Yokohama

I think you've already got a hunch that we'll do anything to get away from Togane. And you're right. That's why we always try to make good use of the weekends and get the h**l outta here.

Yesterday, Wictoria and I went to Shibuya in Tokyo. Wictoria wanted to go to H&M and I wanted to, well, find something I could snap a photo of.

I don't really like shopping, but I tagged along to find H&M. Hundereds of people were lining up for something, and we soon got a bad feeling. People had been standing in line in front of H&M (with the line already going a few blocks down the road, for that matter) for several hours to get the first dibs on Jimmy Choo's collection for H&M.

In other words, we found something else to do.

No one ever takes a photo of me, so I gotta do it myself. Bohoo

So we took the train to Shinjuku, and Wictoria and I separated so she could go shopping and I walked the area in search of anyhing interesting to see. The weather was pretty moody, and it rained sporadically and the warm wind was very strong.

Shinjuku

Shinjuku

Shinjuku

I even found a fruit shop selling two of my momma's favourite fruits
- durian and young coconut

Then we met up with Benedicte who had overslept, and Yoshi, a good Japanese friend of Wictoria whom she'd first stalked back home in Norway a few years ago.

Then we took the train to Yokohama.

It can get pretty intimate onboard the train. Mind you, one knee is mine,
the rest belong to strangers

Yokohama

I really liked Yokohama. It had stopped raining and the wather was warm. We even got to ride the humongous ferris wheel!

Yokohama bay

Yokohama from the ferris wheel

Yokohama from the ferris wheel

Then we walked to Chinatown for some chowder. I want to go there again!

Wonton Soup

Shrimp dumplings

When the sun set the sky had the most amazing color. I got so stressed because I really wanted to run back to the bay to get some pictures, but it was too far, and I was stuck in a maze of concrete. Oh, well.

Partners in crime - Benedicte, Yoshi & Wictoria

Wictoria and Green Tea Kit Kat!

Green tea Kit Kat

I'm most certainly not too old for blue and sparkly nail polish

Near Tokyo station

We've just figured out that there is a bus that runs directly from Tokyo Station to Togane - and it only takes around an hour! We felt a bit stupid, considering that we've been taking the train home all this time, when it has taken us up to three hours, and that we've had to change trains a bunch of times. Never taking the train home again, that's for sure.

Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!

Visit to Togane Elementary School

A couple of weeks ago one of our teachers encouraged us to sign up for a small visit to a couple of the elementary schools in the area. Then we'd get the chance to meet some of the kids and tell them a little about Norway.

I often see them on my way home from school, with their yellow boshi (hat), square-shaped backpack and thermos in a neat thermosbag hanging from their neck. Often giggling frantically and yelling "Herrooo!" from across the street before running away in kids' flat-feeted, noisy manner.

Unfortunately only five people from my class signed up. Either they just don't like kids, which is pretty legitimate, but I knew some of them were scared off by the thought of having to communicate with the kids in Japanese. Hello, that's why we are here. And they are kids in their most "appreciative" age - you can tell them anything, and they'll be impressed.

Cat & her new purple bangs this morning

So after last period today we went to Togane Elementary school, which isn't that far from my apartment. I didn't take any pictures of the kids inside the school. There's no point in taking pictures if I can't show them to anyone, right?

We were greeted by the teachers and a few pupils who shyly mumbled "welcome" in Norwegian and handed us our own nametags. Ahh, being a big softy when it comes to kids making an effort, I was already starting to melt.

"Kine Merete Rangooru"

We were devided into couples, and two young girls took me and Magnus by the hand and proudly led us to their class room, filled with big-eyed 9-year-olds that started to clap excitedly as we entered. I completely forgot about being nervous and was smitten by their energy. We stood in front of the class, introduced ourselves and told them a little bit about Norway.

We'd been asked to bring photos of Norway, but few of us had any. I only coincidentally had a picture of my grumpy old cat, so I told them about Snøball, that despite hardly being white still is called "Snowball", and that he might be looking a bit grumpy because he's 12 years old.

I thought they'd might not be interested, but they were so excited and they all broke out in a cry of joy when I showed them the picture. Ahh, such an easy crowd to please.

Then they presented a small bag of presents for us. All carefully made by them. I wanted to cry. I asked "wow, who made these" and they all raised their hands, small faces glowing with pride.

Carefully folded origami spinning toy - it's so precious!

Book mark

Some kind of card to hang on the wall and "recieve joy"

Then we got to go outside and have the kids show us a few games that they play on the playground. They were all so eager to explain the game to me, with their big eyes and their little chatterboxes going full speed. It was so much fun and I was all sweaty when we were done.

I had a great time and I remember how much I like (nice) kids. I also realised that I really miss teaching TaeKwon-Do to young kids and being able contribute to "shaping them" and giving them a safe environment.

Kouyou - Autumn leaves in Japan

Homeless guy & busy sarariiman

Yesterday Wictoria and I decided to go to Nikko, to pretend like we're cultivated, young Norwegians, interested in seeing the shrines and temples that are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. What we really wanted was to take pictures of the kouyou - autumn leaves.

First we took the train from Togane to Asakusa in Tokyo. We bought a Nikko Passport which included the 2-hour-and-50-minute train ride and entrance to the different temples.

We had a little time before we had to board the train, so we had a small look around in Asakusa.

Asakusa

Asakusa

Hazelnut tea, hell yeah

Ahh, I rest my case.

We only spent a couple of hours in Nikko before heading back.

The water had an insane color

Train seats in Japan have pretty funky colors

When they tell you to "mind the gap" - they REALLY mean it

"Please refrain from putting on make-up in the train"
You're seriously not allowed to do anything inside the train in Japan

When we finally got back to Togane, Wictoria and I found out that both our bicycles had been stolen from the bicycle parking lot by the train station. We spent 20 minutes going through the bikes in the area, in case they had been moved, or something. But no.

What are the odds of that happening? We didn't even park next to each other. So now I'm in the mourning of my beloved bicycle that only threw me off once during our short two-month relationship. I hope the new owner is treating it nicely, and I suppose he/she doesn't need the key to go with that lock.

I need to get a new bike, tough. It's the only way to get around in this God forsaken town.

Mount Fuji & Fujikyu Highland

Shinjuku

After going to Disneyland on Friday, Wictoria, Kim and I agreed on Disneyland being a nice and cutsy place - yet for kids. Still we had an unfulfilled need for extreme thrills and decided to go to Fujikyu Highland.

Fujikyu Highland is a themepark in Fujiyoshida,which is at the base of Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain.

Shinjuku

On Sunday we headed for Tokyo and Shinjuku for the 1 hour and 50 minute busride to Fujikawaguchiko, where we'd be spending the night at K's House Mt. Fuji, a backpackers hostel.

We paid 2700 Yen (170 NOK) each for a bunk bed in a dorm room with six beds - yet we had the whole room to ourselves. Everything was super neat and clean, and we had access to a shower, laundry, internet, kitchen, TV room, etc.

Japanese style communal lounge

Communal living and dining room

The weather was crap as it was raining, and it was already pretty late when we arrived. So we chilled out, had a very unhealthy meal at a restaurant and went for a bath in an onsen (hot spring) at Onsenji Yumedono Ryokan, right around the corner from the hostel.

It was nice. And hot. And we were naked. And there is no pictures.

Kine on a well-known sugar rush, due to the Fanta that matches her top

We found this stack of cards in the communal area at the hostel.
It's from a Norwegian gym

Wictoria drawing

Wictoria and her good friend Pocky

Bright and early Monday morning we took the train one stop to Fujikyu Highland.

Fujiyama, once the world's tallest rollercoaster. Sweet!

Photo: Kim Daniel Engebretsen

Looking a bit pale and shell-shocked, you say?
Yah, that was pretty much our look for the day

Eejanaika

When we first arrived Eejanaika wasn't running, because it was raining slightly. But we persiviered and sat down to wait for it to start running.

In this way we really beat the crowd when it suddenly started to run and we ran for the entrance and managed to be passengers at one of the first rides of the day. When we went back out a 3-hour-line had already formed.

Ejanaika was the second "4th Dimension rollercoaster" ever built when it opened in 2006. As a "4th dimension" roller coaster its seats can rotate 360 degrees forward or backward in a controlled spin, thus allowing Eejanaika to invert 14 different times, even though the actual track inverts only three times.

Wictoria and Kim.
Please notice Wictoria is still clutching her God damn kanji flashcards, as always

Then we headed for Dodonpa, a rollercoaster where you reach a speed of 172 km in 1.8 seconds. When it opened in 2001, it was then the world's fastest roller coaster. As of 2007 it is the 3rd fastest in the world but still has the highest acceleration at launch time.

We waited for nearly two and a half hours in line

And it was totally worth it

Dodonpa

The Haunted Hospital

In order to actually get all the way home to Togane we had to take the bus at 5 p.m.

So to my sorrow and disappointment, we didn't have time for The Haunted Hospital - the world's largest haunted attraction. The attraction takes 60 minutes to walk through.

Wictoria had been there last year and she said it was horrifyingly scary, full of live actors inside, wanting to scare the bejesus outta ya.

It looked so creepy as I stood outside. My father lives and works in a small place in Norway called Dikemark, which used to be a secluded area with mental hospitals. Now most of them are shut down, and still I remember passing them when he used to take me and my sister for a walk in the area when we were kids. And the haunted hospital looks so much like them.

Even tough it would have been cool, I think it might be a good thing I didn't go in there. I have a lively imagination and wouldn't be able to sleep at night. To this day I haven't watched a scary movie ever since I saw the The Grudge five years ago.

The area seen from the ferris wheel

Mount Fuji behind the clouds.
Even people who 'live there' haven't seen it properly because of the clouds