Tokyo, 6 November 2003

Aaaaaaaah yes Tokyo is really nice. And crowded!!! It's so cool here though, the contrast of society and the place. Couldn't help filming people crossing the street in Shibuya, it was amazing, everyone waited neatly and when the light came green to cross, everyone rushed in all directions (it was a cross road)...! The ones who got a cold, wear a mask so they don't spread their germs around... How civilized is that?!

We are very lucky to be with Laurence and Yann because they tell us all about what to do, what not, where to go, what's cool etc... We have already spent quite a bit, even through we are restraining ourselves, the place is like the Mecca of shopping!! Millions of toys (and beautiful ones...) and stuff you don't need but it's so cool you think you ought to buy it!

We have walked around and took the tube too, it's not too complicated. We went to Muji and discovered it was really cheap: argh! It's such a rip off in the UK!!! Here the shop is HUGE with lots of stuff and it's cheap like a pen 50p and a box 1pound... In the shops they are really nice and helpful, it's amazing. They never seem to give up, they are determined to give you a good service, it's incredible. Laurence and Yann said they is hardly any crime here, I am not surprised, everybody seem really 'disciplined' and 'team-member' like. Almost too much (we have stopped taking our map out in the street just to look where we are cos people kept coming up to us to help - for nothing hehehe).

The night falls early, around 4:30/5 and we can't stop taking photos at the lights all over, it's overload of signage! In some areas you can hear a little music in speakers at 5pm. It's the "5 o clock music..." now... that's unusual!!

We have also experienced our first earthquake! it was fairly small but all the stuff moved in the shop. Nobody looked disturbed(!) so we carried on... Apparently they are expecting "the big one" soon (before Christmas) hmmm, charming! We keep a bottle of water by our bed (that's what we are supposed to do).


Yokohama, 17 November 2003

We went to Yokohama today. It was a brilliant sunny blue sky day again but we were gutted because by the time (10am) we arrived - early - we still didn't get to see Mt Fuji which was obscured by clouds (it seems really hard to get to see).

We saw a great view and walked around Chinatown (!) down there... We ate chicken and rice just like what we eat when we go in Chinatown in London ahhaha.... very odd. I felt brave and ordered some dumplings but they were just vile!! (Slippery like hell! don't know what was in it)

We had a great day yesterday with Lolo and Yann. We went to Harajuku where all the "crazy" youngsters hang around with weirdo's outfits. We took some photos I will send some to everyone. We also went to a traditional temple in a park, and there were lots of children dressed in traditional outfits, they looked great. We also saw a wedding!


Tokyo, 20 November 2003

Tokyo is still proving full of excitement and people!

We discovered the 100 yen shop! At least that one won't make us broke. It's amazing what you can get for 50p from tools to really good stationary and Hello kitty things! (3 floors or rubbish we don't need but we did buy stickers, sweets, toys etc..).

We saw a T-shirt vending machine. Basically there are drinks vending machine everywhere (we have tried a hot coffee in a can, not bad!) it's very futuristic.

All the mobile phones have a camera on them, they are all 3G and people seem to fiddle with them almost as much as in the UK but on bigger and better full colour screens and cool games! And everyone has the little stuff dangling from it (little toys and like key-rings).

We met up with Dil (my friend from Circle) and his friends on the 17th. We went to eat in the basement of a tower (every floor of building has something on it like a restaurant or a bar or a playing/slot machine arcade) in a fun Japanese place. It was great to have a laugh and discussed all the futuristic things of Japan! (and the mini flat people live in according to Dil's friend - they live in one).

Laurence and Yann have recommended us to go to a place called Nikko (a world heritage site). We went and stayed in a traditional "inn" with futon and mats on the floor. As it is the case everywhere, you had your little sleepers waiting for you by the doors and a kimono to go down to the hot spa. It was fantastic and the temples and shrine in the middle of the forest were just unbelievable! (photos next).

Voila, that's it for the moment. Today it's raining so we are off to the Edo museum.