Yuan in Japan. Day 1

Ok, so I’m going to try and update faithfully here and for koala, if you’re interested in an Amelie inspired traveling koala plush.

[cut=`Delayed beginning. Roppongi for Peking duck.`]
My flight was delayed and they changed my seat from an aisle to the middle exit row seat. My already narrow seat was made even smaller by the very, very fat man next to me. Of all the skinny tourists and Asians on the plane, I get the only fat one wedging his flab over my armrest.

Once we landed, the immigration line (where you get your visa) was HUGE. I saw “No Cameras” and “No Cellphone” signs. Of course, that didn’t seem to stop everyone from using their cellphones and the security and airline personnel didn’t seem to care in the least.

Narita airport does not allow smoking indoors, but once you get close enough to the exits, the smell is unescapable. Venture outdoors, and it’s unbearable. There are vending machines everywhere, to my amusement, and while I waited with Grace I was very easily amused by the varieties of drinks and ice creams you could purchase. I got some hot green tea.

We hopped on the Narita express to go to Toritsu-daigaku, where Grace lives. I was overwhelmed, after stepping off the Narita Express, by the sheer number of people crowding the train station.

Whether riding the trains or walking around, I couldn’t help but notice the brightly lit buildings everywhere.



We went for dinner in Roppongi to the same Chinese place Grace brought Mike & Jim. They sat us in front of a very interesting set of sculptures. Um… it was a bell and there was something to strike the bell, only they were shaped like certain body parts. It was bordering on vulgar and I saw one group of shocked women exit giggling.



(According to Grace, they said on their website, “Don’t be shy in taking pictures!”) Yeah. I’m not making this up and neither was Jim. Actually, as Jim described in his blog, it was difficult casting your eyes anywhere in that restaurant and not seeing some representation of the human body’s nether regions or breasts. It’s BIZARRE. What interior decoration thought up that theme??

Food and drinks were delicious. We found yang rou chuan, which is the meat on a stick stuff that I’m constantly craving.

We also had Peking Duck. The carver showed us the duck before he carved it. And I, greedy pig that I am, started eating the duck before realizing that I hadn’t taken a picture.

Now I am, of course, exhausted and jet lagged, so I’m off for a few hours of sleep before waking up to really explore![/cut]

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