Tokyo, Tokyo

I have to admit; this is my sin as a writer wannabe that I neglect this writing for more than a month. Maybe it's two already. And maybe, I (almost) forget of what I should write here; "what I see, what I feel, what I experience in a city called Tokyo" teaser has been haunting this blog for a month or two. Until, a friend reminds me.

Ok, I will tell you something about Tokyo I know, my dear friend.. and this is the story..

It was one morning in cold February winter. My eight-hour flight was smooth except the fact that this officially bankrupt airline has no delicious food on board. Yeah, we know, saving on food is probably a pill (not) to make this airline healthy (but to make people suffer during the flight). Lucky, I am not that type of person who can easily complain about the food. But this time, cold and long trip make my stomach scream: "I need good food!". Stepping out Narita airport, I found the city covered by thin mist. It was raining too. Light one. And I can feel the cold air. This is what I like. I always love winter. I think I am going to love the city!

The fact that I find later is so much true. Tokyo is the city I like. It has the most advanced technology on earth, yet it's (still) Asian. Yes, I am being racist now. But there, I am proud of being Asian! The people still has that 'Asian politeness'. It's the city where you (as Asian or not) will feel safe wherever and whenever you are. I, myself enjoy going out by myself. Although there were times my friends (who aren't Japanese) wanted, if not insisted, to go with me. I don't know why, but I thought it's just simply because they don't want to learn about Tokyo subway system.

Yess! to stay in Tokyo you have no choice but to learn the city's subway. It's the most reliable transportation mode yet the most congested during peak hours. More than just as transportation mode, it's an experience you have to have when you are in Tokyo. Tokyo's underground is so busy. Morning, afternoon, evening. Even after midnight, when last trains are also going 'home'. At 1 am, the crowd is like 5 pm in Sudirman station. Tokyo is 'kingdom of ants'. Actually we can't really see the view of the city during our move from one to other district. I only see Shinjuku and Harajuku. Shinjuku and Ginza. Shinjuku and Shibuya. Shinjuku and Akihabara. Haha!The travel time is within minutes, and I didn't see what's in between Shinjuku and Harajuku, Ginza, Shibuya orAkihabara. What I see is just the tunnel. Deep down inside Tokyo's ground.

Getting lost is another experience to complete 'the non-English or non-local language speaker, reader, writer's tale in a far far away world'. I was being arrogant. I never fail in discovering new places by walking. I always can get back home. Safe and sound. But in Tokyo, after checking out some blocks nearby, hours and hours later I still couldn't find the way back home. Asking and asking many people I met on the street did not really help at all. Even when I asked police officers. They confused. I confused more. English is definitely not a success factor for Japan. (Be aware Kumon, your tagline 'English + Mathematics = Success' is not working here!).

Besides the language, the other thing I do hate most about Tokyo is the price. Tokyo is unaffordable. Well, at least for me. E-ve-ry-thing is so ex-pen-sive! I did not do shopping there. What I could do is only enjoying the culinary, sipping hot coffee in Tokyo's cold weather and buying metro subway tickets. That's where all my Yen goes to. Ah, but actually there is something you can really enjoy without spending any cents in Tokyo. It's where you can see sophisticated fashion as an everyday parade. On the street. For free, if you have good pair of eyes. Tokians are the most fashionable creatures on earth. Nothing covering (or uncovering?) their bodies can be wrong. It's always just right on them. It seems they have the right to showing off their success. It's like they speak to me "Hey, we are working hard for this (welfare) to happen!. It's not our fault if you can not afford this. Just watch our (expensive) beauty, and enjoy!".

Gleg.