October 07, 2003
Hello Japan!
Well, I've been in Tokyo just under 24 hours. It's quite a culture shock and sticker shock, but really nice (big city and all). Yesterday and today have both been very crisp, first time I've worn my sweater since leaving England. I'm sure glad I carried half way round the world :) I'm staying in a dorm room in a Youth Hostel for $30 a night. It's very clean and friendly and at the moment. I think it would also be quiet except that there are about a million teanage australian girls prancing around the place. I think they're here for some sort of dance festival/training. I have my priorities straight so I have been roaming around the electronics district. It's infinately nicer than the same districts in Delhi and Bangkok! Unfortnately prices are not great... They weren't in Delhi, Bangkok or Hong Kong either... I managed to blow up the battery charger for my camera so I'm trying to sort that out... Anyway, just wanted to write a quick note to let you all know that I've arrived in Japan and to express some of my initial impressions.
Love to you all!
Posted by binduwavell at October 7, 2003 09:14 PMI was recently in Tokyo and found that the small streets in the back alleys of Akihabara had better electronics prices (eg SD and CF cards etc) then the big LAOX stores and covered alleyways. Picked up a cheap 2nd hand Zaurus at one of the Sofmap stores.
Shinjuku's Yobodashi seemed okay in price - can't comment cf with the rest of Asia though. I had fun just staing longingly at the minaturisation of laptops and beautiful case designs - leaves the silly Western case modders for dead.
Your travels are great reading!
Posted by: allrite on October 8, 2003 10:08 PMGlad you are enjoying reading about my travels :) So far I've been to the electronics districts in Delhi, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Bangkok was generally the cheapest then Delhi then Hong Kong and finally Tokyo. However there is soooo much more available here in Tokyo!!! Maybe I should say that many more products are easily obtained in Tokyo... Unfortunately the prices in Bangkok are almost exactly the same as what I was paying for stuff over the internet in the states! I have been told that Singapore actually has lower prices than Bangkok, but I'm not able to verify as it's been 15 years since I was there last.
Ditto on slobbering over case designs, lovely electronisc component stores, liquid cooling systems, amazing motors, gear trains, a hobby robot builders wet dreams on steroids ;)
Posted by: Bindu Wavell on October 10, 2003 06:11 AM