Train Ride/Bootcamp!

Here in Tokyo, everyone takes the train everywhere ! The network of trains here is mind blowing. Check out the colorful and complicated looking train routes. You almost need a PHD to decipher all that. You do not want to get lost here. But guess what? There's an app for it! Of course! It was invented by a pregnant lady!!! Yes, even pregnant ladies take the trains here. Since she couldn't walk everywhere fast enough to connect to the next train, she came up with an app to help people navigate the system more efficiently. Girl power!!!

Like my sister said, I am on a 10 day Bootcamp! Train station is my gym. Sooooo much walking and standing and soooooo many stairs in the train station...going up...going down...then up again...then down again....OMG!  Who needs to buy a StairMasters here in Tokyo??? I am so happy when I see an escalator. Most of the time, there's no escalator. Yesterday, Top Gun team broke an escalator. The minute we all got on, it stopped all of a sudden. (I think that was my trainer pushing me to give her 30 more steps.)

So far, we've ridden in a regular car twice this whole trip. The rest, we walked and walked and walked and took the trains everywhere. It's a good thing because they drive on the wrong side of the road here!!! Seriously scary.

So, to top off my training for the bootcamp, I am forced to do my workout in a steam sauna. That's right, sweat it out, baby! The heat and the humidity is 24/7. I am a wet mess the minute I step out of the hotel until I get back at night. I live for the few minutes we are in the air conditioned trains. That's my reward for working hard on the stairs and the treadmill.

Oh yeah, my bootcamp also includes a special diet. Most of the time, I get a small rice ball/triangle with a half teaspoon of tuna or chicken inside. Yesterday, Susan got me a small tray (and I mean small) of seaweed and radish salad with no dressing to go with my rice ball. I am beginning to think she is the bootcamp trainer. She along with Joe and Yoko came up with this elaborate plan to get me and the girls in shape for the upcoming volleyball season.

But, you know what? This bootcamp is the BEST! I will definitely sign up for it again.  

Check out the colors!  There's one of these ticket machines next to every entrance.  The colorful chart on the left tells you how much it will cost an adult to get from one station to another.  I think the one on the right tells your how to transfer from one train to another to get to your final destination.  OMG!

During busy rush hours, ladies get their own train!  Men, shame on you! 

 

Stairs! Stairs!  Everywhere!!!!  During a busy time, these stairs are packed!

Lunch selection at the nearby Family Mart

Rice Ball (More like a triangle!?!)  Comes with curry chicken, tuna or unagi or plum or salmon!  The packaging for this rice is ingenius.  It keeps the seaweed fresh and crunchy until you're ready to eat.