I`m big in Japan...

...Literally.

They are tiny over here!

I am in Tokyo for 3 days, on a stopover on my way home after a FAB year away!

I am very lucky that I have a friend / tourguide / photographer here. I met Ashi when I worked at UniSA and he represented the University in Judo at the Uni Games. He was studying for his Masters in physiotherapy, and is now working as a qualified physio just outside Tokyo.

I arrived on the afternoon of Monday 3rd May into Narita Airport. Ashi came to meet me in the evening and we had a great night out in typical Japanese style - starting with some Japanese `fast food` - Octopus balls! Mmmmmm.... A bit later we went to dinner in a traditional Japanese restaurant, complete with cushions on the ground, no shoes, weird raw things and sake! Yum Yum. Our spirits were quite high after that! I do enjoy me some good sake....Mmm mmm.

Today I donned my tourist hat for one last time, and we hit the road in Tokyo, starting at the East Garden of the Imperial Palace. It was stunning stunning stunning! My only disappointment was my discovery that although it is Spring, I have missed the flowering of the Cherry Blossom Trees - they only flower for one week apparently. But not to worry, there were many other beautful sights to see, including 3 old guard houses in typical Japanese architecture (I can`t stop thinking about the Karate Kid!), the ruins of Tenshudai (main tower), the Suwano-chaya Tea House, and various beautiful gardens.

From the East Gardens, we walked to the famous Nijubashi Bridge to take some pictures and try and get a glimpse of the Imperial Palace, but no luck there. The Imperial Palace and the East Gardens are situated smack bang in the centre of Tokyo, so you literally have a concrete jungle on one side of the road and a serene, peaceful garden on the other. Crazy!

This afternoon, we went to Asakusa, whish is Tokyo`s `downtown` area, lined with narrow backstreets which are full of shops selling traditional Japanese wares (kimonos etc). It was a holiday in Japan today, so it was absolutely packed. It was also raining, so I had to take care not to be stabbed by the thousands of brolleys that seemed to be out to get me! We stopped here for lunch (Raman noodles - Ashi told me that the louder I eat them the better, so I put my all into making it the slurpiest meal I`d ever had!)

After lunch we went to the Asakusa Kannon Temple. I really enjoyed the traditions that this involved. Walking up to the temple we passed a huge insense burner, where you wave the smoke towards your head to make you smarter, towards you face for beauty, etc. I waved that smoke everywhere I could! Then, before entering the Temple to pray to the Gods, it is good manners to be clean, so there is a special fountain to wash your hands and mouth with. Suitably cleaned, we headed up the stairs to the Temple to say a prayer.

We also got our fortunes, which was exciting! Unfortunately Ashi got a bad fortune, so he went over and tied it to the pole, which is apparently tradition if you get a bad fortune. My fortune was good luck for the future, which is something to look forward to!


Tomorrow we are off to the Japanese Countryside for the day. I can`t wait!

For those of you interested, my photos from today are up at: http://picasaweb.google.com/jesshargreaves0