oh, how far we've come

[excerpts from notebook]

Oh, how far we've come, how far I've come. From the first night working at my uncle's restaurant, hearing jazz billow out of the bar room along with the puffs of cigarette smoke, to the Park Hyatt Hotel Jazz Bar in Tokyo. Everything about me has changed, except for my love of Jazz. I remember Josh saying how much he prefers the little dive bars in Tokyo as opposed to the massive clubs. I probably prefer smaller joints as well, seeing as I started off listening to Jazz in a square shaped bar with dim red lights, cigarette smoke, and a jazz trio that always had a glass of wine as their tip jar on top of the piano. Maybe I should search for another place to remind of me of those days. Or maybe, it'll be impossible to replace what's been lost, so so long ago.

Saturday evening I went to the Park Hyatt Hotel again, this time to hear some live Jazz at the 52nd floor "New York Jazz Bar." Met up with my friend Josh at Shinjuku station before heading out. The drinks: Scarlet Martini, one for the each of us, and two Mojitos with Shiho leaf. The Mojitos actually weren't that strong, but the Shiho leaf really brought out a minty flavor once I crushed a few with my stirrer. My god, it was expensive, but the Jazz was alright in the end. Josh pointed out that there were a lot of gaijin around, but then again, it's a hotel. The view, as anticipated, was stunning yet again. I can't say anything momentous happened that night, just a couple drinks, laughing and good times, etc. But now, I can finally say I've gone to a Jazz Bar in Tokyo.