Day 15 - Birthday

I remember planning this day with Clinton prior to leaving Hawaii, talking about wanting to drink and just have fun today. I didn't even think ahead about how many good friends I will make on this trip. It's truly a blessing to have so many friends who cheer my name on such a joyous occasion.

Starting from midnight, I get a knock on my door. When I open the door a little bit all I get is a very jolly "Happy Birthday!" from Clinton standing no more than a foot away from my face. It was such a surprise I couldn't stop laughing. Out came Nami from behind him laughing as hard as I've ever seen because her plan came into fruition.

This morning was my morning off from school, so I was 'planning' to sleep in as much as possible. But, unfortunately I hear the doorbell ring again and again at close to 8:00am which is the normal leaving time for everyone who has morning class. I knew it was someone at my door from one of the five others who live with me, so I opened the door to my surprise. Out came (POW!) from those little birthday-pullers that shoot confetti. About three or four of them came flying out from who I notice is Joy, Nami, Clinton, & Ashly. And seconds after that Pinky (who lives in the other apartment complex) poked her head in to shoot one of those directly at me.

They then gave me a little sundae with Pocky sticks (20) to represent the candles on a cake. It was cute, and I really appreciate them for going through the trouble. I then told them by, closed the door, and tried to go back to sleep. Now unfortunately after having those things popping right in front of me and my heart now racing a little, it was inevitable trying to fall back asleep.

In afternoon class today, I walked in and sat down like it was any other day. Out from the corner of my eyes are the two Korean girls skipping in singing -if not yelling- the Korean birthday song. It was pretty embarrassing watching/listening but it came from their hearts, so I enjoyed it.

So the plans for the night was to go out to dinner with whomever could come, and so Per, Annie, and I made the reservations and invited everyone to come. By 8 o'clock I had 16 people standing outside my apartment building eager, hungry, and ready to celebrate my birthday. We went to the restaurant Tatsumi (corrected from the previous Tsumomi) to have dinner. It was pretty spacious and we were able to make as much noise as we wanted. We had lots of different foods including chicken liver, and parts I asked Ikuho not to name. I just requested that she order "interesting yakitori" for me to try.

The drinks, well, the drinks were so-so. My first was a Kahlua & Milk - nothing could go wrong and nothing was. Our second round of drinks were all sours, and boy did they live up to the name. Not only were they sour, they were just horrible. While you drink it, you get a sour bite and when you're done your throat burns of an awful taste. With drinks and sips here and there it really helped the food go down smoothly.

At the first round of drinks Per just shouted "everyone, kampai!" and I see our tables full of my friends lift their glasses and everyone began to shout. By the second round I decided to just shout kampai for the heck of it, and not only did everyone lift their glasses, the now 20-person group began singing happy birthday, and those not in our party -like in any restaurant back home- joined in. I got to hear the Korean version along side the "Japanese" (same as American) happy birthday song; and Per even sang happy birthday in Swedish for me. To think everyone came out to celebrate my birthday doesn't really make me feel big-headed or anything of the sort, but deeply touched. Thanks everyone.

Day 14 - Ikebukuro Part II

Wow, it has already been 2 weeks here in Japan. Time really does fly when you're having fun -- too bad. Fortunately I am trying to make the most of it going to unknown areas everyday I can, and visiting all there is to each city. Today, I again went to Ikebukuro, the place I thought was originally mundane, for another reason. Nami mentioned to us earlier today that there was another part to the city, the back side we didn't actually venture.

It then occurred to me that there is probably a lot more to see to each city than I've previously seen, only because when I exit, it's only out of one direction of the station (North, South, East, or West). So today we exited from a different point and there was a lot more to see and do there.

The main attraction that brought us back to Ikebukuro was hearing that there was some sort of Ice Cream museum and the fact that we'd find and eat lots of great ice cream. Seriously, who wouldn't pass up the opportunity, correct? So we made our way to a mall while stopping at a few stores for the girls. Ashley for shoes, and Joy for Sanrio. Oh man, I have never seen so much Hello Kitty in my life, and it was all packed into one store. She could seriously spend hours in there I'm sure if she didn't feel guilty about keeping us from going someplace else.

So finally we made our way to the fable museum which was called "Nanja" or something. Weird name, I know - but it turns out it was like an indoor amusement park with the main character being this Nanja cat. There were things you could do there like hunting ghosts throughout the three floors of this amusement, where kids were running around with these electronic gadgets trying to find and hunt ghosts. Parents would relax in spas that they'd provide for a certain fee inside private rooms. We were there to find this ice cream, and from the sign outside, some pretty damn good gyoza.

So we made our way through the floors checking out the little things they had, and finally came across the "Ice Cream City" where there must have been about 8~10 stores selling different types of ice cream. It was an insanely hard decision to make because every single one of the ice creams/gelatos looked delicious. I finally made up my mind and got this Belgian waffle with ice cream, bananas, a strawberry, whipped cream, and chocolate/caramel spread over the entire thing. That was so sweet and good it was almost worth the 980yen I paid for it. :D

After the sweets, we decided to do some hunting of our own to find the gyoza area. We had to do some running around but finally found it. There were again about 8~10 different stands with different types of gyoza. It was soo hard deciding which one to get, especially because some were in Kanji and even the ones in hiragana made no sense to us. Joy ended up getting a garlic one (which smelt and tasted so good) -- everyone back home, you would've loved it. Clinton and I tried these other ones with special sauces. I really enjoyed them both but Clinton's one had a nice spicy kick to it which made it even better.

And again after that, we decided having a garlic-salty taste in our mouth wasn't how we wanted to leave this interesting area so we walked back to Ice Cream City to get some more. :D I used some of my Japanese to try the different types of gelatos, and finally decided to get the Berry Cheese Cake (oh my god it was delicious) and a slightly tangy, yet equally good Mango gelato.

Yes, I'm a fatty, you all know that. So I spent roughly 2,300yen on food there, haha. Tired of eating, we walked around the town some more and came across a few stores. I happened to find my awesome Uniqlo store I love so much, and ended up spending ANOTHER 8,500yen there. It's ok though, I purchased a pair of pants, two shorts, a t-shirt, and sunglasses. So money there goes quite a long way. And it's the perfect type -dry fit- for the upcoming hot months.

Afterward, we all rushed through the seemingly-always crowded train to get home. And now, it seems as though I will crash in the upcoming minutes because all this walking everywhere is finally taking its toll on me.

Day 13 - Ebisu & Yoyogi

So today I decided to play darts (metaphorically) with the Tokyo map to decide where to go. Basically, it's about two weeks into the trip and I want to spend as much of my time as I can traveling to new places. So thanks to the accompanying Japanese friend of ours, Koji, we decided to go to a place called Ebisu.


There wasn't much to see at first, but a few nice buildings, and a large hotel right outside the station. We walked around to what is called Ebisu Gardens and took the elevator ride up a 39-floor hotel to see what sorts of restaurants they had. While we were there, we were able to watch the sun dawn over Tokyo and take in some sights. After a bit we rode the elevator down and decided to head out because there wasn't much more to see in Ebisu. A 10-minute train ride later we end up in a station called Yoyogi, where Koji decided we'd eat. It was on the way home so we saw no problem in going.

It turns out the restaurant we went to was Mexican, so I tried to choose something unfamiliar. I had a.. a.. well, guess it wasn't tacos or burritos so it was something new to me. Haha. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that great. It's not something I could get at Taco Bell, yet not quite as satisfying. Afterward we saw a Krispy Kream outside of the restaurant, and figured we'd be best off skipping it because the line was obnoxiously long.

On the way home we stopped by a more interesting donut shop. The "Donut Planet" which I remember seeing on the Food Network just months ago was in the station in Shinjuku. I remember because it was on a donut special and those donuts were not only massive & chunky with frosting, but they looked oh so delicious. The only problem was, they were about 400yen a piece -- a little too rich for my extravagant tastes. =P

So in disappointment we all headed home to rest up for another long day. Really, if it weren't for school I think my day will not only be a lot easier on me, but a lot more fun. But oh well, I'm here to learn, so whether it drains the life out of me or not, I'll be going.

Day 12 - Kagurazaka

Today wasn't anything really special. First I had to go to catch a crowded train, and drag my arms all the way to class. During my Economics class however, once the teacher turned his back to face the white board, I quitely ran out of the classroom. After class I had my fun conversation class where today I was able walk around town with a partner (Shimoo-san) and talk/learn. I still feel awkward speaking a language I'm not used to, but according to him I can understand quite a bit because I was able to understand most of what he was saying. I'm sure he was being nice on top of the fact that he spoke slow enough for me to listen, but I'd like to think I'm slowly improving. :D

After class a bunch of the Japanese students and the JLSP students decided to walk around and eat dinner. We stopped at a shrine called Kagurazaka which was a bit interesting, and then kept walking around until we found something else. We came across a little shop that sold little pancake like things filled with custard, chocolate, etc. I bought two - one with cheese and one with macha tea & bean paste. Those, were, delicious.

We continued walking and found the restaraunt called 'Shirokiya' where I ate a Bibinbadon. It's kind of like a Korean beef thing with a bunch of kimchee-like stuff in it. It was pretty good, having been the first time, but I thought it was rather small for 800yen. We sat around for a couple hours and just tried to converse with one another. Afterward, everyone had to travel their separate ways and the rest of us went home. Although it was a rather slow day, hopefully we'll be doing more this week and travelling unknown areas.

More Pictures:

Day 11 - Ikebukuro

Today we decided to venture somewhere new on the JR Yamanote line (one of the main lines in Tokyo) since we haven't explored everywhere just yet. We were randomly picking and decided to go to Ikebukuro, one of the bigger stops on the line.

Once we get there it's just another amazingly large train station waiting for us with puzzling directions and exits leading to more exits. Once we found our way to the surface we walked around a bit trying to find some place that sold ice cream. We were a bit disappointed in the fact that once you get about 5 minutes or so away from the station, the lights and the sky-scraper-like buildings become residential apartments. There were more trees in sight and fewer convenience stores the further we walked.

We were still searching for the fable ice cream shop because not only did Daniele & Nami want ice cream, but they somehow convinced me and Clinton to want it to. Unfortunately we didn't find any place that sold ice cream so we decided Ikebukuro was enough and we'd head back. In the station we were walking toward our line and came across a little place that sold cream puffs filled with ice cream. Ping pong! So for 100yen I got to try a peach ice cream-cream puff, and although rock hard, it was very good.

On our way back we stopped by Shinjuku so Daniele could look for an electronic dictionary. While leaving the station we heard some musicians playing so we decided to stick around and listen. It happened to be a band, and for some strange reason, I was so surprised to hear them singing Japanese music. I have no idea why, but I guess I'm used to hearing English on the side of the roads that it was an unfamiliar sound. But we stuck around until the end of the song because, well, I really enjoyed their music.

We were walking around until it got late and happened to catch part of the matsuri that was happening there in Shinjuku. So once again we saw some Omikoshi (shrine) being carried around by a crowd of pant-less men. Afterward we just sat and talked a bit outside of Shinjuku station until perhaps 8pm where the sun had already gone down, and the Tokyo I imagined before coming to Japan had come to life. Lights as far as the eye can see, towering buildings of neon displays, and hundreds if not thousands of people crossing the street as though there were no particular direction as to where they were headed. This, was a moment I've been waiting to see.

Once we got home we were really tired and for some reason I really felt like making my own dinner. So we decided to do a little grocery shopping and Nami and I decided to make a Gyudon (meat, eggs, & rice) for dinner. We bought the necessary ingredients to try making it.

At home, I had the ingenious idea of cooking the rice while frying the meat, then to cook the eggs over the rice still in the rice cooker, and lastly place the meat on top and cook some more. Well, as everyone knows, nothing always goes according to plan. I basically did the essentials, but what I didn't calculate was just how long the rice cooker was going to take to cook the dang meal. Not only did the rice take about 30min to cook (or so it seemed), the now raw eggs took a little while longer to cook and the meat turned cold. Fortunately all ended well when the meal was done and I was a full and happy boy. And of course, celebratory ice cream was eaten after a lovely well-cooked meal.

Day 10 - Sugamo

So we decided to go visit some other places that we haven't seen yet, so we came across these two places. On Saturday we had nothing better to do than to recover from the drinking we've done the night before. So, we took a late train to a little place called Sugamo (I think) where they had a Matsuri (festival) for one of the temples. It was a small festival with booths lining one of the roads selling food. It started to rain quite a bit so we didn't stay there very long. But, while we were there we at least got to try some really good food.

The first place I ate at sold tempura. It was only 300yen for 5 pieces of what we wanted so I just pointed and got a few things. The little old lady chose the bigger pieces for me so I was gracious -- especially the sweet potato tempura which everyone just had to try. The onion tempura was also really good, on an equal playing field as the awesome blossom from Chili's. And the other thing I tried was this mixed vegetable thing with baby shrimp, that was definitely the best one.

Although full, I was walking around with Bob and came across, well, what we were looking for -- meat on sticks. Haha. So we got what looked like ground balls of meat on a stick. It turns out it was chicken, and well, really darn good. So good they didn't last more than a minute of walking. But while we were waiting for the lady to go ahead and warm it up for us, the others moved on ahead. When we caught up to them, we were laughed at by the Koreans and called 'Buta Kyoudai!' which translates to Pig Brothers. I have to admit, I don't care. :D

And lastly, on our way out we stopped by a stand selling the doughnuts with azuki paste inside for 90yen so I just had to get one. Yes I was full, but yes I had to get it. I don't care, Haha.

At night, we decided to go to a little restaurant that we've seen a little while ago but have never gone in. Well, we get inside and we find out that we only know a few items on the menu. So, we only order what we could read. Joy got the Katsu, Matt got the Udon, I got a Sukiyaki, etc. The prices here were very inexpensive considering what they were. I know Sukiyaki back home will run your wallet quite a bit, but here it cost me 395yen. But when I saw the bowl they gave me with the amount of meat & veggies in it I thought -- uh oh, what the heck did I order, the big one? And each of our meals was either different than we thought, or had more than we ordered. So we frantically checked the menu again for different prices for what we may have ordered instead but to no avail. At the end we got our check, and for a meal for 5 the total was only 2400yen. Hahaha, so I guess my huge sukiyaki was actually as cheap as I thought it was.

Now this blog is going to be nothing but eating and drinking, but that's okay. That's all I did on Saturday. After dinner we went to Per's house to have a few drinks and stayed up pretty late. Afterward Per, Matt, Bob and I were pretty hungry so we asked Annie where's a good spot and she pointed us in the direction of a ramen shop. So we decided to eat there and I must say, that was by far the best ramen I've ever eaten. I got something that looked creamy, red, and spicy. It was hot but oh so delicious. What I didn't know was how bad I'll be paying for it the next morning. :)

Day 8 & 9 - Izakaya

So these two days have been pretty fun. I don't exactly know where to start. Well, I'll start off with some really exciting news -- Clinton and I bought BoA concert tickets! :D That was basically my highlight of the day. It cost me an arm and a leg for nose-bleed seats, but I don't care, she's one of my favorite artists -- as is a lot of yours I'm sure. :P

Koreans are crazy. I just touched the topic in my last blog, but they are really, really nuts. They're so loud and always screaming at us. Haha. I keep getting "Nande?!" (why) after everything I say; likewise Clinton and Per. Our savior of a friend Senna can speak English well so she translates a lot of the gibberish we hear so we can catch on. Aside from that, they're always doing stupid or funny things. And to our surprise their understanding of English amazes us -- if only they spoke. But that brings me to my next point, sometimes they'll speak with such a clear American accent it blows us away. I haven't caught it on video yet, but I will soon I hope. Often times Dasom (crazy Korean girl #1) might say "retsu gow. rets go. Let's go!" with such precision.

A non-crazy Korean I've met is this guy Kide. He's pretty cool, but again the only common language we share is Japanese. It's actually good though, because we're forced to speak to each other practicing Japanese otherwise we might as well be sitting in silence. But I think when we're all drinking, Japanese or any language flows out a bit smoother and easier -- which brings me to my next topic.

Well, I went to the Izakaya (bar) again but with about 30 others this time. It was basically all the students from the JLSP program, a few of the older students in a similar program, and a bunch of the Japanese students who we've become friends with over the last several days. It was a blast, and everyone was getting tipsy left and right. You know you've had enough to drink when your Japanese starts coming out more naturally and a heck of a lot louder when speaking to the natives. It's really funny because you don't have to think as much about what to say because it will just flow out of your mouth as though your mind was thinking in Japanese.

We ended up chatting up the huge and rowdier group just to the table next to us and continued until our time was up. It seems as though they only allow you to stay there for 3 hours, because when we were leaving at 10:00pm, others were just coming in for drinks, and I can't imagine them closing so early. Either way though, we ended up heading to Per's house, and drinking over there. I had my fill at the bar, so just stuck to a light So-Chu for the rest of the night. There we talked and laughed until the early hours when we had to go home. There's nothing better than everyone socializing in something we all have in common. And there's nothing more fun than trying to speak to people from all over the world in a language somewhat unknown to yourself. Good times. :D

Day 7 - Tokyo Dome

So today concluded my first week here in Japan. It's been a busy week, but not quite as fulfilling as I'd had hoped. I still have another nine weeks to complete a list of activities I'd like to do here, but I know the time will just fly by quickly.

I learned something today, and that's to try not talking to native-Korean speakers, lol. Not only are they remarkably amazing in Japanese, but they don't speak English, and use Korean, well, quite often. So often in fact that they'll switch between Japanese (only common language between us) and Korean and still seem to think you'll know what's going on. So I was getting these funny, "why aren't you laughing?" faces all day from these two Korean girls during breaks. And it doesn't help because I opened my big mouth and said I'm trying to learn Korean as well. So seriously, all I can say is: "Hi. My name is Mitchell." and an added kicker - "Where are you going now?" and they pull that stupid "whoaaa, you're so good" thing on me. Lol, that's really just a kick to the growing isn't it? And immediately after they start speaking Korean directly to me like I know just exactly what they're saying. Haha, give me a break.

After class today Luna showed Clinton, Nami, Pinky, and I around another city around Shinjuku. I'm actually not sure where we went, but I must say it was a blast. We ended up at the Tokyo Dome where there was a mall, and other shopping areas. Not only that, there was a very very tall and scary-looking roller coaster. I was freaked out of my mind, and I love roller coasters. I seriously thought I was going to look death in the face because it was that gigantic.

It cost 1000yen to ride this monster of a roller coaster, but boy was it the best ride I've ever been on. It was not only tall, it was lightning fast and had more twists & loops than I could count. I know I was screaming, yelling, swearing -- basically the works. My friends must've gone deaf sitting beside me. I did warn them though that I was a screamer, but they enjoyed my hysteria as much as the ride.

I did a little shopping in the mall and looked inside the Shounen Jump (popular comic book company) store and picked up a key chain for my loose apartment key.

I had actually only just come home from a nearby bar a few minutes ago. It was rather fun, with six of us sitting down talking. Although we were all tired, we decided to have a few drinks anyway. Something I must point out is, that I just found out who is the weak one in the group. I knew Nami was going to be shy about drinking, but I didn't exactly think she wasn't going to hold her alcohol. So we got her a small Calpis Soda Sour which basically was the Milk drink + soda + 1 shot of something - most likely sake. Well, she drank about 3/5 of it, and we were just walking home. She was turning a bit red and was laughing the entire way home strapped arm and arm with Ashly.

Guess we'll find out how she does this Friday when it's about 15+ of us drinking. Guess she'll have to hold off the alcohol as much as possible.