Our wonderful friends Champ and Gwen dropped by on their way back from Thailand to introduce us to their world travelling baby Uma. We very much enjoyed sharing their joy in this new being in their lives. We had great conversations and some planning ahead about our summer visit to Canada.
This inspired us to plan some last activities that will ease the culture shack back to the Kootenays.
1. Get ready for the mountain by bagging some peaks; well... actually more like taking elevators at the speed of lightning up 60 floors to some ridiculously overpriced bar with eye popping vistas of the city below.
On Friday we sloshed through the pouring rain to be whisked up to the unctuously posh Hyatt lounge where Lost and Translation was filmed. The views were breath-taking, the food was sublime and the bill re-awakened a certain self-preservation fear of heights!
Check out where you might chose to stay next time you are visiting us by clicking here.
In this scene you will see some of the roads we bicycle on every weekend right by this hotel.
Since one peak bagged is not really enough to get us in shape, we decided the next night to "bag" another peak experience. This time it was not raining so we saw more from the sumptuous plush lounge seats overlooking Tokyo Tower. The Tokyo Prince Park Tower had glass elevators whooshing us up to the top floor to add to that cliff top experience in the Kootenay back country... but when are they going to hook up smooth jazz channels on Mt. Loki?
A BIG warm heart along the way...
What a vista!
Just don't lean too far back!
Click here for a taste of our evening.
2. Bone up our route finding skills to help us pick through unfamiliar territory in the Purcell wilderness area.
So on Sunday, after meeting, we dove into the heart of Shibuya, THE trendy shopping area for Tokyo youth and the source of many fashion inspirations from around the world. Click here for a little background on the area.
Are we ready for a snack tree or vitamin S yet?
Man, and we didn't even bring our bear spray to Tokyo! Did you forget to pack it Shelley?
Let's see... Who should we ask if we get lost?
Luckily there's plenty of wild life to be found... Just like in the Kootenays.
And just luckily these bears seem to be well acclimatized to humans.
"Bird watching" Tokyo style?
3. refresh our Festival going skills to get ready for the Kaslo Jazz Festival:
So yes, just to make sure we have the festival rhythm down we needed to cruise a festival here in Tokyo as a warm-up. How about the Tanabata festival, a time where all across Japan streets shut down and communities celebrate an ancient star-crossed legend. The upshot is that you write messages to your loved ones and hang them on these special branches to being good luck.
Shelley being in Canada already, I headed out with a few other friends as you I can see...
And did my cultural duty...
With thoughts of my family...
Along with many, many, many others...
4. Open up my cultural self to be appropriately ready for the Langham cultural events that are always such a wonderful part of the summer.
So I decided to start at Ueno park, the cultural center of Tokyo with a network of fifteen museums in one beautiful ancient park.
The first stop: the museum of Western Art
Start with some Rodin?
This is his statue of St. Peter preaching. If all ministers preached like this, would the congregations increase?
Lots of rapt interest in the paintings ...
Some beautiful impressionist work that is less well known. How about some Renoir?
Maybe Monet
A less known Manet
Gauguin before he heads off to the islands...
Renoir..
Ah yes... Rodin's the kiss
Picasso can't be mistaken
And...Miro (I think)
A quick skip over the park to the Japan National Museum to be steeped in Japanese history and beauty...
Incredibly ancient fine craftsmanship
Thousands of years of appreciation for fabric
Simple but expansive panel art
A proud and ancient history of wood block prints...
And thousands of years of dynastic conflict, militarism and national pride
5. Get training for our big kayaking expeditions this summer!
Ah; I think I found the solution for a training center until I leave. What do you think?
6. Last but not least; get used to handling a lot of equipment again: mower, trimmer, trailer, pack, hiking poles, paddles etc. etc. etc.
No problem! Now that it is monsoon season here I get lots of practice with my main piece of equipment... The umbrella. And since it's not just me but 36 million others with umbrellas ....
You often run into this sign. What to do?
Well luckily all major buildings have umbrella stands at the front such as this one at the museum. You even lock your umbrella in and take the key with you, for folding umbrellas they have plastic cover bags so you don't drip all over the floor.
Now I am sure that you have all wondered what to do with your umbrella at the urinal in the subway...haven't you? Well, not to worry, they have a little umbrella hook so you can hang your umbrella while you are doing the necessary and not have it fall into the urinal. Handy eh?
So, as you can tell I am doing my utmost to ensure that I am ready to re renter the world of the Kootenays. Two more weeks and I will be home.
I look forward to swapping more stories and catching up with all of you.
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