tokyo rain

it rained all day in tokyo. but it wasn't too heavy. it was, however, very cold. i almost bought a pair of gloves but they were average so i decided to hold out for mittens. the search continues tomorrow.

i'm lying atop a bunk bed which is my bed for these five days. people are chatting in the common area (canadians, i think) and i've opted for a quieter spot. especially after my day. not that i spoke to anyone. but i absorbed a lot. and i can't really give words to it because i'm still dizzy. and i'm wary of clichés about this city.

i feel dumb here, not being able to communicate. i smiled and nodded and muttered. at least in paris i can form words. and i can read signs.

i wish i brought my sound recorder. because tokyo for me is about sounds. the piped music on some streets, musical tones at train stations, traffic lights that chirp like birds, music from random trucks. then there's the jazz music where i had lunch, the mix of japanese and western pop where i had dinner. there's spruikers on microphones, clashing mayhem spilling from gamer venues, and the girly japanese pop coming from what i assume to be strip clubs.

then there's the silence on these streets. and also in trains. lots of people being quiet together, which i guess makes it a bit easier to be mute. i love that you're not allowed to speak on your phone on the trains. and better still, phones must be put on silent. i see people talking on phones in the street, but i never hear them ring. it's lovely.

there's a cute boy lying in the bed below me. a european, but he never speaks, so i can't tell where he's from. his awkwardness makes him more cute. today we showered in the same room, with a couple of curtains separating our naked bodies. maybe he will talk tomorrow.

tomorrow i'll search for a vegetarian restaurant. the internet says there are many, but i saw none. and i spent too much of the day smelling and seeing food that i can't eat, then searching for what i can. as food is my main source of comfort, this made me somewhat anxious.