yup....see below.... -- So there we have it. A sign saying Keisei Ueno my final window-vision of Tokyo slightly before dawn, as I wait the final four minutes before the Narita-bound express Narita-binds me. It's been a great week. My final day was spent firstly with a trip to Ueno to find myself a capsule hotel. Mission accomplished, but too early to check in, so dump my bag in a locker, and head back to Akihabara. Quick trip to scoop up my one forgotten purchase, then met Seiko again who took me to Akasara, where she had yet another gift for me. She had wanted to go ice skating, but rain ruled that out (outdoor rink). I am starting to worry at this point that she was getting too attached. I was right. Anyhow, trip fail, we point ourselves at Shinjuku, and a couple of trains later we are there, and back at Donki Ote, the store Ratboy took me on my first day. Do some shopping, grab some random crap as souvenirs for people back in Saigon, and then go to some overpriced but very good desert fruit place. Bid farewell to Seiko, who presents me with gift number 4, and tells me she is planning a Vietnam trip for mid year, and she can't wait to see me in April 'when I come back Tokyo'. Gulp. Poor thing, kinda feel sorry for her. Big city loneliness n all that. Anyhow, I disappear to a meeting with someone who had actually cancelled on me a few hours earlier, but pretending I had to keep the appointment was the only way I could shake her, and head to my Ueno capsule. Check in, feel weird, get stared at as the only gaijin, head back out into the cold and explore a pretty cool little neighborhood of lanes and shops. Back to capsule joint about 7.30, soak in their big jacuzzi thing for a while, and retire to my capsule a bit after 8. Cool experience. More spacious inside than I thought. A TV with pubis-pixellated porn (as is the Japanese law) on channel 5 all night. Fell asleep before 9, up at 5.30, another jacuzzi soak, checkout, and my current train. It's been a great week. So, to wind it up, let me just say a big thanks to Red and Ratboy for all their efforts, for putting me up and putting up with me while I was over, and sharing their town and their experiences over the days I had. Greatly appreciated, and happily reciprocated should a roll through Vietnam be on the cards in future. To fellow mod Brian - thanks for hauling your hungover ass out on to an hour long train ride to hang for a couple of hours man...same applies, if Vietnam works its way on to your to do list...it's on me. That's pretty much all I have to report, I Did Tokyo, and hope that the vicarious ride through this thread has been entertaining for you all. A train, a plane, a taxi and real life await.
Anyone?
