Spotted in Tokyo

>>Warning: this post is rich with deliberately misunderstood cultural signifiers. >>

One of the delights of Tokyo was puzzling out the meaning of the various signs we saw around us.

Or not.

It's so easy to find your hotel when it's right behind the red billboard for SUPER MILLION HAIR. (You have to yell the words like you're on Wheel of Fortune, okay.)

Could it be, no, wait, no misunderstanding here. Eddie, don't tell me, is plaid suddenly all the rage in Tokyo?

Hello! I appear to have green hair and a stem on my head. I am very happy here with my friend the slightly bashful ninja turd. Together we will teach children the joys... of... nature...

While the stationmaster retrieves her hat, the innocent school girl takes the opportunity to begin transforming into a blood-sucking zombie.




(We're kidding okay?)

Street food Tokyo

Street food was one of the delights of our short time in Tokyo over New Year.

I have to admit to having found the prospect pretty intimidating - with all of six words of Japanese and none that I can read (except exit - that's 'doublebarbequetongs and a box') -- I wasn't sure how on earth I was going to find anything I liked or know what it is?

Over the course of four days, we learned to follow our noses. There were all sorts of hings, from brightly-coloured sweets to fish-on-sticks. It's not hard to give things a try -- delicious!

I loved the colour, smells and sounds as well as the happy drifting crowds. I'd go back in a shot.

They start young.

Of course you know this is a seafood stall even if you don't speak the language...

This fascinated us the most. A pile of charcoal in the middle and these whole fish on sticks around, constantly being turned until beautifully crisp.

Hot plate happiness.

Measuring out the ingredients into piles, each one then turned and cooked together on the hot plate. A popular stall!

Pink things and green things, frozen things too.

Playing with mirrors

At the Myer art deco ballroom, some months ago.

Because, what's a ballroom without mirrors in which to admire the scene (and your hair)?