Onto the NEXt (Part 11)

I’m going to miss cavorting around in Singapore’s taxis. Cheap, relatively fast, and so much more comfortable than public transit. I hired one to take me to the airport this morning, and it was a lovely ride. The cabbies are so friendly here, though the one on this particular morning couldn’t believe I hadn’t taken time to go to the zoo. I told him I’d come back for it. The airport itself isn’t half bad either.



And just like that, here I was, back at square one. Thank you, Brett, for being such a lovely host. I owe you…more than one.

The flight to Japan was fantastically short at only 6.5 hours. What? I’m used to 10.5, so…yeah. And I mean, really, flying that period on Singapore Airlines is equivalent to 2 hours on Air Canada and you get food. With a menu! Snazzy.

Back in my second homeland, I went through the motions of being allowed into the country once more (though I unfortunately arrived with a shipment of American military men) and before long, I was back on the NEX. Good times are ahead.





Once I had dropped off my sacks at the mansion, I went for ramen to my favourite (and much ballyhooed) spot, Ichiran. I’ve been craving a decent bowl of ramen (sorry Vancouver!) And there is no replacement on earth for the feeling I get when I see this again after a long while:



Best ramen anywhere.


Canucks represent!



I couldn’t resist a reorientating walk around the ‘Buya (or shiboots, as my sissy calls it) - reunited and it feels so good.








Visually, that’s what excitement looks like.




Alright, I can’t lie. Apparently I just had an unsteady hand that night and I hadn’t even been drinking yet.

Though travel just beats all energy out of me, I wanted to see some old friends. So, despite my body begging me not to, I gussied up and took a taxi down to New Lex in Roppongi. Gosh, I love that place. Met some awesome, super-cool people, had a ton of fun for Mutsuki’s birthday, and reconnected with the infamous Taka. Lovely Marcia captured some photographic evidence…







Always a pleasure. Let’s see if I can keep this up every night! It will be worth it.

Tomorrow I see my dearest friend Mayuko and we will head up towards the Tokyo Sky Tree. What is this? A tree? In the sky? Not quite…