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I introduce Mike to more Japan stuff
On Thursday we went to Ueno. It seemed like a good idea because Mike could go to the Hard Rock Cafe, and it was a nice day so I thought we could walk around Ueno. So, we did. Mike's been to a lot of HRCs and someone he knows collects the guitar pins, and they have American food, so it seemed like a good idea. I got a huge salad and was happy. The funny part was that I was still incapable of playing "stupid white person" and I even called over and asked for drink refills in Japanese just as a reflex.
Walking around Ueno Park was a challenge, as despite it being a Thursday afternoon late, there were still a billion people there out on their blue mats under the cherry blossom trees, which were in full bloom. But we walked around, up and down stairs, around some temples, etc, eventually basically going around the entire big lake in the park. The first place with all the food stands had real food, but by the time we got to a second road through food stands, they were all snacks, so we had chocolate-coated bananas, and taiyaki, which were great. We refrained from riding the duck boats again and just came back to Akabane and grabbed some bakery food and hung out for the evening. We put together this obnoxious Ueno Station mini-puzzle thing I got, which I need to find something to tape it to.
Today is Friday. It was raining like hell this morning and so I wanted to do something indoors, so I suggested we go up to Omiya and see the Railway Museum, which I have wanted to go to for ages but haven't (Shin was supposed to take me but he's forgetful). So, we got there around 3pm and looked around. The "History" exhibit took us like 2 hours to go through! We walked through tons of trains, sat down in others, read through the Shinkansen exhibit, and so on, and by the time I finally looked at my watch it was already 5:30pm and the place was closing soon! So we kinda rushed through the other parts, and didn't even get up past the 2nd floor. Whoops. I enjoyed going through all the old trains though, it was pretty neat. We got to see things like one of the Imperial trains that used to cart the emperor around, and we got to sit in super-old-fashioned commuter trains, things like that.
We stayed in Omiya for dinner -- went to Anrakutei for yakiniku just the two of us. The place didn't have any normal tables so we got one of the zashiki low ones you have to kneel at, and we had food, and Mike quite approves of yakiniku, it seems.
I didn't know for sure if Japanese games work in US Nintendo DSes, so we went to Book-Off and OMG I found Panel De Pon DS! How cool is that? So I bought it and tried it out in Mike's DS and it works, so if I do decide to pick up a few games, I will be able to play them, which is good.
Then we came back to Akabane and did karaoke for an hour at Karaoke-kan so I could show him how it works. I sang about half English and half Japanese, which is a big change for me since I rarely sing anything in English at all, mostly because I don't know anything.
Now we are back here! I would say hooray, but we only have a day and a half together left so instead I say boo.
"
Walking around Ueno Park was a challenge, as despite it being a Thursday afternoon late, there were still a billion people there out on their blue mats under the cherry blossom trees, which were in full bloom. But we walked around, up and down stairs, around some temples, etc, eventually basically going around the entire big lake in the park. The first place with all the food stands had real food, but by the time we got to a second road through food stands, they were all snacks, so we had chocolate-coated bananas, and taiyaki, which were great. We refrained from riding the duck boats again and just came back to Akabane and grabbed some bakery food and hung out for the evening. We put together this obnoxious Ueno Station mini-puzzle thing I got, which I need to find something to tape it to.
Today is Friday. It was raining like hell this morning and so I wanted to do something indoors, so I suggested we go up to Omiya and see the Railway Museum, which I have wanted to go to for ages but haven't (Shin was supposed to take me but he's forgetful). So, we got there around 3pm and looked around. The "History" exhibit took us like 2 hours to go through! We walked through tons of trains, sat down in others, read through the Shinkansen exhibit, and so on, and by the time I finally looked at my watch it was already 5:30pm and the place was closing soon! So we kinda rushed through the other parts, and didn't even get up past the 2nd floor. Whoops. I enjoyed going through all the old trains though, it was pretty neat. We got to see things like one of the Imperial trains that used to cart the emperor around, and we got to sit in super-old-fashioned commuter trains, things like that.
We stayed in Omiya for dinner -- went to Anrakutei for yakiniku just the two of us. The place didn't have any normal tables so we got one of the zashiki low ones you have to kneel at, and we had food, and Mike quite approves of yakiniku, it seems.
I didn't know for sure if Japanese games work in US Nintendo DSes, so we went to Book-Off and OMG I found Panel De Pon DS! How cool is that? So I bought it and tried it out in Mike's DS and it works, so if I do decide to pick up a few games, I will be able to play them, which is good.
Then we came back to Akabane and did karaoke for an hour at Karaoke-kan so I could show him how it works. I sang about half English and half Japanese, which is a big change for me since I rarely sing anything in English at all, mostly because I don't know anything.
Now we are back here! I would say hooray, but we only have a day and a half together left so instead I say boo.
"