After close to 4 years, I've made it back to Japan. This time, destination: Tokyo! Capital city of Japan and the largest metropolitan area in the world. With a population of over 30 million people, it dominates the list of the world's most densely populated cities. In comparison, Los Angeles is around 18 million and New York City, 22. So, if you have any crowd phobias or you just don't like people in general, this might not be your cup of Miso soup. For me, I couldn't be more excited for this experience. As far as I know, I don't have any crowd phobias or dislike of people (unless they're whistling at me for a beer), but this trip will be the true test to find out.
The flight was excellent, minus a few hours of turbulence accompanied by my full child-sized bladder that forced me to have to ignore the captain's orders to stay seated and buckled. I did decide to be kind to the stewardess' and sit down like a chick for that lavatory trip. Had I not during that bumpy trip, I may have got some urine on the mirror. We arrived to a stormy Narita Airport, just as it was when I last left it. No idea how the pilots do it, but while looking out the window during our landing, the runway wasn't visible until we were 20 feet above it. Scattered showers the whole drive to the pad, and continued through the night. Even as I'm writing this now, I'm watching lighting strike nearly every 30 seconds. Weather I'm not used to in California, but I really like.
A lot has changed since my last trip. Still working the same job, but have changed addresses 4 times until I found my new permanent one. I've become an uncle twice now and both of them are out here to entertain me when I'm not out adventuring. I'm a much better dart thrower, which will come in handy out here. Time has also been kind on my looks, definitely entering Japan much more handsome than when I left it. Most importantly, Japan had a rough time last year with the Sendai earthquake and tsunami. The 9.0 quake and subsequent tsunami claimed 15,000 lives and has affected many more with the radiation from the damaged Fukushima power plant. It will be interesting to see how life has changed around here since all that mess.
Time to get to it.
2 comments:
Ryan,
Pleased to hear you made it in one piece, mate. One never knows these days, what with Fox "news" ceaselessly blathering about crazed Mooselims in Semtex diapers riding the jetstreams. (Tho' I daresay the TSA goonsquad with its cadre of perverts is a damn sight more hazardous than any terrorist out there.)
Just perused your blog, bottom to top. I was fascinated by your captivating accounts of this lovely country. While I've passed through Narita in transit some half a dozen times, I'd never set foot outside the airport. Well, thanks to your riveting reportage, I've now vicariously savoured a luscious slice of what I missed! You should consider playing Guide to Yankee rookies bound for Samurai country. Or, seriously, doing a piece of travel commentary for broadcast -- at least on YouTube. You've certainly got the refreshing curiosity, penetrating eye, and jaunty humor to make a bang of it.
Here's wishing you a wonderful holiday. Hope to see you back Stateside soon for a thorough debriefing over a protracted afternoon of ales.
Give a Geisha a hug for me (better yet, bring me one).
Cheers
Nila
PS: Careful when squatting; I'd dread having to read morbid reports of the tubular remains of The Great Houltini found floating out in Tokyo Bay.
How can I follow Nilas masterpiece writing.
Good job Son, you make me and others laugh and that's all that is needed. Cont. on.
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