Tokyo, Japan: 35.6895° N, 139.6917° E

I planned to post these pictures a while ago but what happened was……

True story. I sat down in my living room with my SD card to upload my pictures from my trip to Japan in my laptop. I pushed the card into the slot and it popped out and went flying past me. I’m pretty sure I saw where it landed further down my couch so I started looking for it.  I checked behind the cushions I pat, pat, patted and slid my hands down the seams. No SD card. I got up, I turned on all of the lights and took off the TV because you know I needed to concentrate. I moved all the cushions and I checked where I was sitting. I checked the laptop to see if maybe by some strange trick of physics it ended up back in there. Nope. Nothing in the laptop. I went to the kitchen, I got a broom I got on my hands and knees and I slid the broom under the couch and back and…. nothing but dust. I went to my bedroom and got a pen flashlight. I tried the pat, pat slide thing again down the sides this time with the flashlight shining. I saw nothing but some hairpins and some assorted crumbs.(Before you judge me I challenge you to check the creases of your couch with a flashlight ).  I was in an all out battle with the universe. I was going to find that SD card if it killed me. So I tipped the couch on it’s side and pulled out the flashlight again to see if it got stuck on the bottom of the couch. Nothing. I felt like Gollum in Lord of The Rings. I could sense my SD card, my precious but I couldn’t find it. To make a rambling story short I had to cut out a small piece of the bottom lining of the couch to find the card. I had no choice. There’s no telling if I will ever get back to that part of the world so there was no way I was going to let my couch eat all the memories I captured.

So as you can imagine I was exhausted, disgusted and slightly traumatized by the whole ordeal.  I blamed my laptop for everything. My anger at is starting to subside so I think I’m ready to start posting again.

Mount Fuji peeking through the clouds Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi below are a day trip outside of Tokyo but I loved those two pics so I added them here.

Lake Kawaguchi

Spotted at a shrine in Tokyo.  I think those are prayers hanging from the rods.

Shibuya Crossing

Architecture on the way to the Imperial Palace

Joggers running around the moat at the Imperial Palace/Edo Castle

Aoyama Cemetery

#cantbebothered panda

I had planned to visit Japan years ago but was scared off by talk about it being a tough place for a vegetarian to visit. I traveled with a carnivore but for the record I found plenty of non-meat options while I was there including a great meal at a vegan restaurant. The people were unfailing polite but reserved. I don’t speak Japanese and I don’t read Kanji but I had no problems getting around. The subway lines are clearly marked and there was always an English speaker available for any questions. I loved how clean everything was.  Tokyo is a big city and it was spotless. I made a quick stop in New York before heading to Japan and the contrast with regards to cleanliness was striking.

I spent half of my time in Tokyo and the rest in Kyoto. In Tokyo our base was the Roppongi/Azabu area which was great for people watching before we headed out to do touristy things.  Some of the things I noted while in Japan were –

• Their bathrooms are the best in the world. I’m not talking about the hotel bathrooms. I’m talking about the public bathrooms that the masses use. Who knew a toilet could have that many options? Don’t get me started on the choices for a personal musical soundtrack as you handle whatever you need to in the stalls. One thing to point out though is that most of the restrooms do not have paper dispensers to dry your hands. It was explained to me that locals carry a small personal towel/scarf/kerchief for that purpose with them at all times which cuts down on waste.  

• Everything is on time. If the bus is supposed to leave at 6:30. At 6:32 don’t stand at the stop looking confused because the bus has come and gone.  

• They love their vending machines. They are everywhere. 

• The bike game there is something proper. I saw plenty of fashionistas in their red bottom heels stylishly pedaling down the street with their Goyard and Chanel purses slung across their shoulders

I had a great time and I would definitely go back. Thanks for reading.  More to come….

Stardate :1412.11