Reminiscing Tokyo Part 1: Shinjuku (10/30/06)

I boarded Japan Airlines flight 736 bound for Tokyo Narita Airport from Hong Kong at 11:15 on October 30. Boarding was smooth at the airport and the 4-hour flight was rather uneventful in terms of feelow passengers' noises and soliciting conversations. Over the surprisingly delightful meal which featured a savory katsu kare raizu (curry pork over rice) I busied myself with some last-minute planning and itinerary revision to ensure that I wouldn't waste a minute of my being in Japan.

The somewhat aged Boeing 747-300 (without the wingslets) would have landed ahead of schedule had Narita Airport not been so chaotic with air traffic control. At least the immigration check and baggage claim were so efficient that they had more than compensated the delay. After managing to clear custom, exchange money, and buy train ticket, I still missed the 16:47 Narita Express to Shinjuku, a non-stop train that would take me to the heart of Tokyo in about 90 minutes for 3110 Yen. The 17:17 train dropped me off at Shinjuku shortly before 7 pm and although it was dark the streets of Shinjuku were lightened up by numerous neon signs.

Hurling my luggage through the busy streets abound with off-work commuters, I lost my sense of direction owing to a lack of street signs. I relied on landmarks which the Lonely Planet guide mentions, located them on the map and made sure I was heading the right direction to the hotel. I stopped by a soba ya (noodle house) where I had to purchase a ticket for the noodle from a vendor machine before I took a seat. For 800 Yen I enjoyed a welcoming tenpura soba (shrimp and vegetable tempura over cold noodle) and it was not before long (I was ravenous) when I found a great bargain for nice lycra/polyester boxers for 100 Yen a pair at the 100-Yen store!

Upon checking into my room, which was no bigger than a work cubicle, I dashed out of the hotel once again to be back in the hustle-and-bustle night scenes of Shinjuku, where it only became more lively and convivial as people who got off work were now replaced by trendy-looking bar cruisers and party goers.

Bright neon signs lightened up the sky as if it was deprived of stars. Restaurants, noodle shops, karaoke bars, clubs, and shops lined the streets of Shinjuku and stayed open to the wee hours. Exhausted from a day's worth of travel, I walked back to the hotel and, before I called the night, I studied the subway map scrupulously and familiarized with the route by which I had to take for the next few days--for I was prepared to might have got lost in the labyrinths.

Stay tuned for more travel blog and more pictures. I will also upload *all* the pictures to the picture section.