Ok, for Real this Time

There are a lot of large plastic sea creatures to be found, but I have to say that this is a damn fine specimen, seen while biking back from the Nepal Embassy, having secured my visa! 

Yes! I came scrambling back from the airport to the Nepali Embassy to get the visa that wouldn't be granted me on arrival in Nepal because of my temporary passport. Brian and Nuala went on, and here I am, several days later, finally settled in the Narita airport lounge, ready to board the flight to be reunited with my people in Kathmandu!

While Brian was cavorting with Lyrics Born at the Kathmandu Jazz Fest, of which I am totally green with envy, I didn't do too badly myself... while Thursday was Visa day, Friday brought a little retail therapy and lunch at Ginza Sushi. This is a sushi place that is uber-conveyor-belt--everyone makes their selections from the iPad suspended in front of them, which left me feeling like a rat depressing a lever for pellets in some kind of lab experiment. But the sushi was pretty tasty, actually.

Yup, that's the deal. Woe betide you if you go to the bathroom when your food gets delivered. 

A fireworks show in Ueno Park, kicking off an arts festival with various art installations over the weekend.

 Ueno Park boating area, waiting for fireworks on a lovely evening.

Dinner at a totally delightful restaurant at the edge of Ueno Park, Kameya Issuietei. A serene, middle age Japanese place. I had simply and perfectly prepared eel along with a homemade sesame tofu in sesame sauce that left me wanting to lick the bowl. Which I suspect wouldn't have fazed the kimono-clad servers in the least.

Adventures in losing part 1,768,042: went to pay the bill and found I had left my wallet at the hotel, which resulted in a serious of awkward interactions via google translate and phone with the hotel manager and the maitre-d. The owner of the restaurant was then engaged and he was incredibly gracious! I dashed off in a cab and brought the money back to pay, along with a thank you via google translate. After the awkward transaction was concluded, he told me that he dreamed of coming to Seattle and doing an Alaskan cruise, and was generous enough to give me a cup from a Kyoto pottery as a memento. Honestly, things like that continually feed my faith in humanity.

And having to go back to the restaurant meant I got to see another art installation in the park!

Simple color changes and single tones, really playful.