Wow....another really busy weekend is behind us.
On Friday evening my Dad arrived to spend the weekend. He had been consulting in China for the week and took the opportunity to drop by and see how we were doing. It was really great to see him again and the kids really loved having their "Bo" come visit. (For those of you who are wondering, "Bo" is the name that Sarah first started calling my father when she started to speak. Since then, the name has stuck so she continues to call her grandfather "Bo")
The busy schedule started at about 8pm on Friday night when my Dad & I set off to Akihabara (Electric city) to find a new Camera that he had been lining up to purchase. This was supposed to be a quick in & out task with us being home by 9.30 but unfortunately Hard Rock cafe in Roppongi got in the way and after the 6th "last one for the road" went by we were well on our way!
Famous last words - lets just have a quick one!
On Saturday morning, we set off early to Asakusa. None of us had ever been there but from what I had read up on the place it was an area that had kept the look and feel of "ancient Japan".
As soon as we left the subway line it felt like we were in a different time-zone. A Huge under cover market with hundreds of stores all selling Japanese souvenirs and products. We spend an hour or so wandering through the alleys but we could have spent a lot longer as it was really fascinating.
At the end of the market you enter the grounds of the large Buddhist Senso-ji Temple. (below) 
From there we made our way to the Sumida River where we boarded a ferry that took us back towards central Tokyo.
Sarah our own little travel guide on the Ferry
After a busy day out we arrived back in time to give the kids a bath and put them into bed before heading out for a superb dinner at Xen restaurant in the Roppongi Hills complex.
Group photo at Xen
On Sunday we set out for the Harajuku area as my dad had been keen on taking some pictures of the famous Harajuku girls. Once we were there we stumbled upon a big "60's Dance off competition" with a bunch of mafia looking guys dancing around in the middle of the street to blaring Elvis Presley and co. music. It was very interesting to watch but was very weird at the same time!
Harajuku Girls(Above)
The 60's Dance off (below)
Elvis is alive & well in....Tokyo???
Further down the road we stumbled onto another area in which there was a huge Brazilian festival being held.
We have found that in Tokyo, you never know what surprise each new corner has in store for you.
A Ceremony we stumbled across in a suburb while pricing bicycles for Sue.
All in all, a really good weekend was had by all and it was fantastic having my dad around!
Below is a little contribution to our blog that we got him to write...a tradition that we are going to pass on to all of our guests in the months to come. (You have all been warned!)
******
It was really great having an opportunity to “drop in” on Chris, Sue and the kids, on my way home from Shanghai and seeing their new world - which they have all settled into so well.
They are currently housed in a beautifully appointed apartment, the Oakwood Residence on the 24th floor of Roppongi T-Cube, with incredible 180 degree views of the sprawling city, motorways, parks and high rise buildings. I’ve been so impressed with Tokyo – it is sophisticated, with open spaces, wide boulevards, modern architecture and really friendly people. It has such a vibe with amazing shops, mega department stores featuring all the brands, marketing and advertising that shouts at you and trendy, fashionable young people.
We had a busy weekend experiencing some of the highlights of Tokyo that Chris had planned (as well as things that we stumbled on along the way!!) – a visit to the Senso-ji Temple at Asakusa, a ferry ride to view the city by river, a night view of Tokyo from the sky deck of Mori Tower on the 54th floor, an adventure filled trip to Yoyogi Park - watching the variety of jivers with Elvis lookalikes and street performer bands every 15 metres along the walkway, belting out their own thing, dropping in to a well supported Brazilian Festival, checking out the weird fashion dress of the Harajuku girls and finding a traditional ceremony of chanting bearers with hoisted shrines, parading the streets of Omototesando, notable as the fashion face of Tokyo.
I’m off back to Joburg this evening after a fun 3 days here and so nice to catch up with Chris, Sue, Sarah and Ronan again!
They are currently housed in a beautifully appointed apartment, the Oakwood Residence on the 24th floor of Roppongi T-Cube, with incredible 180 degree views of the sprawling city, motorways, parks and high rise buildings. I’ve been so impressed with Tokyo – it is sophisticated, with open spaces, wide boulevards, modern architecture and really friendly people. It has such a vibe with amazing shops, mega department stores featuring all the brands, marketing and advertising that shouts at you and trendy, fashionable young people.
We had a busy weekend experiencing some of the highlights of Tokyo that Chris had planned (as well as things that we stumbled on along the way!!) – a visit to the Senso-ji Temple at Asakusa, a ferry ride to view the city by river, a night view of Tokyo from the sky deck of Mori Tower on the 54th floor, an adventure filled trip to Yoyogi Park - watching the variety of jivers with Elvis lookalikes and street performer bands every 15 metres along the walkway, belting out their own thing, dropping in to a well supported Brazilian Festival, checking out the weird fashion dress of the Harajuku girls and finding a traditional ceremony of chanting bearers with hoisted shrines, parading the streets of Omototesando, notable as the fashion face of Tokyo.
I’m off back to Joburg this evening after a fun 3 days here and so nice to catch up with Chris, Sue, Sarah and Ronan again!
John Gatherer - Sept 8th 2008
*****
My Dad ("Bo" to the kids) doing what he does best!
Inside Asakusa Market
Asakusa local shop
Local off one of the side streets in Asakusa, having their afternoon beer.
Buddha outside Senso-ji temple (above & not below! :) )
Sarah and Bo in a park off Tokyo bay (above)
View from our apartment towards Shinjuku
Sunday (Ice-cream day) and a visit to Cold stone
Ronan standing...waving at everyone passing by
The fastest way of getting the kids around Tokyo
"Bye BO...Thanks for a great weekend!"
Until Later,
Cheers.
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