Tragedy at the V&A + Back in Tokyo

PART I

A belated happy new year, o dear readers mine.  I have been back in Tokyo for several weeks now, and have neglected writing for some time before that.  I seem to have used all of my productiveness during my three months in England.  But after several weeks of pure sloth I am back in the saddle.

It is interesting to see Tokyo afresh after spending two weeks in London at the end of my England stay.  Both are great cities, of course.  Which do I prefer?   Which do you prefer?  Let’s categorize things.

1. If we are talking about the weather, Tokyo wins hands down in the winter.  It was cold, colder and colder yet in London during December.  Any day, no matter how well it started, could end up rainy or snowy.  And most days didn’t even start out well.  The sun comes up late and begins to go down around 3:30, after having risen no higher than 45 degrees above the horizon.  Tokyo?  SUNNY and bright nearly every day.  Cold, but pleasantly so in the sun.  Dry most days.

2. Architecture.  Depends on what you like.  I miss having an historic church on every other corner with all the history to be discovered inside.  Yet in Tokyo you will find roadside shrines in every neighborhood, as well as larger shrines and temples.

3. Food?  Steaks?  Fish pie?  Roast pork?  Mushy Peas?  All served with no salt!!  Hooray for London.  Grilled fish?  Tofu?  Fresh veg?  Tokyo is the place for you.  But oh the salt!  I walked past a restaurant yesterday with a sign outside proclaiming “No Salt, No Life”.  Ouch!!  If you are a salt-hater like me, that positively hurts.

4.  Transportation systems?  The London underground proudly announces which lines are running normally all day long, leaving one to assume that the others are not.  (Lines sometimes actually close completely for weekend work).  In Tokyo the trains are bigger and cleaner than London.  It is assumed they will run on time (unless a jumper {one who commits suicide by leaping in front of a train} strikes a particular line).

5.  Life as a foreigner?  In London EVERYONE is a foreigner.  I rarely met anyone English there.  Keeping my mouth shut allowed me to pass for a native.  In Tokyo EVERYONE is Japanese.  Not much use trying to pass as a native here (unless you are Asian and dress like the locals).

6.  Public toilets?  Sorry to bring up a delicate subject, but when in London it is best to keep the consumption of liquids to a minimum.  Public loos are few and far between.   Many charge admission and others are broken down.  Tokyo?  Every little corner park has one – go ahead and have another beer.  You’ll be ok later here.

PART II

And what of the Tragedy at the Victoria and Albert Museum?  My beloved camera (a Canon EOS X2 DSLR) found itself with a dollop of jam exactly on the top control wheel.  Who did it?   I still don’t know, since I wasn’t having any jam.  But there it was, oozing in, as jam will.   Luckily this happened at the end of the tour, but friend-camera is presently in the Canon Hospital for abused cameras.  Pray for a low repair bill!  Since my motto is “No camera, no life” I had to buy a replacement while waiting.  If you’re looking for a pocket camera that can be controlled similarly to a DSLR, check out the Canon S90.  I wish I had had it in England for those days when I wanted to travel light.  And speaking of photos, here are some of my favorites to conclude comments on the England adventure.  From here in on the View From Tokyo will be presenting the news from Tokyo.

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