Tokyo Day 1

Ohai-o Gazaimas!!

Good morning from Tokyo - and when I say good morning it`s 5am. Told you I was overstimulated!!

The story so far -

The flight from KL was practically empty. As in you could sleep accross the 5 seats in the middle. Unfortunately we did very little sleeping. There were around 6 other international flights that landed at the same time we did. We were the ONLY people in line with international passports at customs. But I know there were others from Adelaide on our flight because some tosser was wearing `heaps good` t-shirt. It was a worrying sign to say the least.

The train in from the airport was also empty. It was an hour and a half of rolling countrysides, then suburbs, then the city. By the time we were a few stations from Tokyo the train was choc-a-block with locals. Surrounded by tiny Japanese women scantilly clad despite the cold was a very warm welcome to Tokyo indeed.

The station at Tokyo is MASSIVE, and confusing, and almost overwhelming. I loved it!! We put our bags in lockers and made a toilet stop before heading out into the city. This is about the time that I nearly lost my shit. I`m pretty sure you have to have an areospace engineering degree to work one of those bastards. They sing, they make flushing noises - which makes you thing you`re going to get water in your ass AND THEN just when you think it`s safe it shoots water up your ass anyway!!! And there`s no way to flush it. You just have to leave the cubicle. It took me 5 minutes of panic and the embarasment of having to give up and walk out and leave my dirty business there for all to see, before I figured that out. I`m sure by the end of the week I`ll have them figured out.

Anyway we did some sightseeing, of which we`ll post photos when we can. The East Imperial Gardens, Gojira statue, Ginza, all very pretty all very lovely.

The people here are overwhelming friendly, helpful and welcoming. Every single time we pulled out the map, someone was there to help with directions. One elderly suited man was confused about the `godzilla` statue and when we said Gojira he started acting like Godzilla and laughing. It was very cute. Every time we try to take a photo of one of us posing, someone is there offering to take a photo of both of us. It is truly an amazing city.

Our hotel is wonderful. It`s meant to be budget but we have a king size bed with form fitting pillows and it`s just lovely. There`s a `family mart` in the foyer for all our needs and a free breakfast. Score.

For dinner we went to a little place nearby making sure the menu had big pretty pictures of every thing. It is just like any Japanese restaurent you`ve been to, shoes off, sit on the floor, watch them cook in front of you (not Tepenyaki just a view of the kitchen) We ordered a pot of green tea. We got alcoholic green tea that tasted like regret. We ordered the banquet of BBQed chicken, half of which was great - the other half was liver and gizzards. We ate it all. But not without gagging and washing it down with the regretful tea to make it better!  But the Goyza (dumplings) were to die for.

Feeling a little defeated from the experience we had not had our fill and were too scared to order any more lest it get worse. So we headed to another little cafe not too far away and just pointed at the Goyza. All in all it was a 16 dumpling day.

Today we`re off to Ueno park to see the Cherry Blossoms and the museums and zoo. Then a stop at Ahkibahara (spelling) to see the maid cafes.

Back to being overstimulated!!!