Adventures in the Pong and a Day of Pampering for the Girls

My dear friend Makie and i went to the National Art Center in Tokyo (which was former the site of the Japanese Pentagon <-- Department of Defense i think). We met in Roppongi and had lunch in at the very shi-shi Bamboo Lounge. I arrived a bit early and got to take some pix. Here's the giant spider: This kid was one of the cutest little people i've ever seen. he was just running around the legs of that giant spider like there was no tomorrow!
And the infamous Mori Building where a kid got decapitated in the revolving doors and set off a major national panic about revolving doors:
Here's the National Art Center in Tokyo. we went and saw the 100 years of Nitten exhibit, courtesy of free tix from a VERY connected friend:
And a shot of the inside:

And today the girls had a day of pampering! We started with High Tea at the The Peak on the top floor of the Park Hyatt in Shinjuku. Here's Shells with the menu:
The view from the top:
And here's the tea, tiny ass sammiches and dainty little cakes that we enjoyed for the afternoon:


Here's Shells enjoying the world's smallest chou:
For Relaxing Time, Try Suntory Time. Yes, the Peak is the lounge in Lost in Translation:
Though very pricey, it was a very nice experience (we got to try all kind of tea including REAL earl grey tea; not just black tea that someone chucked nutmeg into). I got a huge blister on both of my pinky toes from the cute heels i wore, this being a kinda dressy affair.

afterwards, we took a short break back at my place and then went to Korakuen to spend the rest of the afternoon/evening at La Qua Spa. Another pricey event but well worth it again. this place has everything: onsens, baths, showers, saunas, cafes, restaurants, a Thai healing salon, color therapy treatment, skin rub and esthetic salon, hair and nail salon, Euro Fusion therapy, body massages, feet massages, reflexology, an oriental head spa, Hawaiian lomilomi, a bar, gift shops, lounge chairs with TVs built in, etc. True, some of the stuff like the massages and stuff costs extra cashola but Jess and i left very relaxed and refreshed.

just a few bumps in the road at the spa. for starters, no tatooed folks allowed. so i had to lie and put a bandaid over my tattoo. then S (who was apprehensive about going in the first place ) completely freaked out, cried, and said she wanted to leave. after much hysteria, she decided not to stay (she didn't even wanna do the stuff they did not require nudity) so we got her out without having to pay (she was only there for a little bit and didn't use any of the facilities plus she was in tears). this was a first for me. i've never had anyone freak out at the onsen as much as her. what i have since discovered is that the nudity phobia, gymnophobis, is a big problem for a lot of people. Check this out! crazy, hun? i know the big H can't SAY the word "nude" or really deal with nude people but S is the first person i've met who really can't handle any of it. the only other thing i notice was that a lot of people we staring at me. at first i thought they saw my tattoo. no, still covered. then i though maybe i had a booger hanging out of my nose. nope. is my lava lamp like figure THAT offensive? probably. but what i didn't realize is that my now scarred up left boob gets really REALLY red when i soak in the onsen. it must have looked like i had a a bad rash or something! i suppose that's the first time i've really been to an onsen since last year's ordeal and they are the first ones (besides the bf) who've seen it. don't worry, no photos of it will make it to the blog. just so i don't freak out the gymnophobes out there!