|
|
|
|
Yes, you probably should worry about me. I wake up at 3:30 Tokyo time, and decided it was time to get online! It was great to read email from my students! |
|
|
|
This is the view from my window. It was fun to watch Tokyo wake up. There is a time and temperature sign, but it indicates Celcius! |
|
|
|
We went to the buffet breakfast on the 40th floor. |
|
This is the view from the Top of the Tower restaurant,
where breakfast was served. |
|
Diners enjoying the view. Who is that in the mirror? |
|
|
|
On our way to our orientation/logistics meeting, we wandered outside in the Japanese garden. It was refreshing to see so much green in the middle of Tokyo. All you can hear is the rustling of leaves, water, and birds. |
|
|
|
At our meeting, Kyoto Jones explains changes in our schedule due to extra security measures taken for the president of Korea's visit. |
|
|
|
We gather outside the lobby, and prepare to board buses for the Tokyo Tour!! |
|
|
|
This is a statue of a famous Samurai from the 14th century. It stands guard near the entrance to the Imperial Palace. |
|
|
|
We act like tourists: walking up to the East Gate of the Palace |
|
|
|
The palace grounds are gorgeous. Everything is green, lush, and beautifully manicured. |
|
|
|
Notice the stone wall fortressing the palace grounds, surrounded by a protective moat. The bridge is guarded by security on both ends. |
|
|
|
We enter into the gates of a Buddhist temple. We have been told the tale of the fishermen who found a golden Buddha statue and built the temple to enshrine it. |
|
|
|
At the large incense burner, people wave smoke from the incense over them. |
|
|
|
Inside at the alter, there are flowers, candles, and the chance to get good wishes or to leave bad ones behind. |
|
|
|
At the temple grounds, there is the more Japanese style toilet. You must squat to use it! I decided to wait until I found a Western style toilet. |
|
|
|
After leaving the temple grounds, I found a familiar sign. |
|
|
|
And another one! The prices are all in Yen, so it is hard to tell if the prices are extremely high or not. |
|
|
|
In the shopping district, there is an enclosed, kind of Mall! There are all kinds of things to buy here, from key chains and t-shirts to Kimono. I decided to wait to see how much money I had later. |
|
|
|
Then we went to a Japanese Tempura restaurant. We had to
learn to use chopsticks in a hurry! |
|
The food was delicious! |
