Tokyo!

Arrived in Tokyo on 31 Jul 2005 at 7.35am. We were the first batch of JETs to arrive. The great thing about that is that we had an entire day to ourselves before the orientation began! After hanging out in the morning with the other Singaporean JETs checking out electronic translators, I met up with Con-chan (ex-MFA colleague), who lives just outside Tokyo. We headed to Harajuku for some trendspotting. Unfortunately, the place was filled more with tourists than those eccentrically-dressed Tokyo-ites. Con-chan said the youngsters probably chose to stay indoors because it was too hot. Many were dressed in yukatas (summer kimonos) due to the heat. Trust the trendy Tokyo-ites to spice up the traditional yukata though:

Why would anyone don those plush strawberries on their heads when its so hot?! Nevertheless, I think it looks cute!

Check out the matching blue hair and lips ... gross!

The usual costumes, and they are happy to pose for a photo with u…I didn’t give them the honours though…

Road-side stall selling costumes:After a long tiring afternoon of walking in Harajuku and Shibuya, we head off to Tsukishima (Moon island in Chinese) for monjayaki (something like okonomiyaki, but wetter and less sweet). It’s a quaint traditional street filled with restaurants serving monjas.

We chose a shop that was crowded with a good airconditioner. And asked the waitress to demonstrate making a monja for our first one: First, you empty the shredded cabbage and dried shrimps, etc on the hot plate and chop them all up.

Then you make a little hole and pour in this soup.

Then you mix it up, sprinkle coriander and presto, there’s your meal!

I like it…OISHI!!

We ordered a second one (with soba this time) and tried making it ourselves. Urghs, its not as easy as it looks! Somehow the “walls” of the monja was not strong enough and the soup seeped through and leaked all over the hotplate! We attracted quite a bit of attention while trying to salvage the situation (to no avail of course), causing Con-chan to lament “oh no, everyone knows that we’re gaijin (foreigner) now!” DUH?! Of course everyone knows lah…we were speaking English the whole time and taking photos!

Phew! The place is warm despite the airconditioning! We started using those little fans provided by the restaurant. Here's a picture of Con-chan fanning herself!

Anyway, after a red bean dessert crepe, we were completely stuffed and headed home.

End of day 1. Feels like a holiday. Don't think the fact that I'll be in Japan for a year has sunk in yet.