12-31-2006 -> 1-1-2007

Life's all about moments...

Wish you a happy 2007 folks... have a great year ahead.

Tokyo is absolutely fantastic for the new year. The traditional/western contrast is so damn evident. I just couldn't afford to miss it. In the city dominated by Ferrari's, Bentleys and 911s, i took to the streets on my bike (read as bicycle).

Armed with a roadmap, I started my ride from Shiodome to Meiji Jingu. 5 mins. later all I knew was I had to head west!... (lost the map).

Contrary to the popular impression of new year celebrations, the streets were rather silent. After about 40mins and a couple of wrong turns, I did manage to reach Meiji-jingu.

The one on left was my first stop. I mistook it for Meiji-jingu!!! cycled around it a few times... but it was too quiet - even by tokyo standards - to be Meiji Jingu.


After that, i passed a few food stalls and reached Meiji Jingu. I was about to cycle past the main gate when a policeman started whistling and making frenetic cross signs with his arms - bicycles are not allowed past the gate... its a slippery gravel path anyway.

I locked the bicycle to a nearby fence and started towards the main shrine on foot. After about 10mins through fire/lamp lit gravel pathways I reached the main shrine.

As expected there was a biiig drum and a huge crowd. At 12:00AM, a monk would strike the bell and announce the new year.

Looks nice but was a bit boring to spend the next 2 hours. I slipped out of that place and decided to go to Roppongi - a hip-hop area in Tokyo


My lighthouse was the majestic Mori tower in Roppongi. I headed in its direction. Again, the streets were mostly quiet. On the way, i passed 'Samrat' - an Indian restaurant. In the midst of silence, it was the only place where junta were dancing like crazy to some Bollywood tunes. For a moment, i thought of joining the revelry out there. But decided against it and continued towards my lighthouse. Past the long lines in front of Roppongi clubs, I arrived at Mori tower. By now, my palms are almost freezing and long gone numb.

There was some countdown happening on the 52nd floor observatory of my lighthouse. I went up there and spent the last moments of the 'never-to-return-again' 2006; amidst the swanky-stranger segment of Tokyo junta.

There you go... from the silent/traditional Meiji jingu to the revelrous/western ropppongi, tokyo had it all.



Next, I headed back home. This time, the lighthouse was Tokyo tower. I was too captivated by its beauty in the cold December err. January night. I headed towards it nd took a couple of pictures with the new year '2007' displayed large and clear.








Zozoji shrine is just beside Tokyo tower. There was a huge gathering and I decided to check out. Similar to Meiji jingu, a monk invited the New Year with a big 'dong', and junta was offering prayers. I didnt understand a bit but quite liked the peaceful hymn. After purchasing a couple of new year charms, I decided to satiate my burning hunger in the not-so-few food stalls out there. But the first sight of some octopus fry just put me off. I headed to McDonalds, had a couple of burgers and headed back home.

I wanted to take some pictures of new year sun. But, just couldn't wake up. :(...