No rain in sight, says the weather forecast.  So far three weeks of highs over 90s with out much rain.  There have got to be ways to beat the heat.

One way is to seek the urban oasis.  A beer garden, a tiny izakaya (Japanese bar), even the local convenience store and squatting in the shade with a can of ice teas.

We all have our ways of dealing with the heat.  To each his/her own.  Find your shade.  Keep your cool.  Enjoy the heat before its gone till 2013.

This getting back to normal has been exhausting for me.  My normal walk back to the station left me wanting to pass out on the train ride back home.  I can’t really complain. I mean, at least I am getitng back to myself, and feeling something other than the mattress beneath my body is a good feeling.

Had to bundle up a bit today after being able to wear a t-shirt yesterday.  I thought best to be proactive and keep those cold bugs at bay.  As the nippy air made me zip up my Jacket I came across a rather large green pumpkin just sitting on an air conditioner.  It was just there.  It wasn’t really doing anything but hanging out on top of this A/C in front of a small bar.  Somehow, in my hazed mind it made me laugh.  A green pumpkin, even though that is their usual color in Japan, waiting.  I don’t know, maybe it is just me.

I needed to head to Shinagawa to renew my visa today.  If you think the bureaucracy in the states is bad, it is nothing compared to the Japanese. Well at least they are usually polite, usually.  After I was done I took a stroll, or I should say a bit of an urban hike from the waterside of Shinagawa all the way to the luxury brand infused stores of Ginza.

To many pictures to choose for a day, so I will just post a few from the waterside, heartland of industry, freight and the out of the way immigration office.

This is not the glossy image of Shibuya that is splashed across glossy magazines.  This is the Shibuya that I know.  The dirty backstreets, where one can get lost in the variety of vices offered up if you have the yen to pay for it.

A few more images from the wandering around the backstreets of Ginza yesterday.