I carried a backpack with everything I'll need for this trip around in it (quite heavy) as I took the JR Yamanote Train (the most central line in tokyo operated by Japan Rail that goes in a circle continuously and stops at all major hubs of tokyo) to Ikebukuro then the Seibu line to higashi kurume. The Seibu line is somewhat confusing because there are local, semi-express, commuters' semi-express, rapid, commuters' express, express, rapid express, and limited express...(all of which travel the same line and take different amounts of time because they stop at different stations).
After having dinner with my friend Aaron, we heard loud rumblings from the sky. Looking up, we saw some kind of electrical storm which we got some video of:
I went to KCC (Kurume Christ Church) on Sunday. Worship in Japanese was really awesome -- I was also reminded of what its like to attend a service not in your native language... I think about my church back at home with many Chinese people listening to the translation.
Afterwards did some shopping (its the one time of year when I actually buy clothes.. in japan). As you can see, a lot of other people in Harajuku had the same plan as me:
Tomorrow is my first day volunteering at New Start. It is also the first day of the contest so... any comments starting on my NEXT post will be entered for the draw! Best of luck!
Thanks also to the owners of the house which I have stayed in the last 2 nights!
(sorry I used the green towel. )
The Seibu line sounds complicated! I guess it would be hard for someone who hasn't been there before and knows little or no Japanese.
ReplyDeleteThe Lighting storm is actually really beautiful!
Wow harajuku is quite busy! Are most of the cities in Japan like that?
At some point, Sydney may choose to spin the yarn around the ticket he used to go to Japan (and may or may not return with), but suffice it to say that his Aunt was a co-beneficiary and has her own little footnote to add. Although a professed post-luddite, she may not be in digital range at the Cabin north of Whistler this coming week, so I will summarize. Having completed the Japan leg of her journey on Saturday, she said goodbye to Sydney and made her way out to NRT. Upon checking in at the appropriate national carrier, she was informed that all the seats were assigned and would she mind travelling the next day. Here's where it gets a bit fuzzy, and she may wish to set the record straight when she returns to civilization, but at the end of the day, we picked her up at YVR four (4) hours late (as she had been "involuntarily rerouted" through SFO). This is a bitter-sweet footnote, because although she had been upgraded to one of the wider seats at the front of the airplane, welcomed at the Sakura Lounge AND handed an envelope of cash for her troubles (Whoa, can you believe that!), her checked bag did not make the customs exit with her. For her, the next leg to Gun continues today (Sunday), with the objective being to sit on the deck at sunset overlooking the lake. Oh yes Sydney, Uncle Mike's Cessna is grounded in Idaho and did you know that the airport code for Rapid City, through which he flew, is KRAP?
ReplyDeleteOh wow.. I've never seen a thunderstorm like that in Japan before.
ReplyDeleteHow time flies yes? It was 5 years ago you, me, Chris, Caitlin went to the park beside the 99 yen store to dye my hair. Good memories.
Ah Justin natsukashii! and now we're living different lives in different parts of the world. Wish you the best as you march in the jungles of brunei.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes harajuku is one of the more popular cities for shopping (of the youth anyways) .. but a lot of places in tokyo are busy like that
hey sydney - i love your philosophical comments and interesting photos. this is turning out to be a nice blog. oh, and glad you could take advantage of the green towel
ReplyDelete