Natalie's birthday came and went this past weekend and I have to say it was a blast. I think we both had a lot of fun. We had dinner and of course we went to Karaoke afterwards. Karaoke is so much fun. I think me and Nat are a little too obsessed with Karaoke. We were there for 5 hours on Saturday morning. I feel like Karaoke in Japan is in many ways better than in Korea. We haven't been anywhere fancy but the song selection is tons better. Seriously, in Japan, we've sung Kanye West's Runaway, Vampire Weekend's Cousins, Wham!'s Everything She Wants, Tears for Fear's Head over Heels, and even The Beatle's Rocky Racoon. That makes me happy in so many ways. Rocky Racoon! Hell yes! Plus, they serve alcohol in Japan (illegal in Korea). All of this equals a groovy time. Another cool thing about Saturday night was the ride home. It was 5 am at the break of dawn and we were singing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of our lungs all while drunk biking through alleyways. And then we saw a Crane, a huge white and graceful Crane perched atop a rooftop. Very majestic.
And seriously though, what is up with Natalie and I's obsession with Ramen. Seriously, it's crack isn't it? It's secretly crack. On Sunday, we went on another Easter egg hunt for a Taiwanese Ramen noodle restaurant (extremely delicious btw). But hey, don't judge our weird affection for Ramen noodles by the crappy instant cup noodles you see in North American supermarkets. This Japanese stuff is legit. It's fresh, it's fatty, and it's bursting at the seams with flavor. Oh my, I love Ramen. Natalie and I have come to the realization that Korea is King of the instant Ramen (Shin Ramyun: if you haven't tried it, go to the market and whip up that bad boy at home and you'll see why Asian Ramen is nothing to sneeze at). Well, if Korea is king of instant Ramen, what does that make Japan? Japan is officially (in my opinion) the God of fresh Ramen. Culinary perfection. Okay, I'll stop with this Ramen horn tootin' post.
It was a pretty good weekend. To top it all off, Natalie and I had a big shopping marathon to celebrate our first full paycheck. It felt nice to blow some money on clothes. I almost never ever purchase anything for myself, but hey, I feel good and sometimes it's nice to go out and treat yourself with some nice things! So, good weekend...yeah, good weekend. And I'd like to thank Gene and Yui for helping me organize Natalie's birthday. Y'all are really awesome! Thanks!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Good news and bad news
First, the bad news..
Natalie and I are out of money. We really drained the funds in Kyoto and you know what? That's perfectly fine. We're also a little under the weather so we've done almost nothing productive this weekend. We've stayed in bed and watched Locked Up Abroad and Modern Family. We've stocked up on Vitamin C and we've worked on half a year's worth of picture. Well, Natalie has worked on half a year's worth of pictures. I've worked on my blog...sort of.
Now, the good news..
Natalie and I saved just enough money for food. Plus it's almost payday. Payday is on the 25th and it also coincides as the 25th anniversary of something. You see 25 years, on August 25th 1986, the most important person in my life was born; Natalie. So you see, it's a very special day because we get paid and much much much more importantly, it's Natalie's birthday. Also, another bit of good news is that four of my very best friends from Texas (Andy, Matt, Atit, and Anup) are going to be visiting us in Japan for New Year's. We'll be hanging out in Tokyo and I'm really excited to see them. It's going to be epic!
Finally, the ugly news..
We're both sick and we ate McDonald's for lunch (What? There's a 24 hour McDonald's right across the street). It's funny how both Natalie and I hardly eat fast food in America, yet when we're in Asia, we eat it more often. I know I should be ashamed of myself, but hey, you only live once (or more than once, according to some religions).
Natalie and I are out of money. We really drained the funds in Kyoto and you know what? That's perfectly fine. We're also a little under the weather so we've done almost nothing productive this weekend. We've stayed in bed and watched Locked Up Abroad and Modern Family. We've stocked up on Vitamin C and we've worked on half a year's worth of picture. Well, Natalie has worked on half a year's worth of pictures. I've worked on my blog...sort of.
Now, the good news..
Natalie and I saved just enough money for food. Plus it's almost payday. Payday is on the 25th and it also coincides as the 25th anniversary of something. You see 25 years, on August 25th 1986, the most important person in my life was born; Natalie. So you see, it's a very special day because we get paid and much much much more importantly, it's Natalie's birthday. Also, another bit of good news is that four of my very best friends from Texas (Andy, Matt, Atit, and Anup) are going to be visiting us in Japan for New Year's. We'll be hanging out in Tokyo and I'm really excited to see them. It's going to be epic!
Finally, the ugly news..
We're both sick and we ate McDonald's for lunch (What? There's a 24 hour McDonald's right across the street). It's funny how both Natalie and I hardly eat fast food in America, yet when we're in Asia, we eat it more often. I know I should be ashamed of myself, but hey, you only live once (or more than once, according to some religions).
Back from the past Miscellaneous
Random thoughts from Kyoto:
- Kyoto is freakishly humid. Natalie and I were drenched in sweat the whole week. Apparently, it's because Kyoto is surrounded on three sides by mountains and thus, the humidity can't escape. But who cares? It was hot!
- Must read or watch the Anime called One Piece. When one asks a Japanese what their favorite Anime is, the answer it almost consistently One Piece. It's also everywhere. You can find One Piece memorabilia in almost every convenient store and souvenir shop.
- I really want to buy Ninja shoes. I spotted people wearing Ninja shoes in Kyoto. They look awesome and comfortable. I also need to get the Samurai sword umbrella.
- I love how you can find green tea flavored anything in Kyoto. Seriously, they are obsessed with Green tea.
- We stayed at two really different and contrasting hostels in Kyoto. The first was huge, modern, and clean. The staff was super friendly and helpful. It was a perfect base of operations for our frantic pace of the first half of our vacation. The second hostel was really cool too. It was in an old Japanese house with Tatami mat rooms and they even supplied a Yucata for us to wear while in our rooms. Natalie and I had fun acting like ninjas and taking pictures. Both hostels were cool. Thanks!
- Yucatas are super comfy. I need to buy one just so I can sit at home with one. Plus, it makes you feel like a samurai.
- Conveyor belt sushi places continue to be awesome. We went to one called Musashi Kaiten Sushi (named after one of Japan's most famous swordsmen) in Kyoto. They are fun, cheap, and most importantly delicious.
- People in Kyoto are not as friendly as they are where we live. They just don't care as much, especially since there are so many foreigners in Kyoto. But still, compared to the average American city, Kyotites are super friendly.
- Wakata = it means "I got it/I get it".
- Kyoto is freakishly humid. Natalie and I were drenched in sweat the whole week. Apparently, it's because Kyoto is surrounded on three sides by mountains and thus, the humidity can't escape. But who cares? It was hot!
- Must read or watch the Anime called One Piece. When one asks a Japanese what their favorite Anime is, the answer it almost consistently One Piece. It's also everywhere. You can find One Piece memorabilia in almost every convenient store and souvenir shop.
- I really want to buy Ninja shoes. I spotted people wearing Ninja shoes in Kyoto. They look awesome and comfortable. I also need to get the Samurai sword umbrella.
- I love how you can find green tea flavored anything in Kyoto. Seriously, they are obsessed with Green tea.
- We stayed at two really different and contrasting hostels in Kyoto. The first was huge, modern, and clean. The staff was super friendly and helpful. It was a perfect base of operations for our frantic pace of the first half of our vacation. The second hostel was really cool too. It was in an old Japanese house with Tatami mat rooms and they even supplied a Yucata for us to wear while in our rooms. Natalie and I had fun acting like ninjas and taking pictures. Both hostels were cool. Thanks!
- Yucatas are super comfy. I need to buy one just so I can sit at home with one. Plus, it makes you feel like a samurai.
- Conveyor belt sushi places continue to be awesome. We went to one called Musashi Kaiten Sushi (named after one of Japan's most famous swordsmen) in Kyoto. They are fun, cheap, and most importantly delicious.
- People in Kyoto are not as friendly as they are where we live. They just don't care as much, especially since there are so many foreigners in Kyoto. But still, compared to the average American city, Kyotites are super friendly.
- Wakata = it means "I got it/I get it".
Back from the Past Part III
Sorry it's taken me so long to finish my blog about our Kyoto Trip. I've had a long week at work.
After our trip to the beach, we were basically really exhausted so we kind of just took our time from there. On our sixth day, we visited a district called Arashiyama in western Kyoto. It's a really nice part of town with lots of temples and it's surrounded by picturesque mountains rivers. Unfortunately, we had gotten a late start to our day and it was also scorching hot. In Arashiyama, we really didn't do much. We walked through a bamboo forest which was basically a path to a temple surrounded by Bamboo trees. It was really nice and along the way, we purchased a few postcards painted by a local artist. However, the whole area was ridiculously crowded and by that point we weren't able to handle the crowds so we decided to take a special train ride called the Sagano Romantic train. It starts from Arashiyama and winds through rivers, mountains, and other scenic spots. It was a really nice way to sit back, enjoy the day, and avoid the crowds.
After our little day trip, we basically explored Kyoto a little bit more during the night. It just felt nice to be in a bigger city where there are more things to do at night. I love Kurashiki and Okayama but they aren't exactly the most happening cities to live in. In Kyoto, there is a nightlife of sorts (nothing crazy but it's there). There are festivals and entertainment to be had after the lights turn on. We basically had the chance to explore another famous nightlife area of Kyoto called Pontocho. This area is rather like Gion but the adjoining streets are filled with clubs and bars. It's also filled with booking clubs as in Gion but at least there are places for normal people to go to. We wandered into a place called Ghost bar that looked really metal and hardcore, but then they were playing The Strokes (great band, but it's anything but metal and hardcore). We also went to a place owned by a Sri Lankan man, which makes me wonder how a foreigner goes about opening a business in Japan? It seems rather difficult since there seem to be so few foreigners in Japan. The place was only noteworthy for it's cheap prices and those turned out to be not so cheap. Then, we went to a really small reggae bar tucked into a basement. I really liked this place. Japanese Jamaican people were found here and chill music and really bad Mojitos. And alas, that was our night, just a nice night of exploration.
And finally, our last day in Kyoto was once again really laid back. For our last day, we decided to hit up the International Manga Museum. Manga means comic book in Japanese. The place was really cool. It contained the history of Mangas in Japan and also how the artform was developed. I think that it's really interesting how creative and developed (and not to mention popular) an artform it is. It seems to be the most popular form of entertainment in Japan. The whole museum also doubled as a library as well. Almost every Japanese manga can be found here and even mangas from America, France, Vietnam, Canada, India, and basically everywhere. What I found interesting was the variety of people that came just to read mangas. You could find children, university students, old men, old women, businessmen, and travelers each absorbed into their respective manga. It's also interesting to think about the sheer variety of manga. It's not just for children. There are manga targeted to almost every demographic; old, young, young adults, boys, girls, and even adult oriented manga. That can only happen in an art form that is both popular and developed. I think that the highlight of our visit to the museum was when we decided to let a local artist draw our likenesses into Manga form. It was really cool, and I can't say that our characters look like us, but it was certainly well drawn. Talking to the artist was really cool as well. We found out that we had a lot in common such as musical interests (we were all Radiohead fans) and we even swapped musical recommendations. It was an interesting visit to the museum.
After the manga museum, we went on an Easter egg hunt for a Japanese art exhibit. When we found it, it turned out to be really cool. It was a photography exhibit depicting two Japanese photographers and their contrasting styles. One Photographer was young, bold, energetic, and vibrant while the other was older, classical, and more methodical in her approach. We really enjoyed both artists' work but the exhibit contained more of the young artists' photographs.
Since it was our last day, Natalie and I had decided to have a big night out so we did all this planning and when we finally got out, we realized that we didn't have anymore money. So, we went to an ATM and tried to withdraw money, but for some reason, Japan (one of the most advanced countries in the world) doesn't allow cash withdrawals after a certain time. So Annoying! That wasn't going to stop us though. We bought a six pack of tall boys and walked to the club we were going to. We paid our cover charge and still had a great time dancing. Sure, it wasn't as crazy as we had intended it to be, but what the heck, it was fun! Also, the bouncer at the club was from Dallas, Texas and he even graduated from the same high school as Natalie; Skyline high school. Small world..
So, that was our trip in a nutshell and it was great one.
After our trip to the beach, we were basically really exhausted so we kind of just took our time from there. On our sixth day, we visited a district called Arashiyama in western Kyoto. It's a really nice part of town with lots of temples and it's surrounded by picturesque mountains rivers. Unfortunately, we had gotten a late start to our day and it was also scorching hot. In Arashiyama, we really didn't do much. We walked through a bamboo forest which was basically a path to a temple surrounded by Bamboo trees. It was really nice and along the way, we purchased a few postcards painted by a local artist. However, the whole area was ridiculously crowded and by that point we weren't able to handle the crowds so we decided to take a special train ride called the Sagano Romantic train. It starts from Arashiyama and winds through rivers, mountains, and other scenic spots. It was a really nice way to sit back, enjoy the day, and avoid the crowds.
After our little day trip, we basically explored Kyoto a little bit more during the night. It just felt nice to be in a bigger city where there are more things to do at night. I love Kurashiki and Okayama but they aren't exactly the most happening cities to live in. In Kyoto, there is a nightlife of sorts (nothing crazy but it's there). There are festivals and entertainment to be had after the lights turn on. We basically had the chance to explore another famous nightlife area of Kyoto called Pontocho. This area is rather like Gion but the adjoining streets are filled with clubs and bars. It's also filled with booking clubs as in Gion but at least there are places for normal people to go to. We wandered into a place called Ghost bar that looked really metal and hardcore, but then they were playing The Strokes (great band, but it's anything but metal and hardcore). We also went to a place owned by a Sri Lankan man, which makes me wonder how a foreigner goes about opening a business in Japan? It seems rather difficult since there seem to be so few foreigners in Japan. The place was only noteworthy for it's cheap prices and those turned out to be not so cheap. Then, we went to a really small reggae bar tucked into a basement. I really liked this place. Japanese Jamaican people were found here and chill music and really bad Mojitos. And alas, that was our night, just a nice night of exploration.
And finally, our last day in Kyoto was once again really laid back. For our last day, we decided to hit up the International Manga Museum. Manga means comic book in Japanese. The place was really cool. It contained the history of Mangas in Japan and also how the artform was developed. I think that it's really interesting how creative and developed (and not to mention popular) an artform it is. It seems to be the most popular form of entertainment in Japan. The whole museum also doubled as a library as well. Almost every Japanese manga can be found here and even mangas from America, France, Vietnam, Canada, India, and basically everywhere. What I found interesting was the variety of people that came just to read mangas. You could find children, university students, old men, old women, businessmen, and travelers each absorbed into their respective manga. It's also interesting to think about the sheer variety of manga. It's not just for children. There are manga targeted to almost every demographic; old, young, young adults, boys, girls, and even adult oriented manga. That can only happen in an art form that is both popular and developed. I think that the highlight of our visit to the museum was when we decided to let a local artist draw our likenesses into Manga form. It was really cool, and I can't say that our characters look like us, but it was certainly well drawn. Talking to the artist was really cool as well. We found out that we had a lot in common such as musical interests (we were all Radiohead fans) and we even swapped musical recommendations. It was an interesting visit to the museum.
After the manga museum, we went on an Easter egg hunt for a Japanese art exhibit. When we found it, it turned out to be really cool. It was a photography exhibit depicting two Japanese photographers and their contrasting styles. One Photographer was young, bold, energetic, and vibrant while the other was older, classical, and more methodical in her approach. We really enjoyed both artists' work but the exhibit contained more of the young artists' photographs.
Since it was our last day, Natalie and I had decided to have a big night out so we did all this planning and when we finally got out, we realized that we didn't have anymore money. So, we went to an ATM and tried to withdraw money, but for some reason, Japan (one of the most advanced countries in the world) doesn't allow cash withdrawals after a certain time. So Annoying! That wasn't going to stop us though. We bought a six pack of tall boys and walked to the club we were going to. We paid our cover charge and still had a great time dancing. Sure, it wasn't as crazy as we had intended it to be, but what the heck, it was fun! Also, the bouncer at the club was from Dallas, Texas and he even graduated from the same high school as Natalie; Skyline high school. Small world..
So, that was our trip in a nutshell and it was great one.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Back from the Past Part II
On our Fourth day in Kyoto, we had a late start to the day. The night before, after the Maiko performance, we headed to an all you can drink affair and generally had fun wandering the streets of Kyoto in our drunken mayhem and talking to random Japanese people. Hence, that is why we woke up so late. So on our fourth day, we visited two really neat places: the Golden Pavillion and the Zen Rock garden temple. The Golden Pavillion was another site drunk with tourists but it was still a really nice place. The golden pavilion was built as an emperors villa roughly 800 years ago and is now a temple. The walls are lined in gold and the pavilion sits on a lake Very picturesque. Afterwards, we headed to the even better Zen Rock Garden Temple, Ryoan-ji. It's a really peaceful place with a beautiful Japanese garden. There weren't a lot of people so we had the opportunity to bask in the serenity. The Rock garden is really cool. It's basically shaped like a rectangle and contains about 13 or 14 rocks surrounded by a sea of white pebbles neatly lined. It's supposed to represent nature and if you stare at it long enough, it's like a drug. In other words, your imagination runs wild. We also relaxed and talked on the wooden floors of the temple. It was all in good fun.
Afterwards, we headed to an Izakaya. Izakaya's are traditional Japanese pubs. They are usually marked by red lanterns and contain lots of alcohol and traditional bar food. It's a place where the locals go after work and there are quite a few in Japan. The decor is usually low key and you also usually find quite a few red-faced Japanese people. We really enjoyed eating here as we got to sample a wide variety of traditional Japanese bar food including the absolutely delicious and peppery chicken Udon soup.
By our 5th day in Kyoto, we were pooped. Sightseeing and walking all over town wears you out quickly. It's fun but you can only do so much of it. And you can only see so many temples. So after a few days, we decided to hit the beach. We asked the friendly people at our hostel for a recommendation and we were told that Biwa lake had some nice beaches. Biwa is Japan's largest lake and actually, we were surprised to find that the beach was actually really nice. The whole beach was lined with Evergreens and the water was quite clear. The beach was also surrounded by mountains on each side. So, we spent the day swimming and basking in the sun. Also, it was really interesting to watch Japanese people at the beach. They just seem so much more youthful and comfortable in their own skins compared to Koreans. The beach was full of youth and people generally having fun. Japanese people are really stylish as well and seem to actually have a semblance of a beach culture. It's fun to see. The beach was a really relaxing to way to mark the halfway point of our trip.
And once again, I'll pick up on the next few days tomorrow.
Afterwards, we headed to an Izakaya. Izakaya's are traditional Japanese pubs. They are usually marked by red lanterns and contain lots of alcohol and traditional bar food. It's a place where the locals go after work and there are quite a few in Japan. The decor is usually low key and you also usually find quite a few red-faced Japanese people. We really enjoyed eating here as we got to sample a wide variety of traditional Japanese bar food including the absolutely delicious and peppery chicken Udon soup.
By our 5th day in Kyoto, we were pooped. Sightseeing and walking all over town wears you out quickly. It's fun but you can only do so much of it. And you can only see so many temples. So after a few days, we decided to hit the beach. We asked the friendly people at our hostel for a recommendation and we were told that Biwa lake had some nice beaches. Biwa is Japan's largest lake and actually, we were surprised to find that the beach was actually really nice. The whole beach was lined with Evergreens and the water was quite clear. The beach was also surrounded by mountains on each side. So, we spent the day swimming and basking in the sun. Also, it was really interesting to watch Japanese people at the beach. They just seem so much more youthful and comfortable in their own skins compared to Koreans. The beach was full of youth and people generally having fun. Japanese people are really stylish as well and seem to actually have a semblance of a beach culture. It's fun to see. The beach was a really relaxing to way to mark the halfway point of our trip.
And once again, I'll pick up on the next few days tomorrow.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Back from the Past Part I
Last week, Natalie and I had the opportunity to take our first vacation. It was 9 days long so we decided to head to Kyoto (Japan's ancient capital).
I have to say that we had a wonderful vacation. I'm trying to resist the urge to write down everything that we saw, observed, and enjoyed. That would just take way too long. Let's just say that we saw a lot and did a lot. I love Kyoto!
Kyoto happens to be the heart of ancient Japanese culture (and it was the epicenter of Japan for nearly 1,000 years). You don't go to Kyoto to see people dressed up as ninja cyborg cross-dressing school girl superheros...no. You don't go to Kyoto to experience parties that last until the wee hours of the night. It's not fast paced and it's not that modern. But it's rich, it's beautiful, it's extraordinary, it's Japanese...and that's why we loved it.
We started the week on a mission. It's funny because everyone has this image of Kyoto of being this ancient city where there are samurai houses at every corner. But that couldn't be further the truth. As we entered Kyoto from the train station, we noticed that Kyoto is every bit a modern city. The train station is ultra modern with every amenity that you would expect out of modern Japan. It's busy and bustling, and architecturally, it's progressive and unique. As you exit the station, the Kyoto tower looms tall and commanding over the streets. You're left wondering, "where is ancient Kyoto?"
However, as we explored, we learned that it's still rich in culture and history. The people of Kyoto are proud of it's history, maybe even snobby about it. After all, it's freakin Kyoto. One of the things that's immediately noticeable is that many people wear Yucatas (summer kimonos). Children, women, couples, men and dogs (just kidding) wear Yucatas as everyday wear. It's enjoyable to witness. In Okayama, people only wear Yucatas during festivals and other important events. Another thing that jumps out at you is that (unsurprisingly) Kyoto is bustling with tourists (mostly Japanese). It's not necessarily fun but hey, we live on Planet Earth and Planet Earth is one tiny place.
The first half of our week in Kyoto was go, go ,go! We visited Nijo castle, built by Japan's most famous shogun; Tokugawa Ieyasu. We really enjoyed this castle in that the floorboards in the castle makes creaking sounds when you step on them to alert people of intruders. The moat was also interesting. Afterwards, we stumbled onto a lively festival that was full of lanterns and laughing children and mosquitoes. It was fun to see, but terribly crowded. There was also a Jazz concert inside the ancient castle that kind of made you say "I'm watching a Jazz band in an ancient castle in Japan and that's awesome".
The second day was also fun. We headed to Fukushimi Shrine where you can walk along a mountain path lined by hundreds of incredibly beautiful red Tori gates.
This was when a bit of bad luck occurred to Natalie. She got bit by some kind of insect (we're still not sure) and her entire foot started tingling. Of course, we were worried so we spent a couple hours in the hospital. The doctor didn't know what it was and it hadn't worsened to we just kind of ignored it. Natalie is fine, by the way. After the hospital, we attempted to visit a temple but Natalie's shoe broke. Her feet were the source of many ill things in Kyoto..hehe. So we had to go buy some shoes. We also visited Gion (the place where the Geisha operate). Gion is a very confusing place. We didn't see any Geisha but there are dozens and dozens of clubs. They aren't clubs in the same vein that we know them but they're different. They are booking clubs. Booking clubs are clubs where people pay (a lot of) money to talk to host girls or guys. It's really hilarious. Each club posts people outside to attract customers to their clubs. The most interesting thing part of this is the way the hosts dress. Seriously, it's absolutely ridiculous. The guys have yellow hair and it sticks out in all sorts of directions. They also wear make-up and generally just look stupid. The girls aren't much better. They are Japanese Barbie dolls but in a very Japanese way. I will have to post a picture. So Gion is a red-light district I suppose. Apparently, it's rare to see a Geisha. After all, you can only be entertained by a Geisha if you have about $5,000 and you get invited by a Japanese. Gion was hard to understand, but fascinating nonetheless. After this whole experience, we had the best damned Ramen noodle soup we've ever had. So delicious and we had to wait about 20 minutes to sit down because it's so popular.
The third day was also fun. We visited some really nice temples. Kiyomizudera temple is Kyoto's most famous temple. It's on a mountain and it has all sorts of cool entertaining things to do. We walked into a corridor that was pitch black until we could touch a rock. If you touch it, make a wish and it will come true. There was also the 2 lover's rocks. If you can walk from one rock to the other with your eyes closed, you will find true love. Of course, I've already found it =) . The walk out of this temple was also really enjoyable. You have to walk through an ancient neighborhood lined with Samurai houses. It was really picturesque and it reminded me of why I wanted to visit Kyoto. It was beautiful. Along the way, we had green tea ice cream. Kyoto is famous for it. That night, we also had the opportunity to watch a Maiko (Geisha in training) dance. It was really interesting. Their art is so deliberate and precise. They are so immaculate in each of their movements and their outfits. They are also master entertainers. I can see why people pay so much to see them.
I'm kind of tired of writing this entry. I didn't realize I would write so much. That's what happens when you do so much. I'll try to finish up my blog about our vacation in the next entry.
I have to say that we had a wonderful vacation. I'm trying to resist the urge to write down everything that we saw, observed, and enjoyed. That would just take way too long. Let's just say that we saw a lot and did a lot. I love Kyoto!
Kyoto happens to be the heart of ancient Japanese culture (and it was the epicenter of Japan for nearly 1,000 years). You don't go to Kyoto to see people dressed up as ninja cyborg cross-dressing school girl superheros...no. You don't go to Kyoto to experience parties that last until the wee hours of the night. It's not fast paced and it's not that modern. But it's rich, it's beautiful, it's extraordinary, it's Japanese...and that's why we loved it.
We started the week on a mission. It's funny because everyone has this image of Kyoto of being this ancient city where there are samurai houses at every corner. But that couldn't be further the truth. As we entered Kyoto from the train station, we noticed that Kyoto is every bit a modern city. The train station is ultra modern with every amenity that you would expect out of modern Japan. It's busy and bustling, and architecturally, it's progressive and unique. As you exit the station, the Kyoto tower looms tall and commanding over the streets. You're left wondering, "where is ancient Kyoto?"
However, as we explored, we learned that it's still rich in culture and history. The people of Kyoto are proud of it's history, maybe even snobby about it. After all, it's freakin Kyoto. One of the things that's immediately noticeable is that many people wear Yucatas (summer kimonos). Children, women, couples, men and dogs (just kidding) wear Yucatas as everyday wear. It's enjoyable to witness. In Okayama, people only wear Yucatas during festivals and other important events. Another thing that jumps out at you is that (unsurprisingly) Kyoto is bustling with tourists (mostly Japanese). It's not necessarily fun but hey, we live on Planet Earth and Planet Earth is one tiny place.
The first half of our week in Kyoto was go, go ,go! We visited Nijo castle, built by Japan's most famous shogun; Tokugawa Ieyasu. We really enjoyed this castle in that the floorboards in the castle makes creaking sounds when you step on them to alert people of intruders. The moat was also interesting. Afterwards, we stumbled onto a lively festival that was full of lanterns and laughing children and mosquitoes. It was fun to see, but terribly crowded. There was also a Jazz concert inside the ancient castle that kind of made you say "I'm watching a Jazz band in an ancient castle in Japan and that's awesome".
The second day was also fun. We headed to Fukushimi Shrine where you can walk along a mountain path lined by hundreds of incredibly beautiful red Tori gates.
This was when a bit of bad luck occurred to Natalie. She got bit by some kind of insect (we're still not sure) and her entire foot started tingling. Of course, we were worried so we spent a couple hours in the hospital. The doctor didn't know what it was and it hadn't worsened to we just kind of ignored it. Natalie is fine, by the way. After the hospital, we attempted to visit a temple but Natalie's shoe broke. Her feet were the source of many ill things in Kyoto..hehe. So we had to go buy some shoes. We also visited Gion (the place where the Geisha operate). Gion is a very confusing place. We didn't see any Geisha but there are dozens and dozens of clubs. They aren't clubs in the same vein that we know them but they're different. They are booking clubs. Booking clubs are clubs where people pay (a lot of) money to talk to host girls or guys. It's really hilarious. Each club posts people outside to attract customers to their clubs. The most interesting thing part of this is the way the hosts dress. Seriously, it's absolutely ridiculous. The guys have yellow hair and it sticks out in all sorts of directions. They also wear make-up and generally just look stupid. The girls aren't much better. They are Japanese Barbie dolls but in a very Japanese way. I will have to post a picture. So Gion is a red-light district I suppose. Apparently, it's rare to see a Geisha. After all, you can only be entertained by a Geisha if you have about $5,000 and you get invited by a Japanese. Gion was hard to understand, but fascinating nonetheless. After this whole experience, we had the best damned Ramen noodle soup we've ever had. So delicious and we had to wait about 20 minutes to sit down because it's so popular.
The third day was also fun. We visited some really nice temples. Kiyomizudera temple is Kyoto's most famous temple. It's on a mountain and it has all sorts of cool entertaining things to do. We walked into a corridor that was pitch black until we could touch a rock. If you touch it, make a wish and it will come true. There was also the 2 lover's rocks. If you can walk from one rock to the other with your eyes closed, you will find true love. Of course, I've already found it =) . The walk out of this temple was also really enjoyable. You have to walk through an ancient neighborhood lined with Samurai houses. It was really picturesque and it reminded me of why I wanted to visit Kyoto. It was beautiful. Along the way, we had green tea ice cream. Kyoto is famous for it. That night, we also had the opportunity to watch a Maiko (Geisha in training) dance. It was really interesting. Their art is so deliberate and precise. They are so immaculate in each of their movements and their outfits. They are also master entertainers. I can see why people pay so much to see them.
I'm kind of tired of writing this entry. I didn't realize I would write so much. That's what happens when you do so much. I'll try to finish up my blog about our vacation in the next entry.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
All is right..
All is right in the world again! I'm officially on vacation. Japan has three major vacations per year (Obon in August, New Years, and Golden week in May). It's not a lot so I'm especially excited that I'm on vacation.
Also, it means that I've survived my first month as a teacher. I have to say that it's been a good first month. Teaching is a lot easier this time around than it was last year. I'm more comfortable and I don't get stressed out as much. There has been little to no adjustment. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't need to improve as a teacher but you know, things are good. There have been some hardships as well though, mostly my work hours. They are brutal. But who cares!? it's vacation time.
I don't have time to write a long blog bust last night, Nat and I planned and packed for what I hope will be an amazing trip to Kyoto. Ah, Kyoto...if there were ever one city in Japan I'd want to go to, this is it. Actually, Kyoto would make the top 5 list of places I want to see on the planet. I'm excited! Japanese culture galore. I'm not sure what we'll see but hopefully we'll catch a glimpse of a real Geisha and hopefully Natalie and I can find an opponent for Sumo wrestling (we've been practicing). I'll try to blog about it throughout the week, but sometimes it's hard to find time when you're having a blast! See ya
Also, it means that I've survived my first month as a teacher. I have to say that it's been a good first month. Teaching is a lot easier this time around than it was last year. I'm more comfortable and I don't get stressed out as much. There has been little to no adjustment. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't need to improve as a teacher but you know, things are good. There have been some hardships as well though, mostly my work hours. They are brutal. But who cares!? it's vacation time.
I don't have time to write a long blog bust last night, Nat and I planned and packed for what I hope will be an amazing trip to Kyoto. Ah, Kyoto...if there were ever one city in Japan I'd want to go to, this is it. Actually, Kyoto would make the top 5 list of places I want to see on the planet. I'm excited! Japanese culture galore. I'm not sure what we'll see but hopefully we'll catch a glimpse of a real Geisha and hopefully Natalie and I can find an opponent for Sumo wrestling (we've been practicing). I'll try to blog about it throughout the week, but sometimes it's hard to find time when you're having a blast! See ya
Monday, August 1, 2011
weekend report
Yesterday, Natalie and I went to a photo exhibit that had lots of really close up shots of different insects done by a Japanese insectologist. It was really interesting. I'm not much of a bug person but you can't deny that bugs are inherently interesting. Some are even beautiful. Afterwards, we also stumbled into a dog museum. How do I describe it? Well, it's in an old building and on the roof, there are dog statues staring down at you. Amidst all of the massive amounts of creepy displays, we noticed that the museum was eerily quiet. Easily the creepiest place ever. Whereas the cat store was weird in a cutesy Japanese weird sort of way, the Dog museum was creepy in a weird Japanese serial killer sort of way. The museum was filled with the most random collection of creepy 1940's toys. Dolls..you know dolls are creepy. I can't describe it. I'm pretty sure the owner is a hoarder but at one point, he creepily snuck up behind us and ordered us not to go into a room. Weird. We got out of there asap.
Otherwise, the rest was routine fun-ness. We went out drinking with some new friends, Gene and Yui. They are really cool and we really enjoy hanging out with them. We grabbed a few drinks at a local bar that they introduced us to and then they took us to eat spicy Japanese Ramen. The cool thing about this place was that Japanese Ramen is delicious and also that one of the cooks looks exactly like Luigi from Super Mario, except Japanese and angry (because he knew we were laughing at him for looking like Luigi. We salute you, Mr. Epic Mustache Gaming character look a like man).
On Sunday, I spent the day running errands. I went all the way to the countryside to pick up my new Japanese ID card (only to find out that I didn't have the right paper work). The Japanese country side is really different from anything I've ever seen. I really enjoyed it. I think I'll go back before I really delve into my thoughts on the Japanese countryside.
Afterwards, we kind of just napped all day, went to a rotating Sushi bar, and watched TV. Currently, we're watching Modern Family season 2 and Locked Up Abroad. Two excellent shows. Modern Family has really taken off this season. It's so funny. I'm really into it. And then Locked Up Abroad. That's a must see, it's about travelers getting locked up abroad but the show is extremely well produced and really descriptively narrated by the subjects of each shows story. It's really great.
And so, I've got one more week of work before vacation time in Kyoto. Me and Natalie are so stoked!
Otherwise, the rest was routine fun-ness. We went out drinking with some new friends, Gene and Yui. They are really cool and we really enjoy hanging out with them. We grabbed a few drinks at a local bar that they introduced us to and then they took us to eat spicy Japanese Ramen. The cool thing about this place was that Japanese Ramen is delicious and also that one of the cooks looks exactly like Luigi from Super Mario, except Japanese and angry (because he knew we were laughing at him for looking like Luigi. We salute you, Mr. Epic Mustache Gaming character look a like man).
On Sunday, I spent the day running errands. I went all the way to the countryside to pick up my new Japanese ID card (only to find out that I didn't have the right paper work). The Japanese country side is really different from anything I've ever seen. I really enjoyed it. I think I'll go back before I really delve into my thoughts on the Japanese countryside.
Afterwards, we kind of just napped all day, went to a rotating Sushi bar, and watched TV. Currently, we're watching Modern Family season 2 and Locked Up Abroad. Two excellent shows. Modern Family has really taken off this season. It's so funny. I'm really into it. And then Locked Up Abroad. That's a must see, it's about travelers getting locked up abroad but the show is extremely well produced and really descriptively narrated by the subjects of each shows story. It's really great.
And so, I've got one more week of work before vacation time in Kyoto. Me and Natalie are so stoked!
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