Optimizing time

I still can’t believe I’m leaving in 3 days after being here for close to 3 months.  There aren’t words to express this feeling of sadness for leaving, yet a conflicting level of happiness for returning to where I call my home.  Japan has burrowed, setup living quarters, and ordered extraneous furniture in my heart.  I will never forget these beautiful days here, and I want nothing more than to come back.

My lack of writing has been evidence of how much I’ve been optimizing my time absorbing the atmosphere and hugging the ground.  I picture a little cartoon character flat on the soil trying very hard to give the Earth a big hug by wrapping his arms around the unnoticeable curvature, while at the same time, smiling with content at this unspeakable bond.

I love you, Japan.  Thank you for the wonderful time.  I’ll call you; and I’m not saying that so you won’t feel bad – I mean it with all my heart.  I promise we’ll be together again in the near future.  Don’t hold your breath for me.  Continue to sustain your family of millions, and keep up the good work with the hot looking girls.  You’ve left me satisfied so many times.  It won’t be awkward.  My tears are sweet, not salty.  The taste reminds me of our times together, which have always (and will always) leave me with a smile.  Let’s not make this any more difficult than it has to be.  Farewell.

~See Lemons Live

PS – this is not about a girl in Japan even though it’s almost convincingly enough to be

PPS – I will post more often when I find time between the beer and spirits

Harajuku and Shinjuku for an afternoon

crazy posers in harajuku

Random Observation/Comment #58: People in Harajuku are just desperate for attention; I think they’re doing it in the most disturbing way possible – these freaks that don’t care if they’re shmoiling as long as they look badass (and they do look pretty badass).

After Akihabara, RJ and I went to meet up with the rest of group for dinner. Finding someone in Harajuku is a lost cause because the streets are too busy and crowded. Everyone walking around fit into two categories: gothic freaks wearing all black/white with chains, and tourists taking pictures of gothic freaks wearing all black/white with chains. We fit into the latter category. The exit of the train station facing the street with the large crowd of people looked like a large distraction. It’s like people only walk that way because there are so many people walking that way, which makes more people walk in this vicious cycle of confused tourists looking for more rockabilly picture moments.

Instead of getting uncomfortably squashed around following the very tempting shopping path, I suggest walking towards the bridge near the performers and posers. They sit around talking about how cool they are or some shyt like that. I think they try to look as embarrassed as possible, as if this were not a regular occurrence and they’re being misunderstood in their actions. If this incorrect, please enlighten me: Why do you dress up like this and sit in a group, smiling at some pictures and hovering around in your little circles? I mean, are you talking about politics or some foreign affairs? Or would an intense conversation just ruin your image of this badass rocker or cute little maid? Please excuse my criticism and continue following this routine so others can benefit from your oh-so self-sacrificing love of the poser image. Rock on.

The zoo was entertaining for a few pictures, but we eventually moved on in the hot weather to the shrine and toris around the park. It was so hot and muggy that we had to stop half-way through the walk and grab a beer at the restaurant. “Nama o futatsu,” or “two draft beers,” became a very common saying this trip. The walk to Shinjuku was underestimated, but I did wind up buying orange juice and drinking it from a straw out of a carton. I felt pretty ghetto, but I just said, “Word life, New York status” and everything was alright. They recognized.

Shinjuku station is ridiculously big. Think of the Macy’s in the city having a train station in the middle of it. You have a 5 minute walk from one side to another and the top floor is covered in girls’ clothes. Meeting a group is quite difficult when there are multiple exits, but we managed to locate the meeting destination. To get a better view of the only JR exit on this side, we went to the top of the overpass and looked over the lockers to the sea of people below. Although we were looking for a Japanese girl leading some Australian girls, we kept getting distracted by the cute groups of Japanese girls that never stopped exiting the gates.

Dinner was not quite dinner because we went to a bar-type place on the roof of the station/mall. We bought pitchers of beer and ate beer snacks (fries, fried chicken, and bite-sized stuff). The novice drinker had quite a stomach. He impressively drank a pitcher and a half in under an hour and didn’t upchuck. Since the drinking started at 8PM, he was already out by 9. This is the problem with new drinkers – they don’t understand that the purpose of drinking is not to get drunk. The purpose of drinking is to more enjoyably speak with friends and joke around. If you forget the night because you passed out in front of a Walmart, you drank too much. There were worse things that could have been done to RJ to teach him this lesson, but I think a few pictures should be okay. I think he’ll just need more experience in the matter.

Since I drank the same amount as him, but in the span of two hours, I had a nice buzz (but the room wasn’t spinning) when visiting one of the towers for night sight-seeing. The view was a little difficult to capture with the camera because of the glare from the well-lit tourist area behind, but you would remember it if you were there (and not really drunk). Thank you, Yuka, for taking care of him. Fancy pants J.

~See Lemons Drink Sociably

That's what happens when you don't pace yourself

Akihabara Craziness

Maids in the street!

Random Observation/Comment #57: French maid dresses worn by Japanese girls have been added to my fantasies. It’s not perverted (or dodgy), honest: They’re just so damn cute in short skirts and high stockings.

R.J., compared to my uber-Otaku nature, is a level 3 at best (it’s not supposed to make sense). He’s gone above and beyond by getting the Gundam Seed Destiny tattoo and watching all of the Gundam series (which is about 400 episodes or something ridiculous like that), but he hasn’t watched all of the underground anime that is not on adult swim. He plays a lot of Japanese PSP and DS games as well, which might be a different nature, but his anime and manga skill level needs some upgrading. If he follows my teachings, he will also become a master, but until then he’ll need patience and training (hours of anime watching). The power is within him, but it will take time to tame the beast.

Keeping this obsession in mind, Akihabara sounded like the best place to go. He said that he wanted to buy a $200 cos-play maid outfit for his gf (of 2 weeks), but I thought he was just joking. Little did I know that he basically spent money like a kid in a candy store (except the candy here was much more expensive and his budget seemed to know no bounds).

My vision of Akihabara was very different from what it actually looks like. For some reason I pictured a lot more flashy things capturing my attention instead of a few major strips, lined with malls for electronics. Most of it was expensive, but I really enjoyed the variety. I didn’t have the money or space in my luggage to get some of the really cool things, but the pictures will have to do. There was a large amount of hentai porn in plain sight and a few major sega arcade areas, but the hype built me up for something like a golden bridge or arc with anime girls flying around you for personal selection.

The one thing that did come true was the larger number of normal (maybe normal) girls dressed up as maids in the arcades (and even out on the streets), passing out fliers and waiting tables. They were absolutely adorable and I felt bad not taking one of the fliers from them even if I couldn’t read it. The maid cafés that we passed by looked pretty interesting, as well. From my conversation with Chris, Otakus basically go to these places to have lunch and talk with these cute girls in maid outfits. You pay to have them play games with you, and they draw little smiley faces with ketchup on your food. The games, such as rock-paper-scissors, would be a betting game where the loser drinks some tomato juice, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and raw egg concoction. The weird thing is that these guys actually are trying to lose to seem more chivalrous when they have to drink it in front of them. I don’t think I will ever be that desperate for attention.

Overall, the street looks like any ordinary street surrounded by maid outfits. The hobby and gadget places have a large selection, but unlike Hong Kong, have only one store to choose from. It doesn’t really make a difference to shop around if you find something you like. Be hopeful that you’ll stumble upon something you like, but don’t be disappointed if you don’t wind up living in a girl’s dormitory with girls of all ages that slowly start to fall in love with you as the episodes pass.

~See Lemons in Otaku Heaven

Impressions of the Tour

Friendly faces I would come to love and miss

Random Observation/Comment #56: There seems to be much less time to write since being a tourist takes so much work and effort. It’s also nice to learn more about other people instead of typing on my laptop like an antisocial during long ferry rides… wait a minute.

We are 9. I would grow much closer with all of these people (including myself) in the next two weeks. Bits of information about our personal lives would be revealed when relating to the travel spots and random observations. Conversations would jump from hobbies and careers to goals and aspirations. Every peek into someone’s outlook let me review my own. Though my plans are broad, each brain offers years of experiences of which I could have never found through my own observations. In many cases, I cannot begin to empathize with these stories, but I try my best to imagine my life in their shoes. I’m surprised how many doors can be closed, yet how content one can be without any more choices. I think most of them have already walked through their door. There’s really no reason to look back and work out these other possibilities that never were and never will be.

My observations started as generalizations in a categorization or hash, but this little conversational tool is shortly replaced by specified questions to unique topics. Every detail stuck in my mind and absorbed into a sponge of interest. I’d often squeeze out information to make connections about their lives. Sometimes this person’s representation does not form in its entirety without the full story, so my words slowly pry the lid. I hope I did not seem too curious or even suspiciously cautious about seeming too curious. I tried to hide my shifty eyes.

I’m about 6 days behind on entries so the initial impressions of the tour have already been replaced by my secondary or lasting impressions. I’ll try my best to capture the range of emotions I first felt when joining.

I’m partly optimistic with a chance of paranoia. My mind is open to new ideas and it is quite flexible, but small actions cause premature conclusions and stereotypes. In fact, I began this tour feeling that the cost of the trip was not worth our experiences. The numbers did all the talking – first and last day were free days; about $2300 for the tour; about $500 for the 21 day rail-pass; $200 for the tour guide before the tour even started; about 24 hours spent just for traveling on boats, trains, and buses; probably $500 for meals and other expenses. I was expecting royalty meals and set tour-bus itineraries for that price. Others doing the math would have probably felt the same shafting draft.

One quick glance at the itinerary and an irrational conclusion could have cost me one of the most fun tours I’ve ever been on. Each remote island destination would have been completely impossible to plan or survive without a guide for the logistics and translations. The places I’ve seen have only been experienced by the privileged, and I see that it was worth every penny. The set tour-bus thing would have been filled with elderly people and constantly stopping at these off-the-road tourist shops so the tour could make money on the side with their connections. This Intrepid tour, however, felt much more lively and robust. It was basically a backpacking adventure with a group of friends, which would beat any set tour-bus any day of the year.

Yuka, our tour guide, has been open to all questions and fed my every curiosity. Although all detailed plans were not completely revealed to my comfort, I learned to trust her. Our short time together is one that I will remember. A small obsession with cats; a beautiful karaoke voice reaching notes I didn’t think were possible (perfect for Japanese songs and Blondie ); a blend of an Aussie accent that keeps me completely captivated; a passion (maybe not an understatement) towards drinking beer; a playful attitude towards life – all of these little quirks I’ve used to shape her unique and kawaii aura. Many observations and conclusions dive deeper and can borderline as psychoanalysis, so I’ll just keep those to myself J. I’ve probably done this for everyone in the group.

R.J. was the first person I met from the tour. His blue hair and Gundam Seed Destiny tattoo made a very interesting first impression. He is a 19-year-old who is as lost as all 19-year-olds are lost these days. I saw a lot of myself in his personality, but it made me wonder when I grew out of his phase. It’s a phase of recklessness and dependency, but I’m not too concerned because it will pass for him as it passed for me. His trip reminded me of when I went to Hong Kong by myself after high school; a blind obsession towards a girl and a lack of reality and responsibility drilled into my brain. In no way is this phase avoidable, but it’s interesting to observe his actions and see those gears turn. My mind does not think the same way anymore, but I could imagine his chain of thought. Driven by the textbook principles of psychology with “right and wrong” judgments; R.J. has only reached the 2^nd stage. He’s got a head on his shoulders and good intentions, so I think he’ll be fine.

Chris and Melani: the sisters from Melbourne. Chris is wise with stories that she just itches to share. It is special when these moments arise, for they usually spark a series of questions in my mind. In no way have her stories revealed the hardships or joys of her life, but yet her presence remains calm and serene. Melanie is a great daughter and a wonderful person. She probably makes as many observations and connections as I do, but keeps most of them to herself for a sly smirk or offset stare of thought. I’ve caught every witty remark and they could not have been made without completely understanding the subject and situation. I expect this much from a fellow engineer. Her gaze and smile in my direction hints nervousness or admiration. Conversations with her could last for days and hours, but I’ve often let them drift silently. My actions remain passive; perhaps if our circumstances were just a little different. I’m seeing more and more that I protect myself from others for their sake rather than mine.

Amanda is very interesting. She’s quite noice . I feel as though her perspective had changed quite a view times during the trip. She seems to need a lot of her own time to just soak, but also gets these urges to follow different group activities. There are many frustrations unsaid, but her eyes and ears just seem to be open for the next cultural shock.

Helen gave me a dose of that Sharon personality. I am not obsessed with her, as I am with Sharon, but it’s a level of straight forwardness that I missed when I was surrounded by Japanese flexi-straws (stop saying “Yes” even though I’m wrong). She is quite clever with witty remarks about interesting observations during dinner conversations. More than most, she wants to make the most of this vacation as a memorable experience before starting her new career. It’s like she’s engrained with many stereotypes of each culture that she’s looking to confirm or deny through her experiences. She is a very strong person that has seen much that does not require repeating. Even though conversations of this matter were not shared, there is a part of her presence that gives such an impression. It has all been put aside to follow her new goal though: See the world and live the life.

Isabel and Sebastian were the only couple in this tour. Their cuddliness made me smile and wish for something similar. I can tell they’re very much in love with each others’ personalities and they were meant to be together. The little jokes and even matching snort-laugh reminded me of a connection. “That’s my girl” is always followed by an indescribable chill of happiness for finding an embodiment for simple amazing-ness. Everything fits like a puzzle piece as they celebrate a start of another phase in their life. This trip seems like their final hurrah as love-birds before the turning point propelled careers or raising children. To their next phase in life, one of which I envy and cannot wait to start: Kanpai.

Although it has only been two weeks, I feel as though everyone has become more than just travel companions: they have all become my friends to lend and receive a helping hand. Domo arigato (Mr. Roboto). All the best in your future travels and I hope our paths pass again.

~See Lemons Part of a Temporary Family

Kinuya hotel view in Ueno

Ueno Park: Blitz through the museums

My artsy fartsy picture in Ueno Park

Random Observation/Comment #55: Science museums used to be so much more fun, but now that I know all of the physics involved, it’s not as much of a mystery. It’s like watching a magic show where you’ve already learned all the tricks. Damn, how could I have been so impressed by simple concepts like magnetism, pullies, air pressure, and optics?

Dragging that stupid luggage early in the morning made me loathe its existence… Mendoksai. I don’t really mean it though – it holds all my precious belongings. I just wish it would sprout legs and follow me like an obedient dog that doesn’t need a leash (Or a gullible person that lost a bet).

Kinuya hotel was very close to the station and I give it a very positive review. The room was normal, but the doorway heights were a little low. The height was 6 ft, which left my hair grazed every time I passed through the doorway (I guess there are other tight fits in Japan). The itinerary said we would meet at 6PM, but it was only 11AM. After reading the sheet, the only thing I could think was “Shyt, I should have gone out the night before.”

Ueno Park is a recreational center, dating spot, tourist attraction, and even a home. There are quite a few fountains and statues sprinkled throughout the park that act as landmarks and gathering spots for street performances. The museums in this area are not ridiculously large, but running through the art, nature and science, and memorial museums can take a few days. If you follow the route I took and skim through the artwork, however, you could probably walk it in about 5 hours.

The museum experience should not be about pictures – it should be about learning new facts and admiring the mysteries of our past that foreshadow our future. It’s about the beauty of centuries of art that captures the hidden story of an evolved civilization. The science and nature museum was interesting since they tried to cover as much of our world’s life as possible, but in the end it’s obviously an understatement. I moved from floor to floor quickly because most of the mysteries of these animals had already been sorted in my mind. It used to be my interest, yet now I felt nothing – not a sparkle or a tingle of captivity. It disappointed me, which lead me to read in even more detail and look even harder to see something that would amaze me; something that I had not already learned. One of the few things I found incredible was the 360 degrees theater. It showed a short film about dinosaurs, which really made you feel like you were immersed in the film. My attempts to take videos of this just turned out to be a dark mess.

The Tokyo National Museum was a little different from the Science and Nature museum. It was filled with a lot of Asian sculptures and artifacts with brief explanations of each. I think combining these two museums in one day would be like walking any one of the museums in the city. Pictures were taken and descriptions were breezed over. The history is interesting, but once again, I did not feel it as a part of me. It’s not even the fact that I couldn’t understand the text or talks; it’s more that the facts were not new. There were some beautiful pots and swords that fit the timeline of events very nicely, though. Every new piece gave a more vivid video of this historic playback. In my mind, the recreation of battles included these samurai armor and swords. Different angles in this battle followed the small snippets of graphics through the display case. I guess if it was only for that, I’m glad I continue walking through each exhibition.

While wandering around the park, I saw a street performance that kept me mesmerized. The performers here are much more entertaining than those in the city because they don’t just break-dance or play music (not that any of those do not show extreme talent); they actually get the crowd involved like in a real stage performance. It’s a combination of humor, interaction, and practice which makes these people a great show. Unlike most Americans, the audience of Japanese children and adults feel an obligation to show support of his hard work with bills. Often the performers would incorporate into their routine the volunteer of children to help their effort. The particular guy I saw did everything skillfully and left everyone laughing with happiness and clapping in amazement.

From the street fair, I walked towards the pond and found the early blossoming of the water lilies. The pond was filled with them ready to blossom, and the density of the lily pads made the whole lake look like a field. My hotel room actually had one of the best views overlooking this beautiful scenery.

All in all, the park was an incredible journey through culture and I definitely enjoyed it. It doesn’t cost too much money, and I think it’s worth spending a full day there.

~See Lemons go museum hunting

A view of the tokyo national museum