Experiencing Art

Very rarely are you able to experience art... I mean fully become immersed in a universe of color and light such that every sense experiences something new. Strangely enough, a seasonal art exhibition in Tokyo has figured it out... We discovered this strange exhibition in the middle of a parking lot at a Japanese version of a carnival... The admission to the carnival itself was about $20 USD, but the exhibit was free, as long as you were willing to wait in line in 90 degree weather for 50 mins.... Turning into a boiled lobster was definitely worth it. This immersive exhibit was DMM. Planets Art by TeamLab.

When you first enter the tent, you are required to place everything (shoes, purse, sunglasses, etc. excluding your phone) in a locker. They give you a waterproof phone holder on a lanyard and then you enter the maze.... Your first step is highly Japanese.... a foot bath. Japanese culture is somewhat germaphobic when it comes to feet, so the cleansing of your bare feet is essential, and probably a good thing with that many people barefoot... Gross. Once your feet are clean you follow the pathways. The paths fade into darkness where you have to touch the walls to keep moving forward. The ground and walls gradually become padded and softer until you realize you are knee deep in padded ground. Each step into this wonderland was new and interesting and incredibly weird....

The next room you gradually pulled yourself towards was a room of mirrors and lights hanging in every direction. The lights would dance around the room and surround you completely changing color and direction and honestly giving the Osborn Lights at Disney World a run for their money....

Each room was different from the last. One was filled with water with lights projecting fish and flowers that interacted with each person "touching" them. Another had a heated floor with projections showing on a dome that made it feel like you were moving with the flowers floating above you... each room created a new sensation and left all of us feeling a bit woozy when we finally managed to escape.

This exhibit was incredible and one of the coolest things I've done in Asia. I'm still amazed at how it all worked, especially in such a temporary location....

Here's a video to show you just how weird some of it was because words truly cannot do it justice...

Love, Alison

Owls and Cafes...

Cafes around the world are subtly different.... Usually there's a bar for coffee and snacks with cute little tables spread around... Tokyo tends to take it another step....

ANIMAL CAFES. You read that right. ANIMAL CAFES!!!! Essentially, tiny little cafes around the city where you can pay for a drink and the experience of seeing animals... Incredibly weird and would most likely be shut down by PETA in about 5 seconds if ever considered in the USA. 

Needless to say, I love animals and coffee, so yah... I found those mysterious little cafes! There are a ton of different cafes throughout Tokyo; cat cafes, rabbit cafes, menagerie cafes, random animal/wilderness cafes, HEDGEHOG CAFES (that's next on the list in case you missed the subtly), and of course, owl cafes. 

My friend and I set off and found Harajuku Owl Cafe & Bar on the 4th floor of a tiny little apartment building. When you walk in, it's a little room with windows everywhere, a counter where you order drinks, and a wall of windows separating the cafe from the owls. You order your drink and relax for a bit to give the owls a break from all the people, and then when it's your time, they bring you into the room and introduce you to the animals. There were about 10-12 owls throughout the room ranging in sizes and ages. The caretakers briefly went through an introduction of each owl, it's name, what kind, where to pet them, and how to handle them... They then just kind of set us loose and let us take pictures like the crazy people we were!

One of the caretakers handed me a glove and just put the owl on my arm with very little warning... Neither the owl or I were prepared for it... The pictures clearly prove it was not a match made in heaven.... 

                      Exhibit A:

The next few owls were more forgiving... And my fear of getting pecked to death slowly began to evaporate. 

              Exhibit B & C: 

Overall, the experience was incredible and one I would definitely do again. I highly recommend it if only to say that you held owls and pet them in Tokyo. They we generally adorable and ridiculously soft.... I'm not gonna lie.... I fully considered trying to stuff one in my purse and smuggle it home with me.... Luckily, the cafe thinks of that and gives you a tiny owl souvenir to take home with you instead of the actual live animal..... 

I got to snuggle owls. Yup. Here's a bonus video to prove they are cuddly if you didn't believe me... 

Love, Alison 

Tokyooooooooo

Konichiwa! 

TOKYOOOOOOO! Almost every single person I've met says Tokyo is a highly overrated city. It's expensive, crowded, and genuinely has no redeeming qualities. My message to all the senior mama's too good to fly there, KEEP THINKING THAT! I've had the privilege to flying to Tokyo at least 15 times and each time, I discover something new. 

The best part about Tokyo, is the FOOD. If you know me, you know that I basically work to afford delicious food in copious amounts. Honestly, I would be the greatest fat person of all time if authentic food from around the world could be brought to me on a platter.... Alas, good food means you have to walk for it... and Tokyo in the summer means you SWEAT for it. 

The best places for food are obviously the ones without any English; the least touristy, most authentic Japanese cuisine.... But somethings in Asia are better known, like what you are eating.... Generally I tend to migrate towards the places that at least have pictures or plastic food in a display case so I can at least know if it's got legs or is still alive or something.... Ramen is DELICIOUS no matter where you go, and the boiled eggs on top are usually seasoned and absolutely scrumptious. 

My absolute FAVORITE restaurant in Tokyo is near Shibuya, the busiest intersection in all of Japan. Uobei Genki Sushi Co. is amazing. It's definitely an experience in itself to eat there seeing as it's pretty high tech, and totally different than any restaurant in the USA. When you enter this restaurant, you tell them how many is in your party, and they give each person a tiny clipboard with a seat number. Each seat sits in front of a high speed conveyor-belt with an iPad and little boxes full of condiments. You simply press English and explore all of the delicious sushi options. Each plate comes zooming out to you on the conveyor-belt and is pretty decently priced. You can help yourself to green tea at your seat with instant hot water, courtesy of individual tiny spigots and powdered matcha mix. The fresh albacore tuna with the wasabi-mayo was my absolute favorite... and I may have eaten the entire fish by myself.... such was the deliciousness.... Pretty sure my bill only came out to about 1,200 Yen or $12.00 USD!

I still have dreams of that sushi... And when I return, I will get my grilled corn sushi, wasabi-mayo french fries, and spicy albacore tuna. 

Love, Alison