Day 4 - Tokyo - breakfast

Dear very tall friends,

Breakfasts here are delicious. Not sure what that is on top on my pudding (adult correction - tofu)... but it does taste good.
Choci

Day 3 - Tokyo - Shibuya

Shibuya - the fashion aware subculture kingdom of the world, where huge lines of people line up and wait for hours for the latest must haves.  From the large and insanely crowded 109 department store to the thousands of small meandering streets filled with shops, cafes and cool tiny apartments.

Shibuya also provided a humble example of faithfulness to the world in Hachiko - an Akita who followed his professor owner every day on his journey from a local farm to the Shibuya station, and returned to the station every day just before the train would arrive to meet him.  In 1925, the professor suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died while at the university, never returning to the train station where Hachkio was waiting. Every day for the next nine years, until his own health failed, the dog came to the station just before the train would arrive and waited.

 The statue of Hachiko, just outside of the "Hachiko Entrance" to Shibuya Station,

 



A view of the streets around the main shopping area

 

Scramble Crossing - not possible to describe with photos... 24 hours a day, like ocean waves, throngs of people wait until all signals of the intersection turn red at the same time, and then surge onto the streets.

Just as many people sit in the local cafes watching. 

 

And two of the helpfull sales people in the hipster 109 shopping mall (you just got to have those socks, don't you)

 

 

Day 3 - Tokyo - Ameyoko Market

 

Day 3 - Tokyo - Tsukiji Jogai Market

The largest fish market in the world. Every day, 52,000 people and 32,000 vehicles go in and out along with 2,500 tons of 450 different products. We went in at 4:30 am thanks to a very nice man who gave us a ride on the back of his fish cart (picture below). We came out at 5:30 am (escorted by a police officer) as we were not supposed to be in that area until 9 am.

 

The hour in the fish market gave us plenty of time to explore... Hard to get a feel for the bustling atmosphere with pictures but here is a sample.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following that adventure, how could we refuse the very best sushi... for breakfast...at 5:45am. 

Other pictures from around the market.

 

 

Already it felt like a full day, but more to come soon...

Day 2 – Tokyo. Senso-ji in Asakusa

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 – Tokyo. Asakusa neighborhood.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Day 1

Dear very tall friends,

Today I did not go to school. Instead, I went to the airport with mum and dad to go in an airplane. It was a lovely ride. I walked everywhere, talked to a lot of people, managed to keep mum and dad out of my seat (even though I am very little, I need a lot of room), took mum and dad’s headsets, listened to music, watched “finding Nemo” three times, and napped (“finally…” as mum and dad would say). In Tokyo, we took the train to the hotel. It was very easy and people were very nice. I really like this place. In the street, people stop, look at me, say things I do not understand with big smiles, bow multiple times and go on with their business with a big grin on their faces. It is really darling.

Choci

Krho, Kenobi and Choci go on a worldwide trip: Intro and other random stuff

This blog is for all of our family, friends, and colleagues, wherever you are, whatever you are doing.  Whether taking a break at 2:00am after hours of Excel and PowerPoint (with many more to go), or having morning coffee while listening to music at 9:30am.  While we know it will be difficult, we will try to keep it at least as entertaining as your basic Yahoo article: “five blunders to avoid on a first date” or the latest Facebook pictures of your school friends, or surfing the internet for pictures of girls with big brains.  J  (note - if it is 2:00 am and you are in the office… you can probably skip the five blunders article…)

About our trip: We are not sure, but are considering Japan, Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Iceland. The only specific plan we have so far is a plane ride to Tokyo March 27^th. The rest is adventure.

Why on earth are we writing this blog? We are not big fans of spreading our life publicly like chocolate paste on a toasty muffin, but so many of our friends said things like “That sounds great, I would like to do that. Could you send us updates?”  or “Send us pictures so we can live vicariously!” that we finally decided to create this blog.  Thought process?  We only live once… best not to do it vicariously!  (That said – we deeply hope to be reincarnated… as flying squirrels.)

While all of the comments we received might have been similar to “How are you” where the expected answer is “Fine thanks you?”, if you really would like to do it, our answer is come join us...  life is too short not to.  Shut down this web page, send us an email and get on a plane!

Love,

Krho & Kenobi

About us and the blog

Kenobi: If you did not have it yet and someone gave you life for your birthday, it would be an amazing gift…  it has been for 50 years, and I am looking forward to its continuing adventure.

Krho: I am a recovering workaholic and nerd, who likes dance, martial arts, travel, tea, flowers and writing, citizen of the world, with a passion for Nutella - with a spoon. In general, see, smell, taste, feel, experience. Explore life.

Choci: I am Choci, daughter of Kenobi and Krho, who keeps telling me that my parents are nuts but that’s OK, because I won’t realize it until I am 15 (13 more years to go). I have a superpower: I can detect chocolate in any type of wrapping, any shape, any color, at high distance (hence my nickname for this adventure). I like to laugh and to explore, naps on mum and dad, and catching the cat’s tail. Also, not sure about what “no” means – it’s funny though.

Other inhabitants of our household:

Sir Odysseus Shakelton: I am a very fluffy and cuddly cat, master of meditation, expert in contemplation. Let’s be clear: I do not nap – I ponder. Oh yes, one more thing. Would I try to catch your tail? No! So don’t try to catch mine.

Calypso:  The dog. I don’t know, but my people say I am a very good dog…  even though I like cat food better than my own.

Allofem: the fishes. Loads of them.

Language: Some of the posts will be in French. For those of you who cannot read the wonderful language of Baudelaire, no worry. The French posts will be mostly 2am pseudo philosophical ramblings that are best appreciated if you were born with a beret and a liking for “Tête de veau ravigote” (for the Texans – don’t try it. It’s basically goat brain with weird mayonnaise – kind of).

Disclaimer: This is the section where we ask you to click on the “agree” button, the tiny legal prints you never read, and that basically tell you that we are not responsible for anything, ever, from the creation of the earth to the end of time, even stuff that was in our control.  Please agree.