 amazing Thai food and about to plan the next few days before heading to a Thai island perhaps? Or maybe a national forest? We shall see! I hope all is well in the States. We are doing well, although it is near 90 degrees with no A/C. Maybe a week will get us right.
If you've been to the region, let me know, I'd love to hear some stories/suggestions!
Good luck and good spirits!
