Oh yikes this is a quick one before I head off to Kyoto and forget everything:
The hostel I stayed in (now 2 or 3 weeks ago) was reasonable, however there were no Japanese people whatsoever(except staff). Everyone staying was American, European, or Australian/NZ. This (for me) wasn't Japan so I did my up most to stay out for as long as possible. Unfortunately it just so happened that I also chose a particularly uninteresting part of Tokyo to stay in.
Asakusa as the guides will tell you, holds Tokyos' biggest and most impressive Temple (Senjoji Temple) and whilst thoroughly impressive it does attract a huge amount of people and is the only real draw of Asakusa.
However it should be mentioned that Asakusa isn't some kind of desert island and the Tokyo train system is highly efficient but finishes a little to early at night. But at times spending nights with people I didn't really want to talk to (seriously I think I may have a developed an aversion to white people?!?!) and walking around Asakusa for hours on end looking for somewhere good to go just seemed to weigh me down a little.
That and the nightmare that was my NZ Visa. I don't want to go into it all again but the place was situated in a difficult to find/reach spot, where i had to visit twice (on two different days) waiting 2 hours each time due to extra bits of paperwork I didn't know I needed: A letter from my Japan Company, a letter from my New Zealand company (which I still don't actually have), a photocopy of my alien registration card and a photocopy of my flight tickets to ensure I am definitely going to leave NZ. Take this as a warning to anyone who wants to bounce from Japan to NZ.
Ironically one of the nights in the hostel I overheard a New Zealander complaining that everyone always thought he was Australian and the only 3 things anyone knows about his country are Sheep, the All blacks and The Lord of the Rings. I felt like telling him that it doesn't help that your country doesn't let anyone in unless they're mummified in a thousand pieces of paperwork and have wallets the size of ..... big things....
Interestingly, I was telling this story to my most generous French companion over dinner in Tokyo and as I listed the 3 things his expression grew more and more excited. He too had experienced a New Zealander complaining of the exact same things. So it appears that the New Zealand people are feeling more than a little persecuted. Lucky for them I am coming to visit and document their crazy little lives with my world famous blog!!!!
......and there was still the futuristic thing which will now have to be addressed in the next blog because I have run out of time and Japan buses await no man....
See you next week where hopefully I will be more blog (and probably work) focused !!!
3 comments:
Hi Matt - Just caught up on your blog - what an eventful time you have been having. Glad you had areal mountain experience not just a beautiful view from the top! I feel quite mind boggled just following your blog so I guess you are having quite a lot to process right now. You look well!
Matt, I am puzzled by the way you are always much taller than everyone else, have you grown several feet or is everyone else just short in your photographs?
Odd question I know!
J
J remember we discussed the reasons for Matt going out to Japan we were agreed that he was going out there because he'd be bigger than everybody else and therefore more attractive to the girls (wink wink nudge nudge know what I mean as yes his...feet)
Plus he's probably paying short Japanese people to pose with him in the picture to promulgate the image of the western giant.
I myself am going to live there when I grow up, it'd be nice to be somewhere where 6 feet actually came to something.
By the way Matt I don't think I've ever been described as 'radical' before, I kinda like it, makes me feel like I should wear a Beret and bring down the State.
hmmmm
Hope you're well
The Man who thought Descartes was barking up the wrong tree
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