I always heard that Japan is extremely hi-tech, so before arriving I was imagining Tokyo as a city similar to The Jetsons. Ok, I’m exaggerating. But once I got to the airport, I was surprised with something that I haven’t seen on the airports around the world: fingerprint identification. In Portuguese! For me, of course, because I gave them my Brazilian passport.
To go to my accommodation I took a bus transfer from the airport, and it wasn’t a big deal. No automatic roads; and the driver was driving the car without automatic pilot or any other robotic help. I was almost forgetting about these technological things until I went to the washroom. The toilet seat has automatic heat and some other functions, to wash yourself when you are seated. Too strange for me; I couldn’t try. There are some things that are better to keep the traditional way. In the streets, there are lots of vending machines, which I only know for selling beverages or snacks. In Japan, you can buy also sushi or even underwear! The nightclubs do not escape from all this technology. We went to one that you can only come in if another guest already allowed in authorizes your fingerprint. If you belong to the lucky group of people, you can enjoy rooms with modern karaoke or virtual golf. Japanese people love these things. Not just singing and playing, but all the wonders of the modern world. I can’t deny that I had fun on the photo machines. You enter the cabin with your friends, pose for the picture and then run to another cabin, where you can customize your photos with drawings and frames, the machine sends your artwork to your cell phone via Bluetooth or infra-red and prints it as a sticker. The best! I trusted so much on Japanese modern techniques that I went to a hair saloon and got my hair what we know in Brazil as the “Japanese straight”. I love it. But I was really amazed when my new friend Ryoko, the Japanese girl that went to he Smirnoff Ten selection final with Takashi, showed me the functions of her cell phone. It has free TV access with perfect image, reads business cards and keeps it in your contacts, recognizes these new barcodes that some stores and restaurants have for the to customer connect to the website of the place by the phone and, the best, makes video calls! You can see whom you are speaking to, in real time!
After that, we were discussing what is next. Is it possible to invent more and more things? I hope that the teletransportation comes soon. Than I’ll not have to go to the other side of the world to see these new and old wonders…
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Tokyo
Hair up. Colourful hair. Colourful socks. Yes, if you stop to analyze Tokyo from the foot to the head, you’ll have a chance to improve how many different colours your eyes are capable of seeing.
It’s a technological city, lit by thousands of advertisements: outdoors, giant televisions reflected in glass buildings and banners with the Japanese symbols that jump off from each commerce. During the day, office people run through the streets, in a place that seems have more inhabitants than free spaces on the floor. At night, I got confused – I didn’t know if I should look for all the lights or for the fashion wear of every Japanese person. Beautiful clothes, I almost went crazy at the 109 Shopping Centre, in the Shibuya district. Tokyo might be the most expensive city in the world, but probably is also the richest in variety. You can find any type of night club: from a Latin Salsa until a bar that guests can come in only showing their fingerprints, and inside this luxury paradise they can sing in a modern karaoke or play virtual golf with friends. Amazing. And, ironically, it is in this super developed city where the nature is shown at its most special. Sakura, the Japanese tree, is in a moment that happens only a week per year: they are blossoming with beautiful white flowers. It makes this city even more beautiful and traditional.
For sure, all this impressed me. And I’m not a fan of big cities, but Japan’s capital won my attention. I’m glad that we have two more weeks here – even though this time is barely enough if we want to know everything that this megalopolis has to offer!
It’s a technological city, lit by thousands of advertisements: outdoors, giant televisions reflected in glass buildings and banners with the Japanese symbols that jump off from each commerce. During the day, office people run through the streets, in a place that seems have more inhabitants than free spaces on the floor. At night, I got confused – I didn’t know if I should look for all the lights or for the fashion wear of every Japanese person. Beautiful clothes, I almost went crazy at the 109 Shopping Centre, in the Shibuya district. Tokyo might be the most expensive city in the world, but probably is also the richest in variety. You can find any type of night club: from a Latin Salsa until a bar that guests can come in only showing their fingerprints, and inside this luxury paradise they can sing in a modern karaoke or play virtual golf with friends. Amazing. And, ironically, it is in this super developed city where the nature is shown at its most special. Sakura, the Japanese tree, is in a moment that happens only a week per year: they are blossoming with beautiful white flowers. It makes this city even more beautiful and traditional.
For sure, all this impressed me. And I’m not a fan of big cities, but Japan’s capital won my attention. I’m glad that we have two more weeks here – even though this time is barely enough if we want to know everything that this megalopolis has to offer!
Saturday, 10 May 2008
Thai Paradise
Paradise. No, this time I’m not talking about Brazil. You are probably tired of me talking about Brazilian wonders all the time, but this is because I’m super patriotic. Also it’s about my personality; for sure there are other Brazilians that prefer the European life or the US development. But I love nature. And that’s why Thailand won my heart and it’s the number one for me among the countries that we’ve been on this world trip.
We started in Bangkok. Big city, with giant shopping malls between Buddhist temples. Super good night life. On my first night, I just went for a walk to recognize my hotel’s neighborhood. It was Monday, so I wasn’t expecting to find much around. But I was surprised when I found this street with 3 bars and 2 night clubs – all open and busy. The same happens every night in RCA, a street closed just for people and with lots and lots of options of clubs. And, of course, the Koh San Road, the tourist street that I wrote about on my last post. But luckily I found the most original night club in the place that was also my prefered in Thailand: the islands. In Ko Samui, I loved the Ice Bar. Ok, I know that a bar where everything is built in ice (chairs, tables, sculptures, even the glasses) is not so new, there are many in different parts of the world. But on a tropical island, on 30ºC almost all year? Everybody gets there wearing skirts, shorts and sandals. They put you in a giant warm winter coat and give you gloves. But you can stay inside the Ice Bar only until your feet start to get cold – no stress… it’s only though two thick doors and you are back to the beach climate. And than you can enjoy the heat of the night on the street of Green Frog and Mint clubs – in or outside these places, people are dancing until 2 a.m. By law in Ko Samui, all bars must close at this time. Of course that this is not applied to the Full Moon Party that happens in Ko Phanghan, the island just beside Ko Samui. People come from Europe, Australia and all different countries to this amazing party, which is among the 10 biggest parties in the world. The long Hadrin Beach gets crowded with people coming in and out the clubs that play all kinds of music styles. And it goes until the sunrise. The sun makes the scene even more beautiful and for those that don’t want to go to bed can choose to go to an after party on “Backyards Club” or can get into their swimming clothes and purify their souls in the blue sea.
Wow! Energy is necessary to enjoy the Thai Islands. I’m glad that this was not a problem to me or the Smirnoff Ten, so I can leave this country without regrets. I have to go, but I bring with me the taste of wanting more. And who does not want to stay forever in the paradise?
We started in Bangkok. Big city, with giant shopping malls between Buddhist temples. Super good night life. On my first night, I just went for a walk to recognize my hotel’s neighborhood. It was Monday, so I wasn’t expecting to find much around. But I was surprised when I found this street with 3 bars and 2 night clubs – all open and busy. The same happens every night in RCA, a street closed just for people and with lots and lots of options of clubs. And, of course, the Koh San Road, the tourist street that I wrote about on my last post. But luckily I found the most original night club in the place that was also my prefered in Thailand: the islands. In Ko Samui, I loved the Ice Bar. Ok, I know that a bar where everything is built in ice (chairs, tables, sculptures, even the glasses) is not so new, there are many in different parts of the world. But on a tropical island, on 30ºC almost all year? Everybody gets there wearing skirts, shorts and sandals. They put you in a giant warm winter coat and give you gloves. But you can stay inside the Ice Bar only until your feet start to get cold – no stress… it’s only though two thick doors and you are back to the beach climate. And than you can enjoy the heat of the night on the street of Green Frog and Mint clubs – in or outside these places, people are dancing until 2 a.m. By law in Ko Samui, all bars must close at this time. Of course that this is not applied to the Full Moon Party that happens in Ko Phanghan, the island just beside Ko Samui. People come from Europe, Australia and all different countries to this amazing party, which is among the 10 biggest parties in the world. The long Hadrin Beach gets crowded with people coming in and out the clubs that play all kinds of music styles. And it goes until the sunrise. The sun makes the scene even more beautiful and for those that don’t want to go to bed can choose to go to an after party on “Backyards Club” or can get into their swimming clothes and purify their souls in the blue sea.
Wow! Energy is necessary to enjoy the Thai Islands. I’m glad that this was not a problem to me or the Smirnoff Ten, so I can leave this country without regrets. I have to go, but I bring with me the taste of wanting more. And who does not want to stay forever in the paradise?
The Chosen One
The chosen one
I’ve been travelling for 4 months already. I still have more than the half of the trip – is this good or bad news? It’s super good that I have 6 months left, but I get sad just thinking about this life finishing in September… But it’s ok. No dramas; what I wanted to say is that even if I still have 10 countries to go this year, I’m almost sure that I’ve visited already the best one: Thailand.
Before getting here, the comments that I heard were basically: “You have to go straight to the islands rather than Bangkok”. I was imagining that the capital of this country would be at least chaos. But who said that exaggerated, and a lot. I love the city, reminds me of my hometown, Sao Paulo: shopping centres, all kind of night clubs, street foods, as well… But here they have something that my city hasn’t: the Koh San Road, a street that focuses on the backpackers and tourists in general. It’s crowded with people 365 days per year, during the morning the travellers go shopping at the hippy stands (or are surrounded by sellers). But at night that things get hotter. People from all parts of the world together in one spot - imagine the result. And that is also what happens at the islands, but with a completely different scenario. Much more what I like; those who’ve met me know that I’m more a nature girl. So I escape to Ko Phi Phi, one paradise that was devastated by the tsunami in 2004. It is now practically reconstructed, and it is one of the most beautiful places that I’ve been. The beaches have the basics to form a view that your eyes never get tired of looking: white sand, blue sea, clear water, green palms. Besides that, the giant rocks that surround the island and the different species of fish swimming with the people make this place even more special. The surfers can leave their boards at home; the sea is super flat, like a pool. Perfect to rent a kayak, and that was what I did. I paddled to the loneliest little beaches, but decided to park on the Monkey Beach, the most beautiful one in my opinion. I spent almost all day inside the water, swimming with the little fishes and watching the come-and-go of the boats that offer a tour around the island to the tourists. I didn’t want to leave that place, but I had to when it was the end of afternoon and the tide was getting too low. This made my goodbye even more unforgettable: while I was paddling, I could see all the corals and fish under my kayak. Wonderful; it was difficult to leave the sea. There is no picture that can show this moment. It’s a shame that Asia is far from Brazil, and not so many Brazilians have to opportunity to come. But this is a place that is really worth spending all your savings to travel. ?we have to guarantee the visit here in this life, right?
I’ve been travelling for 4 months already. I still have more than the half of the trip – is this good or bad news? It’s super good that I have 6 months left, but I get sad just thinking about this life finishing in September… But it’s ok. No dramas; what I wanted to say is that even if I still have 10 countries to go this year, I’m almost sure that I’ve visited already the best one: Thailand.
Before getting here, the comments that I heard were basically: “You have to go straight to the islands rather than Bangkok”. I was imagining that the capital of this country would be at least chaos. But who said that exaggerated, and a lot. I love the city, reminds me of my hometown, Sao Paulo: shopping centres, all kind of night clubs, street foods, as well… But here they have something that my city hasn’t: the Koh San Road, a street that focuses on the backpackers and tourists in general. It’s crowded with people 365 days per year, during the morning the travellers go shopping at the hippy stands (or are surrounded by sellers). But at night that things get hotter. People from all parts of the world together in one spot - imagine the result. And that is also what happens at the islands, but with a completely different scenario. Much more what I like; those who’ve met me know that I’m more a nature girl. So I escape to Ko Phi Phi, one paradise that was devastated by the tsunami in 2004. It is now practically reconstructed, and it is one of the most beautiful places that I’ve been. The beaches have the basics to form a view that your eyes never get tired of looking: white sand, blue sea, clear water, green palms. Besides that, the giant rocks that surround the island and the different species of fish swimming with the people make this place even more special. The surfers can leave their boards at home; the sea is super flat, like a pool. Perfect to rent a kayak, and that was what I did. I paddled to the loneliest little beaches, but decided to park on the Monkey Beach, the most beautiful one in my opinion. I spent almost all day inside the water, swimming with the little fishes and watching the come-and-go of the boats that offer a tour around the island to the tourists. I didn’t want to leave that place, but I had to when it was the end of afternoon and the tide was getting too low. This made my goodbye even more unforgettable: while I was paddling, I could see all the corals and fish under my kayak. Wonderful; it was difficult to leave the sea. There is no picture that can show this moment. It’s a shame that Asia is far from Brazil, and not so many Brazilians have to opportunity to come. But this is a place that is really worth spending all your savings to travel. ?we have to guarantee the visit here in this life, right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)