Fun!

So this week, we went to the Ueno Zoo, where Otou-san used to work a long time ago. There were lions, tigers, and bears (oh my! But really, there were these huge bears from Hokkaido...HUUUUUGGGGEEE). And animals with weird names- I mean, why is the dormouse edible? And of course, there were cute animals like this seal who came right up to the glass.... XD And then we had RAMEN! Real ramen, not the instant type. It was insanely delicious. I think I'm going to have to learn how to make it for when I get back.

Then the NEXT day, me, Momo-chan, and Okaa-san walked around Asakusa in yukatas. It was actually kind of hard, since it's like wearing a dress. And the people at the hair place decided to be all, "Haha, we're going to put makeup on your face and not tell you until you're putting it on, so you can't do anything about it." Yeah. But it all turned out okay. I looked cool. And three different people came up to me and asked if they could take a picture with me. I'm not kidding. And then a bazillion other people took pictures secretly (which, by the way, I think is illegal in Japan) or kind of just said, "Hey, we're taking your picture now, so smile!" Everyone who did that was a foreigner. All the people who asked were Japanese. Does that tell you anything?

And of course, I need one picture with a fan. One of the people who took a picture with me, a little kid (I think it was for homework), gave it to me with an origami crane and a name card. It was really funny.....
Then the next day Momo-chan and I went back to Harajuku and had lunch (日本　の　マクドナルド or just Maku -- better than in the US but still not fantastic. The teriyaki burger wasn't bad, though. We met Momo-chan's friend Stella (yes, Mom and Dad... and I told them the story) who is an AFSer from Canada. Oh, and yesterday I went to see the new Harry Potter movie (yes, it was in English). Can't say I'm terribly impressed... if I hadn't read the book I think I would have been really confused...

Some of the interesting food/drinks I've had recently- CC Lemon (like lemonade plus soda... everyone but me calls it Cee-cee Lemon... darn you Code Geass and darn you C.C.) Also yummy was all that stuff in the middle, rice and miso soup (though Okaa-san's food is always the best), pickled veggies, sukiyaki beef and tofu and greens, more veggies, and that thing in the middle is an onsen tamago (haha, yes, I did laugh), which is basically a barely-cooked egg that you dip the sukiyaki beef in. It was REALLY good. Then the last thing is メロン　ソーダ　(melon soda), which has to be one of the best types of soda EVER. Also good is apple tea soda.
Lunch today at a monjayaki and okonomiyaki place. It's pretty much meat or fish and cabbage and other veggies cooked in sauce kind of like an omelette, though only one type has egg. It's REALLY yummy and fun to make. And then we were off to.....
TOKYO TOWER!! Whooo! It was really... big... haha... we went up to the observation deck at 150 meters and got a nice view of Tokyo, though we couldn't see Fuji-san... oh well... haha... the building inside it is full of souvenir shops and resturaunts and stuff... it's a pretty cool place....
This is the view looking straight down from 150 meters. They had little windows in the floor that you could look through (and stand on...both of which I did). We didn't go all the way up (333 meters) because it costs extra, but it's pretty cool, isn't it? Everything looks so tiny... Anywho, hope everyone is having a fun summer. I don't really have any plans for when I get back, except that Bicen homework and get ready for Mieko-chan (that's her name! It's so exciting! She's coming sometime between August 12th and 15th so that's right after I get home). Oh, and cleaning out my suitcase. I hope everything fits! Haha. Jess, I have to talk with my cousin before we make any concrete plans. She is giving up a day of work to look out for me! But we can try to meet if I'm not too burned out (I'll try to sleep on the plane, but no garuntees....) Everyone back in CT, I'll have to find out when we can all get together, neh? Maybe it's time for another Animefest?

Wah... only a few more days left... I'm sad... though I'll be happy to see you guys again!

~Kay