Sunny days are here again
a few minutes of shut-eye
It was so hot out today, in the end I went and sat in the shade by the river with all the Japanese pensioners. I think it may be because it’s Silver Week here in Japan, but the crowd around the shopping district was monstrous. I could barely stop and look at anything without creating a cluster fuck of people trying to walk with the flow of other people. Everyone just moving along in a semi-orderly fashion. Didn’t get any shopping done.
So besides sleeping for an hour at a really nice tranquil place, all I did was look around and try a few drinks from the vending machines.
I have absolutely no idea what this Fanta Charge is supposed to be, but there was an image of an orange shaking it furiously on the cover, so I did that. When I opened it and tried to drink it there was a little liquid and inside that a whole lot of slime. I don’t think it had gone bad, I think it was supposed to be that way, or I didn’t shake it enough or something, and the liquid tasted pretty good but the slime was horrendous. Took me half a bottle of water to get the taste out. I’m looking forward to that one coming out in a language I understand.
shake it like a polaroid
Mmm, sweat.
no stepping!
Pocari Sweat needs no introduction. Everyone that has ever read anything about Japan has heard of this one. Not bad either. It’s an ion drink, according to the packing. Tastes like an unflavoured sports drink, nothing else. Gets rid of thirst, so that’s good.
Asakusa is riddled with “Non-step” busses. I’m not sure what the difference is between non-step busses and regular ones, but I muse on the step-bus rather than the non-step bus. I’m sure it’s a creature from some legend.
Oh yeah, and rikshaws. Loads of rikshaws. See the guy out in the left corner of that picture?
Rikshaw nation
loitering is allowed
This guy right here. As far as I can tell, he is employed to enforce moral ethics. Specifically two laws are his to govern; “No bicycles” (I have yet to understand this one since they almost hit him with their bikes. I think you’re not allowed to lock your bike around his ankle.) and the “Don’t smoke while walking.” rule. This is a broadly enforced rule around here it seems. Supposedly you can only smoke around the designated smoking areas, but presumably because of the lack of any kind of numbers of these afforementioned places, you’re just told to smoke standing still.
My loitering didn’t seem to be a problem though.
Pods for travelers
For my first two days I’ve been living at a pod-hotel. It’s long enough for me to fully stretch out if I lay with my head in one corner and my feet in the opposite corner. I’m 185cm. But it’s cheap. 3000 yen a night is hard to beat. This really wouldn’t be a bad idea for any country. I don’t see why any kind of culture would be a hindrance. This place is loaded with foreigners, especially back packers on a limited budget.
~ I want it so bad, and I’m never gonna get it
on September 21st, 2009 at 17:14
Hej Danne! Verkar vara en rolig och annorlunda semester. Puss o kram, mamma
on September 23rd, 2009 at 09:06
Hi, long time no hear from you!
The ‘non-step” buses, found not only in Asakusa but all over Tokyo and elsewhere, is a name coined because the “regular” transit buses we used to have had very steep steps to get on, making it impossible for people with walking problems to ride. Right now, I think people on wheelchairs can right them, too, with some assistance.
The rickshaws are tourist service found only in parts of “shitamachi” (old town) Tokyo with high concentration of foreign tourists. Personally, I haven’t seen them anywhere else in Tokyo.
The “public etiquette police” is there because the old-towners of shitamachi are apt to disregard rules. LOL
AFAIK, I don’t see them in our part of Tokyo.
Staying at a “capsule hotel”? And you’re 185cm tall? Hope you are managing!
If you check out other tourists, you’ll find Japanese-style cheap accommodations in the old town area of Tokyo. That should be interesting and many such inn owners speak some Japanese.
Found no one speaking English? Very natural. It’s only a tiny percentage of Japanese who can engage in English conversation. However, I think this language barrier is something that can be enjoyed–bloopers I’ve had while travel turned out to be most memorable and very frequent funny.
Hope you have fun in Japan!
on September 23rd, 2009 at 09:10
Mistakes in my previous comments! Sorry about being careless in typing!
\\"inn owners speak some English\\"
\\"bloopers I’ve had while travel turned out to be most memorable and very frequently funny\\"
on September 24th, 2009 at 13:39
Im watching u, little man! Hoppas du har det overnice!! jag e sjukt avis på din resa. köp nån rolig liten japansk grej till mig så får du pengar på jobbet.
on February 6th, 2012 at 19:04
hi!!!