(Photo Taken - Elkan and the Fallen Trees - San Wan Ho, Hong Kong)

The last 3 Typhoon 8 stormed Hong Kong over the weekend and night-time. Majority of the working class want Typhoon to come on a weekday - it means holiday! Our prayers were finally answered! We had our 1st Typhoon Holiday on Tuesday morning. It was a very strong one - the wind was very strong. At night, we can't sleep well -  the howling of the wind through the cracks of our doors was pretty loud and errie. The stormy night scene outside (at the sea) was intimidating.

(Photo Taken: "Home Cafe", Japan)

Originally, I wanted Martin to bring me to some of the "infamous" spots in Tokyo - namely the "Human Sashimi Bar" or the local "Strip Joint". As those places are way above our budget, Martin suggested we dine at this fancy cafe. He told me it is a "must try".

This is indeed a happy "Cosplay" cafe. Inside this place, you have very beautiful and kawaii waitresses. They called themselves "maids" but to me, they are professional entertainers. They can sing, dance and even host a good birthday party. It is a very special and unique dining experience. For SGD30. you get a set-meal and an instant shot with your favourite Kawaii Maid.

When you are ordering your food, the Maid will be asking for your nickname. (Just for fun, I called myself "SuperBoy"). When serving your drink or food, she will play with your food (by drawing any picture you tell her to draw). I asked for Doraemon and she drew it right away on top of my rice. And we cannot touch our food until we complete a routine of "manga" actions. The Maid will act out the action and we need to repeat after her. (It is fun but not the type of fun I had.)

This is quite a stupid and mindless place - but it is a happy dining place where you have very friendly kawaii girls to entertan you. Certainly for lonely nerds and dirty old men. Not for someone like us.

(Photo Taken: Zebra Crossings at Shibuya, Japan)

In less than 8 days, I was back in Tokyo once more. Unlike the first "quickie" trip, I spent 5 good days this time. The weather was so much better than the last one. I get to travel more around the city and managed to buy some of the nicest things for myself and family.

 

Can't imagine what I have been through the first 10 days of Sept. I have to deliver 4 major projects (2 shops in Hong Kong, 1 shop in Singapore and 1 building in Japan). At the same time, I was launching an Asia-Pac promotion for Mid-Autumn Festival. I was feeling kinda "worried" (not stressed) cos' I hate to deliver shitty, half-fuck jobs. Thankfully, I have Tracy and my French boss. They helped me a lot during my absence. (Having said that, I will be taking off again very soon...What a crazy month for me!)




This is indeed a great Tokyo trip for me! At work, I met some of the finest talents from New York, Hong Kong and Japan. I learnt so much from them. Despite knowing each other for less than a few hours, this multi-nationals team had superb rapport and chemistry. Over this past week, we worked very hard and produced one of the best presentations ever! Our jobs required us to do lots of shopping research (which is damn fun! We get to shop and visit some great landmarks!). We spent 2 good days and nights in GINZA, EBISU and SHIBUYA. Japan is such a great place to shop but many big stores close at 8:30pm daily.



Outside work, we played even harder - My good Singaporean-cum-Japanese friend. Martin Heng, brought us to some very interesting places. We went to this district of toys (at Akihabara Electric Town 秋葉原電気街), comics and gadgets! It is like a big "Sim Lim Town" except they have lots of sex shops and cosplay-themed cafes! Now, I understand why friends like Meijie, Yixi and Kalinda adore Japan so much - cos this is a very strange and weird city. Plus it is also a very cool, clean and beautiful place. This is one place where you can do all the shitty and weird stuffs and walk away freely. Anything is possible in Tokyo.

 

It is very difficult to be "Lost in Translation"". For sure, I want to come back to do all the "impossibles". Enjoy the pixs!

This is a city where you see many cute and sweet girls in brown hair. This is a city where you are discouraged to talk on your mobile in the train or on the bus. This is the city when big shopping malls close at 9pm. This is the city where one of the world's most expensive streets resides. This is the city when you find Seoul + Taipei + Shanghai. This is also the city where you find many carrying transparent white umbrellas. This is Tokyo.

My first 36 hours in Tokyo has been more than just eye-opening. Right from the airport, I was detained for more than 15 minutes. I had everything searched - from head to toe. I was body-searched - and they emptied every single item in my bags - they even stuck their hands into my shoes. All because I gave them a "wrong" answer at the counter. I was asked if this is my 1st trip in Tokyo. I answered "yes". They then asked me how long is my trip. I told them "less than one day". And then they asked me if I am here for business and where is my meeting point. I answered "I don't know the address yet." With that - off to the room I went!

The taxi fare is amazing! I am never the "bus or train" commuter. I am always the Taxi-Boy. However, I have to stick to the bus as it will cost me about SGD400 from the airport to the city! The 2-hour bus ride itself cost me SGD45! (Same fare from Singapore to Malacca!).

The Japanese are a different breed of people. They take huge pride in their job - bus drivers, waiters, bellboys, shop staffs. You can feel "their systematic way of working". 



My good Singaporean friend, Martin (who speaks very good Japanese now) played guide and my life-saviour throughout these 36 hours. Without him, I would have felt so lost in translation in this massive, complex city. My 2G iphone isn't working and I can't contact anyone. I have never felt so crippled before! Lucky I have my blackberry (it is running on 3G) - I used it to message / sms the folks in Hong Kong.

It was meant to be a quickie business trip. Believe it or not, typhoon loves to travel with me. It was a 36 hours of heavy rain and strong wind. I love the cool 22-degree weather. The stay was so comfortable. I accomplished 90% of what I was tasked to do. I had my favourite Coco-Curry Rice! And best of all, I spent good quality time with Martin around Shibuya (渋谷区) and Ginza (銀座).