Mystery Incident!

J and i were watching Tv and hanging out when we heard sirens blaring outside. suddenly there were about 4 firetrucks, an ambulance, cops, and fire investigators outside. we wrapped ourselves in blankets, dragged the portable heater onto the balcony and watched all the craziness unfold around us.




we never did find out what happened . . . .

New and Nasty in Japan (part deux)

Strawberry Chocolate Covered Cheetos

and Chocolate Covered Tofu

BARF.

A Not-So-Good Festival and a Great One

Went to the Konnyaku-enma festival in Korakuen but it was kinda dead. seriously, like me and one other dude who was just there to take photos. konnyaku is this japanese food that's kinda rubbery and tasteless (that's not right -- it takes on the flavors of whatever you're cooking it with. it's actually quite good).


Here's a photo:

It snowed in Tokyo yesterday! the first snow in 2 years. my crocous bulbs started rebudding but i think they have frozen over again . . . . . . .



I got up super early to go to another festival this morning in Kameido. It was major rush hour (just before 8ish in the morning) and i saw ikebukuro station with all it's hustling bustling glory:


I milled around in Kameido for over an hour (grabbed some breaky) cuz i couldn't find the damn shrine. visited 3 of them before finding the right one! It was at Kemeido Tenjin Shrine which is a fair walk from the station. It was the Usokae Shinji festival (this time there were heaps of people). Usokae Shinji is Bullfinch Exchange festival. they carve bullfinches of all sizes out of wood and if you had a crap year last year, you exchange the one from last year for a new one this year which is supposed to change your luck. i got a couple of me and my friends:



The shrine:

Early plum blossoms:


My schwag:




Here's a cart full of tiny people watching the puppies get fed at the pet store. So cute!

Happy Birthday Dawn!

Tokyo Treasures

Went for a walk around my urban jungle today with some friends. it's really quite beautiful here when you take the time to look around . . . .

Check out these crazy elevated cranes!

The frozen baby mammoth brought in from the
Siberian Tundra discovered earlier last year, on
display at the Maru Bldg.

Yurakucho Forum

Urban cattle

Urban Cowboy

a member of the royal family goes out for a carriage ride

LOVE the color contrast

Veggie flowers

lookout tower on the edge of the palace

a glimpse inside

PUSH!!




The Bloomberg display in the Maru Bldg.

Lobby of the Shin Maru Blg.

Comfy sitting area #1

Comfy sitting area #2

the only place to go when you need drastic baggage

New Year's Osechi Goodness!

Happy new year all! Since i was still sick from the korea trip, my new years was pretty mellow. i actually spent the year switch wrapped up in a blanket like a giant burrito watching crazy ass japanese TV shows. it was ok, i'd rather have gone to the party D got me guestlisted for but alas, the fever was still in effect and thought it would be better quarantine myself.

still, grandpa needed to eat (his helpers are on vacay for a week) which meant that he has had to subject himself to my cooking, save for new years when my uncle got us this amazing osechi stack! osechi is special japanese new years food (all the things we eat has some kind of meaning behind it) and this one was prepared by my uncle's friend who owns this fantastic japanese restaurant. mmmm!



i saved my first drinking nite out for the 2nd (feeling much better) to have a farewell drink with my good buddy Kane who returned to the land down under today. it was good to see the boys again but i think my stomach was unprepared yet for the drinks i put in it. Laters Kane! You will be missed!