Right , so on the 15th of May , I started my travels to Narita, Tokyo , by driving to the Airport at 9:15am. Why such an ungodly hour, I will never know... especially after the send off I had the night before. I get to the Airport, and check in my luggage... w00t! Underweight... ( good for shopping ). So now we have to "check-in" , where at this point , as I'm about to head upstairs to the standard check-in... my mother reminds me, I have Business Class tickets. I walk through the nice clean glass doors , talk to the lady behind the counter , and what do ya know... I'm all set. So after the goodbyes , and the tears, I board my plane...
Seat 4K, furthest seat to the right , and at the back of Business Class. Literally , the best seat in Business Class there is. Why you ask? You're closest to the door where the flight attendants come and go, you're nestled in a corner away from everyone ( it did help that 4J seat was vacant the whole flight so I had 2x seats to myself... w00t! ). Upon sitting down , I was greeted and asked whether I would like a wine / orange juice / or mineral water. I opted to be gracious and asked for the Orange Juice. Throughout the flight , we were offered breads, fruit , more wine, crackers... and numerous other nibbles. The breakfast was decent , and the dinner ( Chinese Chicken is Herbed Rice ) was absolutely awesome for ( airline food ). Surprisingly though, I got all of 1.5 hour sleep on the plane. I ended up staying up watching the movies and the TV episodes that were available from the in-flight entertainment system. I amused myself with "Gran Turino" , "Horton Hears a Who" , and "Platoon". Flying for 11 hours to Japan , you kind of get bored looking out the window, it's literally 90% clouds and water...
although...
The land masses you can see were as flew over New Caledonia and Guam.
About 2 hours later , over the speaker , we hear that we're getting ready to come into Tokyo. At this point , I think reality about ACTUALLY going to Tokyo sank in. Remember , this whole trip has been very "Fairytale-esque" for me , and with recent developments it hasn't gotten any easier.
As we come to the point where land starts getting visible ( very far in the distant ) the pilot tells us we will be going into a "Holding Pattern" ... awesome for me... I could reel off some shots of the first images of Japan I've ever seen.
How fitting... rice fields...
So we land in Tokyo, a nice easy landing... and we starting taxiing to the Terminal. We disembark, and catch our 'train' to the main terminal... it's about now I'm thinking "Fuck, this place is big".
We get to customs , and start to process through, I get through with VERY minimal hiccups , the only thing that was in any way awqward was not having pre-arranged accomodation. But , they didn't seem to mind, so off I toddled. I mosey down the escalators and pick up my luggage , turn round... and see the doors to which I must pass through to enter Japan fully... with a large "Gulp" ... and an audible... "well , here goes nothing"... I walked...
I'm now in Tokyo airport , it's 8:30pm Friday night , and I have NO accomodation sorted... right , find the nearest info booth , find out the easiest ( cheapest ) way to get to Tokyo , sorted... right , easy... Ummm... no.
Firstly , Narita Airport , is an 80minute Train Ride to Tokyo centre. Secondly, as I've got my ears perked for any signs that someone speaks English , my ears catch Daniel and Anne ( From Denmark no less ) talking to the Information Booth girls. They're deep in discussion about trying to book a room. To which the lady says , that just turning up to a hostel / motel / hotel , and getting a room , is nigh on impossible. So Daniel and I join forces to call a hostel and sort something. He has the phone number... we call... we get...
a Polish girl on the end...???
WHAT THE FUCK!?!!?!?!?!
Polish girl , who speaks bad English , in Tokyo , trying to talk English , to Danish people.... at this stage , I'm near on in hysterics at just how random the first 30minutes of Japan is going. Long story short, we're booked.... so it's now off to get the train.
80mins of Train Ride to Tokyo. This gave me time to gather my thoughts , and just soak in the sights that are wizzing past.
We get off at "Asakusa" , familiarise ourselves with just where we are... and walk up the stairs and BAM... there we are... the heart of Tokyo.
Signs EVERYWHERE... people all over the place. This next part I say literally doesn't mean it enough , and doesn't have nearly the impact it deserves... but , literally... it didn't feel/look real. It almost felt like I had walked onto a Hollywood movie set. I half expected Jackie Chan to come round the corner. Japanese Laterns lined the streets, people on bikes , people in traditional religious dress ( Not Komono's... kind of a Jacket affair ... odd.... ). It was a culture shock, but... no where near the extent I was expecting / wanting.
After a brisk 10 minute walk... we make it to my home away from home for a week...
The ASAKUSA SMILE!!
A quaint little Backpacker Hostel in I vAsakusa District....
To find "Asakusa" , find the Orange line... and follow it all the way to the top right , and you'll find "Asakusa".
I check into the place, I meet Marta , the hostel receptionist , and decide to dump my bags.
In my room I meet...
Habi : Spanish fellow from Madrid, heavily into Heavy Metal ( ha... Pun ) Speaks fuck all English
Sylvia : 27yr old girl from Austria, very very interesting person. More about her later.
It's about now that I feel I should go to sleep , weirdly , I'm not jet-lagged , just need sleep. It's 2am NZ time , so it's about normal...
Right... Saturday morning... I'm in Tokyo... what do I do... GO EXPLORE!!!
Throwing caution to the wind, and without the trusty tourist "Lonely Planet - Tokyo" book... ( I swear , it's as if they give these out at the Airport to all "Round-eyes"... every fucker has one...!!! )
Ah ha! I have a secret weapon... I have the iPod Touch. Mum , I CANNOT thank you enough for this. If anyone reading this , has plans to travel abroad, I CANNOT stress enough how helpful this has been. I downloaded 3x applications in the morning to aid me...
1.) "Find Tokyo!" : This has the entire rail/subway network map. Detailed maps of each Stations FLOORPLAN. Area maps of each Suburb within Tokyo. A directory , with maps , of all Cinemas/Clubs/Embassies/Galleries/Hotels/Major Building/Internet Sites/Shrines & Temples/etc/etc/etc. Best part of this application, it is STAND ALONE... it DOES NOT require internet connection.
2.) "JAPANESE" : Simple this , it's a Japanese phrase 'book'. Nicely laid out. "Essentials" / "Travel" / "Accomodation" / "Food and Drink" / "Activities" / "Socialising" ( my fav ) / "Shopping"/etc. Within these , it has the Japanese character version , the english version and a sound bite of each saying. VERY helpful. Once again , this DOES NOT require Internet Access.
3.) "Translator" : So freaking helpful. This one does require Internet Access. But , it does translate basically any language to any language. Well worth it.
So , armed with the trusty iPod Touch , I walk out of the Hostel , and away from Asakusa. I walk down roads lined with bright signs ( of which I cannot read any ). I decide that I'll walk from Asakusa to Akihiribara ( Electric Town ) and get me an Electrical Adaptor ( Japan to English ).
Akihibara is nuts. No other word for it. It is simply Geek central. Anything upon anything anywhere remotely related to electrical goods can be found here. From Double Adaptors , to 22" Monitors , to RCA Cabling. Streets and streets of it... nuts. I'm walking round Akihiribara around mid afternoon on a weekend , and it's busy... it's packed... but it's NOT the hussle and bussle that everyone thinks about. I will touch on this a little later.
Once I had purchased my adaptor ( $4.00NZ worth ) , I decided to brave the Tokyo Metro train line...
Standing in Tokyo Metro , is like being blindfolded , and then your whole world turned upside down. There are signs everywhere , people everywhere , noises... everywhere. It could be very disconcerting , but surprising , the Tokyo Metro is SO SIMPLE to use.
Everything is colour coded, the ticket machines all have "ENGLISH" option. And the cost... $2.63NZ for a 30min Train Ride... awesome.
After my ticket is purchased, I'm off.... I'm sitting in a train bound for "Harajuku". Oh yes, the one and only...
Sitting on the train , it's becoming very apparent how concious people are of each other. No-one bumps into each other. Everyone keeps to themselves. It is an extremely organised sense of chaos.
Once disembarked at Harajuku, I decide to prolong the excitement of Harajuku and head to Yoyoji Park to see the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Coincidentally , one thing I hadn't figured into this , is that Tokyo itself has very very few old authentic shrines / Temples , they are generally all found is Kyoto , and other cities. And , at a $400-$500NZ train ride EACH WAY , I decided to give that a miss.
Meiji Jingu shrine, is set in the middle of a Yoyoji Park , which once again.... is massive. The common theme here in Tokyo. Is just overall size ... massive. Walking through the forest you are then greeted by rather enormous "GATES". And you find the Shrine. I truly can't describe the exact feeling I got .. but if I say it was a "calmness" , that'll start to describe it. It's just amazing at seeing something so amazingly old , and with such splendor, it just calms you... it was very very weird.
After exploring all corners of Yoyoji Park , I decide to brave "Harajuku".... oh and Phloss... this is for you.
Now , Harajuku is a weird little place. It's very kitsch. It's very Boho. It's very Retro. It's fucking everything all wrapped up into one place. And that's why it's awesome. The shopping there is just phenomenal ( of which my first purchase was done ). Most importantly tho... the people. The stories of Harajuku are so true...
as can be seen here...
One thing I found a little frustrating though, is that the 'actual' Harajuku girls, and boys... the ones that put in a lot of effort , do NOT like their photos being taken. They turn away or just away from the cameras. It was at this point I decided to not press the issue , and leave it for another day...
back to ASAKUSA SMILE!!!
Once back at the Hostel, I'm getting changed and sorting things out for the week when the conversation of clubbing/nightlife comes up. Next thing ya know , I'm in the meeting room / bar of the Hostel with
Rosa:
Julia :
Amy:
The above 3 are all young Danish girls. Awesome awesome girls , very friendly , and gorgeous personalities
Ed : A 20yr old American lad from Missouri , very cocksure and funny as fuck, due to his complete disregard for "think before you speak".
Habi : The spanish room-mate
Silvia : The Austrian room-mate
Now , through my powers of persuation, after Secret Squirrelling an event flyer for the Global Underground "Darren Emerson" World Tour. We all decide to go to a club called Ageha ( www.ageha.com ). 30mins train ride , and we arrive, with camera in tow...
We pay the 3,500Yen , and I then put the camera in secure storage.. no cameras allowed... LOL. I did expect as much. And to be honest, in a way I'm glad I didn't have the camera on me. I enjoyed the night a lot more , I spoke to so many people , and just enjoyed the night more. Club Ageha is like a dream come true for a little clubbed from Auckland. 5 areas , all covered. Sound systems that just force feed bass down your ears... and best of all... a SWIMMING POOL!!! Yes, a swimming pool. Bwhahaha... I intend on owning a club one day with a pool. Just cause.. ya know. Throughout the night many drinks were consumed , many broken English conversations were had... and , the common thought I had was...
Why don't more Kiwi girls put the effort into clothes/fashion as Japanese girls do. These girls look stunning. I'm not kidding here , the eye candy was RE-DICK-YOU-LUSS!
Around 4 - 5 in the morning , we all decide it's time to catch a taxi home... wow... $87NZ Taxi... won't be doing that again!!!
Now remember... a complete photo collection is at www.aflickion.com.
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Fucking awesome flick, can't wait to read the rest!
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