Lost in translation

Tokyo- From down tech to high tech

dinkina — Tue, 8 Dec 2009 06:33:00 GMT

In few days, I managed to discover most of the highlights in Tokyo. During the day, I have to say the city doesn't look anything like during the night. You really get to appreciate the beauty of the parks and nature, architecture and traditional orient places like: Akusaka, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tsukiji fish market and Odaiba man made island.

First, I will start with the parks. I visited the Imperial Gardens, Hibaya Park and the garden next to Meiji Jingu Shrine. They all seemed very clean and well groomed. I've heard the leaves this fall stayed on for much longer than usual, making the experience of exploring the parks much more pleasant. You could see the vibrant red and yellow colors, somewhat reminding of the New England foliage.

Old ladies were walking their dogs, while older men were exercising. Just a typical scenary in this place full with serenity and order.

As for temples, Akasuka area turned to be fun. The busy street leading to the shrine was full with vendors selling key chains with cat good luch charm to buscuits, etc.

I was also fascinated with people praying to the inscents in front of the temple. You could see all this devotion on their faces.

The Meiji Jingu Shrine had a wedding going on. I just made it before it closed. The security guard was kicking me out, but I managed to capture the beautiful ceremony.

The next amazing experience was the Tsukiji fish market, which I visited at 6 am. While the water and fish juice was all over the floor, I got to see the most bizarre creatures, as well as huge frozen tuna. The most interesting was to observe how the sales guys would cut the fish and take it apart for the sale.

On the more high tech end was my visit to Tokyo tower that elevates above the city. It's few meters higher than the Eiffel tower, for which Japanese are very proud. As this was a Sunday, lines of Japanese families with their little kids were crowding to get on it and show the city from above.

However, most fascinating was Odaiba - a man made island where you can find Toyota design pavilions in Megaweb complex, amazing Fuji TV structure, Rainbow bridge leading to the island, and yes even a Japanese version of the status of liberty (I did laugh when I saw it). It seemed like the whole island was someones fun idea to see what cool structural designs can be added and put it into reality.

Overall, Tokyo definitely impressed me with diversity of things to see and try, from ordering food in restaurant on a computer (it was kind off tough since everything was in Japanese), to warmed up bathroom seats..I just wish I had more time to explore the rest of Japan beyond Tokyo, places like Mt. Fuji and Kamakura temples, etc.

Arigato!

Discovering Japanese Nightlife - City that never sleeps

dinkina — Mon, 7 Dec 2009 03:31:00 GMT

Flying above the crowd

Lost in this translation

I am fish in sea

12/5/2009, Tokyo

After 13 hour flight to Tokyo and 2 hours by train and metro, I soon found myself in busy Shibuya station, crowded with young people rushing to get to their next destination. It was pouring outside and I could see everyone carrying a plastic see through umbrella. Peaking through the drops of water, I could see the lit up streets with gazillion neon signs and crowds that look like ants under the umbrellas crossing the street on green and suddently stopping on red. It almost looked some surreal cartoon, especially if you were the slow down the motion.

Luckily, I befriended two nice australian guys who looked asian, but when I heard them speaking perfect English, it was clear that they also didn:t belong here as much as I did. They were also standing by the window, eating sushi from bento box, and commenting on the scene of so-called Times Square on a really busy crowded day. One of the guys spoke a bit Japenese and told me how he already explored most of Japan on his own. They were nice enough to volunteer into looking for my hotel in the rain. It was quite difficult task. We picked up another one of those plastic umbrellas and ventured out into the rain. Half an hour later, we finally found Granbell, with help of really nice lady who just grabbed an umbrella and said follow me. I have to say people in Japan are very nice. So far, I have been able to point a destination on the map and somehow find my way around. Apparently, the problem with addresses in Tokyo is that the address is not specific enough. The building name gives you only the district area. Granbell turned out to be very cozy hotel. The single room is definetly a small shoe box, but it has wonderful shower that was much needed, and laptop borrowing options. I called downstairs to inquire about WIFI and instead got my own laptop for the duration of the stay.

I called a friend of a friend, who suggested that I join his french friends at Seco bar in the Shibuya. Later at night, I headed back to explore the night and look for the bar. Again, I was fascinated by the crowds. I found huge Starbucks just around the corner, then GAP and all the usual stores you will see in typical american city.

I guess I shouldnt be suprised that Tokyo would have all these stores, considering that Japanese are known to be brand obsessed. I saw bunch of youngsters shopping at Gucci and Dior the next day at Harajuku area. This is a neighborhood that has a parade of young in miniskirts and platforms shoes, with bleached hair or other shocking streaks.

Takeshita dori is a street near by selling music tapes and fast food, but Omotesando dori that runs next to it is huge constrast avenue that looks more like 5th avenue. At 6 pm, the crowd was so massive, I started feeling claustophobia. All these elegant boutiques and name brand stores. At Harajuku, I was also approached by an australian journalist who writes for Japan Times. Look for me on the issue on December 12th+)..She was getting a poll of opinions on what do I think about Japanese young people.

After watching the crowds, my answer was that it is a clash of identity. They seem to follow their traditional roots, eat japanese food, but yet love watching Hollywood movies and shop for brands and listen to christmas songs (yes, the songs were everywhere in Tokyo stores as well..). It almost seemed they were trying to be rebellious a bit, breaking rules of their conservative parents. Maybe it is also part of globilization and the fact there are so many brand stores just adds to the influences.

Back to Seco bar at Shibuya, there too I observed similar phenomenon not only with Japanese. Seco was a fun place, they played electronic music and a girl was singing semi Japanese-English songs.

I befriended some of the french expats, who seemed to be in Tokyo for a year or two all working on product designs or trying to open their own businesses. They all liked Tokyo, but admitted that even though this is a city that never sleeps, sometimes it tends to be too safe, too regulated. One guy told me he wants to go back to France to be a bit more rebelious..I guess being different sometimes is what one seeks and Tokyo with it is busy cosmopolitant is still Japanese by all standards..

Photos: Fall Boston

dinkina — Tue, 1 Dec 2009 06:14:00 GMT

Last days in Boston

dinkina — Tue, 1 Dec 2009 06:02:00 GMT

This is to test out this new travel blog as I am about to embark on many weeks journey to the countries over the pacific. First on the schedule is Tokyo, arrival - Saturday, December 5th. I will be staying in a small hotel in Shabuya district. In 2.5 days, before my departure to Bangkok, Thailand, I am planning to get the most out of the city by foot or train, including the 5 am wake up call to go to the fish market for some freshly cut sushi.

In the last days of preparation, I am finalizing my situation with malaria drugs. Malarone happened to be too expensive, so had to beg the nurse to prescribe me doxy instead. My skin is sensitive to the sun and these meds need to be taken a week before going to malaria zones and a week after, with high skin sensitivity. Not too excited about it.

On the other hand, I am excited about the last arrangements I made to visit Hong Kong on the way back to US (traveling through Tokyo). It's also going be a chinese new years there, so I get to see festivities live. Still unsure about where exactly New Years will be spent, but not planning sometimes is the beauty of backpacking.

Backpacking is something I haven't done before. I am learning and reading how to get yourself organized enough. I am still trying to eliminate piles of clothes that I would usually throw into rolling suitcase. Here everything is going on my back (which often likes to show it's not so pleasant side on trips), and it's not very big. I think being a girl brings a new realm of challenge for a traveler, we just tend to need more things, from blow dryer to mascara:). I have also I think visited all the sports stores in the vicinity of Boston, from CitySports to REI. I've learned that they are by far not the cheapest place to shop. Finding a pair of hiking pants around this season turned out to be much more difficult than one would have thought. Everything is sold for the winter, so skiing pants are available in all colors possible, but not hiking pants ofcourse. Teva sandals is another story, I gave up and decided that maybe it's better to purchase that stuff in Thailand afterall.

These last fall days in Boston and it's raining out. I realize it's going snow when I am going return back. My car is going be covered in sticky ice. However, it's great to think about going away somewhere warm for now (not to think about the snow). The yellow leaves are almost all gone. Piles of them were blown away by the cleaning truck this morning. The hustle of daily routine life in this city will soon be replaced with racing from a place to a place with not concrete itenary (except Tokyo and Hong Kong)...

The last piece of equipment that I am waiting for is my replaced lense..Besides all the excitement of travel, I hope to share many fun and interesting pictures of city life and nature, like this one in Boston Garden:

Are we there yet?:)