though the decision to arrive here was not an easy one.
We're down to earth folk, used to the simple life. Just five months ago we were still enjoying the unadulterated bliss of cruising on our 43' ketch, Maracujá in the Bahamas. Bahamas, the land of leisurely island hopping sails, pink sand beaches, reef diving and sundowners with friends. So many incredible moments linger in our memories as we look back on our boat life. Five months ago! Wow, it seems like a life time already. Since then we've packed up, buttoned up and laced up the long dreaded formal footwear to come to Japan and work our asses off. We decided to trade our bathing suits for business ones for a while to build up that retirement fund, which will allow us to go back to cruising in the long run. As much as we hate to put our boat life on hold, it's a sacrifice worth making, especially that we get to build up our future cruising kitty in a place like Tokyo. I don't think we could have picked a place with a vibe that's further removed from that of our previous lifestyle. This city is surreal. It is modern, technologically advanced, clean, organized, safe and everything seems to operate with the fluidity and efficiency of a singing toilet. Yep, Japan has singing toilets. We've read that 4% of Japan's energy consumption goes to operation of electronically powered toilets which enhance your bathroom-going experience with deodorizers and sounds of bird song or a waterfall, if one prefers, to mask more embarrassing sounds. Add to that a heated seat, an automatic lid opening and closing function, adjustable bidet spray stream and you've got yourself the cadillac of toilet bowls. No home is complete without one. Our apartment has one that senses when a person approaches and lifts the lid in anticipation, quite presumptuously at times, in fact. We've been here a week and by now Tata, as we have affectionately nick named the toilet, definitely feels like a presence in the bathroom. It beeps enthusiastically and opens up to greet us in the morning. We can't help but say 'good morning' back to Tata.
We're still taking it all in, and doing so floating high on the 11th floor of our apartment in the heart of the financial district of Tokyo, Marunouchi.
The city is enormous, beyond our current comprehension. We haven't had a chance to explore more than a few nearby neighborhoods so far. One of the biggest Tokyo attractions, the Imperial Palace and the surrounding gardens are just around the corner.
 |
| A pedestrian chill zone, blocked off from traffic |
 |
| A Buddhist Shrine tucked between apartment buildings |
Colorful Food Trucks and Art Installation in Metro Square
This restaurant that seems to have survived the demolition of its neighbors.
At first glance everything in Marunouchi looks polished. I mean obsessive-compulsive type o of polished. From dainty, elegant women in frilly skirts and dresses, to construction equipment that looks like it just came out of the box. The streets and green spaces are really well manicured and maintained. One of the things that really stood out to me is how great and flawless the pavement is. Riding in the taxi from Haneda Airport I commented: "Oh, wow! The road's so smooth, it's like driving on velvet." Another thing that struck me is how stark white and bright all the street markings are. I mused on how often they must repaint them to keep them looking spotless, and on Sunday, no more than 24 hours after we arrived, we watched a team of workers block off a section of perfectly white pedestrian crossing stripes to give it a once over with fresh paint. On a Sunday! Oh, and construction sites measure and display the amount of noise pollution they're emitting in dB, so that you, as a resident, can gauge just how much inconvenience the site activity is causing you.
The Japanese don't mess around. They have robots do the mundane job of greeting you at the store entrance so they can focus on more important tasks.
They work hard and when it comes to play they sure know how to bring it. Yesterday we visited Akihabara, the games and technology district of Tokyo. This is where young and old come to recharge their batteries, amidst casinos, electronics markets, anime cafes and figurine stores. It is where you can meet and be entertained by your favorite anime character in bars and role-play fantasy lounges.
Gabe's wet dream came true when we strolled through the HAM radio section of the electronics market. Here he is in front of an array of cables and capacitors. Yep, I love my nerd!
No comments:
Post a Comment