Bon Jovi Concert back in January

The first time I ever went to Bon Jovi's concert was back in 2002 or 03. It was in Portland Oregon, and I absolutely LOVED the experience. At the time, I was pretty sure I'd never get to go again. Luckily, I was WRONG!!

I took this picture from the bullet train, and since we're going so fast, it's blurry. I like all the changes in scenery you get to see when you ride the bullet train. In Japan, each town or city almost feels like a different country, since the the feel they give are so distinctly different.

I think this is when we passed through Shizuoka, a place that's famous for Mt. Fuji and also green tea. Can you tell how perfectly aligned and trimmed these tea plants(bushes?) are?
It's a sight to see.

And FINALLY, the concert stadium, Tokyo Dome. The concert was yet again, a BLAST!! We were seated close to the huge speakers though, so I went partially deaf in my left ear for couple of hours after the concert. My hands turned red and purple from clapping so hard throughout the concert and I sorta lost my voice from singing and screaming and just plain HAVING FUN.

They have an amusement park around the Tokyo Dome with wild roller-coasters. I once used to somewhat enjoy roller-coasters, as long as they didn't do any loops, but after having gone on a truly frightening mega-coaster at Six Flags in Napa during college, I vowed to myself that I never again wanted to actually PAY to have a heart-attack, so I no longer have any interest in these crazy coasters.

Maybe someday I'll get to go again! I like the concerts in the States better though, 'cause Jon, the lead vocal, talks more. Can't blame them, who'd wanna talk on and on to an audience that can't understand what you're saying. I won't complain though. Their concerts still ROCK and it's fun fun fun! Did you know they beat the Rolling Stones AND the Beatles for the number of #1 songs?! Too cool!

Monjya-yaki

I thought the monjya-yaki in Tokyo would be the same as the one I had in the Kansai area.

Not so.

Monjya-yaki originated in Tokyo, and is famous in an area called Tsukishima. A few of my friends and I went to this place and tried authentic monjya for the first time.
Wow. Tasted so different from Kansai. Proved that the real thing always tastes better.

There were two cute toy poodles waiting for their owner right outside the restaurant, so had to take a picture :) . I'm in love with toy poodles since my ex-roomie had one. Gotta get one when I have my own place someday!

Vending machine for batteries!

Can you believe they've actually got a vending machine that sells batteries, and only batteries?! This was in a place called "Tsukishima", which is famous for Monjya-yaki(a gooey version of a japanese pankake). I'll put a picture of it up next time.

Roppongi Hills

So my dad's request was to go to Asakuya-jinjya on New Year's Day.
My mom's request was to go to Roppongi Hills, a place where we'd only heard about on the news.

I think this was our last stop in the day, so we didn't really go around the shops. My mom seemed to be satisfied just having soaked in the atmosphere of the place.

I looked to the side and what do you know, Tokyo Tower!

Right next to the Roppongi Hills shopping center, was the Asahi TV station.
There was a gift shop section dedicated to all things Doraemon.

Saw Mt. Fuji

When my family was driving up to Chiba over New Year's we saw Mt. Fuji along the way.
There wasn't a single cloud in the sky.

New Years 2008

I thought I might as well start a new blog for 2008, since I haven't written for about a year now.
First off, goes back a bit, but pictures from New Years. Our family for the very first time, actually went OUT for the New Years Holidays. Drove up to Chiba, where my brother's family is.

On New Years Day, we went to Asakusa-Jinjya. Throngs and THRONGS of people! My dad for some reason, wanted to experience this.

It was a first for me, going to the shrine on January 1st.
Wow. Pretty amazing. There was this sense of happiness in the air.
(Maybe that's due to the fact that the New Years Holiday is the only time in the year people can take more than 3 days off)

People seem to hold the belief that the Omikuji, kinda like a horoscope I guess, you buy on Jan. 1st is especially lucky. Everyone was flocking to them.

There were a lot of booths that sold all sorts of food and good luck items for the coming year.

An old couple with a Takoyaki booth.
I opted for a baked potato, candy-apple, and Oobanyaki(sort of like a pancake with filling inside)
It was good!

I think you call these Hagoita. Something like badminton, but you use the boards. I think it's supposed to bring good luck??

A whole booth dedicated to Daruma!!
These fellas are supposed to bring good luck too, I think.
Their eyes aren't painted on, so the buyer is supposed to draw an eye, each time something good happens I think.