SingFling

I did most of my venturing outside of Tokyo in the beginning of trip — not knowing that so much would be closed in Tokyo towards the end.  Almost all of the galleries, museums were shut when I went looking…21_21 Design Sight, Ginza Art Space, Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, SCAI The Bathhouse, Gallery Koyanagi — ugh!. I did make it to the Mori Art Museum, thankfully.

Thanks to the Japan Rail Pass, I day tripped to Kyoto, Nikko and Hakone.  In Kyoto, I met Matt, a New Yorker teaching English in Nagoya.  When I asked where he was from, his reply?  ”Nagoya.”  Ok, funny boy.  I know that trick (i.e., my reply: “Singapore”).  Very clever.  Anyway, we explored Kyoto — and again, sights were closed.  It must be me. Sorry, Matt. Darn holidays. 

While having lunch at a small, homemade noodle shop in Nikko, I met an older Japanese couple, Yoshi and Yumi. Yumi asked if she could practice her English…and then she complimented me on my chopsticks skills. 

I later asked Matt if that was a 101 phrase, a la “ou est la biblioteque?” He said no.

Phew! 

Kyoto & Nikko