DARTS BAR
With the first 2 weeks of our journey passed, it was time to start earning a little extra $ and start work as a casual english teacher. After a few days of training we were thrown straight into it and voila! We're english teachers! How funny, just like that!
A lucky thing for us was the easy transition with having friends here already to help us set up our new Japanese life and to guide us around this crazy city.
Ironically the city that never sleeps does sleep. Basically you have a choice of getting the last train at a painfully early 12.30am or you can stay out all night till first train at 5am. So naturally you find yourself staying out at an all you can drink place.... all to easy.
To farewell Guy and Shell we all headed out to our first 'Izakaya' experience (a traditional Japanese drinking restaurant).....an interesting concept really as bars/pubs are few and far between. A few beers later we headed out and ended up at a darts bar.
Another fascinating thing that Japan offers, a bar dedicated to darts with an electronic scoreboard. What a long night this ended up being, full of drinks, darts and drunken jenga. The prize for losing, a nasty shot...a chilli shot was the main choice.
Finally we had to go with the realisation of work at 1pm. We beckoned for our bill which ened up being 70 pages due to everyone ordering throughout the night and the silly Japanese system of printing up a new docket each time.
Silly Japanese
So we headed off pleased with our first night out and arrived home well into the hot, humid new day. Sophi hopped on her new moped to drive us all home...but then realised...she doesn't own one.
Sophi's new ride
Awaking and ready for work we rushed to the station and said a quick blurry farewell to Guy and Shell and prepared ourselves for the day ahead and the chronic hangover that was coming.
GHETTO BRIDGE PARTY
A work friend had told us about this crazy party by the river under the bridge that was on. We headed there with Dave S, Kumiko and some of her Japanese friends to check it out. An interesting experience. At first look, something you wouldn't expect in Japan, next to massive bridge pylons with graffiti everywhere, fires were blazing with Djs set up by the river pumping only hip hop....j pop. Entertainment mixed with some dismay was the observance of drunken Gaijin attempting to pick up pretty Japanese girls. Saddening also was the realisation of just how filthy we can be. In the cleanest country in the world the Gaijins left a trail of garbage scattered everywhere. No wonder Japan doesn't have the best impression of foreigners.
Under the Bridge Downtown
FAMOUS GINZA
A day of exploring was needed so in the morning with Dave S we headed to Ginza, the famed shopping central of Japan. Luxury labels left right and centre in their massive buildings, with about 20 different department stores in this one area. If we have learnt anything its that Japan is one of the highest comsumer societies that thrives of wasting so many resources on packaging. You can't go anywhere without leaving with your newly bought item in at least a plastic bag and maybe even more. Ironcially enough it is the most environmentally consious country where they seperate their garbage to the piont of havein up to 8 bins in a house for paper, tin, burnables, non-burnables, glass, cardboard and go knows what else. Something to still get used to.
Dior's Empire
We checked out the Nissan show room , the Sony and Apple building and the Snoopy visiting banaza that was occuring at the top of the Mistukoshi department store. If you were to launch any type of animated product Japan is definately the ultimate goldmine, anything cute goes, and Sophi is a definate sucker for it also.
Famous Snoopy takes over the windows
Speaking of cute things if you have a small dog and it's feeling some what intimidated in the big dog world, Japan is the place to bring it. Not only does everyone have miniture dogs, multiple dog parlours and shops are in every suburb. In the Mitsukoshi department store some fetching dogwear was on sale, always an interesting sight.
MORI TOWER
Next we set off to Mori Tower. Set in Roppongi Hills was this 53 storey highrise building.
The Spider and his Tower (aka: Ellen)
The amazing shot of the spider scultpure and Mori Tower....we later found out was also a common photo. We were highly surprised to run into Ellen "daddy long legs", we didn't realise she'd be here so soon....and my had she grown!!!
Clear 360 degree views of Tokyo. What a sight! Roughly in the distance through the Tokyo haze the outline of Mount Fuji, 4 hours away was visible. Little did we know that the party we were heading to the next night was to be held at this exact place.
360 Degree views of Tokyo: only the best
YUM YUM SHABU SHABU
A feast was in order after a tiring day of sightseeing so we encountered our first Shabu Shabu tasting. After the shameless food at Fuji Rock and the language barrier of ordering food in the restaurants it was a god send to get our first decent meal....along with it the discovery of just how right Japan has got it. All you can eat for $15 and all you can drink for $15. A common offer around Japan in restaurants, Izakayas and Karaoke parlours.
Dave S and Kumiko took us to Shabu Shabu restaurant in Shibuya. A Japanese meal with beef, pork and vegetables that is cooked at the table in boiling stock. We hoovered through about 20 plates of meat and god knows how many plates of vegies. Delicious.
So simple. So delicious. So Japanese.
DJ FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE PARTY at MORI TOWERS LEVEL 53
We headed to the private party held by Dj Fantastic Plastic Machine through the contact of Dave Trans girlfriend Eri. Beautiful settings with the high rise views at night was a great introduction to Japan. A promotion for the night was also for a new ciggie label so free packs were abundent. With only about 100 people there we felt lucky to be here in our first few weeks of Japan.
Japan is apparently known for its red night 'glow'. From the 53rd storey it was all coming together...the nightsky horizon showed off all the red lights on top of the buildings. This was to guide the airplanes to the runway which was all so close to Tokyo. At first it was an eery sight of black and red but throughout the night its became spectacular.
We met some random very excited Japanese guys who were jumping around everywhere to every old favourite house tune that was played...found us wherever we went!
Random Crazy Jap Guys
Mori Crew
Once the party ended we headed in search of some more night spots when the drunky munchies hit and we went get a feast before heading home. To our amusement on entering the ramen house a guys was completely passed out on the the counter in his bowl of ramen with a chopstick stuck to his head, the ramen by this stage had spilt all over the floor. With the polite Japanese manner the 3 restaurant workers didn't know what to do and attempted a couple of soft nudges to wake him up, which failed so they scratched their heads a few times and left him be. A very nice change to see that a man is allowed to sleep wherever he wants, whether it be in his food with out getting rudely awoken and thrown out onto the street. Ahh.. the too sweet Japanese.
Sweet Dreams
When in Rome....
You haven't experienced Japan if you haven't done karoke!! James took us to our first karaoke experience which was nice way to break the seal so to build some type of confidence while belting old tunes down a mic in the tiny Japanese booth. The booth compiled of table and 2 lounges in a room 2x1 metres. Some good and some terrible songs were sung. With Japan's standard “all you can drink” menu, obviously our voices improved as the night went on. A very fun experience was had then we headed to the crazy Japanese photo sticker booths where you could make everything oh so cute. We climbed monkey bars in the booth trying to get some decent photos.
Catching the first train home a good night was had with evidence displayed on the sticker photos.
The all to vivid evidence
AKIHABRA – ELECTRONIC LAND
Electronics central. So much buzz an hype made about the electronic phenomenon. As we boarded off the train we walked into the crowded heat of Akihabra. Store after store of electronics of all kinds. This place is just filled with skyscrapers, all having between 2 and 10 levels solely dedicated to selling electronics and manga comics.
Basically most shops are quite similar, still, an amazing, bustling area of Tokyo all the same. We were on the hunt for a good deal on a laptop, but most of the PC's there weren't in English. The prices are not that great anyway, it's mainly about the buzz of being there.
We visited the Sega Mall, where Cam had a few goes trying to win a soft turtle toy for Sophi. After about $6 gone, moved to the next machine. 1st go! Winner! That made Sophi a very happy girl.
Sophi's new friend
BUBBA CAM S BIRTHDAY
To Yellow we go!!! On James recommendation we headed to our first club night in Japan. Yellow on the outskirts of Roppongi which is the scummy main area that Gaijins gather to head out for a night on the town. As soon as we stepped of the train you could feel the difference, sooooo many foreigners left right and centre. We met up with Ko chan (Ami's brother) and headed to the club for a big night. The beauty of Japan is that you can buy alcochol at the convenient stores at a very nice price of $1.20 a can of beer or mixed drinks. How very convenient.
On entering Yellow it was a fun night of electro-house and some fun dancing was had. Some random crazy Japanese were met and particularly and old gay guy that kept popping up everywhere. Ko chan's friend was also a professional sumo wrestler who took on Cam and Dave S in one fair swoop. A strong little nugget was he!
Old Gay Guy
4 Rude heads
Dave never leaves home without it!
After a long time of dancing Cam passed out on top of the speaker and we decided to head and catch the first train. Walking out to the sunrise we staggered to the station. On the way, the perfect example of how the Japanese can pass out anywhere, the enternal politeness and non-confrontation that they display. We came upon a taxi that was just sitting at the lights engine still running! So as typical Gaijins we took some photos for laughs.
Do Not Disturb: Passed out at the traffic lights
BRAZILIAN FEAST @ TUCANOS
What better cure for a hangover than a big feast!! Another all you can eat meal was in order to furthur celebrate Cam's glorious day, this time in buffet style. We headed to another recommendation of James to ..... All of us feeling a little shady from the night before regained some energy from the meat fest. It is indescribeable how good it is to eat some good meat in the land that has such little servings. This was awesome. We stuffed ourselves to high heavens to the point of almost passing out!
The Feast
Tokyo Sweethearts
Chocolate Heaven
Cam's after feast snack
A definate must that we shoud return sometime very soon. After dinner we had an obligation to go to Yoyogi park (next to Shibuya) for Cam's work welcome party. We arrived in the humid heat to meet Cam's work friends over a few drinks. Nothing big but was fun, and a few interesting characters were met. We headed home tired and caught the last train.
However James and us, the deadly trio, decided to have a few more drinks at home which led into the late hours of the next day. A great time to catch up with James properly and we celebrated like old times. An eventful night of bonding was had with our flatmates, 2 Japanese guys Ryo and Shinji. Definitely a night that will never be forgotten!! It ended with some chessy battles and recalling memories of hilarious Simpson quotes. We were well entertained for hours.
An unforgettable birthday weekend was had for Cam and what better place than Japan!
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