Finally in Indonesia

I've actually been here for a week. But high speed internet in Jakarta is somewhat non-existent...and thus its kinda hard to babble. But I've been enjoying my time here with big sis and fam.

So i'll still write for the meantime, internet permitting :) We are off to Bali this Thursday!

Japanese Fashion - from the traditional to the eccentric

Gay or Japanese?

Unless you're Japanese, you really don't have an excuse to wear a man purse.

Red light doesn't mean green!

If the light is red but it takes 5 steps to cross the street (and not mention no cars around), you better believe they will wait until that walking man turns green. They are much more civilized than that. They're not part of the 3rd world...they're not in (insert your local city).

My endorsed drink for the day is...

CALPIS! This is one of my personal favorite drinks in Tokyo (actually, you can buy them in the States too.... but they just changed the name from Calpis to Calpico...don't know why). Anyway, when in Tokyo, try it!

Extinct Geishas?

Rumor has it Geishas and um, ninjas too... are apparently fading away in Tokyo. Bummer!

Open air Sauna

Tokyo in late July. Looks like typhoon season... in my shirt.

Tokyo is budget friendly!

If all you do is eat, sight see, and stay in a hostel... then you don't have anything to worry about if you are trying to do Tokyo on a budget.

You can find a hostel around $20/night (I stayed at Oak Hostel near the Ueno station)
You can find a good meal for 450-800 yen (around $4.50 to $8)... or if you want to go super cheap, you can go to any convenience store (7/11 or Sunkus and the likes) and get a bento box lunch or sandwich for around $3. NOT BAD!

Japanese tourists in... Japan

It's like they majored in Photography with a minor in Tourism.

Super Kawaii Clean

Tokyo is by far the cleanest city I've ever been (be in Singapore later). Though the funny thing is that it is really hard to find trash cans on the streets as I often find myself walking around with my trash for hours until I finally find a disposal. Regardless, the city is spotless. The Japanese (err, Asians in general... so a disclaimer to those who are looking for Asian roommates) take their shoes off at home. But walking around Tokyo, it looks they even walk without their shoes off outside.

When in the Metro...

you're either on your cell (the same kind of flip phone every Japanese people have) texting/playing games/or watching anime or on your Nintendo DS. Talking to each other is overrated.

LOOK... FREE BIKES!!

When you can trust your own people, you wouldn't feel the need to chain your bike to the ground. Hmm....must be nice.

Japanese men are not short.... anymore

Despite popular belief in the States that Japanese (men in particular) are short, I am proud to confirm on behalf of my Asian brothers :) that is no longer true. The newer generation are much taller. Actually, it seemed like the average height of this newer generation are taller than the Westerners. So... capsule hotels or Japanese sleeping inside of drawers (watch Kramer on Seinfeld convert his apartment to a hotel because he has a few drawers...) may be going out of style.

Last day in Japan town

Sunday, August 2nd 2009

This is my last day in Tokyo. Before I left, David and I went for breakfast for the last time in Asakusa. Seriously cannot believe how time went by so fast.

My cousin, who I haven’t seen since I was little shorty, picked me up from the hostel and spent the remaining day with her and her family. I had such a great time with her and it was so great to catch up after not seeing each other for so long. I also met her kids who are half Japanese (they look more full Japanese, I cannot see a hint of Filipino in them)! Anyway, we had a nice lunch in Asakusa again and later in the evening had sushi in one of the local restaurants in Chiba (a nearby city just outside of Tokyo). I’ve been eating mainly noodles the whole entire week I’ve been in Tokyo so I was definitely pumped to finally eat sushi from the motherland of all sushi’s. And it was TRÉS BON! VERY VERY GOOD! The sushi’s definitely taste better here… though not sure if that’s all psychological (of being in Japan and therefore it has to taste better) or not. In either case, they were amazing! Plus the ambiance may have done a part of that amazing experience. We ate dinner by sitting on a matt with a short table – vintage Japanese style!


So this is it for Japan. I’ll keep you posted on my rest of my time here in Asia. Leaving for a 7hr flight to Singapore tomorrow…then later off to another 1h30 flight Singapore to Jakarta!

Sayonara and Arigato Gozaimashita!

Saturday, August 1

It’s Saturday already? Seriously, didn’t I just leave Chicago? It’s hard to imagine that I only have two days left here in Tokyo (actually, it’s really one because tomorrow I’ll be spending the whole day with my cousin outside of Tokyo). Time is sprinting and I’m just crawling.

Since I’ve arrived, I’ve been searching for the older side of Tokyo…away from the modern and crazy side of it. I think I’ve given up on spotting a geisha (I’ve learned that you see more of them in Kyoto, and not in Tokyo). Sure there are random women wearing kimonos with the thong sandals and all, but its not quite the same effect as wearing a full blown geisha attire with the make up and all that hair accessories. Sadly, that’s still the image of Japan the US advertises (check the cover of lonely planet of Japan).

I was advised to go to Yanaka cemetery to see an “older Tokyo.” Besides the cemetery, there were plenty of houses with traditional Japanese architecture and temples. Funny story… I went into one of the temples and it had a sign that said “No Shoes” just on the outside by the entrance. But next to the sign was this stand where I thought you leave your shoes. But since there was nobody around me, I didn’t really have anybody to ask questions. So I went in and took pictures inside (Big giant Buddha in the middle and vintage Japanese interior)… only for a guy to come out of nowhere and ask me to step out as the place was private. Hmm, no wonder I was the only person there…but then again that sign “no shoes” would only make you naturally think that it is OK to go in once the shoes are off…right? And then to make things even more awkward, there were a group of old Japanese people waiting outside taking pictures (with the peace signs and all) by my shoes…and they were laughing. They told me that I was not supposed to leave my shoes by that stand as that is the place where you “make offerings” or put money in. I’m pretty sure they were laughing for a good couple minutes…which really seemed like an eternity. All I wanted to do then was put my shoes on, bow at them, and run away.

Then later that night I went to the infamous Harajuku area of Tokyo where the kids look like they dressed or put make up on in the dark. But it’s cool. I love how off-beat and modern they look…it’s not something I’m used to seeing. And finally it hit me in the metro that Japanese men wear man purses. A man purse on the shoulder while they play their Nintendo DS.