The Sojourner

Day 19: To Fukuoka

I left Hiroshima at around 11:39 .am.

One hour later, I'm 637.2 km away.

I'm at Fukuoka, a port city close to Busan in South Korea and Shanghai in China.

And yes, I took the bullet train again.

I'm rich, you know. I love to spend money.

Hahahahaha...

I burned 8,748 yen (98 USD!) for that bullet transport.

Fukuoka City at Night

CANAL CITY

I don't expect much of Fukuoka.

I was supposed to stay here only for a night and take the ship to Busan the next day.

But my mind is half-woman, so could be fickle-minded bitch.

When I arrived at the hostel, I was profusely sweating and I needed was an air-conditioned room to cool down.

I have no idea what to do, see, eat in this city so I had crash course with Lonely Planet and asked the hostel for the city map.

I'm an organized person but for the first time, I arrived in this city without any plan at all. I just bought a train ticket and the rest is... nada.

I like the feeling of the crash course though. But, it's not just my thing.

After reading and checking some few emails, I was ready to go and explore this small city.

Based on my reading, this city doesn't have much cultural stuff going on but mostly shopping and buildings.

When I say cultural stuff, these are temples which, of course, are places I don't want to see.

So, I headed to one of the city's shopping mall billed as the "Canal City."

You'll expect a canal, of course, but not the one you imagine in Venice.

It's man-made with a fountain in it and houses lots of branded shops, restaurants, cinemas and two posh hotels.

Canal City in Fukuoka from wideye shut on Vimeo.

And oh, boy! This mall is very, very photogenic day and night!

Lonely Planet is never wrong describing it as photogenic.

It's not just the design but also the colors give a really soothing place of relaxation after your shopping spree.

Or just stand in front of the fountain and listen to it's sound.

There are no benches. Stupid architect! :))

If you want to sit, take the window side of the restaurants and cafes by the canal.


RAMEN

Fukuoka is ramen city.

Wiki says:

Ramen (ラーメン, らーめん, 拉麺 , rāmen^?, IPA: [ɽaꜜːmeɴ]  ( listen)) is a Japanese noodle dish that originated in China. It is served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork (チャーシュー, chāshū^?), dried seaweed (海苔, nori^?), kamaboko, green onions and even corn. Almost every locality or prefecture in Japan has its own variation of ramen, from the tonkotsu ramen of Kyūshū (Fukuoka is here!) to the m
miso ramen of Hokkaidō.

On the 5th floor of Canal City is the Ramen Stadium.

Ramen Stadium in Fukuoka from wideye shut on Vimeo.

Here, you find small ramen restaurants where it's pretty crowded during lunch and dinner time.

Anywhere in this city, every corner has a ramen shop.

I went to one of these shops and ordered one for myself.

Noodles with soup is not really my stuff.

I'd go for fried noodles but soup?

Nah.

But, I still tried it and .......

Well, it's ok, I guess. :))

It's cheap though.


DAMAGES:

Bullet train ticket: 8,748 yen
McDo: 720 yen
Snacks: 320 yen
Hostel for 2 nights: 4,800 yen
Dinner: 1,000 yen
Transport: 1,000 yen
Porno mag and condoms: 1,700 yen
Museum: 1,000 yen

TOTAL: 20,088 yen (USD 225)

Day 18: Of Miyajima Island and Okonomiyaki

MIYAJIMA ISLAND

Miyajima is an island just an hour by tram (to its last station) from Hiroshima Station. A JR Line Train takes only 30 minutes.

But, come on, you've done so much train rides, right?

So, try the tram!

Then, take a huge ferry to the island for ten minutes.

It has been said that this island is Japan's third most visited tourist attraction, so I didn't question its epithet but on my second day at Hiroshima, I packed my little bag and wore my slippers.

Of course, it's an island, so, you gotta walk on the beach, right?

What's the big fuss about Miyajima?

It's the huge vermillion- colored O-TORII gradiosely standing in the sea>

And on a clear day, it's very photogenic. It's a very common postcard picture anywhere in Japan and it's in every tourist maps, books, videos about Japan.

Even the ultimate guide book, Lonely Planet carries a photo of it.

Unfortunately, I went there on a shitty day where heavy clouds totally spoiled it.

I was in the mood for camwhoring but I have no choice. I need to get photos with or without the sun and the blue sky.

It is indeed photogenic! I can imagine that.

I was the only tourist there who really went into the sea and take a shot of the O-torii in the opposite side.

It was low tide so people had the chance to really get close to this monstrous gate in ancient times.

O-torii means, The Grand Gate.

About two hundred meters from this torii, is the Itsukushima Shrine which I really wonder of wonders why it was designated as UNESCO World Heritage.

But, who the fuck I am to judge? :))

Ok... so... I stayed in the island for 6 hours. I walked up to the mountains and walked and walked an walked.

There were temples around but, hello, I don't wanna associate Japan with temples and shrines.

Miyajima from wideye shut on Vimeo.

The last hour of my stay, I just sat in front of the O-torii where a lot of Japanese students were having their education excursion.

Well, I'm pretty much more interested at the young boys---but let me put this clear: they are not my type.

They are soooo young and twinky.

I have morals, remember? Hahahahahahaha...


OKONOMIYAKI

When I got back to Hiroshima City, I walked again for a long time at the Peace Boulevard.

This time, no more camwhoring. I used my 5 GB memory card at the island.

Finally, I decided to try Hiroshima's famous okonomiyaki, a Japanese pancake.

It was easy to find Lonely Planet's recommendation for eating okonomiyaki.

When I reached the second floor, whoaaaaaa..... it was crowded.

When the chef saw I was alone, she called me to see next to seven other foreigners and gave me a stall which she got from somewhere.

I felt special. ;)

She can't speak English so she just pointed the laminated English menu on the wall.

And I chose the one with udon, sliced meat and eggs.

The Japnese around me were so engrossed in eating and were the foreign objects. :))

So, I thought that okonomiyaki should be eaten in silence to enjoy it.
Since everybody was ordering a mug of beer, so, I did, too.

Ten minutes later, I got my first ever okonomiyaki.

I can't wait to take photos of it before I could savor it.

The Japanese next to me must have sensed that it was my first, so he offered his expertise to take a photo of me and my dinner.

I passed him the camera and I posed like I was ready to devour it like a hungry animal.

The first shot was bad so I told him to do it again.

Click!

When I had my first bite, the Japanese were watching at me like I was on a show.

Boy, it was good and I gave them a thumb-up sign and they were all smiling.

One guy raised his glass and said "ganbai!"

Next, there was silence.

That means, I was already eating. :))


DAMAGES:

Spent at the Island: 780 yen
Lunch: 1300 yen
Dinner: 850
Water and other stuff: 900 yen

TOTAL: 3830 yen (USD 43)

Day 17: Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park

There are no more traces of the war and the atomic bombing.

Except for the A-Bomb Dome which is preserved and sturdily standing by the river.

People are moving but they don't forget that saddest day of their lives and they don't forget to honor the 140,000 victims of the bombing. 

Hiroshima is not anymore the city that we learned from history books.

It's not anymore a picture of devastation but a place of modern civilization.

Gone are days when there were ravages and remnants of the war are around.

Hiroshima has stood up from the ruins and has moved since that catastrophic morning on August 6, 1945.

Hiroshima has moved on.

Hiroshima has a new face. The streets are lined up with modern architectures, neon lights, etc...

Today, Hiroshima calls itself as the City of Peace.

Perhaps, the most visited tourist attraction for visitors is the PEACE MEMORIAL PARK where it was once a peaceful neigborhood and was very near the epicenter of the bombing.

You probably know about the shit I'm talking about so just click the videos and feel like you actually see it.

I'm a frustrated journalist, so be it... :))

A-BOMB DOME
You can't miss this dilapidated building by the river. In fact, if you are walking from the main street, this is the first remnant of war you can see.

Most tours starts here and most educational excursions (which are many everyday from schools) start here.

This is the living symbol of the bombing that stood even before it happened.

Peace Memorial Park from wideye shut on Vimeo.

CHILDREN'S PEACE MONUMENT
I love the story behind this monument.

In fact, I bought a book of the story.

Sad.

It's about a 10-year old leukemia victim, Sadako Sasako. She decided to fold a thousand paper cranes hoping  for her recovery.

There's an ancient Japanese myth that by doing so, all your wishes will come true.

However, Sadako died before she could even finish them.

She only folded 644 paper cranes. Her classmates finished the rest and put them in her coffin.

Well, her came true. She lives for a long time in the memory of the people.

Today, thousands of paper cranes (with wishes written on them) are sent to this monument.


FLAMES OF PEACE

I have my fingers crossed when this day happens.


HALL OF REMEMBRANCE
Here, you'll see photos of the A-bomb victims. You will read their stories and feel the pain of their sufferings and the anxiety and grief of the families who lost their loved ones.

Hall of Remembrance from wideye shut on Vimeo.

You can hear their voices as you read their cry for help.

This hall is so quite that you can really the presence of mourning.

Nobody dared to make noise. Even the school children behaved so well. They just went around, read every word and looked at the photos of the victims sans interest.

I wonder if they really know the pain of losing.

Don't ask me---because I know.

THE PEACE MEMORIAL MUSEUM

The history.
The displays.
The graphic photos.
The voices.
The clothes.
The ruins.
The objects.

And the background music.

They all gave me goosebumps and cold shivers.

It gave me an emotional feeling of what it's like to be at the time of the bombing itself.

I was numb.

Peace Memorial Museum from wideye shut on Vimeo.

The things I've seen and read pricked my heart strings and I had watery eyes that I have to wear my sunglasses (to hide the tears) in a dramatically lighted museum. 

This museum is a must for every world leader so they will be humans again!

Fuck North Korea and Iran!

DAMAGES:
Book : 150 yen
One-day Tram pass: 840 yen
Lunch: 250 yen
Souvenir / T-shirt: 3500 yen
Dinner: 1,000 yen

TOTAL: 5,740 YEN (USD 65)

Day 16: Bullet Train, Underbridge Music and the Sake Factory

THE BULLET TRAIN RIDE

Today, I had the ride of my life.

Not really.

It's actually boring---just like any other train ride.

It's just that the bullet train is.... I dunno, maybe, 5 times (or more) faster than the regular ones?

I was excited, of course, to be on that train.

Shinkansen, as it is called in Japanese, is fast, really.

But, very expensive, too.

Details of the ride:

Where: From Osaka to Hiroshima
Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Distance: 345.4 kilometers
Cost: YEN 9,950 (reserved Seat) (111 USD)

Here's the video:

Bullet Train Ride: Osaka-Hiroshima from wideye shut on Vimeo.

UNDERBRIDGE MUSIC
While passing through a bridge this afternoon, I heard singing voices of young people singing to their heart's content.

I have no idea where it came from so I stopped.

Listened to where the voices were.

I walked a bit and there....... I found them under the bridge!

They were young Japanese boys singing their hearts out under the bridge and by the same river where the Atomic Bomb was dropped at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945.

Japanese Boys Singing from wideye shut on Vimeo.

I won't call them frustrated singers. They can sing, for sure. They are still honing their skills for stardom or maybe, just to pass their time away instead of watching porn or playing video games.

I stayed with them for an hour and listened to their voices.

I very much need it---live music after these sightseeing things I've done these days.

It was like I had break and I spent it in a good way.

I sat with them and they tried to talk to me in broken English. It didn't matter to me. I was brought there by fate to listen to the music that I don't even know what the words meant.

Music is a universal language, indeed.

They were actually shy at first. They won't sing. They just strummed their guitar but later on, they got used to my presence and there.... they sang as if it's the greatest performance of their life.

I'm the one who is a frustrated singer. I can't carry a tune. I can't distinguish what a good or a bad voice is. I'm tone deaf, you know. :(

I love music but music doesn't love me, obviously.

Before I said sayonara to them, I asked we could have a group picture.

Click!


SAKE FACTORY

Few days ago, my newfound friends / fellow couchsurfers were at the sake factory nearby Mt. Fuji.

I'm not a sake person but I loved the kind of sake I tasted at that factory. It was kinda sweet and it's good to drink when it's really cold. :))

Then, I was told that sake has various tastes (or flavors?)---depends on its alcohol level?

Ok, that's in a question mark. I'm not sure, really.

I was not interested in the process of making it.

Sake Factory from wideye shut on Vimeo.

It's so not my thing, really---but I do enjoy going inside that little factory where we have to remove our shoes even inside the factory itself!

I hate removing my shoes anywhere in Japan---especially when u are wearing a high cut, white adidas original shoes! :))

Ok, I'm being bitchy now. But, it's just me.

I'm having the time of my life though---removing my shoes everywhere in this country. :))

Kinda interesting culture.

Even in my hostel where I am now, I do have to remove my shoes and wander around the floors in my socks or in bare foot or in the sandals they provide at the door.

I'm just not so used to it.

It's a good thing though because you don't have to clean and sweep or mop the floor so hard. Cleaning would be a breeze.


DAMAGES
Osaka-Hiroshima Bullet Train Ride: 9,750 yen
Hostel for 2 nights: 5,000 yen
Tram ride: 150 yen
Hiroshima Museum: 50 yen ONLY!
Audio Rental: 350 yen
Dinner: 890 yen
Water: 150 yen

TOTAL: 16,340 YEN (USD 183)

Day 15: Queer Osaka, Dotombori and Open-Air Museum

While typing this blog update, I am tipsy.

Ok, well, in between tipsy and drunk.

What's the word?

The Japanese guy I met at a sauna called Hokuohkan kept on pouring me some sparkling wine at the dinner.

And to answer your questions, dahlin, "No, we didn't do it."

We just met up at the reception counter when we checked out the sauna.

He asked me what I'd be doing and I said, I'd be having dinner.

And without even thinking, he said, "Good. Let's have dinner together."

It was more of an order rather than a request.

"Ok," I said.

We went to this Italian chain restaurant and we both ordered what we wanted.

He ordered a sparkling wine for both of us and then followed by another, then another, then another, then another......

I lost count how much we imbibed.

He talked so much but only one-third of what he said is decipherable.

We had dinner for two hours and a half!

We exchanged email and promised to keep in touch.

He insisted to pay and I insisted to pay half. Nobody would put down his gun until I succumbed to his offer: pay our food separately but he'll pay for ALL the drinks.

Not fair, of course, but I think it's very hard to win a truce with a Japanese who is already drunk.

He was drunk, I'm sure. He had more glasses than me.


QUEER OSAKA

Doyama-cho is Osaka's gay area.

But, no. It's not exclusive.

This area is full of Japanese restaurants with medium prices and international cuisine in ridiculous prices.

There are also a lot of bars where ladies are clad in skimpy shorts / skirts barking and enticing potential customers.

The male attendants / barkers, however, are subtle in their approach.

And yes, karaoke bars are everywhere in this very area.

If you go and find the gay bars here, use the direction / instruction (from the subway) and map from UTOPIA.

However, some of these bars are not existent anymore. Or at least, as I was told.

Or maybe, it's just my being illiterate with Japanese characters and language. 


HOKOUHKAN SAUNA

My first stop was this sauna. Someone said that this is the BABYLON of Bangkok.

NOOOOOO way!!!!

I've been to BABYLON in Bangkok and Houkoukan is not even 10% of what Babylon is.

In fairness, Houkoukan is so much better than 24 Sauna in Tokyo.

Once inside, you take off your shoes and find a shoe locker on your right side. Just find. You don't need to ask the receptionist.

Then, pay at the vending machine.

The price is annoying. Ageist.

You pay according to your age.

if you are 26 below, you pay lesser than those in 27-39 or 40 above.

You know, of course, which age bracket I belong. :))

Once you get your ticket, go to the counter and they'll ask your passport or any ID with your birth date on it.

They'll give you a bag with a face towel and bath towel.

Don't forget to ask for your locker key which matches your shoe locker.

And most especially, don't forget to ask the PASSWORD of the underground or basement room where only the 26-39 years old are allowed.

How ageist is that? :))

The sauna is clean and there's a lot of maze rooms where linens are already crumpled and must have already been used by someone.

There's are two video rooms where one room is for watching porn and the other other one is for watching regular Japanese TV programs.

They also have private rooms for guests staying overnight.

Watch this video for Osaka's gay village.

Queer Osaka from wideye shut on Vimeo.

DOTOMBORI

Dotombori is Osaka's heartbeat in night time. It's a good place to do everything: eat, shop, drink or watch strangers as they go by.

Dotombori and Namba from wideye shut on Vimeo.

This area has lots of Japanese teenagers ready to get wasted, have fun and maybe, get laid.

The neon lights and the annoying music from basically every big establishments are testing your eardrums to be shattered.

Shopping here is great---from used clothing to fashionable clothes that would cost you an arm and leg.

The long arcade is Osaka's runaway for fashionistas and trying hard fashionistas.

And of course, you can't miss the whores and pimps.

Traditional Japanese Houses from wideye shut on Vimeo.

OPEN-AIR MUSEUM OF OLD JAPANESE FARM HOUSES

This is in the outskirt of the city but it is very accessible to the subway.

From the subway, challenge yourself to walk for 800 meters or more if you are lost.

It's easy to find it though. There are signboards to direct you to places where you wanna go.

However, don't ever expect too much.

If you fancy the wonders of ancient architecture, then, this is your place.

Don't worry about English explanations. They're in every houses.

DAMAGES:
Subway: 770 yen
Breakfast: 210 yen
Entrance fee for the Museum: 500 yen
Lunch: 750 yen
Sauna: 1,800 yen
Dinner: 1,560 yen

TOTAL: 5,590 YEN (USD 63)

Day 14: World's Largest Ferris Wheel and Largest Aquarium Tank

I went for two world records today.

Bitch, I'm not talking about my sex life! ;)

I'm talking about the sightseeing I've done today---to the World's largest Ferris Wheel and Largest Aquarium Tank evah!

Well, I didn't know that until I read the brochure.

Aquarium?

Duh. I've seen too many fish all my life already but I still did try.

What the heck.

I wanna discover the child within me again.

Who knows, I'll be virgin again. Hahahahaha...

That's gonna be the world's most miraculous thing evah in the history of mankind.

GIANT FERRIS WHEEL

I love ferris wheels.

When I was young, it's a habit of mine to ride a ferris wheel, which only existed during our town's fiesta.

I even asked my mother money for school projects but I actually spent it for this exciting ride. Way back then, when you rode once a year, it was already an unexplainable pleasure of childhood joy.

I love the feeling of being up there in the open air---to see what's down there and shout at the top of my lungs when it wheels from slow to fast course.

As I looked at the Giant ferris wheel today, childhood memories flashed back but what the heck, I'm not gonna be sentimental.

I have too many sentimental moments of my own.

Moving on....

This ferris wheel doesn't move like the ones we see in movies.

It moves very slow and one cycle is about 15 minutes.

That's what you get for burning 700 yen.

Giant Ferris Wheel in Osaka from wideye shut on Vimeo.

Instead of riding on it during the day, I decided to go back at night to see Osaka's panorama at night time.

It was an awesome experience but definitely not the ride of a lifetime!

But, it's still worth it.

It's just a different point of view of seeing the city's landscape.

Going to some skyscrapers' open deck is sooooo common and unoriginal, so, going up there is another option.

However, when taking the ferris wheel, camwhoring is limited.

You gotta move faster because the view would be different in just a step down or a step up. :))

OSAKA AQUARIUM

Well, like any other aquariums I have seen before, there are a lot of fish, of course. :))

The whale shark (a.k.a Blade Runner) is intriguing. It's huge and seem very safe. I don't even know if it's dangerous or not.

I'm just guessing it's dangerous.

It's the aquarium's star attraction though and everybody seems to be so gaga about it when they see it---including me.

Well, you know me.

I'm always gaga over everything.

Osaka Aquarium from wideye shut on Vimeo.

There are a lot of fish varieties in there. While I'm happy to see them before my naked, big eyes, I'm not happy at how they are put in such a place where it cannot even be called home to them.

They should be put back in the ocean!

I don't care if the future generation won't see it anymore.

I already did, anyway. Hahahahahaha...

Jelly Fish from wideye shut on Vimeo.

Seriously, I'm not really into caging these sea animals in an aquarium.

It breaks my heart that they just swim there in a limited space to be feasted upon the eyes of many.

Do you know how a caged heart, body and soul feels?

It's worst. And it's crazy moving in a cramped space all your life!

There's no privacy in the aquarium. :))

I plead to the Japanese government to return the school of sea animals to where they should be happy.

Instead of an aquarium, they should build an underwater glass tunnel or underwater glass ship so we could go under the ocean if we wanna see underwater creatures.

SUNTORY MUSEUM

Next to Osaka Aquarium is the Suntory Museum which is actually NOT a museum but an art gallery.

They have art exhibits of the works of international and Japanese contemporary artists.

But the main attraction why people take a side trip to this building (after the Aquarium) is its 3D IMAX Theater.

I went there. I've been to a 3D movie (in Disneyland---I know you're smiling!) once but it was not even like a full-length movie.

I burned 1000 yen for the experience with one free drink which I claimed at the theater's rooftop bar overlooking the sea and with a fantastic sunset.

DEEP SEA is sort of a documentary movie which was shot, where else, but under the sea in California and Mexico.

It's about, of course, the life of sea creatures under the sea.

Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet lent their voices for this movie.

I love the movie's last line: Their existence is linked to ours.

DAMAGES:

Subway: 1,250 yen
Aquarium entrance fee: 2,000 yen
Lunch: 930 yen
3D IMAX: 1,000 yen
Stuff: 1,570
Ferris Wheel entrance fee: 700
Dinner: 1,557

TOTAL: 9,007 yen (101 USD)

Day 13: Osaka View and Castle

I left Kyoto this morning at 10:00 and arrived in Osaka 30 minutes later.

I'm impressed with Japan's train system.

I didn't queue up. When I arrived at the JR Express train station in Kyoto, I got a ticket through the vending machine and bingo, the train arrives on time.

It was just like a subway ride.

In fact, the train was not even impressive. It was a bit crowded and I was in standing position. The railways even look like dilapidated and rusty.

When in Osaka, I transferred to the subway line which is just a few meters walk and in less than 20 minutes, I was at my hostel where it is just two subway stops to the entertainment area, Dotombori.

Though the gay area is in a far North, it's just 7 stops by subway and no transfer.

No sauna for me this time.

I'm gonna meet two locals and they're enough for me. :)

I need rest, of course. Hahahahaha...

Osaka View from wideye shut on Vimeo.

OSAKA VIEW FROM UMEDA SKY BUILDING

As soon I settled in my tiny, tiny single room, I grabbed my bag and headed to Umeda Building where you can see Osaka's bird's eye view and Kobe, a neighboring city, if the sky is super clear blue.

It's not really hard to find.

My Bible, The Lonely Planet Guidebook, is very accurate in this direction.

However, I found a hard time looking for the ticket booth, which is supposed to be on the 3rd floor the LP suggests.

It's not there anymore. They moved it to the 39th floor.

Damn it. It took me 20 minutes to figure out until I saw and asked a fellow backpacker who just came down from the top.

The glassed-in elevator ride was itself an experience. It's not advisable to someone with vertigo.

The thrill didn't stop there.

From the elevator, you will be ushered to the escalator which is design like a steel tunnel and it's fun to look at the view at both sides.

See the video and you'll feel the thrill and excitement of the rides, too.


OSAKA CASTLE

I'm surprised to know that Japan has a castle.

And they do have some.

One is in Osaka.

The castle is turned into a museum with impressive presentation of history using digital technology. Though there were not much to oggle at, there are too many things to read and video presentations to watch.

The castle is in a huge park where it is covered with trees and gardens.

And it's not crowded.

However, they close early--at 4:50 p.m.

I arrived at 4:45 p.m.

When I got out from the castle, a lot of disappointed foreigners were just taking pictures of the facade since the ticket booths were already closed.

After the ultimate camwhoring, I decided to call it a day. I still have to do my laundry or else, I'll be sightseeing tomorrow sans underwear. :)


DAMAGES:

Kyoto-Osaka Train: 540 yen
JR Line subway: 230 yen
Lunch: 840 yen
Subway: 630 yen
Umeda Sky Building Entrance fee: 700 yen
Hostel (3 nights) 6,300 yen
Water: 250 yen
Dinner: 583 yen
Laundry: 1,000 yen

TOTAL: YEN 11,673 (USD 129)

Day 12: Of Kyoto's Traditional Houses and GEISHAs

KYOTO's TRADITIONAL HOUSES

I told you yesterday that I am soooo fed up of temples here and there and everywhere in this city.

So, instead of going to the city and see buildings again, I decided to be a bit of historical and cultural.

My hostel, GION HOSTEL, is just a walking distance to an area where old-century houses which now turned into a cafe / restaurants / teahouses, called Gion.

In ancient history of this city, Gion, was a flourishing entertainment district of old yore.

We all know that Japanese are minimalist.

The simplicity of their architectural design is akin to the simplicity of their way of life.

Though they are harbingers of change in science and technology, the Japanese still retains its old-age traditions in modern times.

On the streets and restaurants and shopping districts, visitors are in awe how they bow to each other ALMOST at the end of every sentence.

I can't do that.

That's too much for me.

Bowing and bowing might make me either: a hunchback or someone with a six-pack abs.

THE WORLD of GEISHAs

Hanami-jori, where, if lucky, visitors will be able to spot a geisha or a maiko.

For reference, a MAIKO is an apprentice geisha.

I don't really know the difference between the two.

The movie, Memoirs of a Geisha, which starred a Chinese actress, Zhang Ziyi, clearly pointed out the difference but not on the difference of their dress.

I have seen five geishas.

Or maybe, maikos.

Whatever.

At 5:30, p.m., a lot of foreign and local vistors crowded the Hanami-jori street to spot geishas or maikos.

A lot of people went away after an hour and they all missed the geishas / maikos who came out at 6:50 p.m. on their way to their appointment.

The ones who remained on the streets are the ones like me---hardcore geisha fan.

Geisha in my Mind from wideye shut on Vimeo.

Camera flashes lit up the street.

I thought the geishas are graceful when they walk, move and talk.

I didn't hear them talk but they walk like some paparazzis are gonna eat them alive.

They should be taught how to catwalk!

And they don't smile.

Why is that? They're such a snob and snotty, yeah?

Ok, whatever their reasons are, I'll take them.

Their world is still a mystery that no one knows why they STILL do it. 



DAMAGES:

Breakfast at McDonalds: Yen 480 (My first ever breakfast in Japan)
Bottled Water: Yen 467
Asahi Beer: Yen 180
Lunch: Yen 398
Dinner: Yen 821

TOTAL: YEN 1,546 (USD 17)

Day 11: Of Fushimi-inari Temple and The Golden Pavilion

Staying in Nara for less than 24 hours, is, of course, not advisable.

Though Nara is just a small city with narrow roads (like other japanese cities), it's parks and alleyways are to be consumed by walking.

I did walk for an hour in the morning and was pretty impressed with the quietness in the streets. The Japanese are peace-loving people (as opposed to what I've learned before coming here) and a little noise would bother them for sure. 

The real gem of Nara is not just it's rich cultural and historical background but also its nature. It's filled with lush green and walking around must be refreshing.

We left Nara at 8:00 a.m. on the dot---for Kyoto.

In what supposed to be an hour trip turned into almost two hours due to holiday traffic.

Beginning Saturday last week, the Japanese government decided to have Silver Week so people can “relax” before the cold season begins. But, the main purpose, actually, is to boost local economy which is still is still in crises.

Kyoto is famous for it's temples and gardens. This city used to be Japan's capital and this is Japan's cultural capital.

FUSHIMI-INARI TEMPLE

When I think of Kyoto, this orange torii comes to my mind.

Well, aside from the geisha, of course.

I thought that there's only a short corridor of torii---but I was astounded to find that there are a lot and hundreds of torii with Japanese characters on it. I donnu what those mean but for sure, it's something taken from the sacred book of Shintoism---whatever it is.

Fushimi-inari Temple from wideye shut on Vimeo.

I did a lot of camwhoring with the help of strangers but mostly by my tripod. I had lot's of fun posing here and there to the extent of warning strangers not to pass by yet so I'd be alone in the picture.

Orange.

A lot orange!

Bloody orange!

If not only of the crowd, walking in that tunnel-like torii must be an experience of serenity like no other.

This Shrine was dedicated to the gods of rice and sake by the Hata family in the 8th century.

 
The GOLDEN PAVILION

This city, Kyoto, has 1,600 Buddhist temples, over 400 Shinto Shrines and boosting 17 UNESCO World Cultural Heritages.

No wonder, Kyoto, is a must-see for travellers.

But, don't stay long here though.

Temples will bore you unless you are a devoted Buddhist yourself which is very rare nowadays.  :))

I went to four temples and I refused to enter more temples. They have same stuff inside: statues, gardens and burnt joss sticks.

I have enough of temples. It doesn't excite me. In fact, once I enter the temples I really don't pay attention to its historical value and importance.

This Golden Pavilion, however, is different.

The Golden Pavilion from wideye shut on Vimeo.

It's not your ordinary temple where you can see gigantic statues of Buddhas and stuff like that but it's a pavilion where it's off limits to visitors. For sure, there are Buddhas inside and I was glad we were not able to see them.

We just went around the pavilion and click our camera shutters up and down, here and there.

There were soooooo many nenderthals out there.

Was it really gold?

Duh, it might be just a gold foil covering the whole pavilion.

And oh, this pavilion is in thousands of postcards anywhere in Japan!

photo by: Mochan

THE END OF JAPAN HIGHLIGHT TRIP BY MOCHAN

After five days of being together in one bus and one roof, the end is inevitable.

I'm so glad I met wonderful people in this trip and this is ------ my first ever couchsurfing experience----and it's great!

To sum up five days in one word, I'd say: FABULOUS!

I hope to meet these guys again.

Someday.

Somewhere.

Somehow.


DAMAGES:

Water: Yen 320
Temple Entrance fee: Yen 500
Food: Yen 1,130
Ice cream: Yen 300
Hostel: Yen 6,300 (for two nights)
Dinner: 1,400

TOTAL: YEN 9,780 (USD 108)

Day 10: Of Ninjas and Nara City

We left Shizuoka at 8:00 a.m. for a 6 hour trip to the Ninja Museum at Igaryu.

It was an interesting place where visitors are showed (or educated) to the world of Ninja.

The museum actually looks like a farmhouse.

It's a deception, of course.

A ninja, named Taroujirou once lived here. Don't ask me who he is because, like you, I have no freakin' idea. :))

He must be a ninja celebrity, for sure.

Entrance fee costs 700 yen.

From the queue gate, we were ushered to ninja's residential house (and yes, we had to remove our shoes) where there was a demonstration of how ninjas use their residence in case their residence is under attack by enemies.

Though it was pretty quick and orderly, we quickly moved from one corner to another---like ninjas do. In less than 6 minutes, we witnessed how ninjas make use of the revolving door, trick door, underground passage, lookout place and safe compartment. 

Wait, who are the ninjas?

During the feudal period of Japan's history, civil war was rife. In this time, Ninja were principally agents of espionage and stealth hired by warring factions to gain intelligence about their enemies' activities.

Ninjas were also called to disrupt and even assassinate enemies from time to time.

A NINJA was the name applied to those who practiced the martial arts of ninjutsu.

NINJA MUSEUM

After a short demo, we passed by an tunnel-like passage to the museum proper. It's a tiny museum but answers all the questions you wanna know about the spies.

Inside, we saw ninja costumes, armors and other weapons they use to kill their enemies.

Their was also a video of how ninjas are trained in the agile world of ninjutsu martial arts.

Right after the museum, we paid another 200 yen and queued up again to see a 20-minute ninja performance.

Well, it was ok, but not really impressive.

And you would be glad to know that ninjas have good sense of humour, too.

In fact, they kept the audience laughed at their antics which left me giggled---despite my nada knowledge of the Japanese language.

Their cool antics touched the child in me.

Watch the video below for the the “ninja” show.

Japanese Ninja from wideye shut on Vimeo.

NARA: Japan's first real capital

We arrived in this small city in late afternoon while the sunset struggled to shine behind the heavy nimbus clouds at a far distance.

We literally jumped off and ran to the gate of Todai-ji Temple which housed an enormous bronze Buddha, Nara's main tourist attraction.

This charming, little city is also known for deers which are everywhere in the park on our way to the temple's gate.

And guess what, the pavement smells stinky deer shit.

But, who's to be blamed? The deer? Of course, not. People keep on feeding them food, so, naturally, the deers would shit from time to time. :))

There was so much camwhoring I saw with the dear deers.

I didn't have one.

Really.

I like goats better. ;)

Inside the temple is...... tada..... a huge Buddha, of course. If you have seen Buddhist temples before, then, you'll not gonna be surprised or in state of awe and shock when seeing this one.

I was just awed and shocked by the temple's commercialism.

They turned it into some kind of  market and how visitors (including me) freely take photos of everything inside. 

Inside, there are crowded souvenir shops that makes the temple not so sacred and definitely not a place to pray / kowtow.

Buddha must have a hard time attaining Nirvana.


DAMAGES:

Transportation fee for 5 days of excursion: Yen 10,000
Food: Yen 1,500
Ninja Museum: Yen 900
Todai-ji Shrine - Yen 500

TOTAL: YEN 12,900 (USD142)