I only just realised that it's Thursday today, which means we've been on the road for exactly 8 days. I suppose that's just one of the many things i love about travelling, the total and absolute disregard of the 9 to 5 working week. While you sit in peak hour traffic banging your head against your steering wheel, I'm either still fast asleep or sitting in some random Japanese cafe being served piping hot coffee by a teenage girl dressed in a French maid outfit. Ah yes, the hard life of the tight-fisted backpacker.
Getting used to hostel living and backpacking again has been quite effortless. I suppose it helps that my hostel for the last week has been Khaosan Backbackers Hostel in Asakusa, Tokyo. A pretty handy place that's clean, comfortable, and bloody cheap. $18 a night. The hostel is about a 5 minute walk from the nearest train station, but on the plus side, I do get to pass the Asahi building which has now been officially dubbed 'The Golden Jizz'.
And the view from the Asakusa bridge isn't too shabby either.
Being in Tokyo for the third time is a little strange. The excitement of being overseas is still there but I don't feel the need to rush out and spend every second of every day maundering through the crowds of Japanese business men trying to locate that elussive art gallery or museum. I suppose it's not such a bad thing. My eyes are more open photographically and I can just let go and enjoy my time here.
Harajuku for example consists of two main streets that the guidebooks recommend tramping up and down, Takeshita Dori and Omotesando Dori. What the 'Lonely Planets' of the world often omit are the hundreds of strange little side streets and alleys that are only a matter of blocks away. Marc and I spent hours just strolling around the funky clothes stores and all the other kooky Japanese gift shops.
There are a handful of "interesting" people to meet in Harajuku.
The usual tourist stops have all been descended upon but this time with a more substantial sense of reality. From shrines and temples to amusement arcades and nightclubs, the blend of old and new radiates through me like nowhere else.
Shibuya main crossing in front of the subway.
Until next time, sayonnara.
Simon
Getting used to hostel living and backpacking again has been quite effortless. I suppose it helps that my hostel for the last week has been Khaosan Backbackers Hostel in Asakusa, Tokyo. A pretty handy place that's clean, comfortable, and bloody cheap. $18 a night. The hostel is about a 5 minute walk from the nearest train station, but on the plus side, I do get to pass the Asahi building which has now been officially dubbed 'The Golden Jizz'.
And the view from the Asakusa bridge isn't too shabby either.
Being in Tokyo for the third time is a little strange. The excitement of being overseas is still there but I don't feel the need to rush out and spend every second of every day maundering through the crowds of Japanese business men trying to locate that elussive art gallery or museum. I suppose it's not such a bad thing. My eyes are more open photographically and I can just let go and enjoy my time here.
Harajuku for example consists of two main streets that the guidebooks recommend tramping up and down, Takeshita Dori and Omotesando Dori. What the 'Lonely Planets' of the world often omit are the hundreds of strange little side streets and alleys that are only a matter of blocks away. Marc and I spent hours just strolling around the funky clothes stores and all the other kooky Japanese gift shops.
There are a handful of "interesting" people to meet in Harajuku.
The usual tourist stops have all been descended upon but this time with a more substantial sense of reality. From shrines and temples to amusement arcades and nightclubs, the blend of old and new radiates through me like nowhere else.
Shibuya main crossing in front of the subway.
Until next time, sayonnara.
Simon
1 comments:
Hmm...interesting. Nice photos. Thanks for making my work day 5 minutes shorter.
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