So Obon was last week and it was by far the BEST week I've had since arriving in Japan. We did so much and I got to see my training peeps! I had 3 people come stay with me during the week and we met up with a couple others in Tokyo. It was so great seeing them after so many weeks of short messages and texting. It was kinda strange since we had done so much together during training. I was really glad we had this opportunity to meet up again so soon after parting ways. The next time won't be until New Year's and then it'll be different people - the ones who couldn't come this time so that'll be great!
Day 1 - One of the girls came Monday night and we decided to check out the restaurant floor in my mall. So far in Japan, I haven't found food that I really liked UNTIL Obon week. I tried so many different things and found some definite faves. In the mall, we went to an Indonesian restaurant. I ordered shrimp fried rice with egg and my friend got a spicy seafood curry with rice. They were both delicious. I went back twice more that week and found out I get a discount b/c I'm a mall employee - score! Then we saw The Dark Knight Rises. I had already seen it but my friend hadn't and I wanted to see it again. I am in LOVE with Bane and his accent and whole character. I was a very happy person that night.
Day 2 - After a harrowing and long and lost journey another friend made it to my place and we headed out to meet up with the others in Harujuku. After spending only a few hours there I have deciced I love Harujuku. It blows Shibuya out of the water! Shibuya is nice but Haru is so much better. The stores are cool, the people are so unique, and I wanted to buy absolutely everything I saw! The harujuku dresses you see the girls dress up in are amazing and so cute. I'm planning on getting one for Halloween, hopefully. The only thing is you can't try them on in the store so you take your chances with the "one size fits all" rule. Ganbatte to me! :)
We walked around, made some cool purchases (including a friend that bought one of the dresses) and made our way to Shinjuku. On our way to the train we visited a beautiful shrine . It was quite a walk down this gravelly path but it was so peaceful. You could barely tell you were in Harujuku - it seemed so removed. That's why Japan is so nice - you can escape the busy life and explore traditional Japan so easily. It's such a wonderful balance and something I am looking forward to doing more and more. The shrine was gorgeous and had such intricate woodwork on the gates and buildings it's difficult to believe they did this hundreds of years ago without the tools we have today - true artists!
We made it to Shinjuku and that was also great! We saw some crazy stores - including a huge store that was described as Wal Mart on crack...it fits! This place is so many floors high and jam-packed with electronics, knick knacks, clothing, cosmetics, and everything else you could need. It was a little claustrophobic but you can over it if you want some great deals. And it's super-funny in there. One of the brands on men's underwear was called "Black Man" underwear. It had all these different kinds and crazy designs - every colour of leopard print you can think of. And, if you're wondering - no, the men on the boxes were not in fact black...
We also found the Red Light District (RLD) YAY!!!! I was so happy. All these stores with curtains with these cute little hands on them warning not to enter if you're under 20. There were so many hosts there as well. Most had David Bowie looking hair, apparently that's the thing. Unfortunately, we weren't approached by them b/c we're gaijin and we don't speak the language. Dang! :) We also had some cheap ramen for dinner - and I found out I really don't like ramen. It's just not my thing. That's too bad b/c it's soooo popular here. I've tried different ones and it's just not my bag so I'm gonna have to find a cheap food substitute somewhere.
We also checked out the The Hub - a British pub that's very popular in Tokyo - they are all over the place. I heard they were terrible. Indeed the one we went to smelled terrible and smoking is allowed inside but after a few Happy Hour drinks you can barely notice it! Gotta love that happy hour. Colourful cocktails, hard liquor, and tall 2.5 pint glasses of beer. Not so bad, after all.
Next - Days 3-5!
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