As the years roll by!!

It happens to each of us every year but as we get older it seems to happen more often. The speed of the year could be a result of short term memory loss (not remembering all the things we have been doing) but it happens. Last Saturday I turned 'go ju roku' and my birthday treat involved cycling around Tokyo. Celebrating a birthday, probably two, in Japan is a wonderful gift in itself but does not fully compensate for being away from loved ones.

Saturday, June 19th, was another memorable day spent cruising the streets and observing busy Tokyo with its crowds, extreme noise, major retail centres, diverse features and small back streets. Leaving Shinagawa at 10.00am and returning at just after 6.00pm equalled eight hours of pedalling. With the temperature around 30 and the humidity high, pedalling up hills was a hot and tiring experience. Once again I found my new acquisition (the bike) a little wobbly to steer, particularly with a load in that very trendy basket on the front handlebars. Although its design features, I fear, are a little less than superior they have no impact on the thrill of the experience. Riding around Tokyo sees us exploring small side streets, indoor malls, main roads, parks, busy shopping precincts and observing different styles of housing. The photos below show areas around Gotanda, quite near to Shinagawa. Very few places are 'non bike' areas so footpaths are busy places with bicycles zig zagging between pedestrians. With a gentle ring of the bell to signal your presence, pedestrians move aside to allow an open passage. It's all very civilised and trouble free. Mums with baby in front and  toddler on the back, women in high heel shoes, old people (like me), school kids, salary men, business men...so many ride bikes. Riding up and down malls and streets you simply park and lock the bike when you need to shop. Outside larger supermarkets there are often designated areas for bikes and failure to observe these areas can result in a fine. The details of the penalties I am not sure of because I can never read the bits of yellow paper placed on bikes by parking inspectors. With all signage incomprehensible to me, I am still hoping to avoid fines!!

Initially we headed north towards Ginza and central Tokyo then circled around Tokyo Tower. We stopped to have lunch and take a brief look around, as this was the first time Steve had been inside the tower. We had the easiest lunch option available, Mc Donald's, then headed back to the bikes. We watched the monkey below performing its tricks to the crowds, accompanied by a loud and excited presenter.  Yet another performance that we could only visually understand. We don't agree with using animals in this manner but it was quite cute, dressed in its kimono and apron.

After a quick visit to a little park adjacent to Tokyo Tower we continued on towards Roppongi. With each ride we are becoming more familiar with our surroundings and confident of our location. Racing along a main road we chanced upon Tokyo Lease Corporation, the company we have selected to secure our lease furniture. Having visited there the week before, I was keen to show Steve inside so we made a quick stop.

This next snippet of information is digressing slightly, but explains some of the processes involved in relocating to another country with a big company. Included in Steve's overseas package is rental and furniture lease, as well as relocation costs. My posting 'One Step Closer!' briefly described packing up in readiness for leaving home. Employees have access to advisers in Australia, the country of their posting and in Singapore. Working together, these advisers ensure a smooth transition for employees. Our relocation advisor in Japan, Sally, had arranged appointments for me with two lease companies.  These introductory meetings gave me an insight into the processes involved in furniture leasing and an opportunity to select the company of my choice. I had not imagined this would be such an onerous chore! Both companies were excellent and it was a difficult choice. The final deciding factor often comes down to who you feel most comfortable with. I chose to work with Naomi (pronounced Noh-mee) Tsukamoto. She spoke very good English and her company had good purchasing power. I negotiated a buy back figure with her to match the other company and the decision was made. Adapting to the Japanese way of doing things has been a little frustrating. With their attention to detail and protocol the processes become quite laboured. Naomi was actually impressed with how quickly our process has moved along, so I guess I was just experiencing Western impatience. Tokyo has huge department stores but not one place where you can select everything. 

Appointments to view furniture in different locations around Tokyo were arranged and the apartment in Yokohama was visited. 

 

Although distances between many places are not great, travelling time can be long. Sticklers for abiding by road rules U-turns are avoided. Long distances are often covered just to get back to where you were when you left, but on the other side of the road!! So far it has taken five long days to reach the stage we are at now.  I think the problem was that our budget was too high and gave us too many options (how sad is that?). Many pieces could be procured at the company's 'second hand' warehouse which helped keep costs down leaving more of the budget available for special items. 

 As we prepare to move to our permanent apartment, we believe we now have the essentials (pots, pans, cutlery, glasses, cooking implements, kitchen appliances, TV, DVD player, lights, lounge suite, office furniture, beds for guests, cot, sheets, doonas, pillows, towels, hair dryer, tables, chairs ..........etc etc) under control as well as the extras (silk Persian rugs, Persian hangings, Asian furniture, ornamental pieces...... etc).  It was quite ridiculous really, I felt like a kid in a lolly shop. Bek's contribution on one of the days was a lifesaver because she made decision making for 'indecisive' me a lot easier.  

I think the Persian rugs were a pretty impressive addition. Two of them are over thirty years old and one is seventy years old. The silk rug below is over 30 years old and far nicer than the photo shows. It has a very defined nap and looks different from every angle. With two and a half million knots it took over two years to create. The second rug was an extra that I particularly liked, it is silk and wool. I imagine it will look great in the kitchen area at home.

At the completion Steve's appointment in 18 months we will have the option to buy selected pieces. So, with family in mind, this has been an interesting process.The remainder of our day was spent observing, eating and just enjoying our surroundings. The freedom of choice and opportunity to cover long distances makes bike touring such a wonderful experience. Japan is such a mixture of features- so technologically advanced, such a fashion trendsetter but also displaying such naivety. Housing that is so simple and uncomplicated, rules that hold such a huge population together but then regulations in certain areas that seem so lax. On the whole the Japanese people seem so less driven by materialistic needs and wants. I find their grace and patience quite humbling, their naivety refreshing....a society so very different to ours. 

At the end of the day I returned to our apartment with sweat pouring off me, absolutely exhausted but totally invigorated. Seeing, tasting, smelling, breathing the essence of Tokyo, this is the type of touring and exploring that I really love!! As I secured the bike in the underground car park with the three Ferraris, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and the more common Alfa Romeos I knew that I had done what I really enjoy doing-cycling around on my daggy Japanese bike-stopping when I wanted to-eating ice creams!! 

 My day had passed quickly and I was once again ready to fall into bed.......which had been my ultimate aim anyway. Why????.........because tomorrow was the day the Thompson Clan were arriving!!!