Tokyo was humid, hot, yet cloudy for the most part. It even rained for one day and sprinkled a little bit the next. But aside from weather issues, my skin felt like it was in a sauna. But apparently I was the only one that seemed to be glistening with a thin layer of sweat all the time. I don't know how the Japanese maintain their matte-like skin. I totally felt like the fat American because my sweat glands were totally overworking over there just trying acclimate.Oh, and call me ignorant, but I had no idea that Tokyo consisted of so many other little sub-city/districts. I was asked at dinner at one point where I was staying and I truly didn't know how to answer. But now I know I stayed in Roppongi. It seemed nice and clean, but I'm not completely sure as to what the reputation to the locals actually is.
Shopping was fun. We visited various places like Roppongi Hills, Omotesando Hills, Tokyo Midtown, little places in Ginza, Shibuya, and other places I can't recall for the moment. But it was fun. I bought a little messenger bag at this random bag store and a couple fobby T-shirts from another graphic-design store. Oh, and I had no idea Comme de Garcon had other little brands! I got a few items there because we luckily got there for a huge sale. Like we literally got there when a line was queuing. I bought several gifts and clothing items for myself and family. I think the store was called Comme Ca Ism. Very cool but small stuff. Japanese men are apparently so tiny that they don't carry anything bigger than a Large (which is like a smallish-Medium in American size). Sheesh. Made me feel so unbearably fat. Of course that made me regret stuffing myself silly with all the Donkatsu and tempura the previous nights.
I also got to check out this Le Corbusier exhibition they had. I got to walk through a full-scale model! That was pretty cool especially because they also had the Corbu scaled-man sketch on the outside of the model. There were several 3d models that were done via 3DStudio and Maya that looked really cool too. But what I find even more amazing is that this huge exhibition that held smaller scaled and life-size scaled models took place on the 52nd floor of the Mori building! They had this ugly statue of a spider outside as a landmark feature, but it didn't really do anything for me.
Oh, and there was a chocolate exhibition that was kind of cool. That was in one of Tadao Ando's buildings. That was pretty cool. It was just outside of Midtown Tokyo (which puts a lot of American designed shopping centers to shame). The exhibition showed various critiques on chocolate as a medium, icon, and edible good. No camera was allowed but they handed us chocolate as we entered the exhibition which was a good trade. :o)It was so cool to meet a lot of different people too. I met several Japanese-native individuals that spoke English so well. I felt so inadequate for not being able to inversely converse in their language. Ugh. I could barely even utter "sumimasen". I definitely need to learn the basics at least.
But alas, the trip came a halt when I had to take a flight out of Narita Airport to LAX. My best friend ironically was going to be at LAX to pick up her boyfriend at about the same time I would get out of Customs and Immigration so that was a pleasant surprise. I no longer had to wait 3 hours for my next flight from LAX to Orange County. That would have been a pathetic flight. Sooooo unnecessary. But my friend picked me up and drove in circles as we waited for her boyfriend's delayed flight. And off we were to Irvine Spectrum to eat at Cheesecake Factory. Of course they both bought the iPhone so again I felt like I had a crappy phone as I did in Japan when everyone had things that could read 3d bar codes or play TV. :o(Okay, that was a long post. I'm going to rest my hands and go lie down on my very comfortable bed. :o)
