Departures
17 Nov 2010 1 Comment
On our move to Tokyo it really hit each of us that we were leaving. Tokyo was a massive, bustling, neon bright packed full of folks metropolis. Tom and Honda-san were our guides and stayed with us at the Prince Hotel. They promptly took us around the city to enjoy fully our day and a half in the capital.
We had a scrumptious (chose that word for Honda-san!!) lunch of okonomiyaki (kind of like a savory pancake or pizza) and spent an hour at Asakusa Kannon temple. We knew how to purify ourselves with the smoke and fresh water before entering. We tossed coins, prayed and listened to the monks chanting. Filled with tourists, the streets approaching the temple were lined with trinket shops and a great time shopping.
I took lots of photos with my new friends which seemed to be becoming like family. We also went to Akihabara - the electronics and high-tech center of the city. I for one was impressed by the amount of gadgets on display, although it wasn’t long before the sky opened up and we were caught without jackets or umbrellas and gave up hopping from shop to shop.
So we all slipped into a coffee-house, and played Hangman on napkins until we were supposed to meet Honda and Tom again. From there, they took me to Uni-Qlo for Japanese Heat Tec clothing. Japanese technology and the warmest clothes ever. Believe it or not it was time for dinner and we had Korean BBQ. Jillian was a skilled griller, and all I had to do was pick the seafood, meat and mushrooms off the grill at the right time. Even though it was a night of drinking the night before…. Rotary Conference turned wonderful/bizarre feast and women-in-bunny-outfits evening…. I had some more drinks in Tokyo and enjoyed myself. We grabbed sweaters at the hotel and headed to the romantic views of the city at Tokyo Tower (AMAZING!!!!!) and Roppongi for bar-hopping.
We passed up the 9-1-1 and Gaspanic clubs for the Hard Rock, had good fries, mac and cheese and I had one double shot of straight whiskey. Done! I headed home to spend the rest of the evening on my bed.
Just like Tom and Honda would, we didn’t waste the next morning before our flight, and took the underground to the Imperial Gardens and had a long sunny walk through the city. Our last meal was ramen at a nice spot in an underground train station.
We took a long bus ride with our mountain of baggage to Narita. I had a memorable conversation the whole way there, reflecting on the experience and likening the whole thing like a sweet dream. Imagine my surprise when Windy pointed out my host family, the Yamaguchi’s, waiting for me there at the airport!!! The whole family was there (didn’t bring the poodle Moka lol). They handed us lavender and chamomile scented eye masks that heat up for our flights, and handwritten letters wrapped in a handkerchief that I would need as I read them. One by one, each of us began to cry. I was already on the edge, and seeing them sent me right over. I hugged them each. My team members teared up behind me. It was a tough moment and hard to say goodbye.
Long goodbyes and waving until the moment we could no longer see them, I teared up again saying goodbye to Tom and Honda-san. We made it through security and took a long long flight back home.
Tom Boylan
Nov 18, 2010 @ 07:18:42
I hope this experience is one that is repeated often and to many different people. I have thoroughly enjoyed following along and look forward to hearing a presentation by the team at some point in the future. I am excited to get Windy back in the world of marketing Sonoma County and hearing stories of friendship and exploration. Thanks for keeping so many of us in the loop.