Senso-ji Buddhist Temple

So we already walked to our first site & yes we are back at the hostel checking our email. I figured we might as well stop in and relax because it is still only almost 10a here and we have only two other activities to do. There isn't even a long distance to go for the Ueno Zoo and Tokyo National Museum. They are just on the other side of Ueno Station, just a few blocks and we are there.

On the Way There:

Kim isn't this awesome


Our street - Asakusa Dori


PIGEONS!! (Note: they look a lot healthier here...)


The temple was really awesome huge entry gates with giant lanterns. It was way simple to get there too. But because it was so early nothing was really open yet and we just meandered around taking a few pics. Then we walked around Asakusa area, cute little store, school kids dressed like madeline everywhere, people staring at us, hehe.








MOM: OMG, one of the coolest things ever! I was on my way out of the temple and saw a few locals signing and I pointed them out to Grace, then what I didn't realize because I said sign I was also signing myself and then this older man stopped in front of me and started signing too, he must have been with the others and we had a total moment it was SOOOO AWESOME!

LISA: I bought, as tribute to you, Creamy Cafe Roots, a nice ice coffee and took a pic.


Guys I think you will be reading a lot from me given the schedule so far. I seem to be less pressed for time...well maybe I shouldn't count my ducks, it is just the first day...but. =)

Awake....

So, we went to sleep at around 9p and we were all like, "hey we'll relax and set our alarm of 10a next day, that way we can acclimate." WELL, come this morning I can't really sleep anymore and I think to myself hey it must be 8:30 or 9....NO it is...get this.....4 OCLOCK in the F*ing morning.

Yeah so tossed and turned for 30-40m and couldn't stand it any longer and got up. Both Grace and I decided might as well go down and email since NO one is awake. Yeah I will probably be tired later but oh well.

Later.

Arrived!

Ok, so that was a pretty long flight. I remember Europe being better. They both took about the same time but this one I was in the middle isle, middle seat. It isn't as bad as it sounds but the plane was a little stuffy and I didn't get to sleep as much as I wanted. But whatevs. When we landed we had to wait because they quarantined us and made sure we were all healthy enough.



So, it was quite the maze to get to the Japan Rail Exchange office. If you don't already know we had to purchase rail pass exchanges outside Japan and then retrieve them once we arrived. It is an offer that is only available to foreigners. Then we were able to get all our reservations taken care of in one sitting as well. Then we had a 1hr. rail to Tokyo station and then switched to another rail and had a couple stops to our Hostel destination. If I though the airport was a maze getting out of Ueno station was dang near impossible. I don't even know how I managed to navigate it and actually get us out the correct side of the street. Then we just had to walk a few blocks to our hostel and here we are.

(Sorry little dark - thats Grace on her top bunk)


Lets see, we had...surprise - hot dogs and burgers for dinner. Can't believe it but yeah.



Kim: I forgot to take a picture before I ate, so tired wasn't thinking, but I got a picture of the place and (LISA)*Dr. Pepper can that had Japanese writing on it. The activities are AWESOME! I already collected stuff from the plane and look forward to tomorrow!



Oh, and since AT&T LIED I can't use my phone internationally regardless of the plan being set to international. Maybe my dad can b%tch them out for me - no just kidding! But you all know he would if I wanted him to, hehe. So since it isn't working I have to use a rental phone...extra money...bleh.

What else????

I don't know, our hostel is pretty nice, though the restroom is TINY, seriously the shower is on top of the toilet...no kidding, but really its small.





Well I have been up WAY too many hours and it is starting to wear on my brain I think I should go to sleep now. I promise to try my darnedest to keep this updated!