Tokyo has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life; probably a combination of the fact that it is undeniably a beautiful city and also owing to the fact that I know that it is the beginning of what will be an epic journey.
We have been fortunate enough to see some beautiful things and meet some great people; both locals and other travelers, and thankfully the weather today was more conducive to travel. After the first day spent aimlessly walking around, seeing some things, but constantly in a state of being semi lost (rectified only be the resourceful use of an iPod touch and McDonald7's wi-fi, we established that the 1000 yen to get a full day of train travel is well worth it, and we have now seen every corner of Tokyo (always returning back to Asakusa, our "home" suburb for undeniably the most affordable food in Tokyo). The efficiency of the transport in Tokyo makes us even more aware of how frustrated we will be everyday by the unreliability of Sydney's rail and bus system once we make the return back to reality in 9 months, which admittedly seems like a life time away.
The majesty of the parks and shrines or Tokyo juxtapose the city's fast paced atmosphere, and this majesty has made Tom and I both very excited to get out and experience the countryside we assume Japan has to offer, despite our love affair with Tokyo culture and life. The Imperial Palace offered the most striking gardens and from what I have heard, this is what I am to expect when we get to Kyoto tomorrow afternoon to see uncle Vince and aunty Ann.
I am especially glad the sun has begun to shine again, mainly for a chance to get my plastic poncho off and blend back into as much anonymity and inconspicuousness as can be expected with two Australians in Tokyo; one having hair like a Japanese teenage girl and one looking strikingly similar to Narissa Phelps.
Just as Tokyo and the Khaosan Hostel are becoming homely, we are moving on which I guess is an expected aspect of the nomadic lifestyle I have chosen for this year of exploration. Tokyo has, as I have hopefully explicated, been an incredible experience, but I am conscious to not lament the passing of "our" restaurant and "our" train station, but instead to embrace the newness that comes with the two and a half hour journey to Kyoto.
I am struggling to explain the magnificence of this trip thus far, but I hope I am giving some sense of it.
Australia seems like such a long way away, both physically and in time, and my days are too full to spend much time missing home, but it is comforting, though I am so nomadic and my life is changing everyday, to know that once this whole amazing year is over, I have a place and people to go back to.
Blogging is both an outlet and a nuisance, as right now, writing this is sacrificing precious time that could be spent eating cheap, delicious oinari.
Keep checking back for more equally mundane travel stories.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tokyo. 27/04/10
So today was the first day out in Tokyo, which I have quickly fallen in love with. The people are unbelievably hospitable.
Once we got through customs we realised that it was all on us; we had to find our own way and do it on our own. Reality set in. After months of planning and expectation, we were finally here, and it was the most excited I can remember ever having been. Our first experience with the Japanese rail system was surprisingly simple, until we got off the train in Asakusa (the suburb we are staying in). Had it not been for the generosity of a kind hearted middle aged Japanese woman, we may have had an even harder time finding our hostel, which by this time, after having walked with 20 kilogram packs on for almost an hour, seemed like heaven(crammed into a 3.5x3.5 room for 4).
The currency of Japan, while being yen, has actually been adapted by Tom and I to be oinari, being that we can get 2 oinari for 100 yen, everything else is now calculated around that.
Apparently we look young enough to get into places as 14 years old, so a trip to the zoo only cost us 4 oinari.
Rain in Japan is a beautiful thing. Cleansing, and also a great opportunity to give some business to the 2 oinari shop (100 yen shop) for some cheap, but life saving umbrellas.
Being that we may in fact be the only Australians in Japan right now, or so it seems, we stand out like alligators at a crocodile convention.) If you don't understand that comparison, you don't watch enough Family Guy.
It seems like a lifetime ago that we left Australia, however in actuality it is less than 48 hours, and already I feel myself developing the persona of a backpacker, however I think showering in thongs might wear off soon.
There are so many distractions here that thus far I have been too busy to think about anything but the beauty of this city, and the excitement of 9 months on the road.
Keep checking back for more updates.
Once we got through customs we realised that it was all on us; we had to find our own way and do it on our own. Reality set in. After months of planning and expectation, we were finally here, and it was the most excited I can remember ever having been. Our first experience with the Japanese rail system was surprisingly simple, until we got off the train in Asakusa (the suburb we are staying in). Had it not been for the generosity of a kind hearted middle aged Japanese woman, we may have had an even harder time finding our hostel, which by this time, after having walked with 20 kilogram packs on for almost an hour, seemed like heaven(crammed into a 3.5x3.5 room for 4).
The currency of Japan, while being yen, has actually been adapted by Tom and I to be oinari, being that we can get 2 oinari for 100 yen, everything else is now calculated around that.
Apparently we look young enough to get into places as 14 years old, so a trip to the zoo only cost us 4 oinari.
Rain in Japan is a beautiful thing. Cleansing, and also a great opportunity to give some business to the 2 oinari shop (100 yen shop) for some cheap, but life saving umbrellas.
Being that we may in fact be the only Australians in Japan right now, or so it seems, we stand out like alligators at a crocodile convention.) If you don't understand that comparison, you don't watch enough Family Guy.
It seems like a lifetime ago that we left Australia, however in actuality it is less than 48 hours, and already I feel myself developing the persona of a backpacker, however I think showering in thongs might wear off soon.
There are so many distractions here that thus far I have been too busy to think about anything but the beauty of this city, and the excitement of 9 months on the road.
Keep checking back for more updates.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Eve
Tomorrow morning at 8:45 I am, I leave Australia, not to see it again for 9 months. I will travel from Brisbane to Tokyo, spend 18 days in Japan, fly to Hanoi for 7 days in Vietnam, then fly Hanoi to Phnom Penh for 23 days in Cambodia and Laos before flying to Lisbon.
I have just had to say goodbye to my girlfriend Olivia whom I love, and i am realising how hard this time without her will be, but when I arrive in Lisbon, I will be meeting 4 of my best friends, having already travelled through Asia with another great friend.
In Europe, I will be spending 3 months roaming around, seeing some amazing things (and probably some fairly average things) and living on a somewhat unrealistic $50 AUD a day budget.
Then I fly from London to Rio de Janeiro in Brasil and from then, I have 4 months wandering around most of South America. Rio-Buenos Aires-Lima-Santiago-Quito-Galapagos Islands-Quito-Buenos Aires-Patagonia-Buenos Aires, and then finally, home.
Saying goodbye has thus far been the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but hopefully, I will be rewarded with some amazing experiences.
Keep checking back for some more interesting things.
David.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)