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Leaving the airport was more of a challenge than I had expected. I covered the basics with my visit to Starbucks (to get some change for the phone really!) and booking my accomodation and transport but English was far less common than I expected in such a big city. But I suppose that's just an ignorant westerners' viewpoint. Must practise some more Japanese!!! The train journey into town was an eye opener as we passed houses with ornate tiled rooftops surrounded by rice fields. Perhaps I really will see everything that is the stereotypical view of Japan in the 2 weeks that I have planned here!!

Sun and Sushi

Coffeecat
2005-12-24 19:31:47

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popped into McDonald's (an excuse to enjoy a cold drink in air conditioning!!) I was shocked that there was smoking allowed inside!! Different culture that's for sure. Not even in England could you do that!! When I stopped into the local for my evening meal of noodles, I was told that everything hot was finished for the night, but I could have cold noodles. Cold noodles? Must try everything! Unfortunetly there was nobody else around for

me to study the correct eating procedures. I was given a plate of very unappealing noodles all stuck together and a cup of cold soup looking like watered down soya sauce. After attempting the noodles dry, the waitress informed me of the dipping procedures and I thought I was in the clear. Luckily the sauce was quite good so I was enjoying the meal. When I left however, I think the waitress was upset with me as I had dripped juice all over the place. I hadn't quite grasped the slurping noodles from the cup procedure that I have NOW mastered. 'Gotta learn somehow right?

Sometimes it's the simple things that you notice as being the most significant differences between big cities around the world. Tokyo is very clean, respectful and polite of everybody and even the taxis make note of this. The back doors will open for you to to get in and even shut behind you. The lace seat covers and gloved drivers make you feel like royalty.(yes I did end up spending too much money on one when I was afraid to miss the Kyoto bus from fear of getting lost!!!) The metro has cars that are specifically

They look a bit sad with all their tails cut off! This is where the buying look at the 'grain' and colour of the meat
designated for women only, I expect to avoid the gropage during rush hour. And everybody that's reading a book on the metro, seem to have a paper book cover-even for paperbacks!!

For my final day in Tokyo before jumping on the night bus to Kyoto, I intended to find an internet cafe to catch up. Ironic how it's easier said than done here! I could find computer shops though, and tempted myself with a small laptop. Finding cafes isn't normally a problem anywhere I've ever gone, but wouldn't it save me time and be more convenient if I were able to write down smaller entries! Hhhmmmm, we'll see. I did buy myself a new fan though, as my yen store special hadn't survived the exploding water bottle in my bag. I also purchased a face cloth to gently dab the sweat from my shiny face as the Japanese women do so often. I'm feeling quite trendy with this cloth, although at my age I never thought I'd have a Hello Kitty cloth tucked in my bag (it was the only style available then and there... really!)

I then ventured over to the Imperial Palace. The gardens surrounding the palace (that can't actually

Looks like he was once a Samarai warrier in how he holds that knife!!
be seen as it is the Royal residence) were a breath of fresh air. I had a chance to dive into my book and prepare myself for the many temples in Kyoto. I have one more day in Tokyo before flying out to Bankok, and there are a few things I'd still like to see, but I do feel like I have done it justice in just a few days.

Off to Kyoto...

(Although I'm in Bankok now typing the catch ups...shouldn't be too much longer till I can tell you how absolutely fab Thailand is!)