The shrine was silent and peaceful. I think it was because we were here very early and that it was a week day. The sun was started to rise up and so was the heat (it really didn’t bother us but that much as it does in Malaysia).

We then slowly made our way there and did have some trouble locating the place and korakuen was a district and since we never said anything about the garden park part to people we asked for direction, they weren’t so sure of what we were looking for until we actually met some other tourists who were leaving the district and asked them. They managed to tell us where it was located and thank them. So now we knew where was the place.The garden was not as impressive as I had hope but then it was because the koyo was not here yet else I think the whole trip here would have been fully worth it. But still the trip here help me yield some pretty good shots.

Unfortunately upon inquiring at the ticket office, we were told that the Sumida boat ride was actually ten minutes away from where we were, this was the cruise liner port. So in “24″ ala fashion we ran all the way as the boat was schedule to leave in 15 minutes!

We then slowly made our way to the senso-ji temple. Upon arriving, I regretted coming to such a popular tourist location, there were a lot of people which really ruined the experience for me. I hated when a place is overcrowded with people, it made taking photos next to useless and every lame Joe and Jane would be in your way.

I then told CC I would be heading to Yodobashi at Akihabara as I wanted to thoroughly check it out (as well as drop off some of my slide film to be developed) and also a second hand camera shop that was nearby. I asked if he wanted to come along but since it was about cameras he might have gotten bored by it. He decline and said he wanted to check something else out (I didn’t asked as it was his privacy) and so we parted way and agreed to meet up later at the hotel around 7pm for dinner. If one of us was still not back by then, the other could go out for dinner on his own.So I went down to Akihabara to Yodobashi and went up to the 3rd floor which was everything cameras and as well watches and electrical. The guy at the film development counter told me that the slides would be ready by TOMORROW 6pm! (HOLY CRAP! Now that is service! Back in Malaysia it would take at least 2~3 weeks to be developed and that is assuming the guy did not fudged up the development!) so yeah I dropped off my film.

A majority of the stuff there at Yodobashi was not really that much cheaper then back in Malaysia but they did have a point system where 10% or so of the amount of the price you paid for would be accumulated which you could use (1 point== 1 yen) for later purchases, so the more you had previously shopped at Yodobashi, the more you could buy later. Sadly I was a tourist so the point system is of little value to me as I wasn’t staying long.

Though I have to admit, they have everything out for test and feel. I managed to try out a Mamiya medium format camera and it was really cool! Sadly, I don’t have the money to buy. They also have the biggest tripod section that would dwarf Matthew’s shop completely back in Penang!

I wish I had taken some pictures inside but there was again a no photo policy and they were pretty strict about it.

I then head to the second hand camera shop that was only located across the street from Yodobashi. It was located on the 4th floor of this out of the way building you wouldn’t have guessed was selling camera until you saw the little sign nearby.

I proceeded up and one thing I really like about Japanese business is that they will always greet you as you entered their shops unlike here where they couldn’t give a rat’s ass about you unless you wanted to buy something. I asked them if they had the Nikon F4s MB-20 battery grip and sure enough they have!! For RM144 I could now shed of some serious weight off my Nikon F4s! Next I looked around their used lens collection, now let me tell you, they had the widest as well as the cleanest lens collection I’ve ever seen.

Every piece they had on sell was given a rating base on its condition and thus would determine their price. It starts with AA, AB, BB, BC, CC ,EE with AA being perfect and never used condition with EE meaning superb crap! I managed to score a Nikkor ais 50mm f/1.2 (non-NOCT version) which was in AB condition (with minor wear on the mount but the glass was perfect!) for RM900! You can still buy this lens new on the market but would cost you RM1400~RM1600. Yodobashi was selling a used one for RM1200!

I’ve notice that in Japanese, ais lenses are not in any hot demand hence the reason why they can go for very cheap. While AFD lens I rarely saw any second hand ones for sale, it seems from what I gathered from the sale person (who spoke fluent english, THANK GOD!) told me that people where now selling off their old ais lenses (which they can taken great care of) and buying AFD or AFS lenses instead.

I saw a second hand mamiya 645 camera with all the trimmings such as lenses bag and box all for RM1500 and was tempted to buy but then I would have trouble bringing it back as it was heavy. I put that idea off for now and would decide later then (I never did buy that medium format cam). So here I was happy and fill with joy that I found the grip along with a really good lens! Though I still did not find the the type K focusing screen for the Nikon F4 though I was already happy with what I found.

I then headed back to the train station and realized it was rush hour time, at this point I was tired so I didn’t take any photos and just wanted to go back to the hotel.

So I then took a bath again (>_<;;;) and I waited for CC where we then had dinner at some place not far from the hotel. That was how my the 3rd day of vacation went so until my next entry, pleasant dreams. PS: I made a note to myself to not go visit tourist trap places and decided to go to Kamakura tomorrow!