Friday 17th of April; Tokyo Bayside and Jimbocho

Meh, I'm somewhat tired. So I think I'll keep things short. (Really need some sleep.) Guess I'll start with a bit of text about life in Tokyo again. As for today's topics, as the title says: Tokyo Bayside and Jimbocho.
Ow yeah, and some text about the research I'm doing. Guess I should at least explain a bit about my "work" here in Tokyo.

First, life in Tokyo. Well, still need to get used to some things here. Somehow I still end up at the wrong side of the road; Japan drives on the left side >_<. Actually I got the feeling everything in this country is reversed. Like, taxi's showing a red-sign/light are free, while a green-sign/light means occupied. Emergency telephone number is 119, instead of the famous 911 from the USA. When putting garbage outside, put it in front of the collecting cage, NOT in the collecting cage (kinda beats the purpose of the COLLECTING cage). Although the whole country is high-tech, something simple to dry your hands at the toilets doesn't exist >_> CD's are more expensive than DVD's (I bought a J-pop CD from YUI for 3000 yen, while a porn DVD is only 2000 yen max, should have bought the DVD I guess...). You might wonder why I know the price of pron DVD's... well, walked into the wrong shop. Careful when entering shops that look funny and childish, it's most likely an adults shop! And more things here are reversed like that.
Anyway, update about my life in Tokyo: I just had my first Japanese class today. I decided to take a Japanese course. It's kinda painful when Japanese people tell you that you look like a Japanese. And when they notice you're not, they will think you're Chinese and can read kanji's. That's two painful disappointments every time I enter a restaurant. BTW; Japanese course was evil, they really try to learn you as much as possible in as little time as possible. This course is going to be killing. Think the first two classes will pretty much rush through all my Japanese knowledge. Means from the third class on I need to study like mad T_T
It's getting busier, I'm trying to go to the gym twice a week again. I just got myself a skateboard, so I can travel faster between home and work = more time available for other things. For now I haven't killed myself yet. Quite surprised to be honest, considering I can't even walk safely between home and work.

Hmm, it doesn't really look like I keep things short. Here goes: Tokyo Bayside. Check the pictures! It was a fun place, you can pretty much see everything there in one day. Right now walking over rainbow bridge is still on my to-do list, but might not do it because of time-constrains. Monorail from Shimbashi to Tokyo Bayside is a nice trip, great view of Tokyo.

Next is Jimbocho! I knew about this place from the anime "Read or Die". Jimbocho is a famous district selling books. Again, check the pictures! Just a small selection of the shops, since half of the shops were closed when I was there.
Ow yeah, food is VERY cheap in Jimbocho. 470yen for a complete meal! I often "forget" to change trains at Shibuya when going to work and end up in Jimbocho :P (and depending on the situation I might go on towards Akihabara for the Live Park there).

O well, last thing for this post. My work, here is a link:
http://www.aida.utwente.nl/education/BachelorAssignment_Michael_Do.doc/
ETC = Electronic Toll collection (registration of vehicles' location at certain times)
Loop detectors = sensors in the road that register speed/flow of traffic.

That was easy. I got the feeling this isn't my best post ever. But I'm starting to run out of time. Busy planning trips for outside of Tokyo now. And still many things inside Tokyo that need to be done. Anyway, next post will be a good post, I promise!

Greetz,
Aki

Link for pictures:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v42/moonlight2002/BaysideJimbocho/