tokyo dome lights and cs event

After work I decided to walk to Tokyo Dome to see their Illumination (Christmas lights).  Since it rained earlier in the day, there weren't that many people walking around Tokyo Dome.  It was perfect for taking photos.  The first light tunnel I walked through changed lights with the music it was playing.  It was really nice.  After I was satisfied with my photos I walked back to Ueno to go to a couchsurfing event that I went to last week. For my dinner, I decided to try emergency food that my company gave me to bring home.  I was a bit skeptical about the bread in the can, but it was actually good. I totally forgot to take photos at the event, so I forgot to take one participant's photo.  However, I was able to another participant's photo because he was using the same train as me to get to his cousin's house. 

light tunnel

changed colors to the music

me in pink

some of the other lights on display

the stairs were lit up as well

another light tunnel

a light dome

light balls on the water

light tunnel

close up

emergency rice, bread and soup

the group

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asakusa lantern parade sunday/unfortunate day wednesday

On Sunday, my mother and I were wandering around Asakusa and stumbled upon a lantern parade that was only going down one street.  The lanterns were beautiful and quite impressive.  Then on Wednesday morning I got called in the morning to cover for an instructor who was sick.  I actually ended up going to a university that I had worked for in the past.  The building was in the same place, but it was completely new.  It was a shock to see.  The other instructors at the university were great and so were the students.  The teaching part of my day was great, unfortunately the election didn't go the way I wanted.  It was such a downer to the day.  I just went home and had to drink something and eat some tim tams to try to feel a bit better.  Now only time will tell to see what will happen.........

giant lantern

close up

dragon lantern

Australia

Wales

Australia

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what helped me through the night.....

REUNION!!!! CS meeting mafia game

A got a random message on couchsurfing from a guy that went to elementary, middle, and high school with me.  It was a great chance to meet up and catch each other up on what we have been doing these past years.  After dinner, we went to a couchsurfing event at a shisha bar.  We played mafia and it was a lot of fun.  Thanks for setting it up Daria!!!

the mafia group

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Germany

Russia

Latvia

Korea/USA

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Belgium

Egypt/USA

Japan

Japan

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REUNION!!!!

Lunch in Harajuku

I had the day off on Thursday because of the public holiday, so I met up with my mother and her friends for lunch.  We went to a traditional Japanese restaurant that had a chef making the soba noodles by hand.  Everything was delicious!!!

first plate

soba noodles and tempura

Japan

Japan

Japan

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shinjuku koen/ tege tege

My mother and I took a walk through Shinjuku park.  It was nice, but it will be much better in a couple of weeks when the colors change.  I am really looking forward to that.  After our walk we went to a restaurant that my mother's friend works at.  The food was delicious!! They serve traditional Japanese food.  It was in the Roppongi area...more specifically,  Azabujyuban.  It's called TegeTege.  Check it out if you want some real local/traditional Japanese food!

still green

pagoda

view from the pagoda

nice pond

me, but a bit dark

starting to become fall

some color change with the leaves

nice roses

a tree that was in bloom

the giant spider statue if you look closely you can see the legs

Japan

the restaurant

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