Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Sayonara Tokyo!

Tokyo Day 3:

Ohayo Gozaimasu!

Today is our last day in Tokyo and I must say that our trip has gone pretty fast. We’ve managed to pack a lot into the past two days though, and today is going to be no different. We have to check out at 10:00 am but the flight back to Sapporo isn’t until 9:30 tonight, so we leave our bags at the hotel and head off.

First stop: The Honda centre!

Phil wants to take a quick look at the cars that they have, but as we enter who do we see!??? Asimo!!! Wooohoo! :D Cool! A party of high school boys are sitting in front of a small staged area, looking rather bored at the presentation in front of them (I suppose as Japan is probably the centre of the robot kingdom, this kind of hi technology is commonplace!) and as Asimo does his thing I stand and watch (all excited like a small child hehehe!) while taking video footage. I stand transfixed as Asimo talks, dances, stands on one leg, walks backwards and lots of other stuff.

At the end of the presentation, the Honda lady (who was controlling Asimo from the side) invites the boys onto the stage for a photo opportunity. Can we have one too!??? I think, but although she looks over at us, the invitation is not forthcoming :(

Presentation over, we take a quick look around the rest of the centre (picking up a few brochures, as Phil gets far too comfy in a nice blue car!) We leave (still buzzing from seeing Asimo in the flesh...well, technically it's metal but you know what I mean) and make our way down to Aoyama Cemetery to have a look around.

We pick our way through the cemetery looking at the numerous grave stones and monuments. The weather today is rather hot and humid, so we try to find somewhere to sit and rest. Amazingly (for a cemetery) we can find no seats anywhere, so we find the nearest shady spot to stop, take a drink and rest.

Next it’s off to the Nogi Shrine.

This is where General Nogi and his wife famously committed suicide after the death of the Meiji Emperor in 1912 to show their loyalty. Visitors are only allowed inside on one day of the year (Phil, correct me if I'm wrong!) but you can look through the window at the actual spot where it happened.

One short walk along a busy road later and we come to Roppongi, a big entertainment area with many bars and clubs (many of them looking like they're frequented by ladies wearing not many clothes if you know what I mean!)

I don’t know whether it’s the heat and humidity that’s adding to the feeling, but it doesn’t really seem like I'm in Tokyo here. I’ve never been to Singapore, but I can imagine it to be pretty much like this for some strange reason.

We find the Tokyo Tower (not that difficult as it er…towers above most other buildings) and have a look around the souvenir stalls selling all manner of “quality” items (“Hello Kitty dressed as Godzilla climbing up the Tokyo Tower mobile phone dangly thing anyone?” Actually I wish now that I had got one)

Unfortunately we don’t have time to go up inside, but it’s probably a good thing as we’re both so overwhelmed by the craftsmanship of the items for sale that a trip up the tower would probably be too much excitement for us :D

To calm ourselves down, we make a detour to Daimon, where we pick up a bite to eat in a convenience store and have lunch in a little seated area across the road from the temple that we’re going to see this afternoon. With lunch over and done with we head over to the temple. This place is huge. Probably one of the most impressive places that I’ve seen so far.

In the grounds of the temple are small Jizo-san. These are stone statues that guard the temple. All of them are wearing small knitted hats with a child’s bib secured firmly around the neck. I find out from Phil that these statues represent the souls of deceased children, with people “adopting” them, dressing them up and leaving small offerings. These statues are very cute when you see them, but it’s very sad when you realise what they signify.

Next stop Tokyo Station, and the 35th floor of the Marunouchi building with breathtaking views of Tokyo. Lots of pictures later and with time now running short, we meet up with Mayu (hello Mayu!) a friend of Phil and take a walk to the edge of the Imperial Palace. It’s now started to rain quite heavily, so one walk up to the gates and back before we all head to the station.

By the time we reach the hotel to pick up our bags and make our way to the Airport, the skies have opened. We collect our stuff from behind reception (who also kindly give us towels to help us dry off a bit! Thank you!!!) and say good bye to Tokyo.

A quick dash to the station (not easy with heavy bags!) before we catch the monorail back to Haneda, amusing ourselves (actually it was only me! LOL!) on the journey by pulling silly faces at a small child.

Go through the usual airporty stuff (Yay! Airporty!) which also includes a one hour delay (because of the weather) before we actually take off, but as we get to fly back to Sapporo on the ANA Pikachu plane, I forgive them!

Luckily, we get good seats on the plane (exit seat by the window! Wooo!) and settle down for the flight ahead.

It’s only a minute or two before the stewardess comes over and asks us if we want a drink (completely ignoring the businessman at the end or our row, much to his annoyance! LOL!) and as she takes her seat for take off (she’s sitting opposite) we notice that she's listening into our conversation, but trying very hard not to look as if she is listening. We also notice her trying not to laugh as we chat about everything from plane crashes to blinding yourself by accident while trying to remove boiled sweets from the wrapper.

I don’t know her name, but if you are or know the stewardess who was on the ANA Pickachu flight from Tokyo to Sapporo (the last one of the day on the 24th May) who had to spend part of the flight sitting opposite two strange English guys talking rubbish, then email me and say hi!

To cut a long story short, we take off, fly over Japan for a bit, land, get off the plane (I manage to get two ANA Pikachu cups for souvenirs!) get on the train and go back to Sapporo. Phew!

I head off back to Phil’s place to pick up my case (and finally give him his salt and vinegar crisps! LOL!) and he kindly shows me the way to Toyoko Inn (Susukino) my second hotel in Sapporo.

Time for a quick cup of tea, then off to bed exausted...

(-_-) ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!

4 Comments:

Blogger Eriko said...

Does Asimo talk?! I didn't know that. I want to see him(?).

6:19 AM  
Blogger Colin said...

He speaks in quite a high pitched almost feminine way which sounds kind of like a small child who has breathed Helium talking while trying to gargle water at the same time. Sort of.

Saying that, "he" could actually be a "she" I just assumed the sex was male (although I don't think that anyone has ever specified either way, and there are no outwardly visible indicators!)

Any confirmation would be greatly appreciated!

Hoping to put the video footage somewhere sometime!

7:04 AM  
Blogger Eriko said...

I think Asimo is male.
I just wondered if I should call Asimo "it".

5:57 PM  
Blogger Colin said...

Hmmm...You might hurt his feelings!

LOL!

:D

2:26 AM  

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