Friday morning came and we were off to the airport at 5:00am. The airport in Singapore is so amazingly nice, it is carpeted everywhere and kept so clean...it's just plain nice!!!! Onto the plane we went and we were in the back of the plane in a two seat aisle. The flight was six hours (seven with the one hour time zone change) and then we arrived in Japan. I was taking pictures out the window like crazy. The clouds were so amazing! I have two favorite pictures from the airplane ride to Tokyo...the first one was when the Captain announced to look out the window and we could see Mt. Fuji. I had my camera out, by chance, and got this picture.
My very favorite picture is of my brother....he was so enjoying the scenes out the window and I got this picture and he didn't even know it at the time. If you look closely you can see the outline of his face on the left side of the picture.
We were taking a bus into town to the hotel and we had to hurry to get the 2:05 as the bus only comes about once an hour and we didn't want to waste time at the airport. This is Doug and I waiting for the bus to take us to town.
We took pictures along the way and even noticed the sign for Disney World in Japan! Yep, Mickey Mouse is everywhere!!! We arrived at the hotel, which was just across the street (literally in a tower connected to the hotel) from our Japan office, and so we went to the office so I could meet Harumi, our Japan Equity Trader. Here's her picture and a picture of the entrance to the office and the office area. It was great to have the added benefit of meeting someone I work with!
Doug and I explored Friday night. We are really "roamers"...we love roaming around and looking at things. The area we went to was called Ginza and was a much bigger "Fifth Avenue" like New York City has. There were people everywhere. I had previously thought I had seen more people out on Orchard Road in Singapore than I had seen anywhere...nope, I was wrong...Tokyo had more people than I know I've ever seen at one time in one place...and they were everywhere, around every corner, in every store, literally....everywhere!!! It was strange though...most everyone was dressed in black or gray. You would look down the sidewalk and it was just a blob of gray/black. So strange. I know it was "winter" there, but still...everyone had on those colors!
The lights of the Christmas season were amazing. Doug and I were absolutely loving the cooler weather...it was about 55-65 during the day and the evenings dipped a bit lower. The people of Tokyo were bundled up in warm winter coats, hats and mittens...Doug and I were wearing long sleeve fleece jackets and enjoying what we would call "Fall" weather...Tokyo's "winter". I have no idea how far we walked on Friday night. We would turn left and go down what looked to be an alleyway, but had all kinds of shops, and then we would turn right and be on a main street. We just walked and walked and walked and suddenly we both looked at each other and said we were tired. We had no idea where we were (that's the adventure we love!) and I looked up and saw a neon light for a store I had remembered was near our hotel and so we walked towards it and we were "home". We collapsed in the hotel and slept like a rock...literally....Asian beds are hard as a rock!!!!!
Saturday morning...well, almost Saturday afternoon....we slept until 11:30 am....the hotel had blackout curtains and it was so silent that we had slept and slept and slept!!!!!!!!! Oh my!!!! Sandy (my co-worker in Singapore) was in Tokyo for work and had offered kindly to be our Tour Guide in Tokyo on the weekend. We were off....to see the magical Tokyo! The three of us went to an area that had been recommended to us and we were very much enjoying the scenery...we even stumbled upon some things we weren't expecting (were we really expecting anything specific since we had done this trip on a whim and knew nothing? Nope!)....but the sights were so beautiful.
I thoroughly enjoyed stumbling upon this "fall scene" of a sidewalk with fallen leaves....odd thing here was that the leaves weren't crunchy like they are in Iowa! But what a beautiful sight!
We walked and we walked and we walked some more! We took picture after picture and then some more pictures!!! We had forgotten to eat (yep, we just kept thinking we would see something we wanted and we'd all be hungry at the same time) so we finally headed back towards the hotel at almost 11pm...and can you believe it...in a big city there wasn't anything open that late...not even McDonalds!!!! Unfortunately we were starving by this time. We were just sure the hotel's restaurant would still be open, but as we got there they were closing. We ended up getting food at the AM/PM store (much like a very itty bitty 7-11 store). We had a loaf a bread, some butter and some cheese. It felt like fine cuisine by the time we sat down to eat at 11:30!!!! What a hoot!!! We surely would not make that mistake twice. Seems the area we were in was more of a business district (much like downtown Des Moines) and so it closes up pretty early.
Sunday morning came and we found ourselves up much earlier than we had been on Saturday. We had McDonald's breakfast and were off to an area where there would be tourist type shopping and a beautiful temple to see. I know you all know how much I love purses and I had to have one I could say I bought in Tokyo, Japan....I saw one here, but wasn't sure it was the perfect one, so I didn't buy it (big mistake). We wandered around this area for hours and I fell in love with it. It was so beautiful and I really enjoyed all the Japanese wares. We were then off on a tangent down a road and found this amazing display of lights. We walked around had a lovely afternoon. We did remember to eat...at Hard Rock, Tokyo! Too fun!!!!
Sunday evening we were meeting Yoko from the Japan office. She had come to Singapore last month (see earlier blog) and I had met her then. She was taking the three of us to an Ice Bar. Yep, you heard it here folks...in Tokyo we went into a bar and put on parkas and gloves, sat on blocks of ice and stayed for a drink. Too odd. I mean, I could do this in Iowa in the winter! But it was a unique experience and certainly something I'll remember! Odd as it was, it was fun. It was then time for...what else, food.
Yoko thought she remembered a pizza place to go to and we walked a ways to the spot she thought it was at, but it wasn't there. We went around the corner and there was one, so we went in. It was too smoky and so we decided to sit outside, but the wind was really strong and so we walked away from there (I can't imagine what the waiter must have thought was going on as we moved twice and then left!) and we ended up at Outback in Tokyo!!! Yum-o!!! We road the train back to the hotel and said good night to Yoko.
Monday was the day we would go home, but we didn't have to catch the bus to the airport until 1:45, so we were off to see more sights. Okay, the other two (Doug and Sandy) would tell you we were off on a mission to find Deb a purse!!!!! We went around an area near the hotel but it was much too rich for my pocketbook, and besides none of the purses said "Tokyo uniqueness"...so we ended up back where we had been on Saturday and I purchased the purse I should have purchased in the first place! What a dork!!!
We caught the bus to the airport and took some more lovely pictures. The flight was delayed and we were flying at night, so at least I was able to get some sleep on the plane ride home. While we waited for the plane to finally arrive we took advantage of a $200 YEN (a little over $2 USD) 10 minute massage in a chair. It was like a recliner and massaged your back, but also had something you put your calves into and it massaged them also. That was the best $200 YEN I had spent!!!!
Doug in the massage chair.
When we were on the way home, Doug and I both agreed that while it was a fast and furious trip to Japan, we are both glad we spent the money and went to do something we may never get to do again. I feel super blessed to have been able to see yet another country and see how yet another culture lives.
Below are random pictures taken throughout our trip.
We tried on kimonos in the hotel...dork Deb below!
Beautiful clouds!
Deb and Doug taking a picture of themselves in the airplane!
Doug saw this amazing wall in the middle of the "Fifth Avenue" area...it was oddly beautiful.
Mom....this one is for you...LOIS (your name) on the wall!
Cute signs...very different than the U.S.
We found this building Friday night when we were out wandering around. It was beautiful and had a clock on the top. Everything was so lit up!
This is an ATM in Japan. It looks more like a scanner. You put your card in, then there is a screen on the bottom, I suppose so no one behind you can see what you are doing) and then the money comes out in this little "hole" and you have to grab it...I was afraid it would get my hand! Very different!
My favorite Christmas tree we saw...I love RED!!!!
This sculpture was outside a Starbucks. It was really cool.
And it was even cooler when Doug got on the other side and put his face in the hole and I took this picture. I love the reflection it made.
The Salvation Army is everywhere...even in Japan. This was a bell ringer at the red pot. I put money in and they gave me a beautiful handout on all they would be doing in the coming year to help people. The gentleman said "Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" and then he bowed to me.
When we were out walking on Saturday we came upon this area. We believe it was a "health center" but are not positive. The sun was shining beautifully on the building.
Someone took our picture...Sandy, Doug and I....the sun was bright!!!
I caught this picture of my brother when he wasn't looking...isn't he handsome!!!
This is a walkway across a very busy road. They are all over Japan.
At the top of one of the walkways we could see down into the outdoor train station. I thought it was interesting to see all the people waiting for the train.
We went along the road and all of the sudden we saw GOLD's GYM....we were excited to take this picture because Zac (my son) works at Gold's Gym in West Des Moines. It was in a shopping mall high rise building and occupied at least three floors! Zac...look for a package in the mail from me...it's from Gold's Gym!!!! :)
Along the way we saw this display on some steps. There was shiny silver paper on the steps, candles and a wire with more shiny silver paper made into a flower on them. It was a beautiful sight (picture does NOT do it justice).
We went up to take pictures and two ladies were leading you towards another display. It was basically the same, but was beautiful also. I got real close to one of the flowers and took a picture...and this is what it looked like with the light hitting the shiny silver paper.
I'm not a "typical photographer" when I'm out looking at things. I didn't take a lot of pictures of the people or Christmas decorations. I'm more of the type of photographer that goes off the beaten path and tries to find something others might not see. As I journeyed down an alley to take a picture of a wall (which didn't really turn out at all), I saw this door...and my brother loves doorways...so here it is.
But on occassion I did take the typical Christmas light pictures. This was an archway between two buildings...they put coffee shops everywhere!
We found this to be very funny...in the hub bub of all the pedestrian traffic, here was a man, stanidng by the walkway with a TV at his feet...not a new one or there would have been a box! You don't see that everyday!
The trees were beautiful and this one was lit so I took a picture from the bottom looking up.
Doug and I on the Tokyo subway.
Saturday we were out walking around in a very "tourist" area. I saw this man sitting beside the building and drawing. First I took a picture from the front.
Then from the side so I could see what he was doing.
Then I took a picture of what he was drawing. It was amazing...there were people everywhere and here he sat in his own solitude, enjoying himself. I could certainly learn a lesson from him on how to relax even in the midst of hustle and bustle!
And further back behind the opening was the Asakusa Temple.
Of course people were taking a lot of pictures of the temple, but I was noticing the trees!
And there was a beautiful clock and fall tree beside the temple...
This was the entry to the "tourist" shopping. Everything here is well marked and with such detail.
Sandy was goofing around in the subway as we were trying to find our way around...and I caught it on film!!!
I was taking a picture of some "circles" on a wall (yes, I love geometric shapes) and this security guard was watching me, but I didn't know it. He and Sandy had a conversation about me taking odd photos, but I didn't know that either. Then we were waiting for the crosswalk sign to change and I looked at him and he smiled, so I took his picture. Then Sandy told me about his conversation.
As we were walking around we found this scuplure and had our picture taken. Later we saw a boy with his arms spread wide and he was trying to look like something out of the "Matrix" movie...it was cute.
I saw this billboard and took it for you...currency team in DSM....
This seating area (something you rarely see in Singapore, but we saw quite a bit of it in Japan) was very beautiful. I enjoyed the line up of the lamps.
The sky was beautiful and I came upon this sculpture that was barely lit...the contrast is amazing.
The above sculpture was in a mall area that had amazing Christmas lights. I think the above sculpture was just "forgotten" because it's there all the time. Below is a sculpture that was brougth in for the holidays. It was beautiful from the outside but you could go inside and take a picture and it was like being inside a kaledoscope.
My brother and I travel together each year and we have found that we always find a Hard Rock...so here's the one in Tokyo...and yes, we ate there! But we were in Japan, so it was considered "foreign food"...so I can say I ate "foreign food"! :)
Someone took our picture...Sandy, Doug and I....the sun was bright!!!
I caught this picture of my brother when he wasn't looking...isn't he handsome!!!
This is a walkway across a very busy road. They are all over Japan.
At the top of one of the walkways we could see down into the outdoor train station. I thought it was interesting to see all the people waiting for the train.
We went along the road and all of the sudden we saw GOLD's GYM....we were excited to take this picture because Zac (my son) works at Gold's Gym in West Des Moines. It was in a shopping mall high rise building and occupied at least three floors! Zac...look for a package in the mail from me...it's from Gold's Gym!!!! :)
Along the way we saw this display on some steps. There was shiny silver paper on the steps, candles and a wire with more shiny silver paper made into a flower on them. It was a beautiful sight (picture does NOT do it justice).
We went up to take pictures and two ladies were leading you towards another display. It was basically the same, but was beautiful also. I got real close to one of the flowers and took a picture...and this is what it looked like with the light hitting the shiny silver paper.
I'm not a "typical photographer" when I'm out looking at things. I didn't take a lot of pictures of the people or Christmas decorations. I'm more of the type of photographer that goes off the beaten path and tries to find something others might not see. As I journeyed down an alley to take a picture of a wall (which didn't really turn out at all), I saw this door...and my brother loves doorways...so here it is.
But on occassion I did take the typical Christmas light pictures. This was an archway between two buildings...they put coffee shops everywhere!
We found this to be very funny...in the hub bub of all the pedestrian traffic, here was a man, stanidng by the walkway with a TV at his feet...not a new one or there would have been a box! You don't see that everyday!
The trees were beautiful and this one was lit so I took a picture from the bottom looking up.
Doug and I on the Tokyo subway.
Saturday we were out walking around in a very "tourist" area. I saw this man sitting beside the building and drawing. First I took a picture from the front.
Then from the side so I could see what he was doing.
Then I took a picture of what he was drawing. It was amazing...there were people everywhere and here he sat in his own solitude, enjoying himself. I could certainly learn a lesson from him on how to relax even in the midst of hustle and bustle!
And further back behind the opening was the Asakusa Temple.
Of course people were taking a lot of pictures of the temple, but I was noticing the trees!
And there was a beautiful clock and fall tree beside the temple...
This was the entry to the "tourist" shopping. Everything here is well marked and with such detail.
Sandy was goofing around in the subway as we were trying to find our way around...and I caught it on film!!!
I was taking a picture of some "circles" on a wall (yes, I love geometric shapes) and this security guard was watching me, but I didn't know it. He and Sandy had a conversation about me taking odd photos, but I didn't know that either. Then we were waiting for the crosswalk sign to change and I looked at him and he smiled, so I took his picture. Then Sandy told me about his conversation.
As we were walking around we found this scuplure and had our picture taken. Later we saw a boy with his arms spread wide and he was trying to look like something out of the "Matrix" movie...it was cute.
I saw this billboard and took it for you...currency team in DSM....
This seating area (something you rarely see in Singapore, but we saw quite a bit of it in Japan) was very beautiful. I enjoyed the line up of the lamps.
The sky was beautiful and I came upon this sculpture that was barely lit...the contrast is amazing.
The above sculpture was in a mall area that had amazing Christmas lights. I think the above sculpture was just "forgotten" because it's there all the time. Below is a sculpture that was brougth in for the holidays. It was beautiful from the outside but you could go inside and take a picture and it was like being inside a kaledoscope.
My brother and I travel together each year and we have found that we always find a Hard Rock...so here's the one in Tokyo...and yes, we ate there! But we were in Japan, so it was considered "foreign food"...so I can say I ate "foreign food"! :)
This is a picture inside the hotel. These two ladies were having their pictures taken and because they were dressed in true Japanese attire, I took their picture also!
Across the street from the hotel was a park called Hibiya Park. We went for a walk there and the sites were beautiful. I especially liked this building with a clock that was just on the outskirts of the park. I thought the trees in the foreground made it look neater!
Across the street from the park was this neat fountain. It was all black...but for about four or five blue stones in it...Doug noticed right away since blue is his favorite color!!!
These park benches were in Hibiya Park. They had face plates on them, much like those at the Iowa State Fair, so I can only imgaine they were "dedicated" or "in honor" of someone...since the words were in a different language, I'm only guessing.
There were workers everywhere in the park working on flower beds and raking leaves. This man was raking leaves and this was his cart where he put the leaves when he was done.
I love telephone booths..maybe because I'm old and grew up with them...anyway, you just don't see them in the U.S. anymore, but they were all around Asia. And since I love "geometric" shapes, these were very pleasing to the eye!
This was a HUGE bridge we went over on our way to the airport.
This is a bottle of Coke...isn't it odd. We couldn't find PEPSI in Japan...ugh!!!!
Across the street from the hotel was a park called Hibiya Park. We went for a walk there and the sites were beautiful. I especially liked this building with a clock that was just on the outskirts of the park. I thought the trees in the foreground made it look neater!
Across the street from the park was this neat fountain. It was all black...but for about four or five blue stones in it...Doug noticed right away since blue is his favorite color!!!
These park benches were in Hibiya Park. They had face plates on them, much like those at the Iowa State Fair, so I can only imgaine they were "dedicated" or "in honor" of someone...since the words were in a different language, I'm only guessing.
There were workers everywhere in the park working on flower beds and raking leaves. This man was raking leaves and this was his cart where he put the leaves when he was done.
I love telephone booths..maybe because I'm old and grew up with them...anyway, you just don't see them in the U.S. anymore, but they were all around Asia. And since I love "geometric" shapes, these were very pleasing to the eye!
This was a HUGE bridge we went over on our way to the airport.
This is a bottle of Coke...isn't it odd. We couldn't find PEPSI in Japan...ugh!!!!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures of my trip to Japan...these are only a few of the more than one thousand we took....we love digital camers...no worries if you don't like the picture and you don't have to pay to have them developed to see what you have!!!!
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