Japan Airlines recently started a direct Tokyo -> Boston flight... The day before I flew home! Awesome! The best part was the new 787 Dreamliner. It's still a 13 hour flight, which sucks, but if you have to be on a long flight, the 787 is the place to be. For me, the best part is that they can up the humidity, which for me is usually the worst part of flying.
The wings also flex a ton on this plane. Interesting view.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Mama, I'm Coming Home
Well, last night in Japan. I love Tokyo, but I'm really looking forward to seeing my own bed again.
Today started off with some wandering around Ueno, eventually having lunch at a great noodle shop with Ko-san (where I actually got Tonkatsu!) After that, it was back to the hotel for a bit of reading / procrastinating, then packing. Packing was not fun as my suitcase was pretty much full when I arrived, and I bought a ton of clothes (Japanese clothes fit me SO well!) Luckily, I managed to fit everything in though! Gonna be a heavy bag to lug around, but shouldn't be too bad. I'm a little nervous about getting to the airport tomorrow as I'll be leaving around rush hour. Will probably leave a little earlier just to make things easier for me. Which is easier to say at 8pm the night before, and not at 7am the day of. It'll all work out.
The hardest part of spending a month here was the lack of interaction with people. Since I wasn't working with a particular group at work, there was no clear channel for making friends. I completely lucked out becoming friends with Ko-san, from the hotel, about which I'm quite happy. If I was actually working with a group I think I would have been able to expand the circle of friends a bit and had it be more of a normal life. But this month was still amazing and I'm very happy. Not looking forward to traveling tomorrow, and frankly I'd rather just get it over with. The night before is always a pain for me, as it's spent waiting for things to start. Tough to just enjoy the last night, but I'll try.
Today started off with some wandering around Ueno, eventually having lunch at a great noodle shop with Ko-san (where I actually got Tonkatsu!) After that, it was back to the hotel for a bit of reading / procrastinating, then packing. Packing was not fun as my suitcase was pretty much full when I arrived, and I bought a ton of clothes (Japanese clothes fit me SO well!) Luckily, I managed to fit everything in though! Gonna be a heavy bag to lug around, but shouldn't be too bad. I'm a little nervous about getting to the airport tomorrow as I'll be leaving around rush hour. Will probably leave a little earlier just to make things easier for me. Which is easier to say at 8pm the night before, and not at 7am the day of. It'll all work out.
The hardest part of spending a month here was the lack of interaction with people. Since I wasn't working with a particular group at work, there was no clear channel for making friends. I completely lucked out becoming friends with Ko-san, from the hotel, about which I'm quite happy. If I was actually working with a group I think I would have been able to expand the circle of friends a bit and had it be more of a normal life. But this month was still amazing and I'm very happy. Not looking forward to traveling tomorrow, and frankly I'd rather just get it over with. The night before is always a pain for me, as it's spent waiting for things to start. Tough to just enjoy the last night, but I'll try.
Friday, April 20, 2012
More pics around Minami-Senju
Just more wandering today, not looking for anything in particular. I really like the random color I see in some of the parks, or often just blossoms in someone's yard somewhere.
Here is the new Tokyo Sky Tree tower. Unfortunately, it's opening next month, so I can't go up. It's taller than the Tokyo tower. Pretty ugly, but tall. This is the view from just down the road from the hotel. Kind of a monstrosity.
Here is the new Tokyo Sky Tree tower. Unfortunately, it's opening next month, so I can't go up. It's taller than the Tokyo tower. Pretty ugly, but tall. This is the view from just down the road from the hotel. Kind of a monstrosity.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Asakusa
Today I went to Asakusa. It is an older area of Tokyo and is very (VERY!) touristy. The rickshaw drivers are a little aggressive (but polite!) in trying to get you in the carriages, but hey, it's how they make a living so you can't fault them. You've got to admire their stamina, pulling those things around all day. Amazing.
Again mostly posting without comment.
There were several groups of school kids here. I think their field trips are better than ours. The Museum of Science is cool, but not Asakusa cool.
I forget the company which owns that... sign? logo?... but it's kind of iconic. It's very visible from the Yamanote line. I really like how the red posts contrast with the gray pavement. And the large gold poop.
Again mostly posting without comment.
There were several groups of school kids here. I think their field trips are better than ours. The Museum of Science is cool, but not Asakusa cool.
I forget the company which owns that... sign? logo?... but it's kind of iconic. It's very visible from the Yamanote line. I really like how the red posts contrast with the gray pavement. And the large gold poop.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Nikko Day Trip
Nikko is a small mountain town north of Tokyo (though not so far north as to be affected by the Fukushima disaster, luckily. At least, that's what I'm told, and it seemed that way.) The trip took about 2.5 to 3 hours by train, and was so worth it. Very beautiful view along the way, and the hot spring is on top of a mountain with a great view. The weather held up, with just a light rain, so that was nice.
Thanks to the lovely Ko-san for arranging this and for showing me around!
Most of these pics will be posted without comment, aside from providing a general context.
These are on the train from Kita-senju to Nikko. Some are blurry. Some are decent. Some are sideways (I didn't edit anything before posting.) In some you can see the reflection of the window.
I especially like how you can see the changing scenery, from pretty flat farmland (though with quite small plots) to mountainous. Also, there are cherry blossom trees planted all over the place. Sometimes there will be a stand, and sometimes just one or two, in striking contrast to the mostly green scenery.
And we arrive in Nikko!! I think it looks like any small mountain town in New Hampshire, just with more Japanese / Chinese writing!
First we visited a beautiful shrine about a 5 minute bus ride from the Tobu Station (above). Very quiet, with lovely trees. A very pleasant walk through the woods.
Ko-san tells me that the writing on these shows the name of the makers, and it seems like they're relatively new. But they look old, so that's good enough for me.
Next, it was off to the hot springs! Me, naked, in a large tub with a half-dozen old Japanese business-men, similarly naked. Kind of an unremarkable Wednesday afternoon... No pictures from the actual spring, though, for obvious reasons. Those being 1) the moisture, and 2) we were all naked. Living the dream here in Tokyo. Sadly, there were no co-ed springs, so, just me and the guys. Oh well.
I spent a bit of time in the sauna, then onto the indoor spring. As there was a brief, light rain, I only spent about 5 minutes in the outside tub before heading back in.
These pics are from the waiting area outside the spring. 6th floor, on a hill. Nice view.
There is a little path down to that pond, which is actually a Koi pond! The fish follow you from side to side, as they're conditioned to expect food to be thrown in. Having no food, there were some disappointed Koi that day. Sorry, fish.
Now on the ride back to Tokyo.
The ghost in the window there is Ko-san! Look at those cheeks! She wasn't happy about showing up here, and kept trying to shift her position so as to not be in the pics. She failed, and eventually hoped over to the seat next to me instead.
These trees were planted several hundred years ago by a famous Japanese General (who lived in Nikko). The trees extend for 34 kilometers! That's quite an undertaking, but less impressive when you consider the fact that he wasn't exactly out there planting himself. It's amazing what you can accomplish when the surfs do all the work.
Thanks to the lovely Ko-san for arranging this and for showing me around!
Most of these pics will be posted without comment, aside from providing a general context.
These are on the train from Kita-senju to Nikko. Some are blurry. Some are decent. Some are sideways (I didn't edit anything before posting.) In some you can see the reflection of the window.
I especially like how you can see the changing scenery, from pretty flat farmland (though with quite small plots) to mountainous. Also, there are cherry blossom trees planted all over the place. Sometimes there will be a stand, and sometimes just one or two, in striking contrast to the mostly green scenery.
And we arrive in Nikko!! I think it looks like any small mountain town in New Hampshire, just with more Japanese / Chinese writing!
First we visited a beautiful shrine about a 5 minute bus ride from the Tobu Station (above). Very quiet, with lovely trees. A very pleasant walk through the woods.
Ko-san tells me that the writing on these shows the name of the makers, and it seems like they're relatively new. But they look old, so that's good enough for me.
Next, it was off to the hot springs! Me, naked, in a large tub with a half-dozen old Japanese business-men, similarly naked. Kind of an unremarkable Wednesday afternoon... No pictures from the actual spring, though, for obvious reasons. Those being 1) the moisture, and 2) we were all naked. Living the dream here in Tokyo. Sadly, there were no co-ed springs, so, just me and the guys. Oh well.
I spent a bit of time in the sauna, then onto the indoor spring. As there was a brief, light rain, I only spent about 5 minutes in the outside tub before heading back in.
These pics are from the waiting area outside the spring. 6th floor, on a hill. Nice view.
There is a little path down to that pond, which is actually a Koi pond! The fish follow you from side to side, as they're conditioned to expect food to be thrown in. Having no food, there were some disappointed Koi that day. Sorry, fish.
Now on the ride back to Tokyo.
The ghost in the window there is Ko-san! Look at those cheeks! She wasn't happy about showing up here, and kept trying to shift her position so as to not be in the pics. She failed, and eventually hoped over to the seat next to me instead.
These trees were planted several hundred years ago by a famous Japanese General (who lived in Nikko). The trees extend for 34 kilometers! That's quite an undertaking, but less impressive when you consider the fact that he wasn't exactly out there planting himself. It's amazing what you can accomplish when the surfs do all the work.
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