Well, predictably my flight was delayed (apparently they can`t cope with the weather in London in December - when it rains?!) As my new travelling attitude is carefree (!!!) I didn`t flinch, but spent a decent journey next to a couple intent on having the most thorough journal in the world!! Now, I have to admit that being someone who talks... alot... just in the last 2 days I have found it quite strange not being able to tell someone all the little funny things that inevitably happen - and as a result have wanted to write stuff down more than I ever would have imagined... but this girl... wrote FOUR PAGES about the flight!!! HOW?!?!
So, Tokyo... inital relief stepping off the plane - there were signs - in ENGLISH!!! Yea!!! Unfortunately, that only lasted as far as the station, but I still managed to navigate my way onto the first two trains ok... and only struggled with the third because - I swear - the instructions the hostel had provided were wrong!!! Found it eventually, and am relieved that I`m starting this whole living in squallor thing here - it`s pretty smart!!! So, fear one avoided!!!
Fear two - the guide book lied!!! It firmly stated that restaurants would have English translation next to their menu outside!!! Well... a lot of searching later - and I had found exactly two restaurants with English menus (although in their defence a few had pictures - but all consisting of dodgy chicken looking substances!!!) So... the two restaurants - one a steak house (again not much good for a vegetarian!!!) and the other an Italian!!! Haha... I settled for some corn on the cob from a street vendor!!!
Tokyo does not do street names - apparently even taxi drivers struggle to find their way around!!! Needless to say that after my traumas with the trains this morning... (not to mention major jet lag that left me at risk of falling asleep on any public transport I might risk to venture on!)... I decided on just a quiet afternoon exploring the local area and temples... It didn`t go too badly actually - after an initial dazed wandering I finally found my sense of direction(!!!) and arrived back safe and sound - ready to risk the craziness of `electric city` and other such adventures tomorrow!!!
No doubt will update you soon!!!
