Having coffee at Tully’s in chilly March temperature by UDX Crossfield.
Tully’s Coffee, al fresco, in chilly temperature
I could have walked for miles today without breaking a sweat. My hands were balled into fists, tucked into the pockets of my woollen jacket. Condensation trailed from my breath as I spoke. The men on the street were dressed in long coats. Ladies wore scarves around the neck. Some girls, gorgeous looking type going up the escalator of Don Quixoted. They looked kinda out of place in Akihabara.
Akihabara is just one stop away from my pad along the Hibiya subway line. This is an unlikely place to come stock up on household items but the shops here got just what we needed.
Zakka
Lunch at Futsuki at Yodobashi Camera Akiba. The Tokyo Animation Centre was not open for the day. Made a detour to Radio Kaikan for a quick look before heading down Chuo-O Dori. Quick coffee by Tully’s at UDX Crossfield before hoping over to Don Quixote.From steam irons to toilet bowl brush to magic clean wipes. Electric powered massagers. Okamoto co-branded Tenga strung up in packs next to the condom rack – gratification as convenient as instant noodles.
Comic Toranoana Akihabara
Cafe with Cats looked kinda empty from the street view. I moved along, hands laden with household shopping. I’ll definitely be back again this week
Akihabara
Skies get dark early in March. It was barely 4pm before it felt like dusk was settling in. For people used to having equal hours of daylight and night, this needs getting used to. When it was 7pm, I thought it was already 9. Could be the flight fatigue.
The Pad
It’s surreal – one moment I’m in Singapore. And the next day I’m strolling down Akihabara – walking through the treasure trove without the urge to buy anything. That’s because it felt like I lived here – and everything here is ‘normal’ and within reach, anytime I want it.
Dinner
I wonder how many cultural taboo have I committed on the first day. Though I’ve been taking Japanese lessons since the 2005, I’m still not able to hold down a conversation in Japanese. I speak in halting phrases – hoping keywords and body language can compensate for my grammatical horrors. But I did use the language more than I did in the previous trips. For the first time today, I took a cab. It’s really cool how the cab driver (a lady) is able to track down our destination in the warrens of Nihonbashi using a dashboard GIS navigator.
Aight. Gotta go press my clothes. Tomorrow’s packed with meetings.
