Hi!

Hope everybody is ok.

The last two days have been busy. There is quite a lot to see in Tokyo. Yesterday I went to see the Meiji Shrine. It was raining so so hard. When it rains here, it really rains. It was Italian style but I thought I would be ok. Like a good little girl, I had packed my umbrella. Well, the wind was so strong that the thing did not blow inside out but instead the actual umbrella just flew off - sound of the music style- leaving me on the ground speechless and wet with just the handle in my hand!

The shrine is gorgeous and means a lot to Japan. Meiji is the emperor they thank for making Japan the Japan it is today. He mixed western influences in to the japanese culture to make them more progressive. Apparently he led by example and wore western clothes-when that was unheard of and always drank wine with his meals. as a tribute to the relationship he created with the west, france donated wine barrells which the Japanese made in to a monument outside the shrine. It is a bit bizarre! There was more fortunes and things but avoided them. I have learnt my lesson. The Japanese and there were loads of them there on theyir annual pilgrimage have to wash both their mouth and hands with a ladle and water before praying.

Outside this really important solemn shrine is, a bizarre ritual takes place on a sunday. all of these japanese schooligans dress up as really extreme goth characters and cartoon nurses. It is a strange sight- and it probably would have been stranger if it had not been raining- but the kids love it posing for photos with all of the tourists etc. Nearby there is also a street which is like the teen hangout but I'll tell you what saw some of the shops and some of it is cheap but the whole fashion thing here is very arty and for everyday-not goth or nurse stuff- they have some really cool stuff to wear and loads of different things to choose from.

Today I have been to Ginza. Very New York, high rise and glam and dare i say it they may have even done it even better then new york. only ever ever ever so slightly, bet i change my mind by the time I hit new york tho, i'm fickle like that. beautiful, beautiful park there Hinza Park. Oooh and I don't think I told you about this yet. You know how there are kiddie parks in the uk. well, in japan there is these but there are also parks for the men-well, i have never seen any ladies in there- with like money bars, bench presses and things. You walk past and there are all these men suited and booted, rolex on their wrist swinging from the monkey bars or playing stick ball. Maybe that is why everybody here is so small. Went to the supermarket today though and in general, the food is very fresh and healthy plus there is a government building called the Diet building, guess they mean in our sense of the word!

Anyway gonna go now. Sorry this one a bit educational today but when you are here it is really interesting! Promise!

PS Got cash sorted and the weather is sunny and warm again today.

PSS Still getting lost lots, could do with the RyNav!