Lost in Translation

Much like the Bill Murray movie, being in Japan and not speaking a lick of the language is very frustrating. Unlike Europe where I can get away with trying some French or Italian to the locals because I'm obviously an Asian tourist, being an Asian tourist here works quite the opposite. Everytime someone speaks to me in Japanese and expects a response, I can only give a good deer-in-the-headlight look and nudge Les to bail me out, and maybe a bow to acknowledge my uncoolness. Not exactly smooth.

Back to the trip, though, yesterday and today really was about shopping in Tokyo. Before that, though, as I mentioned earlier, we made the trip to Kamakusa on the outskirts of Tokyo to see another part of Japan that didn't involve shopping bags or video games. Out there, it was really much the small town feel, with the old train station right out of Memoirs of a Geisha. We had an interesting lunch called Okonomiyaki, which is a pancake that you make yourself on the flat grill at your table. If you've had Korean BBQ, then it's pretty much the same. After lunch, we check out a temple and giant Buddha statue, all while trying to stay somewhat dry in the non-stop rain.

Heading back to Tokyo, we essentially spend the next day and a half waltzing through Shinjuku, Akihabara, and Shibuya to experience the shopping and eats. Here are a few random observations:

- Retail workers take a lot of pride in their jobs. As you walk into a store, all the workers shout a greeting; kinda like you're Norm as you walk into Cheers. Everyone bows as you walk by, or greets you again. If you buy something, they will sometimes follow you out the door and bow again. Now that is customer service.

- The subway trains all have seat warmers, which is a nice touch.

- Blowfish is ok, but not as good as I thought it would be. The Simpsons lied to me. Tasty fish, tasty fish...

- Tower Records is alive and well in Japan. Did you know the first Tower Records started in Sacramento?

- Krispy Kreme donuts actually are very good here. I'm surprised since I had it once a few years ago and I thought they were way too sweet.

- Karaoke here is very high-tech. Unlike the states where they have to update their music books every few months, they have a computer system that adds songs automatically as they come out, and you just request them from a touchscreen pad in the room. Not that I sing or anything. btw, Les LOVES Madonna if you didn't know already.

- I think Shibuya's intersection outside the station is the busiest in Japan, maybe even the world. It's a multi-directional crosswalk that goes from 0-to-insane in 3 sec or less. I took some video of it. Also of note: the Starbucks at the corner is the busiest in the world.

- The bidet is actually kinda cool. Ask me how I know.

One last story to close off today: I had to get a back support thingy because my lower back has been killing me the past few days from all the walking and carrying a backpack. We finally get me the Phiten back support system that you wrap around your ab area which helps provide support, which works remarkably well. Now this is where I'm deciding what's more sad: having to wear what essentially is a girdle, or shopping for the same item as the 90-yr old women next to me.

Anyways, tonight is our last night in our hotel room, as we are heading to Hakone tomorrow morning for a 2-day excursion to the countryside for the hot springs. I'm not sure if there will be internet out there, so if the blog stays old for a little while, you'll know why.

Time to pack the girdle...