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Published: August 16th 2006
We Walk Alike, We Talk Alike
My cousin Emma and I before meeting everyone else at the train station.Konnichi wa!
I hope you aren’t all getting sick of receiving e-mails saying that I have created another entry on this goofy blog. For those of you who are tired of reading my ramblings, feel free to do what my brother does and simply scroll through the pictures! For the few of you who have the energy and time to be listen to my latest adventures, please enjoy.
Last weekend I contemplated sleeping in for the first time since being here but I resisted that urge and instead got up on Saturday morning to see another area of Tokyo. I jumped on the local train and headed into the Akihabara district of the city. The area is known as “Electronic Town” because it is home to blocks and blocks of massive department stores that have floor after floor of computers, digital cameras, robots, and anything else that you can plug in. The thing that amazed me even more than the equipment in the stores was the staff. The salespeople where incredibly aggressive; many had megaphones and were standing on stools shouting about the deals that their corner had to offer. The reason I was so caught-off-guard by this is that every
The Girls
There they are . . . aren't they beautiful? other store or shopping area I had been to so far was full of subdued and polite employees who never seemed interested in selling you anything you didn’t ask for. Even when walking outside on the streets of little stores the employees would stand outside the door hollering about the deals inside while handing out flyers and pointing at the guy they had dressed up as a big laptop dancing a “crazy” dance because their prices were “Crazy Low!”
The next morning Jen, Emma, and I met a group of our buddies from ASIJ and headed into Harajuku (another district of Tokyo). This was a trip I was very much looking forward to because it meant that I was finally going to be able to meet the famous Harajuku Girls. Basically they are these teenagers who dress up in bizarre outfits and stand on a bridge all day looking angry. I was looking forward to seeing them even before I got to Japan because it was one of my top goals to get my picture taken with them and to see what it took to make them smile. Let me just say that the Harajuku Girls did not disappoint.
After
No Thanks
Am I going to go drink out of that public fountain? No, I am not. we spent the afternoon looking around the city and going to some cool shops, I went with my buddy Riki to go to some speedboat races. This is Riki’s fourth summer here in Japan and he knows a lot of cool stuff to do that most tourists never see. The boat races we went to are in this area called “Amusement Paradise.” The name is a little misleading; I wouldn’t call it “Paradise” so much as I would call it “Blocks of Gambling and Smoke.” The boat place was very cool. It was full of older Japanese guys who apparently make their living betting on these races. After only about an hour and a half there, I was up 700 yen and decided to quit while I was ahead.
So, another exciting weekend in Tokyo. I think I could probably spend a year here and still do something new each week. Soon I’ll tell you about how I spent my last weekend on this island.
Until then,
PEACE
Travel Tip For The Complete Dumbass #6
"Do not attempt to be funny while talking to someone who does not speak your language.” Sure, it may seem like a good idea
The Place To Be
Where all the excitement happens. to crack a few jokes to the angry Harajuku Girls but after several minutes of stone cold stares, it is not worth it.
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Mom
non-member comment
Oh Matt
That crazy sense of humor of yours!!!!!