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Back in Tokyo on Monday and home on Tuesday. We stayed in the bustling Sinjuku district. The west side of the enormous railroad station is all sleek office towers, including the striking Tokyo Municipal Government Center. The east side is crazy with department stores and teeming with alleys full of restaurants, bars and pachinko parlors, as pictured above. We went to an Indian restaurant for a respite from icky squishy fishy things. The chicken sag was terrific. Ooh, and maybe steak on the plane ride home.On Tuesday morning in Tokyo, Monday night in the US, we head for Narita Airport and the long flight to Dallas-Fort Worth. A connection to St. Louis and then home. And melt into a soft American bed. We had a fabulous time but I'm off futons forever.
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Today we went to the Mori Tower and Art Museum in Roppongi. There is an outdoor observation deck on the 50-something floor. My wife and I thought long and hard about this sculpture but did not reach a conclusion. The building has what may be the world's highest contemporary art museum, the Mori Museum on the 54th floor. I think Mori-san is a very rich dude who likes to show it off in a high-brow way.
WHAT WAS THE WEIRDEST THING TODAY IN A WEIRD CITY: while trying to find our way our of the sprawling Roppongi Hills development, we got a bit lost. After coming down a staircase, we heard the ubiquitous sound system playing "A Pirate's Life For Me" from some Disney movie. We're not in Kansas any more.
TOMORROW: Nikko.
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Just a quick note. Thirteen hour plane ride and now we're here. Staying in the Asakusa district, with alleyways full of incomprehensible restaurants and tiny shops. It's about 21.00 here, ten time zones off home are we're ready to collapse. Much more to come.TOMORROW: we're planning to spend much of the day in the Roppongi area. Pix sure to follow.
THURSDAY MORNING IN JAPAN: The view from our hotel room window, looking southwest toward the towers of Sinjuku.
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Well, for me, anyway - infrared. A photographer friend told me about this company, LifePixel, that, for a reasonable charge, will swap out the light sensor on your old DSLR for an infrared chip. Off went my old, unused Canon 10D. I went out and played with it for the first time last weekend. Lots to learn but it looks like it's going to be fun. This picture was taken standing under the Arch looking back at the city.
WHAT'S THE NEXT STOP? Tokyo. Yee hah, as they say here in Dallas, Texas, our departure city. Y'all come visit and see some mighty purty pitchers from Japan over the next couple of weeks. ShadowyOne may spell me with images from St. Louis when I'm out in the boonies. How do you say boonies in Japanese?
TOMORROW: not sure when I'll next be able to post but if I upload from Tokyo before we go to bed Wednesday it would be morning to mid-day in the US.
Back in Tokyo on Monday and home on Tuesday. We stayed in the bustling Sinjuku district. The west side of the enormous railroad station is all sleek office towers, including the striking Tokyo Municipal Government Center. The east side is crazy with department stores and teeming with alleys full of restaurants, bars and pachinko parlors, as pictured above. We went to an Indian restaurant for a respite from icky squishy fishy things. The chicken sag was terrific. Ooh, and maybe steak on the plane ride home.
