Do you like sakura?

[rkold]

The second half of my trip or how many damn pictures of flowers can you take?!?!


First, for those curious I would like to state I am not in Japan for Hanami. In some respects, I am glad as I imagine things are a little overwhelming to say the least and I can only imagine the crowds and lines. I suspect it is more unpleasant then spectacular unless you go to some of the smaller sights. (I know Meiji Jingu on New Years was just very meh!) However, some of the sakura trees have started to bloom so I've gotten to enjoy the unofficial start of the season.

So when we last left our heroine she was trying to relax and go to the PO. The PO turned out to be rather an adventure, but I fortunately had no problem making my 3:10 train to visit muscatlove We met at the station, dropped my stuff off and then decided to get Indian for dinner. I was rather pleased as I'd only had Indian once so far this trip and I love Indian. We then went to the nearby grocery to look for things for the next day. It was a quiet and relaxing evening, which is always nice.

The next morning we got a quick lunch at some place in the downtown that had more traditional Japanese lunch sort of things, and then rented a bicycle for me. As someone who has bicycled around my area, let me just say what a pleasure bicycling in Japan. First, the roads where I was were so flat lol The bicycle we rented didn't even have gears because they were unnecessary. Second, the drivers here actually expect to see people on bicycles and don't do dumb ass things to try and cause accidents. Third, every bike seems to have a huge basket to carry stuff. Fourth, you're actually allowed to bicycle on the sidewalk! Kennis would not be pleased cause you don't generally wear a helmet, but it felt nice to feel the wind on my head. I'm really hoping to rent on for Kyoto once I can figure out where in the heck you can park them. ^^; It would be such a nice way to get around cause the Kyoto buses suck! We bicycled out to shoreline where during low tide all sorts of cool rock ledges are no longer below the water. We walked around, teased some hermit crabs, saw quite a few dead as well as a live jellyfish, and saw tons of sea urchins. The water was a lovely shade of blue and surprisingly warm. We saw some scuba divers getting ready to go out to examine the reef and I can just imagine the cool things they saw.

Later we headed out to do more karaoke! Yeah, two karaoke adventures in one trip. Post karaoke, we biked to the grocery which was so much cheaper than taking a cab! (Plus more fun!) Dinner was yummy and sandwiches, and then I took a late train back to Kate's.

Saturday morning, we got up early and headed to Osaka. We met up with Jenn and Steve for some sightseeing and left our luggage at the hotel. We took a subway up to Umeda/Osaka and I went to Kiddyland where I picked up a few gifts and new clearfile for myself. We went to that Italian chain Cappricossa for lunch, and it was quite yummy. I then went to Yodobashi Camera to look for a teku teku thing for twotone. Thanks to Jenn we found one easily, and Kate got a cute frog fortune teller gapshom prize. We then went to price a digital camera for Tim's birthday, only to discover that the exact model we thought he wanted was on super sale until the next day. We went to a cafe to wait while we confirmed it was the right camera and each got a frog fortune. Mine said I would love a friend money. It was the camera, so we then spent the next hour trying to purchase it despite incompetent staff which culminated in my needing to pay for it after more credit card stupidity. The frog fortune was TRUE! lol We then went back to the hotel and DenDen Town. Jenn left to meet her sister at the airport, I got the new Animate card, and then it was off to the Garlic Restuarant for dinner. I'm not sure what it's real name is, but it's soooooooo good. I got pasta. Then we went back to the hotel and took a relaxing hot bath in the group bath. The water had a slightly odd smell, but I figure it was just the minerals. I accidentally fell asleep before plans for the next day were made.

Sunday, we were supposed to leave at 8:30 but I was slow getting ready having missed the plan the night before. We then headed to Fushimi Inari. I'd not been since 2002 and was somewhat anxious to go again. Plus this time I've been using the stairmaster at the gym! The hardest part was the slipperiness of the steps due to the rain. We got a little confused and went to see a cemetery rather than doing the loop, but at least it is not as bad as unintentionally doing the loop lol We then took the train to Kyoto proper and went to Kiyomizudera. Thankfully the sakura were not in bloom as I can only imagine how crowded it would have been. I saw a few trees starting, but not enough to make the crowds it will have later in the year. We then did a bit of shopping in Kyoto before returning to Osaka. We went to my favorite Mexican place again which is always happy and I am so dragging Kennis there.

Monday, we got up early to go to Himeji. I'd not been there either since 2002. I think I drove Jenn insane by stopping to take like 5 or 6 pictures of each of the 5 or 6 sakura trees in bloom. lol Once again, I am semi-glad I missed actual sakura season, but it was awful nice having a few trees to be able to appreciate. Though I might have gotten a minor sting while taking some pictures of the loveliest tree. Himeji was lovely, and next time I am not wearing those evil slippery slippers to climb the stairs. One is much better off in their socks. Post Himeji we were awful tired and headed back to Osaka and went to DenDenTown. I picked up a few last minute items and spent more money on copics as KAC was having a sale again. I am so going to need to color more now. I am proud of myself though, I resisted I Voice Chibi Kira for 1500 yen and I Voice Chibi Shinn for 1000 yen. I seriously want the Suzaku and Lelouch figures from Geass but have not seen them at all. Blargh. I also resisted all the other emotive sets of Seed figures I am missing and want. There are just too damn many of them! We then went to Asian Days for dinner. At first I was not so keen on it since I had to pay the set price even though I could not eat a lot of the food, but in the end decided to stay. I confess part of my reason was this though I doubt Jenn remembered :P It turned out to work much better than I would have anticipated, and while it was not a place I would have ever chosen, the nabe was quite good. I could definitely see myself eating nabe if it did not have meat in it, I love all those Japanese greens and I like udon. I took a late train back here.

Now, I am attempting to do some laundry before I go so I can work on packing, but the weather has turned stormy, and I am hoping that is thunder I keep hearing rumbling as I don't want to know what else it could be.


For anyone curious, no I did not feel the earthquake, in fact I did not even know about it until I got frantic emails from my mother.

Happy Birthday sumeragiskank!!!!!! I hope we get to see one another soon!!!!!!!!

Comments

[ad-exia.livejournal.com]

Wow, bicycling sounds fun~! As does most of the rest of that! :D And I agree, there are too many SEED emotive figures! o.O I think I finally gave up on getting them all, but I still have a few I keep my eyes open for!

Good luck with the packing! And I want to see pictures of sakura when you get back!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah there are a few I still want, but for example I was not going to pay 2500 to get the two I Voice figures I wanted. >>;

I confess, I'm more a doujinshi person in general, though I want some of the new charms when they come out.