Japan!

This is a week of many firsts.

I got to spend a week here in Tokyo, my very first trip to the land of the rising sun.
Well, after 15+ years of recession, the sun is starting to shine again, until the stock market /subprime collapse that is....

The shopping malls are quite something. Went to a newish one called "Midtown" - it is nothing like any of the malls in Singapore. They use this really nice timber decking inside, corridors are really wide, furniture carved from a big block of wood - very nicely done and stylish; even the the smoking room had a row of plasma screen showing stuff. very upmarket, very plush.

Well, I generally love whales, and on Monday night, my first Japanese meal in a Japanese restaurant, I missed the opportunity to try some. It was only after reading the greenpeace clash and Jap whaling ship on Tuesday, did I ask my colleague where I could try some "scientifically researched" whale meat - and she said that it was on the menu Monday nite (the menu was completely Japanese), but she didn't think of ordering (what?!!!! drats... sigh).

On Tuedays afternoon, we had a simple meal at joint, tempura with rice. Amazing, it costs like S$20 - I was quite blown away.

On Tuesday nite, good friend of mine Laurence too me to this this lovely "pub", which looks like an old chinese inn - half expected lady from Kill Bill to burst through and start slashing everyone! (apparently, Quentin T got inspiration for Kill Bill Jap scene from this restaurant).

Food was lovely, he calls it Izakaya (or something), but is like the decent yakitori grills back home. My favorite was grilled black cod - the Japanese really know their fish, and how to cook em. (see pic of chef with their wonderful well exhausted grills)
I saw this "Squid with fermented fish guts" and of course I had to order it! Unfortunately, it turned out fairly tame - mostly raw squid, with bits of stuff in it.

On Wednesday morning, when I woke up, I saw snow flakes floating outside the window, in all directions - my first snowfall! witnessed 37 stories up in my hotel - really beautiful (see pic left... but not so clear)

I was quite miffed coz when I was in Korea last week, it snowed the week before, and the week after (this week). so I missed it even though it was like -10 degrees.
It was supposed to snow in Tokyo Monday/Tuesday, and it didn't... but quite thrilled it did on Wednesday. Moreover, it was Tokyo's first snow in many winters! amazing. well, it wasn't really heavy snow, not quite cold enough (it was abt 1-2 degrees), so it was half snow/drizzle when it fell. if u squin your eyes enough, u can see the bits of snowfall in the 2nd pics above.

Ok, more food thots (do I ever think of anything else?)
Then on Wednesday afternoon, had a nice lunch with bankers, top floor of the building, with this guy cooking right in front of you with the freshest foods (had fillet mignon). the entire meal was like $40, with starters, cooking on the spot, pretty much the works.
A lot of the nicer meals are like $50, which is really reasonable considering that the cheap meals are already nearly $20.
The cheap food is expensive, and the expensive food is cheap - if that makes sense.

Oh toilets! The toilets in Japan is super shiok. In winter, the seat is heated, even the "public" toilets.

Next to the toilet bowl is this row of gadgets, with 2 bidet sprays (one for the bum, the other for the... erh.... nevermind); plus if u see the pics on the left, there's one with the musical notes? music for the ears? yes, but not yours - for others.

Erm, if u press it, u get not music, but a toilet flushing sound - so that any undesirable noises can be masked. funny... certainly a first for me - not the noise lah... the flushing sound.

All in all, it was certainly quite an interesting visit.

It would be a lovely place to come with my wife (only... haha no kids).
And I sure missed her - now, that's not the first.