Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Do you know what that sound is, Highness? Those are the shrieking eels!

JAPAN '08 PART III

Woke up shortly after 4am (with no alarm clock, but it was our intent to get up this early anyway). If you're going to do the Tsukiji Fish Market, you want to get there around 5am for the crazy chaos. And it is kind of frightening at 5am, since you will get in someone's way and you will nearly get run over by any number of motorized carts. But we survived!

I went once with Drew in 2001 and it's my understanding they're moving the Fish Market somewhere else in 2012. Seems odd, since they're on the Bay now, but we'll see.

Once you leave the station, just follow all the people with wicker baskets and galoshes, it's an easy find.



Finding the best entrance is hard, but here's one (don't get run over...)



You can almost tell in these pics, but yes, they are alive and writhing.



More very cool things I would never want to meet in the water.



Some of my favorite close-ups...



I saw some just like these guys below in a grocery store a few days later. Would be kinda neat, if you had a clue how to cook them...



Maybe not my cup of tea...



Definitely not my cup of tea...



Maybe tasty, but very pretty.



In 2001 I didn't use my flash, just really fast film, so as to be as inconspicuous as possible. This time I just didn't care. I don't think I was bothering anyone. Except all those times I was physically in the way, but how can you not be?





Love this guy below:



There is a ton of ice around, also constantly being poured out on the ground, so watch your feet and don't wear shoes you love.



How frozen are they? This frozen:



And here are all those containers!



This was just a small part of the day, but I'll continue with Friday in the next post, otherwise it's just too long!

6 comments:

Triana said...

*faints*

Wow, what a great trip! And great pictures! Ok, next year no house buying, I'll get tickets to Japan instead.

Ellen Aim said...

Danke! And that's the nice thing about house-buying...you won't have to do that closing thing again for a very long time. (If ever).

SkylersDad said...

I am loving these photos and your report on the trip! Glad you are having a good time, and thanks for the shout-out.

Unknown said...

eels, and member of the squid /octopus family, then shells. about the shells, you just steam, sprinkle a little salt. then, pick with a toothpick...

its worth getting in the way, tho

Mob said...

I was relating your tales to the wife, who is now very serious about taking a trip to Japan with you and your husband, if you guys would be game.

I don't know about the logistics of making this happen just off the top of my head, but consider it if you will, you sound like you'd make a great guide.

Ellen Aim said...

Skyler'sD: Thanks, glad you like 'em! They were fun to take, too!

CyberMiss: Hey, thanks for stopping by! I've steamed clammy things before, but these looked a little new to me...I'd be unlikely without beer.

It's always worth getting in the way!!

Mob: I'd be you guys' tokyo slave in a second! D would love it, I know he wants to go back. It would definitely be a blast.