Shinjuku

Harrow.

So what have I been doing with my first few days in Japan, then.
Well I arrived at the airport at 7.50am on Tuesday morning and made my way all by my own to Shinjuku and my hotel with three full bags of crap, still wearing my coat in the broiling heat becasue I couldnt be arsed to carry that aswell. I dumped my bags and went walking around Shinjuku because I wasnt allowed to check in until 3. At which point I was so knackered (I didnt sleep a wink on the plane), that I was asleep by 4 and didnt wake up until 6am on Wednesday.

Bright and Early, Showered and breakfasted, feet blistered already, I went for another wander. In search of an adaptor plug. And it wasnt long before I found one of the many Department stores dotted about. A group had formed outside the door waiting for it to open at 10, I obediently joined the back of a ten strong Queue before realising that they were queueing for something else entirely... god knows what, a special VIP area or something perhaps. When the doors opened there were rows and rows of assistants standing there with huge smiles and bowing profusely saying Irasshaimase. I found a plug section but no adapters, so I confidently asked an assistant in my finest Japanese where I could find one. Unfortunately I hadnt prepared for the fact that I couldnt understand her reply. But she showed me a floor plan and pointed at the Fifth floor and I kicked myself when I realised shed been saying Go kai meaning fifth floor... I knew that

More wandering around and a few errands run and I was getting hungry so I poped into a convenience store. These are much like the ones in England but ten times more magazines and theres guaranteed to be at least 3 people flicking through them even if the rest of the shop is empty. I picked up a rather tasty looking chicken Bento or boxed lunch and went to the counter. The girl kindly offered to heat it up for me in the microwave and I declined in my politest Japanese preferring to take it back to the hotel and eat it in my room. But then it occurred to me that maybe it wasnt supposed to be eaten cold. So back at the hotel I took out my Bible (the Kondansha Kanji Learners Dictionary) and tried to decipher the text... There were heating instructions, as well as orders to Keep cold, but nothing that said it was Okay to eat it cold. I did anyway... I ate half of it and waited to see if I got the shits. A few hours later my stomach felt fine so I ate the rest. Well Im still here I guess.

Time for a night time wander and I was looking for a decent drinking establishment when I was approached by a sharply dressed insistent black man called OJ. Said he was from Ghana and spoke good English... "Take a walk with me" he said "Let me show you where all the foreigners go", "Have you ever been with a Japanese girl"... This guy was either a pimp or was paid to drum up foreign clients for the local Hostess bars.

"Ahh, nah, Im not really looking for that at the moment cheers mate" I said, "Just wandering about, you know, taking pictures" wondering if he was going to let me go. He followed me for about 2 blocks saying "Come with me, Ill show you around". Then made the mistake of turning into a side road expecting me to follow. I started to cross the road saying "Im gonna love you and leave you." and he started calling after me but thankfully let me go. At least I know who to look for if and when I need some hostess action. But not tonight, thanks OJ.

Yesterday I went to the Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens. Supposedly the largest Gardens in Tokyo... Got lost on the way, twice checking my map and the second time realising that I was in exactly the same place as the first time I had checked it. Also realising that I had not long ago been one block away from the park and that I was now walking away from it. But I got there eventually.

Its massive, especially for this poor sod with achy legs and blistered feet, and I got a bit bored of all the flowers and trees about halfway round, but I took some cool pictures including one of a tradional English meadow with dandelions and other weeds. There was also this masive greenhouse which was like the land of the giants. Some of the trees had leaves bigger than me Im sure of it. And a Lemon tree with lemons the size of melons. When I exited the greenhouse these three little girls were staring at me like theyd never seen a Gaijin before. Well two actually, one of them ran off as soon as she clocked eyes on this hulking barbarian. But the other two just stared until one of them ventured to say "heroo" practising her English on me and I wanted to say "Rraaaaaarrrrrggggghhhh!!!" but instead I said "Konnichiwa" and they cracked up laughing as if it was the funniest thing theýd ever seen. Im glad I can make people laugh.

Lunch in the park restaurant and a nice beer. To order your food you have to buy meal ticket from a vending machine and then give it to the lady to take to the kitchen... I recognised the Katakana for kariiraisu (curry rice) and biiru (beer). and fumbled for the right change. Tasty meal though and set me up with enough energy to find the exit and do some more wandering.

After some more zigzagging around I found a little pub called the Dubliners. A cute Irish bar which seemed to be popular for other Gaijin. Drank three pints and listened in on a conversation bewteen an Aussie, a Yank and a British Indian who went off on one about how much he hates watching fat Americans eat. He was quite graphic with it and I had to stifle a chuckle and read my book instead.

Thats about it, so far. Its been fun and Im afraid to say Im not homesick yet. Culture shock... what culture shock. Later today I move into the new place with my new roommates. So its goodbye to Shinjuku unless I decide to take OJ up on his offer.

Photos will come as soon as I can get to a computer that will allow me to put them up. If that ever happens. I might have to invest in a cheapo laptop, saw one for 25,000yen yesterday, thats about 100 quid so which is bloody cheap, trouble is its Japanese Windows so Ill have to get someone to install it for me but Itll do for my purposes.

Sorry for lack of Question Marks, apostrphes and other puntuation, this keyboard is crap... it doesnt even agree with Japanese keyboard rules which Ive just started getting used to.

Til next time.