apartment

My Not-Allowed-to-Stay-In-The-Apartment-All-Day Day

Factorial , , , , , , , , , ,

My company is on break for the Obon holiday for most of this week, and I am determined not to spend it in my apartment watching South Park and Seinfeld on Internet TV. So I gave myself a rule today: out by 10am and back no sooner than 7pm.

I hopped on a train in a direction I never go and asked my girlfriend to pick a number between 1 and 30 (she picked 22). That’s how many minutes I stayed on the train.

The results:

1. Got off the train and started walking around, ended up walking into the area around Sensō-ji, my second time there in a week but this time from behind the temple. Saw a lot I missed by coming in through the Kaminarimon Gate, like the lovely works inside the free admission Taito City Edo Shitamachi Traditional Crafts Museum.

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Ate some delicious fried custard stuff and did a little shopping:

The cat make a speech. Listen to its meow.
The cat make a speech. Listen to its meow. Dream of a sweet love song.
Hehehe I don't know why I love this store's name so much.
Hehehe I don’t know why I love this store’s name so much.

Moved on, hop another train and ended up…

2. At Yashio station where I looked at some clothes

Satan Faith: Bulldog. hahahaha

And then I stepped into the spot to which, unbeknownst to me, destiny had been leading me all day: The 3rd Planet Game Arcade.

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And finally, I rounded the corner to witness a miniaturized horse race betting game. O_O

By the way, did you miss the fact that one of the jockeys’ bodies was horrifically snapped off at the waist? He was just a set of legs. I think that should disqualify him.

I was wandering around inside 3rd Planet thinking “This place smells just like the bowling alleys back home,” when I rounded the corner to discover:

It is also a bowling alley.
It is also a bowling alley. This place is incredible.

I played one game. One sad little game.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a two-digit bowling score.
A pirate-themed, two-digit, single-player bowling game score.

Finally emerging from the incredibly fun and diverse gaming experience that my day had become, I grabbed a bite at the finest McDonald’s I have ever laid eyes on.

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And now I’m writing this on the train at 7:30pm. Google maps says I’ll be home in 15 minutes, where I’ll upload all those pictures you just saw. My random train-riding journey took me to the opposite side of Tokyo from my home and cost me about ¥3000 total. Success.

If you’re ever looking for something to do, stop looking and just get outside. Something to do will find you.

Now for some South Park…

The Statues of Liberty and other things I saw today

Factorial , ,

Quick dump of some things I did and saw today:

I rearranged the stuff in my apartment. Now I have a little bedroom area with dresser and carpet, couch facing TV on a table which is attached to my laptop, making that a workdesk, TV stand, and dining area.
I rearranged the stuff in my apartment. Now I have a little bedroom area with dresser and carpet, couch facing the table on which the TV now sits, attached to my laptop, making that a work desk, TV stand, and dining area all in one. Now I can watch Japanese TV, Netflix, or just use it as a second monitor.

I went to Odaiba today, a human-made beach on Tokyo Bay. The park was totally free, but I spent $13 just traveling by train. O_O

Another view of Tokyo and the Bay
A view of Tokyo and Tokyo Bay with a tree in the way.
The view today of Tokyo and Tokyo Bay from Odaiba's beach.
Another view today of Tokyo and Tokyo Bay from Odaiba’s beach. It’s a rainy day today thanks to typhoon Neoguri.
Statue of Liberty in Odaiba from afar
There’s a replica of the Statue of Liberty here…
It's a bit smaller than the one in New York.
It’s a bit smaller than the one in New York.

 

My place

Factorial , ,

I’m moved in to my new home in Tokyo! Here’s a few shots (most of them panoramic) to give you a feel for the place.

at-front-door-pano
Just inside the front door. Clockwise you see my bookshelf, bed, table, balcony, doors to the bathroom, closet, kitchen, and front door.
at-bed-pano
Standing in the corner of the bed, facing the kitchen.
at-tv-corner-pano
In the TV corner, back to the TV, facing the bed, table, and couch.
balcony
Sliding glass doors leading onto the balcony (5th floor).
view
The excellent view from the balcony!
christian
My landlord Chris and me on the night of my move-in. This guy is really amazing. Funny, speaks excellent English with a Polish accent, never met a sentence he couldn’t throw a “fucking” curse word into, friendly, and at least a foot taller than me (he’s crouching in this picture).