Tokyo

"It was nice to meet you. I'd take a picture with you but it's going to be crowded soon in 2 seconds…” Then the subway doors opened and I walked out briskly towards the street exit. I didn't look back; I didn’t want to show that I’ll miss it so much. But just before I reached the stairs I lingered a little until I saw the subway from my peripheral vision, moving again, faster and faster. I waited until it was a blur before I stepped towards the platform, faced the whoosh and waved goodbye. Thus, I was able to express and not get seen.

Tokyo is my last international business related trip this year. It hasn’t been days yet since I’ve been back but I’m already having withdrawal syndromes. Every month this year I’ve traveled so getting back into the rhythm of things will take a while.

Tokyo is home to the gaudy and the traditional, the $17 breakfasts and $1 sushis, the sensei and the senseless. My 8 day trip to Tokyo was an amalgam of extremes - never have I found more expensive basic necessities nor met more honest and genuinely hospitable people in my life.

Perhaps, the highlight of my trip was meeting my high school classmates whom I haven't seen in 8 years. It was a blast. Now that I've counted, I just slept 6 hours while I was with them for 3 days. We started off our Saturday morning by venturing to Tsukiji, the largest fish market in Tokyo. While we never made it to the 4am auctions, we still got to eat the newly arrived fish for breakfast. I had the freshest maguro (tuna) sushi I have ever had in my life! I also ate the "squilla" sushi that resembled pumba's grub – both slimy and crunchy!

Afterwards, we went back to my hotel and saw the most attractive piece of red metal on my city block. We took pictures with it but the police won't let us climb it all the way.

We then took the subway to the Imperial gardens and to the Akihabara electronics district where I almost bought a used digital Rebel for $450. Akihabara is a thriving testament that Tokyo is the mecca of electronics, useful and frivolous notwithstanding. Solar powered plant anyone?

Then we went clubbing. Considering that I didn't really sleep the night before because of excessive clubbing also, it was quite a feat staying up til the next day. My eyes were bloodshot; everyone on the plane avoided staring at me. Yay for shots and beers and endless crazy dancing.

Til the next adventure folks... this weekend is my sister's wedding. Au revoir.