Arrived in Japan
So, I’m typing this from the free internets which they provide at the hostel which I’m staying. I didn’t bring my laptop as it’s more of a liability than anything, but there are plenty of computers to be used in general here in Japan, so I shouldn’t be too isolated.
The flight was long but uneventful, I slept some, had fairly decent airline meals, watched some movies, some tv, pretty uneventful. After the flight, I have a really random ailment, it’s like a mini headache located at my left eyebrow; I’m hoping sleep will fix it.
In the airport the only bothersome thing was the long immigration line. After that, it was was a painless passport check and customs check.
I had a bit of a scare when at first I couldn’t withdraw money at the ATM. Luckily, it seems the only problem was the large sums I was trying to withdraw all at once. After I lowered the amount it worked great.
I took a train into Tokyo (Narita, where the airport is located, is about 66km away) and that was cool, except I had to stand the entire time, and at some point started becoming nauseous, and then I couldn’t figure out how the various directions corresponded to real life. Eventually, frustrated that I couldn’t leave a certain station on the train I wanted, I just decided to leave and walk down a street whose name I recognized.
After a few blocks of that I turned around and walked the other way, half an hour later I returned hot and sweaty to the original station I had started from, deciding that my best chance rested with the trains as there was really not enough english anywhere else in the city, as far as I discovered in my brief excursion into the city.
I was able to figure out the trains fairly easily after that, ignoring the directions and following my intuition. And then it was a cinch to find my hostel, and got everything in order, rested for a bit and then ventured out again.
Had some mcdonalds (super polite) and then went to a 7-11 for some supplies. It’s crazy being in a place where everyone speaks a different language. Hopefully, I get a lot out of this trip.
That’s all for now.
Sounds like that “adventure” thing is kicking in pretty good! I said you had a lot of guts going over there without some sort of support net. I supoose you will learn a lot this way too! The nausea and the headache are almost surely from jet lag-you’re half a world away from where you should be your “spidey” sense isn’t accustomed to Japan yet. Pretty hot there? D.
Comment by Darrel — August 7, 2007 @ 10:34 am
Scary stuff ! but sounds like you are managing to find your
way through it. Does Tokyo look like most other big cities ?
keep writing on the blog every chance you get.
Love, grandma
Comment by grandma — August 7, 2007 @ 11:52 pm