29/12/05 DAY 1 – Tokyo to Osaka
Weather condition: Dreaming of Snow
OSAKA
Amerika Mura: A very scary and disturbing part of Osaka, “little America”. The streets are lined with shops sporting FUBU gear and puffy jackets. Other shops specialise in white trash attire and everywhere is blasting RnB. This surely is the best of the US compacted in a few blocks. Simply Disturbing.
Utoku Keiko Live: Well seeing Keiko perform live was bizarre. It’s strange when you see a student transform and become this pop star and singing her heart out (and she was) to hundreds of adorning fans. She sung well and had good stage presence. A night I won’t forget in a hurry. Such striking presence, tres cool.
Capsule Hotel: What a terribly sensible idea. Why pay for the whole room if you spend most of it in bed. Quite spacious, warm, friendly and it has all of the shared facilities you need. Complete with pot noodle and business shirt vending machines.
Notes: On the way I saw Fuji. Note to self: Self is a good thing, I like spending time with me and I should do it more often.
30/12/05 DAY 2 – Osaka to Hiroshima
Weather Condition: Still dreaming of Snow
OSAKA
Umeda Sky Building: An observation tower where getting to the view is half the fun. You ride a glass elevator to the top before hopping on a glass escalator to reach the suspended observation deck. Quite a view too.
Hozen-ji: Possibly the most beautiful temple I’ve been to in all of Japan. You pour water onto three moss-covered statues before praying and moving on. The statues are nice, but alone don’t make it beautiful, what does is the quaint back alley setting, sandwiched between shops and restaurants in the centre of town.
HORISHIMA
Missed the bus, so Shinkensen again, this trip is starting to get expensive. Went to the A-dome, but couldn’t bring myself to walk around it. I was too sad and messed up, called home to Australia and got through it. Try to sleep.
Notes: They have trams here, it’s like home, only with radiation.
31/12/05 DAY 3 – Hiroshima to Kyoto
Weather Condition: Snow Please
HIROSHIMA
A-Dome: Hiroshima and the A-dome go hand in hand. The city that was witness to the first atomic bomb drop. The A-dome, a trade’s hall directly under the blast is crumbled and ruined by the explosion. It’s a really spooky place. It took a bit of courage to walk near it and the closer I got, the heavier the tears flowed. We can be cruel sometimes, us humans. I pray that I will never be witness to such torture and pain in my life. It does remind you how lucky we are to be alive in this world. Sure isn’t perfect, but I think it’s better, a little. NO WAR.
Okonomiyaki Hiroshima Style: You haven’t had Okonomiyaki until you’ve had Okonomiyaki Hiroshima Style. It’s so different from Kanzai style. You start with a pancake, add cabbages, seaweed, sprouts to the top, fry and egg and some soba wack them on too, flip it add sauce and eat, oishi.
Poor: No more shinkansen so locals it is. God that was as stupid fucking idea 3 or 4 times the time, doesn’t seam like much, but it turned a 3 hour trip into a 10 hour trip. And there are no toilets on locals. Lesson learnt.
KYOTO
Happy New Year or something: where am I? Find a place to sleep then party! Tourist information closed, ok walk with the people, find a bank, look at the book, bank is back where I started. Walk back; forget my pin, no money. Try to find the entertainment district. Walked and walked and walked and walked and walked sat down confused and then walked some more. Finally found an internet café and booked into it, then I was too scared to leave in case someone else booked into my space. Got insanely depressed that I was alone in this strange city. Ended up watching a bad movie and fell asleep. V Sad.
Notes: Never Again. Ding ding, Hiroshima have trams.
01/01/06 DAY 4 – Kyoto to Tokyo
Weather Condition: Snow Dreams Dashed
KYOTO
Gion: I don’t know if I missed the boat by 50 years or so or if I just came at the wrong time of day, but at 8am on New Years Day, Gion, Kyoto was dead.
New Years Day Pilgrimage: I thought the best way to see in the New Year (especially after the crap NYE) was to go on a pilgrimage. First stop was Tenryu-ji, famous for it’s Zen garden, although I don’t know why. Second was the humble Nonomiya-jinja, where I prayed for those close to me to have strength. Walking through the Bamboo forest I could almost feel Heather’s presence with me. Needless to say, the day was filed with tears. Third was Jojakko-ji, a beautiful temple perched on top of a hill and the view of Kyoto was beautiful. I dedicated my thoughts to dad and prayed for strength for him. Fourth after the poets hut was Nison-in a very attractive temple with a strong history. I dedicated my thoughts here to Fiona.
TOKYO
Home sweet home: Tired, sore, sleepy broke, empty, lonely, lost, cold, frozen and broken. Arriving in Tokyo filled me with warmth. Strange that Tokyo should feel like home, but it does.
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