Welcome to the second part of the epic. Sorry I didn’t post this yesterday but I had to teach my evening English class. Anyway!
Saturday Night
All pictures for this section taken by Matt.
By now the wear and tear is starting to show. We had to drag ourselves into work (on a Saturday! What is this madness?!) and promote the school by smiling and handing out paper, then teaching a lesson to the visiting twelve year olds. Overall it was a success, which was surprising considering we were practically unconscious throughout. By all accounts it would have been wise to stay home and recuperate after the last two evenings. Any sane person could see that, whilst going out would be great, it’s just not good for you to go out three days in a row. But then we went out anyway because that’s just the wacky, off-the-wall kids we are.
We decided to head to Shibuya with two friends of ours, Saki and Satomi. Both of them are studying English at university, so they cleverly trick us into teaching them English despite the fact we’re not their teachers. Still, it’s more fun than sitting at home, I guess.
What we forgot was that most Japanese people have incredibly low alcohol tolerance thresholds. By the time we’d got through a glass of cheap Champagne and a Malibu & Coke each, poor Saki was quite literally out of there, with Satomi not that far behind. The picture above was taken as we came out of the first bar before heading to the second. We found a wonderful little bar called Moonshiner, on about the 10th floor of one of the many towers of entertainment that loom over Shibuya. It was great because it had exactly none of the following;
- Groups of loud, drunken businessmen who don’t want to upset you they just want to talk at each other really really loud because apparently when Japanese men drink all their friends become hard of hearing.
- Japanese Pop music. This is made by taking American Pop music, dipping it in sugar, then playing it at 4x speed.
Infact, it was just us there. It was fantastic. It was maybe a little bit on the expensive side but it was absoloutly worth it to get a break from the mobs. I am confident that Saki and Satomi enjoyed it too, although I wouldn’t bother asking them as they probably can’t even remember their own names.
Sunday Night
What The Dickens is an English pub in Ebisu, famous because before it was a pub, it was used by the Aum Shinrikyo sect to pray and to plot their various terrorist attacks on Tokyo. Nowadays it plays host to much more innocent things, including Matt singing Croatian songs.
The entire thing was in support of ending Fistula in the third world. It’s not a pleasant subject so if you’re really interested in it you can look it up yourself. It was made up of very abstract, unique acts, which ranged in quality from Nobody Understands Us student performances to some really quite fantastic stuff. A band called Rain In Eden put on a rather good show, but I think the night was stolen by The Croatian Singers, which consisted of a Croatian, a Canadian, an Australian and a Brit.
Of all four nights, I’d say Sunday night was probably the most interesting – I’ve never heard a song about a Croatian Peacock before and now I have and that’s something I can write in Christmas Cards. Still, I think this may be the last time for a while that we go out four times in a row. At least until the Hokkaido volunteers visit us at Christmas, because they want to go out every night. For two weeks. Urk.
12th December Update: I rewrote part of this article to clear up some issues about our relationship with Saki and Satomi. We are not their teachers and we would never go drinking with our students. I apologise for any misconceptions. I am not a bad guy! Thanks to Bryce Tanner for pointing this issue out.
Possibly Related Content:
Aum Shinrikyo? I’ve been led to believe that they once appropriated a small atomic bomb and let it off in the middle of the Australian outback (at least, that’s what the Australian authorities said. I expect it was a train full of Fosters crashing) as a dry run for letting one off in a more noticeable place. Are they still at large in any way in Japan? And why exactly do they want to destroy humanity?
Also, would it be very predictable of me to point out the irony in a girl called Saki being sensitive to alcohol?
(Obviously the answer’s yes.)
seems you are enjoying Tokyo life! ;) it’s cold and wet here.. i miss all the parties and nice cheap foods & drinks in Tokyo!! here everything’s too expensive and everybody looks at me & my husband (just got married on monday!) in pubs like such a bad guy buying alcohol for a little girl! and they still asked my passport to buy beer in Sainsbury’s the other day!! I AM 29!!!!! i should get a tshirts ‘I AM 29′ on it and wear it whenever i go to pubs and bars!
anyway.. i really want to try some clubs here, if you know anywhere good let me know! i like house and trance :)
Yeah, you’re going to get that alot – girls in England tend to look older than girls in Japan.
I’m glad you guys finally got married :) Do you have a photo of you in your wedding dress?
Hi Mike and Matt,
I do not realy know how, but your sit showed up on my screen when doing a Japan Travel seaarch. I got interested seeing two blondies in Japan and started to read. I soon found the minuets turned into an hour and could not stop reading about your adventures there. I am amazed by it.
I too am looking to go to Japan for an adventure, but am short on the cash and avalible time. But am planning for the future. I am also a student like you, but in college. I am currently attending nursing school and would like to become a traveling nures someday. But for now it’s endless books and exams. (urg!) The lectures are a bore too, but it’s worth it.
Your probbely scratching your head by now and woundering what I am getting at, well I thought I’d just let you know I enjoyed your sit and blogs. There are great and I hope that one day I too will have the fun had. Just so you know, I will keep up on your adventures and read your next post’s, so keep up the good job and ofcourse, the fun.
Have a good one guys and stay safe. :)
Sheena Carter
Minnesota, USA
Thanks Sheena – I can’t suggest strongly enough that you make it out here someday – it will blow your mind :)
Bear in mind this is just my blog. Aside from a few photos, Matt contributes in no way, however I’ll try to get him to start a blog someday! :)
I remember coming off of Topamax; I did the stupid thing and went cold turkey. From what I’ve read, I’m very lucky I didn’t induce seizures. I feel for you!
Ah Topamax – The silent “You’ll get better” killer…
Updated 12th December
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