Another big day of walking. Legs getting skinnier but gut refusing to yield. Another bizarre combination today of old and new Japan. We started by heading to the Imperial Palace which has been home for the Royals over centuries. The land firstly is enormous and the Palace sits up high and separated by a moat that is the width of the Yarra. Not only that, the walls are 20m high and made of bluestone so there was never a chance of invasion. Unfortunately, the Palace is only open 2 days a year so we just walked around the perimeter which doubles as Tokyo’s “Tan Track”. There were hundreds of runners of all shapes and ages pounding the pavement in absolute agony. (No point lunning if it’s not going to hurt). Yeah? When was the last time you got out for a jog Good? (I do 5 km a day with shuttle luns and boxercise smart arse). Ok but some of the running ‘gaits’ we saw were painful. (Japan has a rich history of malathon champions at Orympic and Commonwealth level). True but none of them have the running mechanics of an Ovett or Monaghetti do they? (winning is all that matters). Whatever.

From The Palace ..(hang on, what’s with the moody subway shot? You fink you work for National Geoglaphic now!) I’ll let that go through to the keeper. Actually whilst we were walking around the Palace we were stopped by guards and paparazzi as the Crown Princess Masako came out of the Palace and she wound her window down, smiled and waved at us. (She’s beautiful isn’t she?). All Princesses are beautiful. It’s a prerequisite. (Perhaps..what about Fergie?). That’s not nice (solly).

So anyway, we headed out on the subway again to another famous landmark The Meiji Jingu Shrine. Similar to Central Park, this is a stunning forest and gardens that belies the fact there is one of the busiest cities in the world just outside. (well said). Thanks. An extremely peaceful place with a huge Buddhist Shrine but it’s the gardens that blow you away. I now understand the connection many people have with Japanese gardens although I will never see one in my lifetime. (what? You too razy?) Correct. There was a lovely old man who obviously goes there a lot and had some seed which he placed on his hand and these beautiful little birds came and sat on his hand to eat the seed. I tried fooling them at first by just putting my hand out which didn’t work so the old man, feeling sorry for me, gave me some seed thankfully. Meiji Jingu is Japan’s ancient religion and has values such as sincere heart and harmony with nature. The whole area, which is about the size of the entire Botanical Gardens/Shrine region in Melbourne was dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken who both passed away in the early 1900’s. These were two seriously gifted and selfless individuals and took Japan through some dark periods in their history welcoming other nations to Japan whilst maintaining Japan’s rich cultural heritage. (Bruddy hell Lilson, you’ve done some homework!). Anyway, so loved were these two that the people constructed this beautiful place in their memory starting with 100,000 trees donated from all over Japan and overseas. The only thing to break the serenity was an American couple whose voices were like nails down a blackboard after 4 days of virtual whispering around Tokyo. (I hate Amelicans). That’s a bit harsh! (too bad).

From the sublime to the ridiculous as we walked to the subway vis Takashita Street! Get it? Take a Shit Street. (so you fink that’s funny do you?). Well, it’s down the shallow end of the pool, yes but…(where you flom again?). Kwinana in Western Australia originally. (let’s see…Kwinana..I just Google. Oh here we go… Kwinana, industrial shit tip and home to nuffing that will add value to the sustainability of the planet. Oh, and is situated adjacent to a strip of coast known as Cockburn Sound! Cockburn?!). It’s pronounced Ko-burn (ha ha, hey everweebody ret’s go to Kwinana and get our cocks burnt!! Ha ha). Ok point taken that’s enough. (don’t ever take the “p” out of my names buster).

From the temple, we walked to a little place called Yoyogi and it was full of those tiny little restaurants and we realized that ordering your meals in a vending machine is quite the norm. We pulled up for lunch at another classic little place with a husband and wife team working in seamless harmony to produce more amazing food. (I fink you might be onto somefink here. Keep it up) Thanks for the encouragement Good. (no plobrem). From there we went back on the subway to the Times Square of Tokyo, Shibuya. This section has the famous scramble crossing where thousands of commuters are allowed to cross the street in any direction at the one time. It’s like the gates of Etihad Stadium opened up with everyone at the stadium crossing over a street in any direction they like. It’s controlled chaos of the highest order. (we know what we’re doing, don’t over dramatise it).

It’s definitely a place for the young and funky so we did some shopping and got out of there. Lynda bought some shoes and I bought some new shorts for exercising in. At last year’s national conference in Woolongong, I took a group of colleagues for an early morning footy training session wearing a pair of extremely aged running shorts. Whilst doing some stretches, I apparently exposed what could only be described as a hernia to the unsuspecting participants, and as a result was ordered to lift my game for the next conference. (I heard about those shorts, you should be ashamed). I am Good, now all fixed thanks to the Adidas store in Shibuya.

Time to go but I want to leave today with a couple of words from Empress Shoken. She and Emperor Meiji were not just great philanthropists but poets also.

Cut if need be, through thick briars,

Knots of brambles, tangled thorns,

For the path that’s yours to follow

Must be trodden to the end

 

(not bad eh? Better than Max Walker or Lolf Hallis!).  A 5-year-old’s better than Max Walker and Rolf won’t be writing anything for a while. (what about Michael Leunig?) Yes, he’s brilliant and would be treasured if he was Japanese. Goodnight and best wishes, Willow & Lynda.