the end is near.

the trip comes to a close in less than 24 hours. 24 REAL hours (not the strange jet lag ones we are about to RE-experience). i don't want to go home - but mostly because i am not looking forward to the 2:30 am morning rise and shine. in other words, sure, i'll meet you at the bar, but i'll be drinking my morning coffee.

as with any trip, we are sad to end it, however, having spent the afternoon shopping in tokyo again, we both realized a couple things: this place is exhausting. the amount of people screaming is immeasurable, and i they scream louder in order to be heard over the 2 - 3 broadcasts simultaneously being heard at any given moment. sure, the first couple days of the trip were also in tokyo, however, due to excitement and insane jet lag (nausea and sleepless insanity), i think i just assumed it was me turning everything into a spastically loud cartoon. turns out, it is NOT me, and i was semi blind before.

i need to stress this : while being clean (we covered this), walking down the streets in MANY areas, sends any sane person into psychotic states. those voices you normally quiet in your brain? here, are all being broadcast at once. all around you. and you cannot understand one, fucking, word.




i nice way to end the trip, i think.



after purchasing about $300 in candy, my brain shut off, and i was required to return home. Fortunately for shawn and i, this home is a giantly expensive and fancy hotel, (thanks to my mom's hyatt points). THE TOILET DOOR LIFTS AND SHUTS AUTOMATICALLY. the bed is two queens put together, and i just came back from 3 different hot soaks in the spa (jacuzzi, hot bath, then a quick cold). i am not afraid to abuse the luxury (nor am i afraid to rob this place blind of the adorable toothpastes they provide both morning and night).


my friend in tokyo last night was able to answer a lot of questions i've gathered during my trip:



1. why no towels in the bathrooms?

2. why no soap?

3. why do buddhas wear red bibs?

4. why do people in tokyo walk on the left side of the street, and people in kyoto- on the right?

5. are those fake bird noises i hear on the subway platform? (ps. yes)



these hard hitting questions now have answers, and i feel much more educated- ready to return. i can't wait to return to japan after studying more of the language, however. fingers crossed, in a couple years when we return i'll be able ask questions AND understand responses. here's to hoping.