We got to experience some real slices of Japanese life Tuesday morning. Times photographer Toni Sandys and I rode the subway 20 minutes to Asakusa and explored the Senso-ji temple. We stopped at the incense cauldron where visitors rub the smoke against their bodies to ensure good health, pulled fortunes from the popular wooden cases and spent lots of time, and money, at the dozens of small flea market-style booths on Nakamise-dori, the shopping street. (Yes, Carlyn and Ben, I got you something!)
After that came our proudest moment of the day. We went into a restaurant, Tendomon, where there was no English - spoken or on the menus - and still managed to have a good lunch. Once the waitress sensed the communication problem, she motioned for us to go outside with her, where we pointed at pictures of menu items that were on the front of the building. And for the most part, we got what we ordered.
Sayonara,
Marc
CAN YOU EAT THAT?
Walking around the temple grounds, we noticed a group of kids waiting excitedly around a tent, then walking away with what we thought were candy-covered marshmallows on a stick. Actually, they were chunks of fresh-sliced bananas on a stick dipped in chocolate or a pink (strawberry?) topping. And they were good.
Taste: Fresh and tasty.
Other review: Let's go back for more.
HOW MUCH IS THAT?
The souvenir stands at the Tokyo Dome are interesting because they are stocked with all kinds of bright orange merchandise for the Yomiuri Giants. There's plenty of MLB stuff, too, including a basic Aubrey Huff Rays T-shirt for 3,990 yen (about $37). A similar Hideki Matsui shirt bore a premium: It was 7,000 yen (about $65).
TRAVEL TIP
We asked some players who went to Japan in 2000 with the Mets and Cubs for their best stories. Infielder Jeff Huson said the weirdest thing was how the Cubs left Japan late on a Friday night and arrived in Arizona on Friday afternoon. "We actually got back before we left," Huson said. "I wish I'd played the stock market that day."
WELCOME BACK
Eduardo Perez is one of six uniformed Rays who have been to Japan. Perez played the 2001 season with the Hanshin Tigers, hitting .222 with three homers in 52 games before having season-ending knee surgery. "It was a great experience," Perez said.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"No, but it sounds like a lot."
- Game 1 MVP Julio Lugo, when asked if he knew how much his 1-million yen award was worth - about $10,000.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING ...
A group of Rays attended a reception at the U.S. Embassy with ambassador Howard Baker, then wrapped up the trip with the second of two regular-season games against the Yankees, which started at 5 a.m. Tampa Bay time.
COMING UP
Because it will be sometime after midnight before the Rays get to their own beds, they'll get Thursday off, have a light workout Friday and play an exhibition on Saturday in Dunedin.
