Tokyo Sprawling

Tokyo Tokyo... Tokyo makes New York City look small. New York City makes Tokyo look short. New York City streets make Tokyo streets look like sidewalks. And for anyone who is wondering... Yes there's a shrine or temple basically on every or every other block in Japan.

So for all you misguided Gaijin.

1. People in Japan DO NOT speak English. You can find some. They're rare.

2. Japan IS Expensive. In really strange ways. You don't get as much for your money in grocery stores but eating out is about the same, really expensive places and really cheap places. Clothing is really expensive. Transportation isn't so bad. And it's possible to get anywhere by train or bus. But renting a place or staying at a hotel is insanely pricey. By the end of a week you're really not sure how you ended up spending a hundred dollars a day or something.

3. You will not see people in cosplaying. At least if you do you're very lucky. The Japanese are amazingly conservative and seeing a Japanese person wearing colors is enough to make me do a double take.

I've been spending time with my cousin, Adrian, who has been teaching English for the past year and his girlfriend. It's been very enjoyable wandering around with them, and on my own, looking around Tokyo. I was even able to connect one day with my Japanese cousins, Taka-chan and Ma-chan.

I've been resting a lot and trying to find some place to stay that wont cost me a kidney or something like that.

It's very amusing (and very easy) getting lost in Japan. The streets are basically not labeled in Tokyo or grid-like. And most streets look the same. And the signs are all in Kanji so if you could read the kanas, you're still out of luck. I wonder how kids get around.

It's beautiful autumn here. The maple trees are bright flaming red and the ginkgo trees are bright yellow. I don't meet many people or talk to many people... partially the language barrier and partially that it's hard to get a Japanese person to acknowledge you most of the time. But sometimes I wander around and play with my practice contact ball, which gets pretty immediate attention and very amused looks from the people around me. I also caw at the giant ravens when they're being noisy, much to the entertainment of the locals.

Tokyo is not my favorite city though. I enjoy being able to see the mountains and the ocean and Tokyo is basically an enormous city sprawl. Kyoto is next, since everyone says it's stunning this time of year (and it is), and then... who knows?

And so she wanders day by day, knowing only the moments as they past and then laughing at the memories.

Do you adventure when you wish? Wandering over the hills and along the paths, losing yourself to see what you find when you find yourself again? Have you ever stood at a crossroads and simply looked and listened to your feet, choosing the path by that alone?

I wander where I will. For me and for all of you. I watch what I can. I see and go where I can. I live and I breathe. Needing no more than food, clothes and somewhere to sleep. What a life it is.