Big Adventures, Little World

Here I was like a sucker paying to use the Internet at the hostel when I worked out this morning they had their own wireless network, with the security details posted on the wall. So all I had to do was put them into my phone and voila, Internet on my phone out the front of the hostel while I enjoyed my glass of orange juice!

The time came for me to grab some food from the convenience store, this time I chose AMPM. Had a bit of a look and not being able to read what a lot of it was, I settled for sandwich which looked like chicken, egg and salad, and a drink of Vitamin Water.

I once again proved that I was in fact the Subway Master by catching and changing trains to get to Ueno Station, where I was to catch the Shinkansen. I found my way to the ticket booth, and told the lady where I wanted to go, in JAPANESE! Thanks to the help of Belinda’s instructions. So I had my ticket and began to navigate my way to the platform following the instructions and signs everywhere. After going down and escalator which went for 2 whole minutes, then down another one, I was at the platform. So I grabbed a few drinks from the vending machine and waited.

The Shinkansen arrived and I jumped on, ate my sandwich, which turned out to be pork not chicken, and settled in for the ride. I took some photos out the window and just looked around before eventually arriving at Nagano station about an hour and a half later.

Being that Belinda wouldn’t be able to pick me up until after she finished school, I walked around for a while, until it started to rain. Although it was a nice relief from the 30 degree heat and humidity, I didn’t really want my bags getting soaked. So I headed to Starbucks, got myself a mango passionfruit frappacino and double chocolate donut which is where I write this from now. Belinda will be here soon an I’m super excited! So until next time…

Today began about 9.30am which seemed like a good time to get up after some much needed rest. I headed for the shower and got myself ready before sitting down for a while to study the subway maps and Belinda’s recommendations for the day.

I headed out for the day about 10.30 to the subway station where to get to Akihabara (Tokyo’s technology mecha), I needed to catch 3 trains, according to Belinda. Once I got to the station though I wasn’t too sure and headed to the ticket booth to get some help. After some pointing and running off the station names of what I wanted to do, the ticket man told me to catch just one train, and then Akihabara was only a 5 minute walk away. This would have been the case if I didn’t walk to far, and that wouldn’t have been the case if I had a street map instead of just the subway map. It didn’t matter though, I was enjoying walking the streets of Tokyo, (but not enjoying the 31 degree heat and high humidity) and just looking around, marveling at what Tokyo has to offer, and just how different it is.

Not 2 minutes of walking after leaving the subway station, I had walked 2 McDonald’s, 1 Burger King, and just about every second store being another variation of a convenience store. After a bit of walking I found a map near a train station and worked out the right way I should have been heading, and found my way to Akihabara, in particular, Yodabashi. The ticket man was right! Yodabashi is a giant electronics store with everything you can ever think of and more. It has 7 stories of different electronic and other products, with the 8th floor full of restaurants.

I looked around at all the different things, from mobile phones, to computer hardware and accessories, iPods & other MP3 players, to digital cameras, to game consoles, to TV’s, watches, sunglasses, household appliances and much, much more! I spent a good couple of hours wandering the floors, checking out what I want to buy when Belinda and I return there before I leave.

One of the most amazing things I saw there was a 103 inch Full HD plasma TV. That’s right, 103 inches! It was insane, but at about 900000 yen, or $90000 Australian, who could afford it? The thing was that big, you’d may as well have your own movie theatre!

After finding Akihabara, I had some newfound confidence in using the Subway system, so I decided to head to Asakusa, home of the Senoji Temple and a shopping district. First off, I grabbed a Teriyaki burger meal at McDonald’s (which was much better than any of the burgers we have in Australia), and after that, headed to the Subway station.

The more I used the Subway, the easier it got! I had my ticket and was at the platform, then on the train in no time. I checked out the Senoji temple, where a nice couple from El Mehico (Mexico for those who don’t know) took my photo in front of it. I looked around the temple for a bit, but it seemed familiar, or similar to the many temples I saw on my last visit here. So I started to walk around the shopping district, and it was just huge. All kinds of shops, it was just an experience walking through it all.

By this stage my legs were getting tired so I thought I would head out to Harajuku (like in the Gwen Stefani song) because it is apparently where all the cool kids hang out, so what better place for me to be? I got on the Subway with no problems and even managed to have a little nap on there without fear of missing my stop. I had become a Subway master! The Subway went to Shibuya, not too far away from Harajuku according to the Subway map, but I don’t think I found it. Shibuya was crazy busy though, people everywhere, and it was a younger crowd of people too, so I assume it was close. I went for a walk in most directions where all the people were, and saw some people that may have been Harajuku girls, but not completely sure.

I headed back to the hostel where I had a bit of a rest, then a shower, and then had some dinner before laying down again to end another day. (After writing this that is).

Tokyo is nothing like any city in Australia. That is evident before even leaving Narita Airport! Both flights, Adelaide to Melbourne & Melbourne to Tokyo had no problems and I arrived safely. Got a couple of hours sleep to go with the 2 hours I had the night before, so I should have been feeling pretty tired. But with all the excitement I was going strong. After getting through customs and picking up my bag I found the place to rent a Japanese SIM card to keep in touch with Belinda. After about a half hour of the people at the shop changing settings on my phone, it eventually worked, on which I immediately called Bel to her joy, (possibly due to the wine she was drinking, and spilling).

From there I began the daunting task of navigating my way on to the Japanese rail system. See the map below to see if you can work it out. Luckily, Belinda had written me some instructions, and with a few SMS’s and some help from the station attendants, I got onto the right train, and was heading in the right direction.

This would be even simpler if I only had to catch one train, but no, I had to catch 3! And with only a few minutes between changing trains, and me not too sure on what I was doing, I think I missed all the ones Belinda had told me to catch. This wasn’t a problem though as the trains run fairly constantly. It just resulted in me eventually getting to the hostel some 5 hours after the plane had touched the ground!
So I checked in at the hostel about 12:15am Japan time and headed for my room and straight to bed, where I fell asleep for some much needed rest for big day of more train changing and touristy things.

Last night I had some friends gathering in the shed out the back to see me before I leave for Japan on Monday. By no means was it a big night but it was still a great night, with great friends. With a patio heater out there to keep us warm, a couple of drinks here and there, and some food and lollies, it was excellent to catch up with everyone before I leave. Although I will be back in 3 weeks, any excuse for a party right? Now I can have another when I get back.

So big thank yous to all who came, and to all who didn’t, will have to catch you when I get back! See you in 3 weeks, I’m outta here!

The past 5 days I have spent on the Sunshine Coast visiting my Dad and doing some work for him. What a great time I had while I was there, with great weather, great food and my step brother and sisters to spend it with, how could I not.

The first couple of days I spent getting the work done for Dad which was the main reason for my trip. Then, once I had that done I could relax and party.

Friday night began with a bottle of scotch between me and Emily, which was finished before 9pm, before we had even left to go out. So we knew it was going to be a good one. Headed down to the Sunshine Coast RSL we’re we drank some more, met a lot of Emily’s friends before later on when we apparently headed on down to the local nightclub, Tonic. I say apparently because I don’t remember leaving, but we headed off on foot, with me leading the way in a city I wasn’t too sure of. Probably not the smartest move, but we made it there without getting lost where we ended up dancing the night away before heading home in the wee hours of the morning for some much need rest. Especially as Emily had work in about 5 hours time.

Saturday night we again headed out, but with the effects of the night before still lingering we didn’t drink, but headed down the road to a 21st, where we stayed for a bit before heading out to Mooloolabaa to a place called Friday’s to meet up with some other friends of Emily’s. The crazy bright strobes and laser and people making out everywhere reminded me a bit of HQ and quite possibly needed to be drunk to be there. Nevertheless we hang around for a while, danced for a bit with Em’s crazy friends, while they tried to undress her on the dancefloor. About midnight we headed home (which is when the party life up there usually dies off anyway) to catch up on some sleep we missed out on the night before.

The rest of the time there was spent relaxing, and helping, or watching Emily as she packed her life up in boxes to move out into the big world. All in all it was a great change of scenery for me, but could have been longer.