Entries this day: AM Geo_Panic Thunder_Dolphin

AM

7:04am JST Tuesday 11 May 2004

I woke up still feeling a bit depressed, but better. I had walked home last night wanting to scream and hit a telephone pole with my umbrella and just block the sad feelings. I didn't even eat last night; even so, I'm not hungry now.

I felt a bit betrayed by my journal; another case of laying my truth out into the ether and then being bitten. Oh well; it's all part of the process.

Tim wrote me an email saying that my journal helps him. I hoped he meant it helps him realize that he's not alone with his own issues. Actually, he just meant it keeps him from being bored. I guess that's part of the process, too.

Anyfuckingway, I also woke up with the advice (that wasn't even being delivered as advice; she was just telling me how she made everyday choices) I received a long time ago from my friend Christina Branum-Martin. Basically she said she looks at each decision and asks if it will bring her more or less happiness in the long run. At least that's my memory of what she said; it was probably 8 years ago that she told me.

So with that in mind, I shall write about Thunder Dolphin.

9:02am

And Geo Panic.

Geo Panic

Geo Panic

Geo Panic is the underdog of the coasters at Tokyo Dome City. It's not immediately visible upon entering the park, and is available only from the underground complex of attractions, so the line is usually short. Two or three trains run at a time, with six seats per train.

Standing in the middle of the room-could-be-dancefloor, we see two rather large ducts emerging from, and re-entering the wall near the ceiling. Are these part of some futuristic ventilation system? Why is there a huge hole in that duct? Are they- hey what's that rumbling noise? Suddenly and comically, a chorus of screams echoes through the room as the coaster rumbles through the duct and disappears back into the wall. That's hilarious!

We arrive quickly at the front of the line and to our assigned seats. There's no seatbelt, just a big (and heavy) over-the-shoulder harness to keep us in place.

Immediately into darkness we plunge and are swept up a lift with little Christmas lights slowly gleaming, barely adequate to illuminate the track. The lights stop and we fall down the first hill.

The ride would be a kiddie ride except that it's almost completely dark, nearly guaranteeing a few unexpected jostles against the headrests. There are a few trick lights and don't forget that we'll be squealing through the ductwork momentarily.

For such a short line, this ride is great.

Thunder Dolphin

Thunder Dolphin

Imagine my surprise; as I stood silently watching the neverending houses and buildings of Tokyo go by, I saw a glimpse of something that looked like a roller coaster. I was like, wtf? and doubted it could be true. Waited for the next building to pass for clearer view. Holy moly there's an amusement park in the middle of downtown Tokyo.

I was on my way to meet my friend Andrew, so I chose not to just jump out and go. Just; I hope I can go there. Then I realized I should put the relevant information in my head: on the way to Akihabara on the Sobu line, there's a roller coaster.

I got my chance to go some time later, with Tomoko, one of my students at Nova.

Thunder Dolphin is really cool. Due to the cramped nature of downtown Tokyo, space is rarely wasted. Thunder Dolphin, eager to have as much track as possible, starts immediately up the lift out of the station. (Look left and wave for the camera before reaching the lift.) The lift is wonderfully silent, using a cable to pull us up, and no clanking ratchets. Wave to people on the nearby ferris wheel on the way up. About half the time, they wave back. At the top, hold on to your camera, I mean lapbar, for the whooosh and then rocket up and onto the nearby building!

We course along its length and whoosh down (through a hole in the facing of the building for effect) and then up and *through* the previously mentioned ferris wheel! No time to wave to them now; we gotta get ready for the *second* picture! Look right while on the low fast stretch before we streak back up the building for a second run along it. We leap off the building and come abruptly to a halt in the braking section before rolling back into the station for a round of applause from the staff and many of the eager riders.

Wow; gotta ride that again.

But first, go check out the pictures downstairs. In another (genius) space saving technique, the two photos have been merged for our viewing (and purchasing) pleasure! The photo attendants put little tags like "Best Couple" or "Great Smile!" on their favorite pictures. Go ride again and think of some funny way to pose for two cameras on one ride!