Train trouble

'Twas Saturday afternoon, just after my arubaito in the language school. I was on my way to meet up with a student-friend. I was sitting comfortably, almost asleep, when the train stopped in one of the stations. To my surprise, the train didn't just stop -- it stayed there for more than 30 minutes! Oh my! What happened? Why ain't the train moving? Obviously, there was some kind of trouble, as the train staff were on their megaphones announcing something I could hardly understand. As I tried to listen, and as far as my understading of Nihonggo can go, I figured that there was trouble between two stations which affected three train lines. For what kind of trouble, I wonder. Maybe, two trains collided with each other. Maybe, there was someone who tried to kill her/himself. Maybe a thunderstorm? Nah, it wasn't raining.

I was about to panic since I was already getting late for my appointment. Since I have no celfone (oh, poor me!), I had to stand up from where I was comfily sitting (and thus, giving up my seat) and look for a payphone to make a call. To make the story short, I arrived in the meeting place one hour late. Because not only once did the train stop, but thrice!

This "lovely" experience of mine brings back all the train-related glitches I had when I was still teaching in Tsukuba. Once, the train I was on stopped in the middle of the long bridge for about 30 minutes. And since my Nihonggo was really awfully zero at that time, I didn't know what was really happening. I was able to know the reason only when my students explained it to me, when I arrived in the class one hour late. They said the train stopped due to thunderstorm. Oh, boy!

I have had other train troubles, some are minor ones, others are my own fault. But if I were to tell them all here, it will probably take you a day to finish reading a single post. I could not exactly tell that I won't face another train trouble in the near future. Seems like this kind of thing is always near me, if not with me. I try to commute early just so to avoid any inconveniences. But sometimes, no matter how hard or careful I am, Murphy's law strikes without a warning.

Picnic and fun at Odaiba

Everybody has been busy going here and there. It is a season to enjoy one's [very limited] freetime with family and friends in this weeklong holiday. As for us, we spent our whole day yesterday at Odaiba, together with some Pinoy friends. As we had expected, our "pasyal" was so much fun -- the kids got along well playing all the time, while we, the mothers, spent most of the time talking about our life and all other things while taking care of our "bulilits." The daddies also had their own enjoyment.

To start off, we met at Nishi-nippori station of the JR Yamanote line. 'Twas just funny that our friend who kindly reminded us to be there ON TIME was the one who arrived the latest. Surprisingly, we were the first comers when in fact we were the farthest from the station (about 45minutes from the house). We looked a lot like a very big family all set for a grand picnic each carrying a basket (or backpack) full of foods. So we started our journey, rode the train and got off at Shimbashi, where we transferred to the Yurikamome monorail going to Odaiba-kaihin-kouen (Odaiba Seaside Park) station. Here's my first glitch of the day: I was getting a ticket at the ticket machine when it suddenly gone crazy and out of service after I dropped a 100yen coin on it. Amidst the crowd, we asked the help of the staff and told us to stay put and wait for the machine to spit out my coin. I waited till the machine went back online but no coin appeared. To make the story short, I didn't get my coin back because, according to the staff, "I left the line without waiting for the coin to appear." Well, somebody might have been lucky enough that day to unexpectedly receive 100yen. "It is just 100yen," said the staff. JUST 100yen??? Hey, my 100yen can go a long, long way, you know, especially so in a bazaar. ;)

It was my 3rd time to visit Odaiba so I somehow knew what to expect from the place. Despite this, though, I still enjoyed every hour of our stay there as if seeing the place for the first time. Who would not enjoy such a riot company -- noisy and in an upbeat mood, laughing our hearts out, moon-walking while stopping in every corner to have our [crazy] pictures taken, feeding our already full tummies, filling our eyes with the awesome sights, and feeling the cold breeze amidst the sunny day.

Now, let's talk about the place. Odaiba is one of Tokyo's best spots with a unique ambience to offer its visitors. It is said to be a reclaimed area in Tokyo Bay which was first developed towards the end of the Edo period (1603 - 1867) as a strategic geographical protection against possible enemy attacks from the sea. The development was greatly affected, though, during the "bubble economy" period. Not wanting to waste whatever had been started, the place was redeveloped and "purpose" realigned to now serve not only pure business ventures but what has come to be widely known as a shopping and entertainment district. I would personally say that this place is kinda 'mini-USA" having its own version of the San Francisco Bridge (called the Rainbow Bridge) and the Statue of Liberty. There is also a "Little Hongkong" inside the Decks Tokyo Beach (a shopping mall) as well as the Venus Fort, a for-ladies shopping center with an ambience of the Rennaisance-period Venice, Italy. Hey, you don't need to travel around the world to see these things, because it's all here! Other "must-see" and "must-experience" in Odaiba are found at Japan-guide.com.

Our route? We got off at Odaiba-kaihin-kouen station, and walked our way through the all-woodplanks road to Decks Tokyo Beach until we reached the front of the beach overlooking the Rainbow Bridge. We found a nice shaded place where we shared our "sari-saring baon". We had adobo, tortang talong, kare-kare and tamago sushi, and crema de fruta for our dessert. Afterwards, the kids went playing at the beach while the "bulilits" soundly took their afternoon naps. There was never-ending chatting while nibbling with some "chichiriya". Then, we breezed through the nice parks on our way to the Palette Town where the kids excitedly rode the biggest Ferris Wheel in the world. For 900yen, you'll get to see most of Tokyo from above through a 16-minute ride in the slow-moving Daikanransha. Before and after getting there, we stopped at the MegaWeb (car showroom) where latest -- and old ones too! -- Toyota car models are displayed. Test driving is allowed as long as you have a valid driver's license, which none of us have, so we just took pictures of our pick. There was even a 10-minute showcase of a car of the future which, to me, looked like either a movable bedroom or a one-of-a-kind vacuum cleaner or probably an elegant sofabed with tires. No, I don't -- and won't -- dream of a car like that.

It was getting late and some of our friends left early. With only three families left, we walked down the park while witnessing the awesome sunset. At 6:35pm, we took the sea bus (aka Tokyo Water Cruise and SuijoBus) and cruised the calm waters to Hinode Pier. Yes, I was -- and still am -- afraid to ride a boat. But for experience's sake, I tried it this time. I'd say it was an experience with all the nice sights and lights I saw from the window. Well, I did not have the chance to go up in the open deck because I was carrying Luke. Besides, it was so cold up there.

After that 20-minute sea trip, we took the train from JR Hamamatsucho station to get home. We arrived home a little past 9pm, exhausted, hungry, sleepy but happy and satisfied.

Lure your eyes with more pictures at my Flickr account.
More facts about Odaiba at: Tokyo Essentials, Sugihara.com, JNTO, Odaiba Decks

Train ride

When we went out the other Sunday, I was glad not to forget to bring our digicam so I was able to take pics of Luke while riding on the train. When it was Luke's first time to take the train (that was last year), he got a bit scared, maybe bcoz of unfamiliar sights and sound. After that, train ride is just chicken feed.

My first train ride in Tokyo (alone) was two years ago. Geez, I was so nervous that I made sure to memorize the names of the stations to pass by before my destination. Oh, have I told you I am very poor at directions? This is the very reason why I am so afraid to get lost. Scary, eh! Luckily, I got to my destination hassle-free.

Here in Japan, the most common and convenient mode of transportation is taking the train. This country boasts of its extensive railway system ranging from the trains, platforms, schedules, stations and staff. Taking the train is the fastest way to get to your destination. That is, if you're able to get to the platform just before the door closes. Trains arrive and leave on time. And, if you happen to miss the first train, chances are, you'll not be able to catch the next train when you norikai (change/transfer) to another sen (train line). And, if you are getting all the bad luck in that day, you'll be late for your appointment or work. It happened to me many times before. And I guess I will have more of it in the future, as long as I am here.

This is the very reason why people, no matter how jampacked the train is, still try to squeeze themselves in the train. Especially during rush hour, you will see almost all people running after the train, and trying to get in even if the door is already half closed. Inside, you could hardly breathe. And if you do, you'll surely take in various scents (you're lucky if it is a good one, huh).

Here are some tips when riding the train (including some unwritten rules):

1. Make sure you know where you're going to. Do your homework first before starting your journey. This will save you time and precious yen.
2. Train fares are calculated based on distance. There are many possible ways to get to your destination, and it's but wise to choose the cheapest and fastest route. Go back to tip #1.
3. When you're not sure of the exact fare to your destination, just get the minimum fare, and adjust later. Minimum fare for subway lines is 160yen and 130yen for JR lines
4. Inside the train, always sit properly and keep your things only within your 'space'. If you don't do this, you'll have some eye brows raised on you.
5. More raised eye brows when you talk loudly as if talking to everybody. Especially so when you are speaking a foreign language. General impression is that Filipinos are loud talkers, so if you see a group talking loudly and laughing, more often they're Filipinos. Groups of junior hi schoolers are also noisy, especially on mid- and long-distance trains.
6. Talking on the phone while inside the train is also a no-no. BUT many are doing it, including me (that was when I still have a keitai (cellphone)). If you really need to use keitai, cover your mouth and lower your voice as much as possible, probably just whispering.
7. There are priority seats for the elderly, handicapped, pregnant women and those with children. If you're not one of these, avoid these seats. More often, however, I see some commuters occupying these seats, even if they see an old lady standing near them. Once, on my way home, a lady in her 40s offered me her seat when she saw me standing with difficulty as I carry Luke in one hand and a tote bag on the other. Thing is, she wasn't sitting in the priority seat nor beside me but a few feet away.
8. If possible, don't eat inside the train, especially inside tokyo metro trains. If you can't bear your hunger, just take in a few bites of something not smelly nor 'noisy'. Eating is allowed though in suburb trains.
9. Sleeping is fine as long as you do it with finesse, that is, no drooling, no loud snorr, and no going beyond your 'space'.

Ei, what about during rush hour? Well, that will be another post. Till then.