Earthquakes

It has been 3 weeks now since I arrived at Narita in Tokyo. It has been one interesting fortnight so far. I can’t speak Japanese. In other words I’m knee deep in trouble (for those who don’t know about Japan).

Also, neither can I read nor can I write Japanese. Those two facts pushed me 4 more feet deeper. I’m actually neck deep.

Somehow I have managed to not get lost so far. But I have to look for signs, stop and think which way I have to head or which train I have to take..

There are a lot of exciting things about this place.

Where do I start?

Earthquakes: It is 3 weeks now and I have already experienced 4 very strong earthquakes. Well they were atleast to me.. It felt like a bullock-cart ride on an unpaved road back home in one of those old villages. Sitting in the nineteenth floor and shaking like that wasn’t really fun. Although, I would have paid $25 for such a thrill in an amusement park..

Don’t know how much they measured on the Richter scale… I never had experienced one before. So any tremor that shakes me up like that is scary.. To be honest even the locals were ooh-ing and awwh-ing.. But some did seem pretty cool about it.. and a few actually went to the window and were peeping down. Can’t imagine they actually expected to see something shaking. They probably forgot they were not at point of reference where they could see something shake.. One thing that really baffled me was how ignorant they were of safety measures. These few people who went to the window were locals and common sense should say the first thing that would give-in in a building structure would be window panes. Shouldn’t everyone know about it? Or was I thinking too much of the situation? I did a little google on safety during earthquakes in Japan. Found this - http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/earth.html

Anyway, now I too act cool.. I just look around to see if anyone reacts but that’s it.. I kinda think of the $25 thrill. I guess I will stop there before I jinx it.. I always wanted to experience a tiny bit of mother nature’s wrath.. Wanted to be close to an event.. a tornado, an earthquake, etc.. a bit like those rock stars who get high on drugs.. and have real appetite for self-destruction.. my situation is not as dramatic.. just looking for a cheap thrill but not self destructive..

I’m going to call it a night. Please come back to catch up on my latest.. I wish to tell you more about Japan and post some pictures..