Old Travel Diary — The Land of the Rising Sun

Late Winter Night at Office

19 July 2009 at 23:02

The clock on my desk was ticking past 10 PM. I could feel the storm, battering the office windows. I was still at work, slogging through the presentation for the client. My eyes were strained from staring at the empty computer screen for hours.

My mate, Goey calls me:

Goey: “let’s go to Japan for a holiday man!”
Me: “Why the hell would you want to go to Japan?”
Goey: “To find you a homely Japanese girl man! The Japanese chicks dig Aussies, man”
Me: “For god sake, I am a brown boy, not an effing Aussie mate! But let’s go!”

While, I would not consider Goey as an authority on Japanese girls, these days, he does have an entourage of good-looking curry girls around him so I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

With quick decision-making and with scant regard for budget and seasonality, we set our sights on Japan.

23 July 2009 at 03:09

Geeking out in Akihabara

24 July 2009 at 01:49

Shankar: Goey, do your bloody the blog man!.
Gohulan: You’re on a holiday. Will you relax?
Shankar: I will effing relax… I will just put up some photos then.

I apologise for Goey’s diva behaviour and not doing the blog, he thinks he’s an artist. Apparently, Chet and Goey are having domestic problems with each other.

We heard about Akihabara and jumped on the Sobu Line. If Japanese ever award Connex a contract to run their train system, Goey and I took a vow to personally put in bid to stop it. Their train system system is simple and efficent, just like string hoppers.

Akihabara is a suburb just outisde the central Tokyo, known for its electronic discount stores, manga and hentai (btw, Radhaa mate, we got you the copy of hentai you wanted… don’t worry I will not mention it to Meg).

Manga Girls

Akihabara is full of Japanese girls dressed up …. (looking for the right word..) in slightly creative clothes. I believe Faeez once took the creative freedom to wear these clothes to his Year 10 formal. But this is a reflection on Faeez, not Scotch.

Cool Music Bar

We trawling through down Akihabara, Gohulan heard some funky looking music. We pulled out a chair and ordered some drinks (which for Goey is a Mocha with one sugar. This is very manly).

Gohulan: “Shankar, what is the meaning of your existence?”
Shankar: “Jesus! We are on a holiday man. Just effing relax!”

Shinjuku

On the way back from Akihabara, we spotted cosy eatery at the Shinjuku Station.

Goey and I made meal of the Tempura. We just had trouble walking back home.

Gohulan: Like the food? 
Shankar: It’s orgasmic! 
Gohulan: ….

Food in Japan is absolutely sensational!

Goey finally writes a blog!!

26 July 2009 at 16:05

Gohulan was too lazy to post the blog himself. I had to post it.

Here it is….

First of all I would like to state that I have been forced to write this blog under threat of physical (possibly sexual) harm.

Second of all I would like to add that travelling with Shankar is not the biggest mistake of my life. Definitely not. It just runs a close second to putting my life savings into that mail order thosai business with Radhaa. (extra 50c for sambal)

Today was interesting. I woke this morning to,

Shankar: GOEY. OMG. It’s 11! 
Goey: Shankar. Its clearly 9. 
Shankar: …GOEY. OMG. ITS ALMOST 11! 
Goey: (Sigh)

Shankar has basically organised and categorised every minute of our 2 weeks here. He even breaks out in rashes when we don’t follow the Lonely Planet guides itinerary. I have made it my mission this holiday to destroy his carefully laid plans. Today we were supposed to do some very stupid sounding Shinjuku walk followed by a fish market “excapade” and ending up with a tradition Japanese dinner…as opposed to the non-traditional Japanese dinner that he seems to strongly suspect that I keep conspiring to have.

Anyway, I went back to sleep, 10% because I was sleepy, 90% to piss off Shankar, eventually rose, and Shankar was showered, changed and pacing at the foot of our extremely small room. (Its so small that “pacing” basically is a variant of the hokey pokey — putting one foot in, taking one foot out).

We eventually headed out to brunch. One of the great things about the area we’re in (Shinjuku) is the abundance of these small eateries that seat about 10 ppl each, run by what appears to be families. We stepped into the first one and a very happy elderly Grandma rushed up to us like a pokemon on E.

Elderly Grandma: KONICIWA!!! 
Shankar: (fumbles with his Japanese phrase book) 
Elderely Grandma: Konichiwa! 
Shankar: (further fumbling) 
Elderly Grandma: Konichiwa??? 
Shankar: ….f$%k. AH! HERE IT IS. KONICHIWA!!!!

We finally sat down after several interesting mis-communications between Shankar and the grandma, I’m sure at one point Shankar accidentally asked her out.

I humbly requested the menu and the lovely grandma pointed to the wall covered in Japanese text.

Shankar: Hey Goey man, what does that say? 
Goey: …are you serious?

We bit the bullet and I randomly ordered two of the first item. We ended up with a brilliant tempura Udon and the grandma at one point ended up feeding me. I don’t know why, but this always freaking seems to happen to me here. Shankar found this hilarious and proceeded to photo-document every minute. Douchebag.

After I let him down gently that I had no intention on going on his stupid Shinjuku walk. Or any walk for that matter. We opted to spend the day in Harijuku, which is apparently the Japanese shopping Mecca. The actual area itself didn’t really feel anything special, but you notice a change in the type of people in the area almost instantly. The station itself was filled with black waist coats and smelt of nail polish. After spending 2 hours in the first store and sending up a fair sum of yen poorer, we started to fall in love with the place. One of my favourite things in Japan so far has been the fashion and particularly the variety that caters to good range of esoteric tastes. We then headed for the nearest cafe and had a monumental life changing conversation about suspenders and their impact on Loveless’ winter line up, and may have discussed, life, love and the future in the middle somewhere.

Another really interesting thing about Harijuku and actually a fair part of where we’ve been so far is the influence of European culture. French cafes seem to litter alleyways nestled in between designer labels. No-ones complaining, because you need at least several coffee’s to put up with Shankar energiser bunny type antics.

Several boutique stores later, and even more yen poorer, we found ourselves at a tiny boutique store at 8pm. The store was called Nanette Lepore and had a very sickly pink glow about it. Nothing good comes out of a pink glow (Refer: Powerpuff girls).

I busied myself looking around the store trying to ignore Shankar’s enthusiastic attempts at conversation with lady at the counter. I turned around to see Shankar leaning forward across the counter, smitten, asking her in Japanese:

“How much is your monkey”

He saw me turning and dragged me over to take a photo with him infront of a mirror, this not sufficing, we had to take another one with the poor shop attendant as well, who by this stage was probably terribly confused as to why Shankar was trying to purchase her monkey.

We ambled home, shopping bags in hand, discussing once again, life, love and suspenders and Shankar’s new found infatuation with the Japanese culture.

Understated Elegance

27 July 2009 at 00:31

Boulevards of Harajuku and Aoyama

Now for what really happened.

We headed off to Harajuku to check out the latest in Japanese fashion. Harajuku and Aoyama are the fashion capitals of Tokyo. The exclusive designer labels and bouqitues line the street of Omote-sando.

Heart-warming Food

Getting Goey to do something is probably toughest thing on the holiday. Goey’s idea of a great holiday is talking to Chet and Dilini on gmail all day, bobbing his head up and down to Emimen’s music on youTube and ordering room service.

While on our way to Harajuku, we spotted old-style looking eatery. The menu hang on the wall. The interior was minimalist.

A small lady greeted us with a big smile. Wrinkles on her face suggested she might be edging towards 70 years of age. For an old lady, she had a lot of enthusiasm.

We did not understand the menu. So I pulled out my Japan Phrasebook.

Shankar (in the fobbiest accent): Na-ni ga o su su me des ka?

She pointed at something on the menu. We nodded our head.

Gohulan: Did we order something just then? 
Shankar: I think we did. 
Gohulan: Are you sure? I am bloody hungry. 
Shankar: Goey, relax. We are on a holiday mate.

Ten mintues later, the old lady brought out the food with a big smile. She tried to explain how to eat this Japanese delicacy using hand signals. She had such a nurturing mannerism like a mother.

Gohulan: Shankar, I can’t eat with chopsticks. Ask for one. 
Shankar: We are not in Glen Waverley mate!

Goey pointed at the chopstick and somehow managed to communicate to her that he needed a fork. Lady brought a pink fork that babies use, complete with the stickers of little animals. It was so fitting.

Then she almost proceeded to feed him!

The food was awesome! Japanese food gives you a bit of kick.

Gohulan (to the lady): Nice food! 
Lady: Ah!@% 
Shankar: Idiot! You scared her. 
Shankar: Oy-shi-kat-ta

Lady broke out in a massive laughter and bowed about hundred times. The Japanese people are such a welcoming people. They love hosting guests. We bid farewell to the old lady.

Goey wanted to hug her, but I had to restrain him.

Fashion Labels We liked

We jumped on Yashomoite Line to Harajuku. Omote-sando was lined with the exclusive designer labels and bouqitues.

We stormed into Zara Shop. At one point, they had to close down counter for about half an hour so that they could serve us.

I love the young Japanese “salary men” look. It consists of crispy white shirt, slim fitted suit and skinny black tie. It gives Japanese yuppies a smart look. The guy who was serving us at Zara probably exempleifed the look. Natrually, Goey did have a crack at him. At point, Goey and him disappeared into the dressing room for a while.

Loveless

Ura-Hara or the alley ways that run off Omote-sando have some great cafes and boutique shops.

I heard about the French style cafe, Las Chicas. I eventually managed to convince Goey that we should not eat at Maccas. The cafe was bit to hard to spot. It was worth long walk and shit I was getting from Goey making him walk. We reflected over a coffee and nice dinner.

After long day of trying out new collections of styles, we headed back to Shinjuku on a crammed train. Goey was rushing back to the hotel so that he could chat to Chet on gmail.

Sensō-ji and the Onsen Experience

8 August 2009 at 13:33

The Onsen Experience

Onsen is the Japanese word for hot water spring. Japan is literally sitting on top of massive hot springs.

For centuries, the Japanese having been enjoying relaxing baths in onsen. If it is not possible go to onsen, they go to “sento”. Sento is a public bath. Men and Women strip down and dip into hot water. Separately of course. Taking a public bath is truly a Japanese thing to do. Probably the only thing in Japanese culture that has not been influenced by others.

There is nothing like living it up like the locals when you are overseas. So I decided to head to a little neighbourhood onsen in Jakotsu-yu.

Shankar: Goey, let’s go to Onsen.
Gohulan: Is that a RnB club in Rippgoni?
Shankar (shaking my head): It is a public bath dude! Taking a bath in onsen is the closest you can get to being a Japanese.
Gohulan: Bugger off! I am not taking my clothes off in front of other guys. Nah man. I am not coming!!

I tried to convince him that the public bath was for both sexes. But the fear of taking a bath in his natural elements with other fellas griped Goey.

So I decided to go on my own.

Jakotsu-yu Onsen

I jumped on the sub way and got off at Tawaramachi and navigated my way through little alleys way to find the Jakotsu-yu Onsen hidden away in a narrow alley. Jakotsu-yu is in the historic suburb of Asakura. Apparently, it has been there for more than 100 years old from the Edo Period.

I stepped into the sento. An old Japanese guy manned the reception. As I stepped in, he suddenly jumped out of his chair and started running towards me, screaming something in Japanese. It was as if I had killed someone. Well I came close to killing Goey few times. Then I figured out, I was not supposed to enter the reception with my shoes on!

The guys spoke no English. I figured out there was a machine. I pushed a few buttons to pay the fee, buy soap and borrow towel.

Once I got inside the change room, I stripped down to my Mossimo. As I was putting away my stuffs in the locker, this elderly Japanese guy started saying something. He was offering me his little hand towel. I politely declined his kind offer. At this point, I realised I needed a hand towel. Another push on the button to buy hand towel.

I put on my birth-day suit. I entered the bath area. Sento had a nice garden setting around the bath. There was dozens of Japanese men of all ages and background in their natural elements. It was a scene fit for a Chet’s poem.

It was bit weird seeing two guys by the garden engaging in a deep conversation. It was a bit like Adam and Eve. Well in this case, Adam and Steve.

Among many the yellow skinned guys, a tanned guy like me stood out like a sore thumb. I got the feeling these guys had not seen a brown guy at sento before. Just like the locals, I grabbed a little plastic stool to squat and rinse myself before I slowly dipped into the bath. Water was HOT! It was 45 degrees! I slowly drowned myself in the dark tea-coloured water. Apparently mineral rich water is really healthy for body. I slowly got used to the temperature. After soaking in there for ten minutes, I was feeling very sedative.

Then I noticed the locals jumped out of the inside baths and dipped in another bath. I eagerly jumped in. It was absolutely freezing. The cold water sent this indescribable sensation up the spine. But it was very soothing though. I haven’t felt so relaxed and calm like this for a long time. My muscles loosened up and skin was really pretty pale.

Sensō-ji temple

To cap it off, I went to the Senso-ji temple just like the locals did. Sensō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple. I rubbed incense that was rising out of the large cauldron in the middle of the temple. It was a very spiritual experience indeed.

After the first few days of heavy blogging on facebook, we got so much into exploring Japan, we had no time for any blogs!

We headed to Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Himeji!

But nothing beats spotting a real-life Geisha in Shinbashi Dori District in Kyoto!

Reading back over these old travel journals, I realised how lost and immature we were, but also how far we have become in life. I guess old Journals can be good for the soul sometimes!