never in my life have i returned to the same foreign country within the span of a single year. it is no secret to the people i know that my initial visit to Tokyo was indeed one filled with astonishment, gratification, revelations, and unfortunately too short-lived. a second trip was eventual, however it was only the issue of when it would occur. wanderlust took over, and there we were touching down into Haneda International Airport, scrambling into a local cab and getting literally lost in translation.
the neon lights of Tokyo reflect upon the taxi's windshield, we turn a corner and a familiar sight comes into view. the Shibuya crossing remains as busy as ever - thousands of Tokyoites scrambling across the street and dispersing into hundreds of directions. the lanky dudes in swanky coats, their sweet darlings hanging onto their arms keeping up in their high heels. this is the Tokyo i always envision in my imaginations - the infinite lights, the indefatigable people. the organized chaos, and the kombinis that never close. we disembark outside our hotel and make our way to the reception, greeted by an elderly receptionist who struggles a bit with his English, but was fairly able to comprehend our queries and requests. he comments on how we got ourselves the big room, when in fact it is probably three fourths the size of my room back home. hardly a problem - it is Tokyo, after all. i am back in Tokyo, and i am glad to be back.
