Wow... when it rains in Japan... it doesn't do it half assedly...

It's been raining solidly for almost three days now. Yesterday it was pretty weak, but all of today has been a downpour.

I've used up my stash of instant soups and snacks... ergh... hopefully it will let up by tomorrow. Don't want to melt.

Today I *was* planning to go into Ginza to check out the apple store because, you probably already know this, the new ipods were released! Huzzah!

Mmmm... ipod touch is exactly what I want. Wifi, flash based hardrive, full body screen, touch sensitive, slick interface...

Still don't know if I'm going to buy it or not, but I definately want to check it out.

Also they kept the older form ipods and bumped the hardrives up to crazy high levels. Yay apple.

Aaanyways, since classes are going to start let's get the rest of the photos out of the way shall we?

(note: When I say "get the rest of the photos out of the way" I mean the few that I chose to give an idea of what I've been up to. I have hundreds... upon hundreds... of pictures. I'm just lazy. You can see them later. If you want.)





Yay, temples and turtles. The temples were very pretty, and were located in a large park area. Secluded and beautiful. The turtles were in a feeding frenzy because some little girl was throwing piece of bread to them. Seriously, the water was almost frothing with how into it they were getting. All the ducks were pretty freaked.



A japanese cemetary. Some of already know this, but japanese cremate the dead. This means they can pack the tombstones very tightly together. Space is a premium after all. (note, they don't cremate for space reasons. I think.) Stil, large cemetaries look almost like cities. I'll try and find one later.




So we also went to tsukiji (the worlds largest fish market. By like, a lot of times.) Now, normally back in america land, you wake up in the morning, 8:30, 9:30 ish... break out the cereal and milk, maybe some waffles, if you're feeling *really* peckish you slap down a few eggs and crack open a pack of bacon. But in Japan? In japan you've got to do it HARDCORE.

So we woke up at *5:30*, get on a train to Tsukiji, arrive at 7:30, line up outside of one of well respected sushi restaurants, and go inside and order plates of raw fish, rice, and miso soup. Oh yeaaahh... tasty.

Why did we do this you ask? especially at such a god forsaken time? Well! The sushi chefs all go out and buy the best they can at around ~4:00 (I believe), start preparing it, and start serving as soon as they can. This way they get the absolute freshest fish they can to the customers, and the sushi just about melts in your mouth. Also! They close very very early. Like, at normal lunchtime. Because, hey, if you're not hardcore, no sushi for you.

By the way, those big steaming blocks of red fish meat you see up there? That's whale. Oh yeah.



This picture obviously needs no explanation. I'm not going to insult your intelligence like that.





Japanese in the mist...

Cool sculpture called "the turtle" (or something). Spews out mists pleasantly for the majority of the day. Japanese business men reflect, children play, all very soothing.

um... and then, at the begginning of every hour, for about 20 seconds (it says twenty minutes on the signs nearby. haha...) it BLASTS out the loudest and most startling jets of water like, twenty feet in the hour, thoroughly freaking out anyone nearby and causing all nearby babies to start crying. *Really* fast and *Really* loudly. I... don't understand the logic. I'm sorry.

I feel bad for nearby restaurants. And people. And birds.






Also! The japanese have lots and lots of parades/fairs/celebratory stuff. Why? Eh, just because. Also there are many many minor holidays and such.




Some cosplayers. I don't know. Meh.

Also... THE CREEPIEST TREE EVER HOLY SHIT JUST LOOK AT IT. I boggled at this tree for a good ten minutes. Probably more like three. eeegh.... so strange.

and finaaally... saving the best for last....




Holy crap! Is that? Omigawd it is! An original evangelion anime cel! hooooly crap! Either you will appreciate this or you won't, but these things are craazy rare, and I got it for virtually nothing. The store I bought it from is completely legit too (don't worry).

mmm...

And that's that! by the way, my orientation was cool enough, but then again, I only understood about a tenth of what was going on. My classes start soon though! I'm very excited about that!

Luckily I don't have to take any liberal arts classes while I'm here, (besides a japanese class), so that gives me a bit more room to take another illustration class.

Yay.

I'll try and get on ichat more too! Miss all of ya'll!