Tokyo, Japan

We have made it to Japan which is truly a breathe of fresh air, literally and figuratively. We were in India for so long we kind of forgot that we had a full trip ahead of us, and not just India. By the end we had figured out the culture and kind of felt like we lived there. As Geoff mentioned, the flight was like a time warp. Going from toilets that consisted of holes in the ground, to toilets with heated seats. Ahh, paradise.

Tokyo is wonderful. So wonderful it is painful because all I want to do is shop, talk to people, ride in taxis with automated doors, live in a big city. We are sooooo lucky to have Geoff`s friend Mark as host and tour guide. Honestly, we didn`t do much historical stuff. We are saving that for Kyoto. Tokyo was about seeing the city, eating tons of good food and drinking lots of beer. Oh, did I mention karaoke!! Mark was great showing us around and putting up with my need to look in every store and touch every piece of fabric, paper, cell phone. Little does he know we may just cancel the rest of the trip and live on his couch for the next 5 months. We love Tokyo that much. Did I mention how awesome the toilets are. The little things.

When we arrived in customs, the officer asked us where we were staying and we said, `Roppongi Hills`. He said, `Ohhhhhhh, your friend must be very rich.` Well, maybe not rich, but Roppongi was a great starting point with modern buildings lots of great restaurants and a Jamie Fox/Jennifer Garner press junket in the hotel we got dropped off at. Alas, no celebrity sightings (I tried), but still a great section of Tokyo to begin. We spent all three days exploring different sections of Tokyo, checking out the Harajuku girls and being wowed by the expanse of neon. I think if my young nephews came here they would spin in circles until the went up in smoke like a cartoon. Geoff thinks his little brother would be in heaven with video game arcades on every block, crazy looking food and Japanese school girls. The Japanese culture was made for 12 year old kids. I now understand why kids have seizures. The sensory overload is overwhelming.

After 5 weeks moving through India, it was finally nice to just exist in a city as a participant and not a tourist. The Japanese are unbelievably nice and patient and so helpful. We needed a break from traveling and a good dose of hanging out. Next up: the bullet train and Kyoto.

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