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.
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