Rainy day

(This was written a week ago, before I had internet; hence, a late post):

Today I woke up the sound of the phone ringing (my parents called!), but if it weren’t for that, I would have woken up to the sound of the rain. The rainy season of Japan is in full bloom right now and will continue for at least a few more weeks.

It only took me 5 minutes of being outside to declare my fancy “rain-proof” REI rain jacket unfit for this weather and go to a local “combini” (the Japanese-abbreviated version of the convenience store) to buy a huge, sturdy and what's best -- transparent $5 umbrella that will have kept me somewhat dry for rest of the day (and hopefully the rest of the rainy season!)

In Japanese, the word for “clean” and the word for “beautiful” are one and the same (“kirei”), and it really shows: even after 24 hours of solid rain, there is not a speck of dirt, or slush, or any other “artifact” of rainy weather anywhere in the city:



And at the entrance of any store, there are disposable plastic “umbrella tubes” to keep the rain water inside the bag and not inside the store. Many fancier stores even have an “automatic” umbrella-packaging device. Amazing!

Considering the weather, I’m happy with the outcome of my first “free” Sunday in Japan. I slept in, cozied-up my apartment, finally attempted to do laundry (all the button are in Kanji, and although I figured out the ‘start’ button, I wasn’t quite satisfied with the result…), bought a Japanese cell phone:

(My Russian friends will surely appreciate the sticker. In case you can’t see the caption, it says, «Здравствуйте. Я -- Чебурашка». I just couldn't resist ☺
Btw, more on the ubiquitous Japanese cuteness in a separate post).

And went to a nearby part of Tokyo (Ikebekuro), known for its many multi-floor department stores that sell everything. And I mean EVERYTHING, including things I never knew existed, such as banana cases or other miscellaneously useless cute things:



I’m not usually big on spending half a day in a store, but this was something else entirely. Definitely worth another visit, on another rainy day (which I am assured by everyone, will be lots to come).