Blogs from Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan, Asia

Savoteur: There is culture shock, and then there is culture shock. Many travelers confess that adventures in European countries don’t scratch their itch of wanting to feel truly in a different world. Luckily, Tokyo, Japan, fits that bill quite nicely. From the neon lights to the history to the bizarre examples of modern technology, a trip to Tokyo is genuinely one-of-a-kind, making it a no-brainer place to visit for two weeks. Yes, I agree with Saboteur, Europe is too much like the US. After all, our country is a reflection of Europe, at least in its origin and founders. Japan, and countries in the Asian corner of the world present a very different culture, cuisine, and people. And I just realized most of the travel websites are quite Euro-centric. Just a guess on my part, but ... read more

It all starts with a story about two men in a boat… It begins on the morning of March 18, 628 AD when the brothers Hinokuma Hamanari and Takenari caught a small golden statue of the Buddhist bodhisattva Kannon in their nets while fishing in the Sumida River. They tried to drop it back in the river, but it kept coming up so they decided to keep it. When they returned to the village, they showed it to one of the chieftains, Haji no Nakatomo who, being a devout Buddhist, understood what it was, and built a temple to house it. In 645, a famous Buddhist priest named Shokai came to the area. He built – well, he had laborers build – a grand temple to the bodhisattva Kannon. He also decided to hide the statue ... read more

Our record was 16. It became something of a game after a while. Riding on any of Tokyo's train systems, we would count the number of passengers on the opposite side who were engrossed in their particular device of choice. It's a modern day syndrome of the west, people strolling around with a phone permanently clasped in their palm. Tokyo has taken the concept to a new dimension with locals of all ages sporting devices that have morphed into something appearing to be surgically attached to the hand. Tokyo is a veritable Planet of the Apps. This phenomenon is a metaphor for the techno society that is Tokyo. In the streets, neon is king. The colours, flashing lights and animated, uniformed efficiency made us feel like an extra in an Astro Boy cartoon. This post 21st ... read more

8.11. Dumaguetesta Manilan kautta Hong Kongiin Lähdin vilkutellen kentälle pankkiautomaatin kautta, koska osa jäi vielä maksamatta Liquidiin. Olin säätänyt siten, että selviän kahdelle ATM nostolla, 10 000 pesoa per nosto eli maksimi. No eka nosto oli sitten 100 pesoa vaikka hakkasin siihen viisi nollaa. Kaksi viimesistä taisi sitten olla desimaaleja. No olin kentällä hyvissä ajoin ja otin vielä kahvin terminaalin ulkona olevassa baarissa. Sisällä kentällä ei ollut yhtään mitään. Kun lento oli alkanut, niin olin tosi huolissani. Mun kädet puutuivat täysin ja ihoa alkoi kihelmöimään ja mua nukuttamaan. Laskeutuessa mun oikea jalka(jossa joku tulehdus) alkoi ihan kunnolla jomottamaan. Ihon kihelmöinti ja unisuus ovat ensimmäiset lievät oireet sukeltajantaudista. Pelästyin ihan kunnolla vaikka kaiken pitäisi olla pinta-aikojen suhteen kunnossa. Kai se on kuitenkin myös yksilöllistä. Pääs... read more

We spent the afternoon wandering around the Asakusa Temple area - really fantastic on a Saturday afternoon! Lots of people and lots of things to see.... read more