Thursday, February 26, 2009

better late then never!!

Ok...so we never did talk about Tokyo on here. We have shared many Tokyo stories at this point in one on one moments, but it is only proper to finish off this blog right!
We got into Tokyo in the evening, and had to take the train into the city, as a cab would have run us 300 US$$$!!! I kid you not! The train took forever and I was anxious to just get to our final destination.
From the train station we did take a cab to our Ryokan, and I have to say my first feeling of Tokyo was how I feel when I get into NYC. Its massive and bustling, and there are buildings everywhere. Now, I know you all know that already, but after being in Indonesia for so long, lounging on beaches and not seeing anything built higher than two stories, you could imagine how overwhelming Tokyo would feel.
We got to our Ryokan somehow, as we really hard a hard time communicating with our driver, although I have to say he was patient, and we made it. A Ryokan is a traditional Japanese guesthouse, and the cheapest way for us to stay there. Did I mention that Tokyo is expensive??!?!! For a mere 80 US$ a night {that was our entire daily budget by the way} We had our own lil, and I mean lil room. The room consisted of bamboo floor mats, two twin size futons on the floor to be pushed together for our bed, a t.v. with about five whacked out channels of kooku crazy Japanese entertainment, a tea set, and a funny teeny tiny bathroom where the sink literally only came up to just above my knee!!! The place was silly, but we were cozy enough, and there were no wild massive spiders in there, so I was happy!!
Jonathan's mom put her magical researching skills to use to help us find that place, and thank goodness. The options of places to stay in Tokyo is abundant and very expensive. We were very lucky to only pay 80$ a night, and to have the restroom be a part of our room.. Most Ryokans have a shared bathroom down the hall..and you all know how I feel about that!! hahha.
For me, one of my # 1 plans for Tokyo was FASHION!!!! I planned on coming back to America with some fantastical avant garde pieces..zztzttz. Well. I had been told over and over again by people and guide books that unless you are teeny tiny you will not be able to fit into anything. I decided that that information was stupid, and I was determined I would fit in something. WRONG! I am like an amazonian alien in Japan!! What was I thinking? I attempted to try on a couple of pieces and every time I could not squeeze an inch of me into any look!!! It was ridiculous, and to be quite frank, I was quite upset about it. All the day dreaming I had done over fashion in Tokyo was crushed with every look I would get from the immaculately minuscule sales girls and boys as they gave me a look like why am I even trying??!! Its true though. Japanese males and females are so small it almost doesn't make any sense. I began to wonder where their innards went? Their bodies are are just so petite!!! Seriously, Jonathan and I were gigantic!!!
Needless to say I did not come home from Tokyo with a dream bag full of garments to die for, but I did buy the only thing my mammoth limbs would fit into and that was two pairs of leg warmers, and I love them.
We were only in Tokyo for six days, and we barley scratched the surface. The major problem for us is that Tokyo is so expensive, and its a very hard city to crack no matter what, but without the funds to get you everywhere you want to be, its not easy. After being in extreme detrimentally hot climates for so long, Tokyo was frigidly cold to us. We went out everyday and wandered our way all over that city, but it was tough with how cold it was. All that being said, I think we would both love to go back to Tokyo with a pocket full of never ending $$ and in the spring or summer!!
One thing I appreciated about the people in Tokyo was their sense of style. Everyday on the trains I got to people watch real Tokyoites. I was impressed. Everyone, men, women, children had a look, and were stylized and super sharp. People really seem to take the extra care into presenting themselves and I love that. The surgical face masks killed me though. They are also worn by everyone, and I have to say at first I did not get it, because I was thinking if you are going to be that much of a germaphobe, then why aren't they wearing gloves as well, think of all the germs on train handles and what not, or even a bubble suit for that matter!!! hahah. But I learned later from Cathy {Jonathan's mom, who has been to Tokyo} that the masks are not to keep you from getting germs, but rather they are worn by people who have a cold, so that they will not spread the germs. Whatever the case..it looks funny and weird.
As far as food goes..forget about it if you are a vegetarian!! Jonathan was in love with the noodle house's where you go in, pick a picture on the vending machine that looks good, pay the machine, then you sit and within minutes a steaming hot bowl of mystery ramen/soba noodle soup appears in front of you. This was a fine option for him, but I could not order mystery soup, as everything comes with creepy meat in it. Speaking of vending machines though. They are everywhere, and you can get all sorts of stuff from them, including delicious warm drinks, and beer and whiskey!! Yes, I am telling the truth. Anyone can go to a vending machine and get whiskey..gross!!
Ok...I guess that's a good warm up on Tokyo. I will make sure we get some pictures up from our last stop, and maybe Jonathan will write a lil something too!!
xoxoxo
Alicia Claire