Today I feel strangely calm and collected , Tokyo seems to have this effect.
I wander downstairs and sit and chill in the bar/meeting room , and decide to gather my thoughts. I browse the net a little , and peruse my iTouch. That's it... I can't put it off no more... I shall tackle...
SHIBUYA!!!
For those of you thinking... "What the f&*k?" .. let me explain.
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya,_Tokyo )
As it states within the link ,
Shibuya is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.
I'm tempting fate here, anyone who knows me... knows I have a rather large soft spot for shopping. *evil grin*
So off I go , once again walking through the side streets of Tokyo , crossing the red bridge... with one exception...
Today I'm wearing my Pink Reebok Pumps... yes , Pink. As I mentioned in the first blog , I made my first purchase in Harajuku. And these were them...
Tucked away nicely between the Retro Reebok sneaks... and the ever awesome Jaded Sphnix custom Converse.. are the Reebok Pumps. Limited Edition 2009 Release Reebok Pump Hi-Tops... LOL. Nuts.
So , imagine... I'm walking through quaint Asakusa , a little "ward" of Tokyo that is fairly traditional. KidRobot hat , Fluro yellow T-Shirt... White shorts ... and shoes the colour of a 16yr old virgins nipples!!! Needless to say... I looked like a tourist, oh hell yes I did.
What it DID do though , and this is something I enjoy in NZ as well, is it provided a conversation starter.
I'm standing at the lights about to cross to the subway station , when a little old Asian lady taps me on the leg with her cane , and puts at my shoes and says something in Japanese. I couldn't understand a word she said , but she smile on her face and the look in her eyes clearly meant she loved them.
I cross the road , and walk down the stairs... I pass through the gates and enter the Subway train.
I'm now PAINFULLY aware , that my shoes came with a strange ability that the shop attendant never warned me of. Basically, they attracted the stares and odd glances of everybody on the train that day. I'm sitting quietly listening to my iPod when I'm conscious of a group of school girls at the other carriage all looking at the shoes ,looking at me... then cracking up giggling. . . . . oh yes... I'm a frikken tourist right then. But , I digress...
I step off the train at Shibuya. Now girls/ladies... when I say , you would have been in paradise. I mean that... bar the lack of bronzed bodied men that you could grate cheese on their abs. This was shopping mecca. Everywhere you looked , was a label brand , or a moving billboard advertising clothes/shoes/jewelery/Hello Kitty.
I decide to walk up one of the shopping alleys in Shibuya and go explore. Shops selling everything from belts, jewelery, to hand made hats , bags , shoes , shoes , shoes , clothes... it was just craziness.
Now one thing I was pre-warned about , and I will pass that on , is that certain parts of Tokyo have a large number of African workers within the area. Shibuya is no exception. They stand on the side of the roads, and in the pedestrians alleys hounding you to come into their stores. I decided to humour one of this clowns and enter his shop. Generally speaking, these shops are tucked between two ground floor shops up 74 flights of stairs. Upon arrival of the shops, it's filled with cheap shit junk clothing that I wouldn't even let my worst enemy wear. As I went to leave , I got the..
"Hey... you gonna buy anyfink?"
"Ahh... no , there's nothing here for me sorry"
"But you came in here , so you must buy somefink"
"Umm, I don't think it works that way..."
"I give you a discount on something now that you're here"
"Nah , it's ok , I'd rather carry on thanks"
"Oh come on, we lots of nice stuff here..."
"It's not my style though , it's more for American Gangsters and white kids with something to prove..."
"Fine... go then"
The whole thing was relatively harmless , it's just the overbearing nature in which they did it. So... as a young female, if you don't wish to feel over pressured or intimated, I wouldn't bother.
So I'm walking up and down these alleys , popping into the little shopping arcades , looking at Komono's and thinking ..."Damn , they don't have my colour"... When I start to feel a little peckish.
Now shoot me for saying this , but ... I seriously could of dominated some decent Kiwi food right then. Burger Fuel would have gone down VERY well. I'm looking around and see nothing but sushi shops and little Japanese restaurants. All very nice and all... but I don't feel like rice and noodles.
I walk up the street about 5 minutes... and there it is...
A little birdy ( Amber Cadaver ) once said to me , "You must try MOS Burger". There it was , like a little glistening morsel of sumptuousness , nestled between ever disappoint rice and mung beans.
Not knowing a living thing about MOS Burger before entering , as I stand at the menu food , I suddenly realise what it is.
It's a frikken doughnut burger!!!!
Umm excuse me.... you forgot to fill the hole with meat!!! ( Of which , I'm still not confident as what sound that meat made before it was killed )
The taste of the MOS Burger. It's ok , I wouldn't say it was anything too wonderful. And the size... I know there's the whole "Size doesnt matter" arguement. It does when it comes to my food! It was rather ... umm ... 'inadequate'. So , I once again battled with poor Japanese. With a rather poorly pronounced "Arigatoh" I had a 2nd...
I'm sitting in MOS Burger using the free wireless *two thumbs up* and decide to check out what the net says about Shibuya. It tells me that over a couple of streets is the more "urban" shops. Right... that's me.
First store we come to , is just so quintessentially "urban hip" ... I almost threw up on my self at the overage of sequins...
Oh yes... Tokyo's "Ed Hardy" outlet store... so crack up. Guarded rather fiercely by two LARGE African men. I gave it a miss. I have some Ed Hardy stuff, that'll see me through.
Walking up a bit further a see something that I hadn't seen previously... graffiti. Tokyo seemed to be almost devoid entirely of any graffiti, and what I had seen , was very minimal. This though.... looked "SICK".
Ain't that the coolest!!!
Tuesday afternoon was spent mostly popping in and out of shops. Riding up and down elevators into large multi-storey shopping centres.
Then... bingo... I found it....
http://www.sanrio.co.jp/shoppinginjapan/english/shop/recommend.html
Open the link , and it'll ba apparent... I found the Hello Kitty store. Now I know many people ( generally girls ) love Hello Kitty. And I know what it is , you'd be a muppet not to be aware of what Hello Kitty is.
What I WASNT aware of , it just what is available under the "Hello Kitty" brand.
Although... be prepared to pay for it.
I did see a nicely designed Handbag... but , for 235,000Yen I decided that it wasn't a good gift idea. ( Do the math on that one yourselves )
From hair-ties , to ear-rings , to watches , to Hand-bags , Suitcases , iPods , Keyboards , to PUSHCHAIRS!?!?!?
They even had a service, where for an amount of money they could "BLiNG" an item of yours with Hello Kitty diamantes.... very bling bling.
I decided against 'blinging' my iTouch with Hello Kitty btw...
Once again , I'm pounding the footpath , eyes feasting on the colours and the sites of Shibuya.
Oh..
and the shops too...
When rounding a corner of one block of shops... I'm confronted with something I hadn't expected...
It was calling my name...
It's power was far too strong...
I was merciless against it...
Fighting it was futile...
It was 6+ floors of shoes. Sneakers and funky footwear specifically.
So, I walk in... I look around. I faint a little inside. "Mummy , is this what heaven looks like?"
Every single shoe that Nike/Reebok/Asic/Puma/Onasuka Tiger/etc etc ever released in 2008 , and now 2009 was on show... ready for me to try on.
Floor one was predominantly girls shoes... ya see , they LABELLED THEM.. "Girls" , "Boys" , or "Unisex".... awesome.
As you went through the floors, you could see this wasn't going to be easy... where to start!?...
Where to FINISH!!?!?!?
On the 4th floor, I found them... 2009 Release New Balance sneaks. Yeah , I know...
New Balance!? But... they rock!
Black sneaks, with a pink/white design on the top. Pink Stitching. Yeah baby... hawt!
I swap the Pink Reeboks for the Black New Balance and decide its getting a little late in the day , and I should maybe start heading back.
Bam...
What's that I see. Mmmmmmm... a shop dedicated to hats! Oooooh...fancy
Now, when I say dedicated to hats. Not just your normal Baseball / Trucker caps. I'm talking the fedora hats , the Andy Capp caps... all the more "funky" types.
Sitting in the shop window. A black and white Skull design cap... with a very strong Asian feel to it.
It's mine... I couldn't care the price. It's mine. Now when you read the label , it makes me giggle and wonder...
Body = 100% Linen
Part = 100% Paper
Did I just purchase an expensive piece of origami?
Meh... if I did... it looks damn cool!
So , with my new shoes... and new hat , I'm bound for the 'Smile' once again.
I'm starting to get the hang of Tokyo now. This place is huge , I cannot stress it enough. But , it's funny , they say it's sort of cut into 25 or so "Wards" which are like mini cities within Tokyo itself. It you just take each ward piece by piece , it becomes very manageable. The thing I find so overwhelming , is the sense of peace. Tokyo is full of people... everywhere you look. But when you stand still , and just watch... everywhere is just at peace with everything. People... cars... birds...
It's a very weird feeling. Throughout Tokyo , there are places where you see the old Tokyo still surviving, small old buildings , cheaply built... and they'll be nestled between looming highrise building and flashing neon lights. But they all work together... perfectly in harmony. That's sort of the feeling I got about the whole place. People are much the same , you give them courtesy and respect , and you'll get that back twice in return.
Whereever you go in Tokyo , and bikes , bikes and more bikes... most of them are simple , non flashy bikes... not like this...
But , amazingly, the large majority of these... are just left on the sidewalk , unlocked. No-one steals them, that would be disrespectful. So, street after street, mile after mile... bikes everywhere, unlocked... just tucked away off the main pedestrian area. Awesome.
One other thing I saw lots of; as you walk out of some of the restaurants , bars , clubs , etc in Tokyo , you see a little box with opaque white Umbrellas in it. We were lucky enough to find out what these were on Saturday night outside Ageha. These are public use Umbrellas... that's right... public use. You pick one up if it's raining, walk to where you want to go , and place it in the Umbrella stand ready for the next person. Now , imagine trying to implement that in Auckland... how long before there are no Umbrellas left, or something getting attacked by someone with one...
As a westerner looking in at Tokyo , it made me a little ashamed. I look at Auckland, and see that a busy Auckland CBD can be a very very pushy place. A very disrpectful place. Tokyo doesn't have that... at all... period. And it's got 12Million people...
Makes ya think a little...
I arrive back at the "Smile" ...
Sitting in the Bar are a few people you need to meet..
Chris: late 20's Melbourne Australian. Heavily into Minimal/Tech ( We along AWESOME)
Becky: The 20 somethink Margate, UK girl... this one is quite an interesting one. Looks so sweet and innocent on the outside, do NOT be fooled. This is the one that got me horribly drunk at "Ring of Fire".
Tara: The sweet young Melbourne Australian ( Best friends with Chris's GF ) ... ps: She's not that sweet really
Ed: The 20yr old American... who , is about to have one of the nights he will never forget in his life... but wishes he could...
Now... Alana ( Chris's GF ) and a guy who's name I never got... but we'll call him ( Dutch... no reason needed ) for now, were also there.
It was decided that as it was Becky's last night in Tokyo, that she needed to go out and celebrate.
We talk between us , and with a little help from the staff at the "Smile" it's decided that 'Gas Panic' in Shibuya is the best bet on a Tuesday. Yes , I know... I've just BEEN to Shibuya!!!
After a few cheap drinks at the "Smile" bar, we set off ... walking the streets of Tokyo... drinks still in hand... AYE!? It takes a while to get used to this...
A little bit up the road we bump into two of our other "Smile" buddies ... Shari and her friend...
We informed then that we were all heading out on the town , but , unfortunately they had a 5am start in the morning , so they graciously declined. ( To be honest, they were lucky )
So we're in the Subway, all sitting talking... when Chris and I notice a commotion. Ed , or (America) as he now affectionately known , is getting a little "fresh" with poor little Tara. No drama... Holland is over there quick smart diffusing the situation. Couple of minutes later "America" spills his beer all through the carriage... it's about now that any Japanese people are making themselves scarce of the area. "America" then decides he needs a cigarette and starts to light up... once again "Holland" puts a stop to that...
If that wasn't enough to make me think "This is gonna be one hell of a night..." , "America" stands up and announces he needs to go for a piss. ... What the hell , we're on a Subway train.. where!? ...
Duh! ... Between the carriages of course.
It was about no , that the rest of the group are in a state of shock , and a little concern of what the night shall bring...
We depart at Shibuya and find "Gas Panic"... we walk up the stairs, and to my dismay I find it's more pop/hip-hop than anything. But hey, it's a Tuesday night in Tokyo... WHO CARES!!!
Gas Panic has one main rule, kind of a weird one , but... it works.
You must have a drink of SOMETHING at all times. If you have an empty glass for longer than 10 minutes , you will be asked to either A:) Leave, or B:) Get another drink.
Seemed fair , so we got a round of drinks.
Chris , Tara , Alana , Becky and myself all sat round the table talking, watching "Holland" and "America" dance round the floor.
It was a little later that we're aware that "America" has decided he doesn't need his shirt , and is now topless doing the "worm" on the dancefloor. Tragic...
Throughout the course of the next few hours , drinks were consumed , shit was spun...and "America" would hover round us, head to the bar... talk shit.
It was later in the night when a bouncer came up and mentioned that one of us had stolen a stirrer from one of the cocktails. Weird... our whole table is drinking Hyptoniq and Lemonade ( My choice ... :) ). He then informs us that he say "America"... We talk to him , and he motions us to the bar...
The head barman is called "Moe" ( I Swear ) ... but , unlike the Simpsons character, Moe is of large build , and something who I suggest very strongly , when he said... "They will stab him cause he stole a stirrer and a girls drink off the bar"...
I believed him!!!
After Chris and I explained that "America" was... well... American , and the rest of us were Australian / New Zealand , he seemed to realise that "America" wasn't really "with" us...
So he got thrown out.
Seens fair doesn't it... acted like a fool... get thrown out... yeah?
But wait!!! There's more!
At one stage we decided to go have a wander and see what other bars were open. We have a quick look around and see a few places, but for one reason or another we decide to go back to Gas Panic.
We catch up with "America" who's know urinating on the side of the road, and he tags along.
We're walking down a side alley behind all the clubs, when "America" decides to jump on the back of a "VIP" Style van reversing out of the club carpark...
The next series of events just makes me giggle as I type it...
The driver got out of the van , and the next couple of minutes ended up with "America" getting beaten and chased by groups of Japanese men.
So , we're now sitting in Gas Panic ( See... we cared so much, we decided to tosst him ) wondering how "America" is doing.. when Chris goes down stairs as he can see "Holland" through the monitors and the bottom of the stairs.
They come up stairs, and it's announced that "America" has been arrested...
OH SHIT!!! In Japan... hehehe ... Fuck.
It wasn't all that much longer before Chris , Alana , and Tara decide to taxi home.
Becky and I stayed in Shibuya till 5:30am ( when the trains start again ) talking and discussing the finer points of life in the McDonalds 24/7... classy.
I don't remember much of the train ride home , suffice to say... I'm shattered.
What I do remember though , is thinking just before I drifted to sleep....
"I wonder how 'America' is?"
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