Fawnda & Andrew Do

Kama kama kama kama kama Kamakura

fawndaandandrew — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:26:20 +0000

Kamakura is a very special place—not only for the Japanese, but also for M-san and Fawnda. Not only was it their first destination together outside of Tokyo’s limits 5 years ago, it was also the last place they visited before Fawnda left. Incidentally, the little coastal town is home to the world’s largest outdoor seated Daibutsu (Buddha). It’s also features lots of tiny Buddhas, caves, an island the serves squished octopus, and many other delights. Please enjoy these scenes from Andrew and Fawnda’s last day trip outside the big big city…

The Ultimate Land of Cute

fawndaandandrew — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:58:22 +0000

One of the most profitable entertainment industries in Japan has to be Disney—in the land of all things cutesy, it’s no wonder that there’s more than one of the famed amusement parks within Tokyo. Being more “adult,” we decided to spend an evening at DisneySea (the Land with less kiddies and more booze). Basically, it’s got all the same attractions as California’s Disney Land, it’s just all in Japanese. Imagine Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones shouting at you in Japanese from the Temple of the Crystal Skull and you’ll start to get a picture… Of course we couldn’t snap too many shots on the actual rides, but we can tell you that the view of Tokyo from the top in the Tower of Terror is magnificent—even if it’s only visible two or three seconds before you free-fall 8 storeys into the pitch black tower to your assumed doom. Terrrah!

“This magpie/crow/vulture thing is about the size of my torso”

fawndaandandrew — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:15:00 +0000

The people in Japan might be small, but the bugs and other beasts certainly aren’t. Here’s a few photos of typical Japanese wildlife. Please refrain from feeding the animals as they may pluck out your eyes.

Freaks and Geeks … But Mostly Freaks

fawndaandandrew — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:30:48 +0000

Every Sunday Tokyo’s “cosplay” fanatics (essentially, it’s Japanese goth culture) offer up a mixture of gothic and doll-like fashions—these are the “Harajuku Girls” that Gwen Stefani likes to keep as pets. All frillied up, the freaks gather at the entrance to Yoyogi Park to strut their stuff and pose for photos with tourists. We even managed to catch a live filming of a Japanese music video. Please enjoy.

I left my heart in a Love Hotel

fawndaandandrew — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:16:40 +0000

A must-see on every tourist’s list for Tokyo is a love hotel. These motel-like establishments offer a short “rest” (up to 4 hours) or an overnight “stay”—and are incredibly cheap (compared to “real” hotels in Tokyo, anyway). We hear these places are mostly used by salarymen having lunch-hour affairs and college students who need to get away from crowded dorms. To sate our curiosity, we visited the Love Hotel Hill near Shibuya station. As you go further up the hill, things just get stranger….

The day after Tokyo stood still

fawndaandandrew — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:23:23 +0000

Just hours after Typhoon Melor hit, the sky was blue and the sun was strong. Winds were still high, but that didn’t stop us from exploring Tokyo’s swanky business district (Shinjuku), and topping the day off with a quick voyage to Kichijoji—the olde hippie town in Tokyo’s far west end.

Return to Asakusa

fawndaandandrew — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:06:06 +0000

With typhoon Melor fast approaching we decided to visit Senso Ji Temple (one of Tokyo’s most ancient) to ask for good fortune. However …

Gubbernatorials

fawndaandandrew — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:14:34 +0000

Along with every single junior high school in Tokyo, we visited the Tokyo Diet Building—home of the Japanese Diet (think of it like Canada’s Senate). Though we weren’t allowed too many pictures inside, we still got away with murder. As there was a typhoon approaching, conditions for picture-taking were less than optimal. Nonetheless, we marched around half of old Tokyo—through Hibiya Park, the Imperial Palace grounds, and later on around Roppongi Hills—in the sopping sogginess.

Mmm … Fooood

fawndaandandrew — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:39:26 +0000

The food has easily been one of the top highlights of our trip. Whether it’s udon, Korean barbecue, curry or a piping hot rice bowl from a vending machine—we just couldn’t stop eating.

Up In Smoke In Tokyo

fawndaandandrew — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:46:00 +0000

Japan has quite a different view on smoking. After a while one gets the impression that the Japanese might be stuck in 1950s America where salary-men wear suits everyday and chain smoke in afterhours izakayas, all while upholding the traditional values of the perfect nuclear family. After all: in Japan you’re allowed to puff away in restaurants, hospitals, on the train, in airports and even in Tokyo Disney (well DisneySea anyway, but more on that later). What you’re not allowed to do is smoke while you’re walking in public. In fact the local government has gone to the trouble of posting anti-smoking haikus on public ashtrays. Please enjoy: