Tokyo Time

Indeed, the last post I made was from the Apple Store in Osaka, and it is actually a stunning place. I took some photos of it from the outside, but I still intend on getting some from the inside. It has an iMac themed staircase, with massive glass stairs and I have to say, after being able to use their free internet, I have become increasingly jealous of the Apple way of life, especially considering what a sucker for aesthetics I am (not that you'd know it from the current state of my PC).

Now, I'm in Tokyo. And I'm posting from the very heart of the digital world, Akihabara. It's also known as Denden Town, or Electric Town, just because every shop for miles around sells discount electronics. I just went and spent ￥1000 on old RAM for the old computers, including 128MB for my Skype server, which should double its capacity. Also, some classic DIMMs that should spice up those old 95 machines to spritely little internet ready beasts, and a PCMCIA Ethernet adapter so that my notebook can get online.

I love this place more than anywhere else in Japan just because I can appreciate it. If I had more money, I would have forked out the 100 pounds necessary to buy an old Sony video recorder. I'm not talking about a handycam, I'm talking about an actual TV camera. It was stunning, and I very wanted it. But sadly, my funds limited me to RAM and LAN.

I can't be long, but I'll update you with what I can.

We arrived in Tokyo with nowhere to stay, and long story short, ended up in a Japan style you-can-only-stay-here-from-five-to-ten hotel. We slept all of those available hours, being very tired from the huge amount of luggage we had to carry. Every part of my body hurts still, two days on. Sick of the time limitations, we moved to a proper hotel, which I had to draw money to use, as it's 4500 Yen a night per person, and Emma and I are stuck sharing a bed. A double bed, but still, apparently I roll.

As it goes, the stress of finding a place to stay put a serious strain on us, and much of the time looking for places was spent in a tense silence. However, things have since loosened up now that we have rested. We met Mizuki and we have been scouring 100 Yen shops for bargains and the like. I now have something like four pairs of chopsticks, and three cases. I also bought my sister a cool little present, but I won't say it here because she's probably reading.

Today we met Emma's old friend Masa, who is essentially a stereotypical Japanese businessman, far older than we, but once you speak to him for what, a few seconds, you realise he's actually really cool and highly amusing. He's my current Akihabara guide, seeing as he's a Tokyo native.

Now, I think my time is up, so I had better be off, but all I need to say is that Japan is fast, scary and furious. But it is how I planned, and the overwhelming sense of missing something cool while looking at something cooler is everpresent, and probably the driving force of my visit. I'll update as soon as time is not a constraint. Take care and style your hair.