"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
02/23/2019 at 20:02 • Filed to: None
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"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
02/23/2019 at 20:02 • Filed to: None | 9
| 20 |
Made reservations in Bangkok for 5 nights, followed by 4 nights in Japan. F irst time in Asia. Beyond excited. Any general tips? Places to check out?
I’ll be staying in Sukhumvit for the first part, and downtown Tokyo for the second. Going with a friend, and another two people may or may not be joining.
On the list already:
Climb an abandoned “haunted” skyscraper
Check out some rooftop bars
Watch a ping-pong match or three, while shitfaced
Clubs
Visit temples
Maybe a nighttime bike tour
Check out the red light districts
Massages
And potentially get some custom threads from a skilled tailor
Only thing on the Tokyo list so far is to try one of the go-kart on the streets things. A good steak dinner would be nice too.
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:08 |
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This further solidifies my ongoing theory that you have been rolling in the dough since you sold your company, and that you only work now out of boredom.
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AestheticsInMotion
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/23/2019 at 20:12 |
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The Volvos i ntroduced me to a bourgeois lifestyle
I almost bought a water filter to put on my sink the other day....
gmctavish needs more space
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:12 |
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I’m told that bombing around on scooters is a must
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:14 |
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Your Volvos represent a psychological impulse to reconnect you with the commoners you were once a part of. They are your earthly tethers which prevent you from fully transforming into the man that you deny that you’re destined to become.
[Picks nose]
f86sabre
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:19 |
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International data on the phone.
For Tokyo:
Follow the business men to the local restaraunts for noodles and a beer.
The subways are amazing. Google Maps are great help with the trains
Look for local festivals. If you are going in the next couple of months the Darkness Festival is coming. It is amazing.
Magaweb and the heritage garage. If they are open you can go into the workshop. https://oppositelock.kinja.com/megaweb-history-garage-shop-visit-1701976269
Street food!
Find a farmers market (true everywhere)
If you are flying into Narita there is an express train into town. If you are going into Henada then you are in town.
Check out Stevensonmotorco on YouTube for some cool looking shops that specialize in classic Minis.
They have great parks.
Tempura. Savor and be respectful.
Check if there are any sumo events going on.
If you need an ATM that works with US cards find a 7-11.
jimz
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:19 |
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no tips, only that a situation like in your pic would drive me into hiding, looking for a quiet place without all of the flashing lights and noise. I don’t know how anyone can enjoy that.
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AestheticsInMotion
> jimz
02/23/2019 at 20:26 |
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Most of my friends think I’m crazy for going solo backpacking in the dead of winter or driving the Miata a hundred miles offroad without cell reception, driving for weeks to track down hidden hotsprings off the beaten path, etc. Cities aren’t normally my thing.
But exploring a completely n ew c ountry with a radically different culture? Shit. I’m just throwing myself into it and planning on shedding the loner vibes for the two weeks or so. It helps that I won’t have to worry about managing a car. There’s nothing that gives me more anxiety than driving and parking in busy downtown areas.... Always worried something will happen.
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AestheticsInMotion
> gmctavish needs more space
02/23/2019 at 20:28 |
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Adding to the list
Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:31 |
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In Tokyo, you should stay out after the trains stop running for the night. There is apparently a whole culture of bars that cater to the late night people who have no way home. Surprising that the trains don't run 24/7 but it's supposed to be a neat experience if you are somewhere that you can walk around. Have a friend that lived over there for a bit. Lots of wild stories about the nightlife!
ToyotaFamily
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:41 |
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I don’t have any tips, but enjoy your trip!
Friend of mine did the same cities in 2 weeks, he had a great time. He did say street markets have good cheap eats. Oh and buy all the Kit-Kat you can in Japan.
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AestheticsInMotion
> Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
02/23/2019 at 20:42 |
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Hmmm, I'll give that a shot. My research so far has been limited to Bangkok so I'm pumped to dive into Tokyo!
BeaterGT
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 20:56 |
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Oof, where to begin. I did almost this exact trip with Malaysia as well. Rooftop bars in Bangkok are actually pretty expensive. Make sure you keep track of what you order at bars and clubs because you may get scammed for additional drinks. You can do the river tour in Bangkok and see most of the temples. The red light district is right in Sukhumvit, check it out as well as Khao S an road just because it is insane. Plenty of shirts and crap to buy on Khao Son as well. I got a non-Robert Kraft massage after walking all day and it was a godsend. I prefer Singha over Chang but Chang is available everywhere. That's all I got off the top of my head but if you have specific questions, I can try and help.
gin-san - shitpost specialist
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 21:06 |
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I went almost 2 years ago, Tokyo is a place I wish I had stayed longer and I want to go back to.
Tips: convenience stores are your friend. When we went, it was hot as hell and it was nice to be able to buy beer and other drinks at convenience stores and drink in public (be respectful, obviously) from a nice spot.
A Suica card is helpful - it’s basically a “cash card” of sorts, but used mainly to pay for public transit. Just a tap and you’re on your way! You must load it up at subway stations wish cash, but it’s incredibly convenient for transit use and is also accepted at convenience stores as a payment method. You can pick one up at the airport, but I’m sure you could get some from major train/subway stations.
Otherwise, carry cash; Japan still uses cash for most transactions.
Lunch is cheaper than dinner - you can get Micheln-star quality lunches for real cheap, but if you try to go to those same places for dinner y ou’re probably paying at least a few times what you would be paying for lunch.
Don’t bother with conveyor belt sushi. Try a place in Tsukiji market, or go to this place is Shibuya which is more like a traditional sushi counter where you stand. Menu has pictures and English, but the staff are also incredibly helpful and it was fucking delicious. https://goo.gl/maps/hbhczQNu5hu
Eat the hell out of ramen if you can. There are some cheap Michelin-quality lunches to be had, but even if they aren’t, chains like Ichiran are not bad at all, but the smaller independent shops can be incredible as well.
Don’t be afraid of Japanese chain food - you’ll see some chain bakeries or restaurants which tend to be pretty damn tasty if you want a quick snack. Even if you’re not as adventurous with food, there’s still plenty to eat. Yoshinoya is an example where I had a quick beef bowl (for breakfast, but I was hungry and it looked good on the menu) for cheap and it was pretty damn tasty.
There are two really touristy drinking alleys, one is called Golden Gai in Shinjuku and there’s another near Shibuya station. I went to both, had a lot of fun at both (ran into fellow F1 fans who were in Japan for the Grand Prix) but it can be a bit of a tourist trap.
Not sure if wider bans are in place, but when I was there in late 2017 smoking indoors was still very much a common thing, mostly in bars. Most restaurants didn’t have it, especially chain-style restaurants, but smaller independent bars did allow smoking, whether they were in those tour ist drinking alleys or not.
If you want an incredible view of Tokyo’s sprawl, go up the Metropolitan Government building. Their hours are reasonable, and it’s free to go up the building and you get to see Tokyo from really, really high up. It really does make you feel insignificant.
Look up and learn some basic Japanese etiquette and phrases, it’s just polite.
Wifi is pretty common, but a pocket wifi or a data sim card is extremely helpful to look up directions, food, attractions, etc.
That’s about all I can think of, but most of all, have fun. My friend and I had so much fun just walking around and finding stuff by surprise, and you’ll find all sorts of hidden treasures like small shrines in the urban jungle, incredible eats from all directions, and just beautiful sites overall.
sn4cktimes
> gin-san - shitpost specialist
02/23/2019 at 21:53 |
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Pretty much covered most of my suggestions for Japan. Be quiet, reserved and polite. It goes a LONG way in the culture. Don’t jam chopsticks into your food, learn how to say sorry/excuse me: “ah-sih-ma-sen”. Also goes a very long way and how you get your bill, someplaces, especially Tokyo you can also say “cheque”. S’about it.
66P1800inpieces
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 21:57 |
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Wow, very cool trip. When are you going? Tokyo is super clean. Hand your money to vendors holding it by two hands, try to eat everything and have a great time. I got to drive a cool three door Kei type Daihatsui minivan and it was fantastic. The Toyota museum/center is really neat, a little out of the way, but totally worth it . When I was there in 2015 they had an 2000 GT just hanging out among the other cars. No barriers or ropes. Honda was cool, Subaru was a bit lame. If you like electronics / video games / anime check out the akihabara district. Make sure to walk into a pachinko parlor for at least 2 mins just to experience the thunderous racket of 100s of people at machines with 1,000's of ball bearings clacking around. They have some really nice supermarkets, check the fruit section. They really put a lot of care and effort into them and the price reflects it.
Thailand, is really fun too, just a bit different. Check out Mark Weins videos on youtube about where/how to eat in Thailand (use the fork to put food on the spoon to eat, chopsticks are for noodles). There are other, more voyeuristic youtube channels that show the nightlife. Food sanitation is just a suggestion so be careful. Seriously, the street food vendors and many restaurants put used plates in to blue buckets you think are going for nice not cleaning somewhere remote, but no, they just add some suds, and rinse them off in cold water. 45min to 1 hr massages (legitimate) are fantastic and cost $15-20 including tip. My wife felt they were a bit too rough but they helped me with some neck stiffness. Real coconuts are between $1 (30THB) in supermarkets, and $3.50 or so at street vendors. Singha (Thai) beer will be your new favorite. You can also drink in the street without issue. Always negotiate price before getting in a taxi or their version of tuk-tuks. I wouldn’t recommend renting a scooter in the city, but it is fun if you are by the beaches (don’t use the rental places that take your passport, as they will claim imaginary damage and make you pay up). Traffic rules are super weird and I am guessing not really followed. Scooters will often ride on the shoulder of opposing traffic if they need to make a turn. Try to eat a manogsteen. They only grow in certain hot regions and are not sold in the US (they ripen quickly and are hard to transport). Check google for how to eat them.
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66P1800inpieces
> 66P1800inpieces
02/23/2019 at 21:59 |
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Svart Smart, traded in his Smart
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 22:04 |
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I look forward to an update on this abandoned skyscraper b/c that sounds like my kind of thing.
Chariotoflove
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 22:07 |
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That’s all fine and well, but I want pics of cool JDM cars.
Also, if your up for it, try out the Japanese whiskey scene. It’s apparently pretty impressive and different from much of the stuff we drink here.
M.T. Blake
> AestheticsInMotion
02/23/2019 at 23:23 |
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Sukhumvit?! I’d say you made that up but this is the same place that has Bangkok and Phuket...
pip bip - choose Corrour
> AestheticsInMotion
02/24/2019 at 06:06 |
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avoid ladyboys
unless you’re into that sort of thing
:P