4 hours…Yeeshhh. This is one connecting flight I knew I didn’t mind waiting. Japan.Hmmm…always been curious about it. I mean, I grew up watching Shaider, Ultraman, Voltes V, Transformers and all those “Anime”stuff. So that was a chance I would not miss for the world. But this was already a while back, so I would just be rambling about stuff jumping from one info to another.
Getting out of the airport was a breeze…(better than China’s) even obtaining the shore pass wasn’t that much of a hassle. Time was the only one haggling us to hurry and the fact that I didn’t bring **AAAAHHHH*** a camera was bugging me. I was just consoling myself with the fact that at least, I have my phone with me even if I know it won’t suffice both in memory and quality. So I went around Japan, trying to be a keen observer taking mental notes of all those that I saw from trees, roads, houses, parks, temples, malls, people, billboards, etc. etc.
As soon as I saw Japan’s light, I guess I never thought it would be as, should I say, systematic. A fact, that still gives me chills sending right up my spine. The number of people I saw right out of the airport could be counted by hand. I seriously thought that a funeral cadillac would pass by me anytime soon. Ok. So I wasn’t at all thrilled at the sight I first saw. I was chilled. Haha. True, true, true I guess I was just used to the busyness of Manila or maybe, I just expected more.
Our first stop was at Holiday Inn. Both my boss (Kuya Dave) & I went there to get into the bus that goes around famous places in Narita. Every bus comes right on the dot. If the schedule says 10:19 or whatever weird time it was…it will be there. I actually didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing. No trash whatsoever could be found in the streets, the roads were skimpy but imagine those big buses fitting right in. While on the bus, it seems like everyone was afraid to speak, I would have heard a pin drop right at any moment. For only a few minutes, I was already in culture shock.
The bus’ last stop was, probably the biggest mall in Narita. It was about 4 floors which most stores sell women’s clothes. I went in at one store and a light bulb clicked, Japan is never really known for their shopping. Too pricey. Ha! So the rumors were true. We then ate lunch. Food was not too bad. Went in couple of interesting stores like the music shop and the Sanrio / Hello Kitty store. Cute! After about an hour or two walking around the mall, we found Tully’s coffee shop - ordered a hot mocha while Kuya Dave lit his cigarette. As soon as we sat down outside one of Tully’s pav, time didn’t seem to press on us anymore. We were in fact, just killing time. I then saw this old lady waiting for the bus and took a picture…I just thought it was how I imagined Japan and how I saw it all.
Perhaps, it would have been different if I was with my friends or Ralph or if I went to Tokyo instead. Narita is just one of Japan’s province anyway. Perhaps. But I thought I already seen enough for one day. I guess I am not just s-y-s-t-e-m-a-t-i-c, organized?probably, but systematic…i prefer the more spontaneous spots.Would I go back? Yes, to visit Tokyo but I already decided, “I don’t think I could ever live there.” I’m just glad that I exeperienced it even once in my life and no offense.. I’m glad I didn’t grow up in Narita, Japan.
Getting out of the airport was a breeze…(better than China’s) even obtaining the shore pass wasn’t that much of a hassle. Time was the only one haggling us to hurry and the fact that I didn’t bring **AAAAHHHH*** a camera was bugging me. I was just consoling myself with the fact that at least, I have my phone with me even if I know it won’t suffice both in memory and quality. So I went around Japan, trying to be a keen observer taking mental notes of all those that I saw from trees, roads, houses, parks, temples, malls, people, billboards, etc. etc.
As soon as I saw Japan’s light, I guess I never thought it would be as, should I say, systematic. A fact, that still gives me chills sending right up my spine. The number of people I saw right out of the airport could be counted by hand. I seriously thought that a funeral cadillac would pass by me anytime soon. Ok. So I wasn’t at all thrilled at the sight I first saw. I was chilled. Haha. True, true, true I guess I was just used to the busyness of Manila or maybe, I just expected more.
Our first stop was at Holiday Inn. Both my boss (Kuya Dave) & I went there to get into the bus that goes around famous places in Narita. Every bus comes right on the dot. If the schedule says 10:19 or whatever weird time it was…it will be there. I actually didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing. No trash whatsoever could be found in the streets, the roads were skimpy but imagine those big buses fitting right in. While on the bus, it seems like everyone was afraid to speak, I would have heard a pin drop right at any moment. For only a few minutes, I was already in culture shock.
The bus’ last stop was, probably the biggest mall in Narita. It was about 4 floors which most stores sell women’s clothes. I went in at one store and a light bulb clicked, Japan is never really known for their shopping. Too pricey. Ha! So the rumors were true. We then ate lunch. Food was not too bad. Went in couple of interesting stores like the music shop and the Sanrio / Hello Kitty store. Cute! After about an hour or two walking around the mall, we found Tully’s coffee shop - ordered a hot mocha while Kuya Dave lit his cigarette. As soon as we sat down outside one of Tully’s pav, time didn’t seem to press on us anymore. We were in fact, just killing time. I then saw this old lady waiting for the bus and took a picture…I just thought it was how I imagined Japan and how I saw it all.
Perhaps, it would have been different if I was with my friends or Ralph or if I went to Tokyo instead. Narita is just one of Japan’s province anyway. Perhaps. But I thought I already seen enough for one day. I guess I am not just s-y-s-t-e-m-a-t-i-c, organized?probably, but systematic…i prefer the more spontaneous spots.Would I go back? Yes, to visit Tokyo but I already decided, “I don’t think I could ever live there.” I’m just glad that I exeperienced it even once in my life and no offense.. I’m glad I didn’t grow up in Narita, Japan.
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