We jumped on a Tokyo Cruise boat. Sounds exciting but it's basically just a water taxi - a very large one. We got tickets to go for a ride down the Sumida River under twelve bridges each painted a different colour and then get off at the Hamarikyu Gardens and have a wander.
The line is long and we are at the end... we end up having to sit inside at water level with no view. We'll probably get a seat upstairs on the way ack though.
Giant golden poo :) This is the starting view from the pier before we get on. That poop is actually meant to be the top of a beer.
On the boat.
Off the boat. The gardens were a nice diversion but again not that impressive. Like a rainforest walk in the middle of the city. Not very 'kept' but I think that's the point. I was very hot and humid and we hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch (assuming there would be somehting on the way) so we didn't stay too long. The weather has been pretty good - not tooooo hot but it is very very humid here. Moreso than in Queensland summer. It builds up and there's usually a little rain during the day but we've only caught one shower so far.
The girl is more interested in stones as per usual.
There are wild cats everywhere ... people feed them and take photos and love them to bits.
The view from the water is not really that spectacular I have to say. Brisbane River is quite beautiful by comparison and we obviously use our river more than the Tokyo people do. There are a few spots with walkways but they are just concrete with no gardens like we have. The boat is full of Japanese sightseers so maybe if you are Japanese you might think it's a good trip (!?).
Looking at the buildings I think there has been no intentional 'beautification' they are just there, square blocks with everything symetrical and no flair. There are a couple of notable buildings (you'll see the best of the buildings in the photos and I'll post something typical too) but generally it's a mish mash of patched up office towers and no colour. Some apartment blocks where everyone has their washing out on the balcony. Imagine the body corporate letters that would fly if that happened in Teneriffe or Kangaroo Point! Good lord! LOL.
My guess is that Japanese property owners don't spend money needlessly on things that are not functional. Maybe it's a western thing .... or maybe it's just this area. We will see tomorrow when we head into the other side of Tokyo. Where we are now is an area called Shitamachi translates to 'the low city' and I think it's where the people who served the upper class folk have traditinally lived many years ago. When we have been away from this area and nearer other train stations like the Hibuya line we can see the change in the style of people. Better dressed basically. So think we might see quite a different side of Tokyo tomorrow. I really like it here though. Asakusa is a really interesting area, we could spend our entire week exploring it and still do something big every day.
Looking at the buildings I think there has been no intentional 'beautification' they are just there, square blocks with everything symetrical and no flair. There are a couple of notable buildings (you'll see the best of the buildings in the photos and I'll post something typical too) but generally it's a mish mash of patched up office towers and no colour. Some apartment blocks where everyone has their washing out on the balcony. Imagine the body corporate letters that would fly if that happened in Teneriffe or Kangaroo Point! Good lord! LOL.
My guess is that Japanese property owners don't spend money needlessly on things that are not functional. Maybe it's a western thing .... or maybe it's just this area. We will see tomorrow when we head into the other side of Tokyo. Where we are now is an area called Shitamachi translates to 'the low city' and I think it's where the people who served the upper class folk have traditinally lived many years ago. When we have been away from this area and nearer other train stations like the Hibuya line we can see the change in the style of people. Better dressed basically. So think we might see quite a different side of Tokyo tomorrow. I really like it here though. Asakusa is a really interesting area, we could spend our entire week exploring it and still do something big every day.
Ant enjoys the ride so much he falls asleep.
A nice Japanese family take on Charlie and the little boy who is three shares his chocolates and lollies with her. On the way up the river we sat next to two Japanese Grannies who gave Charlie a little Owl made from crystals. She gets gifts from everyone over here. The old guys love her too and always stop and chuckle at her and point.
Some bikes .... there are bikes everywhere. I'm surpirsed we haven't been run over yet. They are used on the sidewalks rather than the road. This is an actual bike storage area we saw on the way to dinner. No one locks them you'll see bikes on the the street unlocked overnight.
The tempting window display. We ate a GREAT meal at a little Japanese Resturent in Asakusa in the market section by the Sensoji Temple. It was a bit more expensive than what we usually go for but food is still really really cheap here. In Europe and USA we were spending around AUD $30-40 per meal for the three of us but here it's under $20 for a really good meal including a beer. Tonight Ant had a Bento box with tuna, octopus and squid sashimi, tempura prawn and pork fillet with some salad and side nibbly bits including miso soup and rice. I had deep fried filleted pork cooked in an egg mix and then put on top of a bowl of rice and of course miso and rice that comes with most meals. We shared a bottle Asahi (beer). Yum!!! Charlie started to play up and make her usual mess of course but we managed to control her long enough to eat and leave without too much oa fuss. At this restaurent they actually had English menus! First time we've had this. Nice to finally see what we've been eating at other places. Sometimes you just find out when you eat it. What looks like chicken can end up being pork or what looks like beef can be sliced kidney or something else hehe.
We finished up with Baskin Robbins icecream aft Charlie fell asleep and had to refrain from taking photo's of us eating it next to her while she slept (to show her later hehe). She has had the SNOTTIEST nose ever today and I have been wiping it constantly. I learned today that it's very rude to blow your nose in public so I wonder if it's OK to blow your kids nose??! Also, Ant told me off when I kissed him today in PUBLIC!! OMG!! A quick peck but it's a major no-no here. Public displays of affection are frowned upon!
We have our day planned out for tomorrow now including an early rise - we might even have breakfast tomorrow!! We plan to go to Shinjuku Gyoen Gardens, then up to the top of the Tokyo Governement Building for the view and lunch down below, then a walk to Shinjuku station and then we'll head back to Asakusa to visit the Sensi-ji Templehere in Asakusa in the evening and have dinner at a cool BBQ / Tepanyaki style resturent we've passed many times. There are no picture menus there tho so we've been a bit nervous about going in :)
I actually ran out of space on my camera today! 4GB used.
HOMELESS
There are lots of homeless people in Japan. More than what we have seen anywhere. They build little cardboard houses at night. I've seen them being meticulosly created, some tied together with small string bows as if in a ritual. Many people collect cans for money. I wonder hat the government does here to support them.
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