I finally got an office to go along with my new job! I was sitting at a borrowed desk squinting at my laptop screen for about four months and I nearly forgot what it was like to have a real office! This photo shows the view from my window looking out over Akasaka to the southwest. The one good thing about not having an office was that I didn't have anything to pack. Now I need some artwork and perhaps some family photos to liven up my very sterile office space.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
McBakery Now Here!
Today Kai and I went to Omotesando to check out KiddyLand, have lunch at Fujimama's, and check out a book exchange fundraiser. But we could not escape the launch of McBakery, mainly because there were what seemed like hundreds of young folks dressed up in neon green, brown, and white costumes with funky sunglasses and hats in the shape of baked goodies. They were everywhere, and here is a shot of a number of them resting along the sidewalk. Wish I had my new camera with me, because this shot with my cell phone just doesn't do them justice!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Venturing off the cute path
Today Kai and I went to Hankuhinkan Toy Park for a second visit to this toy mecca in Ginza. Boy the place is crazy, and it's not unusual at all to see young couples shopping there with no kids in sight. I took a few photos of toys that caught my eye. You can see all of them here.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Parking the bike at work
I shipped my bike to Tokyo, and as with many things I realized it's not exactly suited to my new lifestyle, but I'm managing to make it work. My apartment is less than two miles from work, with some hills in between, and I ride my bike to work 3 times a week or so. I tried to add a kickstand to the bike but the first one is really lame, so I have to find a place to lean it up against something and this is my first choice spot that I can get when I leave early enough.
I tend to leave home early when I'm riding because on the way to work I ride on the sidewalk (against the road traffic) and there are ukumillion pedestrians on the sidewalks later in the morning when everyone is rushing to get to work. But the effort to get across Roppongi Dori, a major street under an expressway, and then back across near work is just too much. So the sidewalk it is. With some practice, riding along with the pedestrians is getting easier.
On the way home, I ride in the street with the traffic, and I've discovered that drivers in Tokyo are much more used to having a chaotic mix of cars buses, scooters, bike messengers, and motorcycles all sharing the road, so things feel safer than in the U.S. But I still wear my helmet, unlike most bicyclists in Tokyo.
Now that summer is upon us, I may have to cut back my bicycling or make sure I bring a change of clothes. The heat and humidity are tough.
I tend to leave home early when I'm riding because on the way to work I ride on the sidewalk (against the road traffic) and there are ukumillion pedestrians on the sidewalks later in the morning when everyone is rushing to get to work. But the effort to get across Roppongi Dori, a major street under an expressway, and then back across near work is just too much. So the sidewalk it is. With some practice, riding along with the pedestrians is getting easier.
On the way home, I ride in the street with the traffic, and I've discovered that drivers in Tokyo are much more used to having a chaotic mix of cars buses, scooters, bike messengers, and motorcycles all sharing the road, so things feel safer than in the U.S. But I still wear my helmet, unlike most bicyclists in Tokyo.
Now that summer is upon us, I may have to cut back my bicycling or make sure I bring a change of clothes. The heat and humidity are tough.
Morning safety meeting
I've been passing these guys every morning and am always impressed at how organized and clean construction sites are in Tokyo. The level of professionalism is incredible. Just before the safety meeting, these workers do calisthenics and stretching exercises.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Gaspard et Lisa
I seem to have fallen prey to cute theme stuff. Meet Gaspard et Lisa, two adorable french pups in love. I restrained myself to these purse organizing pouches and lunch bag. I could have gotten five times as much stuff.
Shinkansen Tour to Kyoto and Hiroshima
We took a mini-vacation last weekend, with Kai planning from start to finish a bullet train (shinkansen) tour that included one night in Kyoto and one night in Hiroshima. Lots of photos here, including some pages from my travel journal that capture the highlights.
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