Just another day in Tokyo

It must have been something significant. I couldn’t have woken up at random at 1.30am after a 16hr wok day. I sit up in bed wondering what it could be. Someone at the door ? This is the palace hotel in Omiya, on the 9th floor at 1.30am. That can’t be good! No wait, a rattle!? I grope for the light switch and leap out of bed. Wait! Can’t see a thing! Frantic search for my glasses, they’re not as usual, under the bed. After a bit of nervous vaccillation, I manage to locate it. Then I realise what’s happening. The floor is HEAVING! Its a flippin earthquake and I’m on the 9th floor. The window creaks as the massive building sways from side to side. Feels like I’m on a big boat in rough water. Tearing back the curtains, a quick glance out the window….. other buildings are still standing. Pull on my trousers and passport and run out to the corridor. Not a soul in sight! Then a door creaks open. An anxious elderly man pops out and heads for the staircase. I follow suit. Speak aloud to comfort him and I – its a longish walk in a swaying building down 9 flights of stairs. But wait a minute. There’s just two of us! Where is the deluge of panick stricken people stumbling down in their underwear ? Not a soul in sight. At long last, the final dash to the lobby. All is quiet. The desk clerk is curious about us two disheveled foreigners in night clothes. There seems to be no sign of anyone else, except the next odd foriegner who joins the elderly chap and they stroll out for a smoke. What on earth ? The clerk fishes out his Japanese to English dictionary. “Five minutes ago, he says, with a serious studious air, as if I’m about to mark him down for his grammar, there was an earthquake.” A nod and a bow. And then its business as usual.

Evidently, I am new to Tokyo. Now now I can safely say, I’ve seen it all. And its time to depart in a couple of days! Wow.