Hello again from Japan,
Still here in Tokyo. Still loving it. It's tirelessly exciting and, as I've said before, it feels very safe. This feeling of safety has enabled us to wander freely around town and if we get lost we just ask someone for directions. People are often initially shy, but seem to like to help a foreigner' in need. We've spent today arranging the next leg of the trip and visiting Ueno Park and the National Museum of Western Art.(http://www.nmwa.go.jp/) The building was the big draw for me in particular, as it was designed by Le Corbusier, one of my favourite architects. It lived up to all my expectations, clean concrete lines, interior glowing glass panels and airy exhibition spaces dotted with exquisite works of mainly, European art. A pleasant surprise was the use of typically Japanese building materials, such as green glazed bricks, on some exterior walls. These looked so modern and worked beautifully with the bamboo and acer trees that encircled the museum.
Last night Jo and I sat on the corner of 'Sunshine 60' Street in Ikebukuro at about 6:30, the middle of rush hour. Wave after wave of office and shop workers, students and school children were released by the little green man, over the pedestrian crossing infront of us. It was great fun to watch and we became dizzy with the movement of people heading for the local subway station. Various commonalities in apparell began to appear from the throngs passing by. Subtle uniforms were revealed, though not the school type. Jo and I agreed that the most bizarre 'group' are the young people that are obviously using fake tan ointment or a sunbed. They bleach their hair so that it appears to be orange like their skin. They wear beach vests and shorts and the girls totter around on ridiculously high white stilletoes. The whole look is reminiscent an audience on Top of the Pops circa. 1985! We later ventured into Sunshine City, a fifty storey building containing a shopping precinct where teenagers' shopping lust is satiated. The 80's look can be bought 'off the peg' but neither Jo nor I were tempted to join them in the apparent celebration of all things trashy from the past two decades. Hilarious.
More soon.
xgregandjox
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Hello again from Japan,
Still here in Tokyo. Still loving it. It's tirelessly exciting and, as I've said before, it feels very safe. This feeling of safety has enabled us to wander freely around town and if we get lost we just ask someone for directions. People are often initially shy, but seem to like to help a foreigner' in need. We've spent today arranging the next leg of the trip and visiting Ueno Park and the National Museum of Western Art.(http://www.nmwa.go.jp/) The building was the big draw for me in particular, as it was designed by Le Corbusier, one of my favourite architects. It lived up to all my expectations, clean concrete lines, interior glowing glass panels and airy exhibition spaces dotted with exquisite works of mainly, European art. A pleasant surprise was the use of typically Japanese building materials, such as green glazed bricks, on some exterior walls. These looked so modern and worked beautifully with the bamboo and acer trees that encircled the museum.
Last night Jo and I sat on the corner of 'Sunshine 60' Street in Ikebukuro at about 6:30, the middle of rush hour. Wave after wave of office and shop workers, students and school children were released by the little green man, over the pedestrian crossing infront of us. It was great fun to watch and we became dizzy with the movement of people heading for the local subway station. Various commonalities in apparell began to appear from the throngs passing by. Subtle uniforms were revealed, though not the school type. Jo and I agreed that the most bizarre 'group' are the young people that are obviously using fake tan ointment or a sunbed. They bleach their hair so that it appears to be orange like their skin. They wear beach vests and shorts and the girls totter around on ridiculously high white stilletoes. The whole look is reminiscent an audience on Top of the Pops circa. 1985! We later ventured into Sunshine City, a fifty storey building containing a shopping precinct where teenagers' shopping lust is satiated. The 80's look can be bought 'off the peg' but neither Jo nor I were tempted to join them in the apparent celebration of all things trashy from the past two decades. Hilarious.
More soon.
xgregandjox
Still here in Tokyo. Still loving it. It's tirelessly exciting and, as I've said before, it feels very safe. This feeling of safety has enabled us to wander freely around town and if we get lost we just ask someone for directions. People are often initially shy, but seem to like to help a foreigner' in need. We've spent today arranging the next leg of the trip and visiting Ueno Park and the National Museum of Western Art.(http://www.nmwa.go.jp/) The building was the big draw for me in particular, as it was designed by Le Corbusier, one of my favourite architects. It lived up to all my expectations, clean concrete lines, interior glowing glass panels and airy exhibition spaces dotted with exquisite works of mainly, European art. A pleasant surprise was the use of typically Japanese building materials, such as green glazed bricks, on some exterior walls. These looked so modern and worked beautifully with the bamboo and acer trees that encircled the museum.
Last night Jo and I sat on the corner of 'Sunshine 60' Street in Ikebukuro at about 6:30, the middle of rush hour. Wave after wave of office and shop workers, students and school children were released by the little green man, over the pedestrian crossing infront of us. It was great fun to watch and we became dizzy with the movement of people heading for the local subway station. Various commonalities in apparell began to appear from the throngs passing by. Subtle uniforms were revealed, though not the school type. Jo and I agreed that the most bizarre 'group' are the young people that are obviously using fake tan ointment or a sunbed. They bleach their hair so that it appears to be orange like their skin. They wear beach vests and shorts and the girls totter around on ridiculously high white stilletoes. The whole look is reminiscent an audience on Top of the Pops circa. 1985! We later ventured into Sunshine City, a fifty storey building containing a shopping precinct where teenagers' shopping lust is satiated. The 80's look can be bought 'off the peg' but neither Jo nor I were tempted to join them in the apparent celebration of all things trashy from the past two decades. Hilarious.
More soon.
xgregandjox
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Hello from Tokyo,
Well we managed to get a reasonably priced flight from Laos to Japan and, with the help of a japanese friend we met in Malaysia, find a guesthouse in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. The train journey from Narita Airport to town was easily negotiated with the kind help of a couple of native Japanese people and we checked into the Khaosan Guesthouse (great web-site, www.khaosan-tokyo.com). The owners, like everyone we`ve encountered in this city, have been so kind. From the bunk bed in our tiny room , I can look over the Sumida river and see the Azumabashi Bridge, (dozens of 'jet-skis' went by this morning, using the river for pleasure). The most remarkable thing about the view, is the building in the photo I've attached. 'The Flamme D'Or', designed by French architect, Phillipe Starck, for the Asahi Brewing Company. It's is an amazing, if bizarre sight, and I've taken it as a good omen that we can see this from where we're based. The room is very reasonably priced at 4500Yen a night. (200Y to the Pound ). Beer costs about 1.5 pounds a can and both of us can eat a really good noodle meal with beer for about 11quid all in! No chance of us starving or losing any weight; the portions are huge and it's impossible(or rude) to leave any. The caf市 and restaurants often have plastic food or pictures in the window which makes ordering SO mush easier.
We're only beginning to understand the scale of the city. It's huge. Yesterday Jo, me and Shin our Japanese friend, walked for hours in the humid conditions, moving from one area to another and taking in the sights of the Imperial Palace Park, Chiyoda and Ginza. Each area is distinct and different. the Ginza area, for example is an immense shopping district, specializing in expensive designer products and luxury goods from all over the world. The streets were wide, clean and the buildings were monolithic glass covered structures, topped off with neon japanee signs, that seemed blindingingly bright as it began to get dark.
The day before yesterday, we made a pilgrimage to the Bandai Museum:
(www.bandai-museum.jp/miru/g_museum/g_museum.html) It's the home of toy manufacturers Bandai. They produce toys and merchandise for such notable japanese T.V. programmes as 'The Power Rangers' and 'Gundam-Fighting Suit' and such past classics as 'Godzilla'. We did'nt feel out of place wandering around the exhibits and interacting with the lively museum staff, most of the patrons were over thirty.
The city, has so far, been quite overwhelming. First impressions are that it is a friendly city; it's clean, safe and very exciting. We are exhausted because everything is new and interesting. Even the smallest details are strangely stimulating to our western eyes. We have so much more to see and can't wait to show you and tell you about it.
All I can say is, by coming here we've made another dream come true.
xgregandjox
(www.japan-guide.com - Amazingly helpful Japan tourist web-site, with pictures!)
Well we managed to get a reasonably priced flight from Laos to Japan and, with the help of a japanese friend we met in Malaysia, find a guesthouse in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. The train journey from Narita Airport to town was easily negotiated with the kind help of a couple of native Japanese people and we checked into the Khaosan Guesthouse (great web-site, www.khaosan-tokyo.com). The owners, like everyone we`ve encountered in this city, have been so kind. From the bunk bed in our tiny room , I can look over the Sumida river and see the Azumabashi Bridge, (dozens of 'jet-skis' went by this morning, using the river for pleasure). The most remarkable thing about the view, is the building in the photo I've attached. 'The Flamme D'Or', designed by French architect, Phillipe Starck, for the Asahi Brewing Company. It's is an amazing, if bizarre sight, and I've taken it as a good omen that we can see this from where we're based. The room is very reasonably priced at 4500Yen a night. (200Y to the Pound ). Beer costs about 1.5 pounds a can and both of us can eat a really good noodle meal with beer for about 11quid all in! No chance of us starving or losing any weight; the portions are huge and it's impossible(or rude) to leave any. The caf市 and restaurants often have plastic food or pictures in the window which makes ordering SO mush easier.
We're only beginning to understand the scale of the city. It's huge. Yesterday Jo, me and Shin our Japanese friend, walked for hours in the humid conditions, moving from one area to another and taking in the sights of the Imperial Palace Park, Chiyoda and Ginza. Each area is distinct and different. the Ginza area, for example is an immense shopping district, specializing in expensive designer products and luxury goods from all over the world. The streets were wide, clean and the buildings were monolithic glass covered structures, topped off with neon japanee signs, that seemed blindingingly bright as it began to get dark.
The day before yesterday, we made a pilgrimage to the Bandai Museum:
(www.bandai-museum.jp/miru/g_museum/g_museum.html) It's the home of toy manufacturers Bandai. They produce toys and merchandise for such notable japanese T.V. programmes as 'The Power Rangers' and 'Gundam-Fighting Suit' and such past classics as 'Godzilla'. We did'nt feel out of place wandering around the exhibits and interacting with the lively museum staff, most of the patrons were over thirty.
The city, has so far, been quite overwhelming. First impressions are that it is a friendly city; it's clean, safe and very exciting. We are exhausted because everything is new and interesting. Even the smallest details are strangely stimulating to our western eyes. We have so much more to see and can't wait to show you and tell you about it.
All I can say is, by coming here we've made another dream come true.
xgregandjox
(www.japan-guide.com - Amazingly helpful Japan tourist web-site, with pictures!)
