For me, one of the most interesting things to do in a foreign city is to walk the streets observing and trying to take in all the "stuff" your senses provide.   In this image, I accidently triggered the shutter on my camera as we were walking down the main road of the village of Narita.  I'm the one on the left.   It makes the perfect introductory image for this post:

There were all sorts of things that were new and different ... from the exotic to the mundane.  Take this cigarette machine for example.  It is, at the same time, both familiar and new!

And the same is true for this drink dispenser!  I was interested to see, that both English and Japanese were used ...

And speaking of exotic, don't the characters on this sign seem very powerful and affirmative?  That's what I  thought until I got home and found out that it says "East Wing"

Then there was this sign!  It says something about good fortune and blessings .... maybe a sign for a  fortune teller?

This shot came from somewhere... most likely from the temple.  I liked the light and color:

Of course, there were lots of Japanese lanterns:

We had decided to have lunch at an Indian restaurant ... yeah, I know, I know ... "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." The staff seemed pretty interested that a couple of white guys were eating there  so on the way out, I took this shot of the chef:

and, a little later, there was a refreshment stop for a brew.  I managed a little conversation with the worker in this tiny shop, and when he saw me pull the camera up to my eye, he flashed me the standard "V" sign:

And I pulled in for a very tight shot when he fixed his gaze on something happening outside:

About this time of the day, the kids started their trek home from school.  They are, of course, like kids everywhere  ... but then they aren't  ... if you get my "drift"?

Of course, there is the usual window shopping ... except these were in the open air:

and, what's a wonda?

I spotted this street lamp ... it is my favorite image from this little walk-about and it perfectly symbolizes the theme of this post.  I knew it was a street lamp, but unlike anything at home:

So there you have it ... nothing spectacular.

The senses are bombarded with the old and the new; the exotic and the ordinary; the familiar and the unfamiliar; it's the-same, but not-the-same.  

And, it is a part of what makes travel fun for me!  I'm sure you have had similar experiences.  

What do you think?

Adam