Are the boots worth the polish?
On my way away from the temple I grab an icecream in a cone. As I approach the station I notice this bundle in the corner, actually it is a person, a woman. she has created her buisness premises consisting of 3 sides of cardboard sheets inside which she is sitting with various shoe_shine implements. My initial desire was to photograph her, but she is so small and shrivelled that I dont have the heart and later also notice there is a No Photograph sign behind her. I am not going to give her money, if she has gone through the trouble of setting up her store for god knows how many years (or decades, i could well imagine her having been there as a little girl) I will give her some business. so I approach her with by now tatty looking boots whose top "leather" layer has worn off in place follwing time in clay walks of Ugandan hills. She is so shrivelled and her back so crooked that she is sort of up to my knee caps!, and is busy scribbling on a bit of paper, love to know what, may be she is calculating her entire fortune, who knows she probably owns a fair portion of the national stock exchange. (I will tell you about a similar woman I met in UK once)
Any way she begins to attend to my boots while mumbling throughout the episode, I imagine she is pretty disgusted being given such a poor task as my damaged boots, she occasionally uses the sharp end of a tooth brush handle to prize out little pebbles still stock to the top of my boots. She kind of polishes the boots while I am feeding bits of ice cream cone to another crippled creature, a one legged pigeion. I am flush with my good fortune being announced by the deity so I am sharing it out the best that I can. The sho polish sets me back 500 yen, and woth every minute of her attention using her crippled, boney, hardly mobile, boot polish stained little fingers.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Permission from above
Permission from above
I head for Ueno where my hotel is and having stashed my main pack in a locker (couldnt find one at the main station otherwise would have stayed and visited the Imperial Palace grounds before going to Ueno, the palace is only open to visitors twice a year, yesterday as the Emperors Birthday and 2nd of January)
I go and visit Asakusa (Sansoji) Temple, very impressive place, I request access to the main hall for prayer, I am refused "members only", I pop round the side and take a look and there is a notice for tourists saying there is special ceremony. I go round the other building and return later, I am still interested, so may be there is signal from above to visit. I go by the entrance next to the kiosk manned by the chap who refused my. meanwhile he gets a call (from above?) and his bhack is turned, I slip off the boots and head for the reas sanctum where the statue of Bodhisatva Kanon is kept, at the same time he heads towards a back office and his route is across from mine but he is otherwise occupied. I go to the rear prayer area where another woman is in devotional state, pay my respects, stay a few minutes and make my exit. Pretty happy with myself I also try out one of their fortune telling devices where you shake this box of sticks and pull one out of a hole in the box, this gives you a number, there are hundreds of boxes with nubers on them in front of you and you take out a piece of paper from the relevent box based on the number you got. Mine happens to be Good Fortune, basically all my trouble over! Yippee.
I head for Ueno where my hotel is and having stashed my main pack in a locker (couldnt find one at the main station otherwise would have stayed and visited the Imperial Palace grounds before going to Ueno, the palace is only open to visitors twice a year, yesterday as the Emperors Birthday and 2nd of January)
I go and visit Asakusa (Sansoji) Temple, very impressive place, I request access to the main hall for prayer, I am refused "members only", I pop round the side and take a look and there is a notice for tourists saying there is special ceremony. I go round the other building and return later, I am still interested, so may be there is signal from above to visit. I go by the entrance next to the kiosk manned by the chap who refused my. meanwhile he gets a call (from above?) and his bhack is turned, I slip off the boots and head for the reas sanctum where the statue of Bodhisatva Kanon is kept, at the same time he heads towards a back office and his route is across from mine but he is otherwise occupied. I go to the rear prayer area where another woman is in devotional state, pay my respects, stay a few minutes and make my exit. Pretty happy with myself I also try out one of their fortune telling devices where you shake this box of sticks and pull one out of a hole in the box, this gives you a number, there are hundreds of boxes with nubers on them in front of you and you take out a piece of paper from the relevent box based on the number you got. Mine happens to be Good Fortune, basically all my trouble over! Yippee.
Kyoto to Tokyo
Kyoto to Tokyo
No airports at Kyoto so ended up paying 12700 yen ($150) for a 2.5 hour train ride (compared to 2000 yen from Osaka airport to Kyoto) . Really rough night dont think I slept at all despite trying every trick in the book. Was snacking on peanuts and wasabi flavoured crackers about 3 a.m. Zombie state which could have been due to having couple of coffees about 6 p.m, this rarely effects me but maybe combined with thoughts of travel it did not help.
Breakfast at Kyoto railway station, something akin to McDonalds egg McMuffin, the stools didnt have full back rest so you wont stay too long, Saxophone Jazz blaring out at 8 a.m. made sure I left soon as I could too.
Grey suits throughout the train, but then I am in my travelling greys, I even have two shaded grey backpack and rainjacket! I sit next to this guy who is sleep then I notice he is wearing navy V_necl and a black leather jacket with brown piping hanging on a hook, what a rebel! Later I move to the next compartment though, my nerves are a little shot from lack of sleep and cant handle the clicking of keyboard behind me. Chances of sleep are nil though so I write a few things down. Grey suits get on and off at couple of stations intervening, or may be they just change seats, I wont notice who is who anyway, Matrix is here. I have always wondered though why people commute, after all the people who go to Tokyo to work could stay where they are and do the work the people from Tokyo come to do in their town instead, save lots of time and money, but hen who would pay for JR (Japanese Rail).
Announcements on the train peceeded by a jingle which has initial notes similar to God Save the Queen anthem, confusing as the final couple of notes break the rythm. The final jingle announcing Tokyo is completely different though.
No airports at Kyoto so ended up paying 12700 yen ($150) for a 2.5 hour train ride (compared to 2000 yen from Osaka airport to Kyoto) . Really rough night dont think I slept at all despite trying every trick in the book. Was snacking on peanuts and wasabi flavoured crackers about 3 a.m. Zombie state which could have been due to having couple of coffees about 6 p.m, this rarely effects me but maybe combined with thoughts of travel it did not help.
Breakfast at Kyoto railway station, something akin to McDonalds egg McMuffin, the stools didnt have full back rest so you wont stay too long, Saxophone Jazz blaring out at 8 a.m. made sure I left soon as I could too.
Grey suits throughout the train, but then I am in my travelling greys, I even have two shaded grey backpack and rainjacket! I sit next to this guy who is sleep then I notice he is wearing navy V_necl and a black leather jacket with brown piping hanging on a hook, what a rebel! Later I move to the next compartment though, my nerves are a little shot from lack of sleep and cant handle the clicking of keyboard behind me. Chances of sleep are nil though so I write a few things down. Grey suits get on and off at couple of stations intervening, or may be they just change seats, I wont notice who is who anyway, Matrix is here. I have always wondered though why people commute, after all the people who go to Tokyo to work could stay where they are and do the work the people from Tokyo come to do in their town instead, save lots of time and money, but hen who would pay for JR (Japanese Rail).
Announcements on the train peceeded by a jingle which has initial notes similar to God Save the Queen anthem, confusing as the final couple of notes break the rythm. The final jingle announcing Tokyo is completely different though.
I get my fix on my way to Kyoto
21/12
today is 23/12 I am in Kyoto trying to type these on a Japanese keyboard, not easy because if I touch a key accidentally keyboard, the characters chane or sentences are duplicated! Istanbulshowerr and shave, slept very well. did some exercise using spare blanket as floor cover. The radiator (ther was one as floor cover. The radiator (ther was one!) floor cover. The radiator (ther was one!) had dried my clothes from the night before. had washed both my jeans in Uganda but both look dirty, hard to get the clay out of textile.
Have chai and tost at a teashop while groups of men arriving at a nearby meeting hall all greeting one another (some touch the two corners of forehead to one anothers, hadnt seen that before), some kind of a political party? Try to find a tourist info, THREE hours later still walking, ankle sore, get couple of hours of tram ride to get some rest as well as see the city. Port very busy with fishermen, travellers, boats doing Bosphorus trips or going over to the Asia side of Istanbul. BNosphorus tour sounds interesting but I need 3 hours and cant risk it. so I go to the Asian and cant risk it. so I go to the Asian side, all I see is pople, shops and more of the same again and agin, Boring! Ｒｅｔｒｕｎ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ Ｅｕｒｏｐｅ ｓｉｄｅ ａｎｄ ｆｉｎｄ ａ ｓｅｌｆ－ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ ｆｏｏｄ ｐｌａｃｅ， ｎｏｔ ｂａｄ． ａｓｋ ｔｈｅ ｇｕｙ ａｂｏｕｔ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ， ｈｅ ｍａｋｅｓ ａ ｊｏｋｅ ｗｈｅｔｈｅｒ Ｉ ｗａｎｔ ａ ｂｅｅｒ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ ｅｔｃ， ｌｕｃｋｉｌｙ ｓｏｍｅ ｇｕｙ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｑｕｅｕｅ ｈｅｌｐｓ ａｎｄ Ｉ ａｍ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｅｄ ｔｏ ａ ｐｌａｃｅ ｏｆｆｅｒｉｎｇ Ｎａｒｇｉｌａ （ｔｕｒｋｉｓｈ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ）， ２０ ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ ｌａｔｅｒ ａｎｄ Ｉ ｆｉｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｐｌａｃｅ ａｎｄ ｓｉｔ ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ ｔｈｉｓ ｃａｆｅ ｕｎｄｅｒ ｃｏｖｅｒｓ ａｓ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｎ ｂｅｇｉｎｓ ｔｏ ｐｏｕｒ， ｇｏｏｄ ｔｉｍｉｎｇ． Ｉｎｓｉｄｅ ｄｏｚｅｎｓ ｏｆ ｍｅｎ ａｒｅ ｇｌｕｅｄ ｔｏ ＴＶ ｗａｔｃｈｉｎｇ ｆｏｏｔｂａｌｌ ａｎｄ ｃｈａｎｇｅｓ ｏｆ ｅｍｏｔｉｏｎ ａｒｅ ｆｕｎｎｙ ｔｏ ｗａｔｃｈ ｆｒｏｍ ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ， ｔｈｉｓ ａｌｓｏ ｍｅａｎｓ Ｉ ｄｏｎｔ ｇｅｔ ｔｈｅ ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ Ｉ ｈｏｐｅｄ ｆｏｒ ｗｈｅｎ ｉ ｗａｎｔ ｍｙ ｓｅｃｏｎｄ ｃｕｐ ｏｆ ｔｅａ ｂｕｔ ｉ ｏｒｄｅｒ ｗｈｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｎｉｃｅ ｍａｎ ｃｏｍｅｓ ｔｏ ｒｅｎｅｗ ｔｈｅ ｒｅｄ ｈｏｔ ｃｏａｌｓ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ． ｍｅａｎｗｈｉｌｅ ｉｔ ｉｓ ｐｏｕｒｉｎｇ ｗｉｔｈ ｒａｉｎ ａｎｄ ｉ ｈａｖｅ ｈａｄ ｔｏ ｃｈａｎｇｅ ｓｅａｔｓ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｏｕｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｎ． ｉｔ ｉｓ ｒａｔｈｅｒ ｃｈｉｌｌｙ ｎｏｗ ｂｕｔ ｉ ａｍ ｎｏｔ ｇｉｖｉｎｇ ｉｎ， ｒｅｓｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｌｏｃａｌｓ ｈａｖｅ ｒｅｔｒｅａｔｅｄ ｉｎｄｏｏｒｓ ｏｒ ｌｅｆｔ ａｌｔｏｇｅｔｈｅｒ． ｔｈｅ ｓｍｏｋｅ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ Ｏｒａｎｇｅ ｆｌａｖｏｕｒｅｄ ｔｏｂａｃｃｏ ｃｏｍｂｉｎｅｄ ｗｉｔｈ ｓｔｅａｍ ｄｕｅ ｔｏ ｃｏｌｄ ｗｅａｔｈｅｒ ｉｓ ｐｒｅｔｔｙ ｉｍｐｒｅｓｓｉｖｅ． Ｉ ｌｅａｖｅ ａｂｏｕｔ ８．４５ ａｎｄ ｈａｖｅ ｍｉｓｓｅｄ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｒｓｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｎ， ｗａｎｔｅｄ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｓｏｍｅ ｓｈａｍｐｏｏ ｂｕｔ ｄｏｎｔ ｆａｎｃｙ ｃａｒｒｙｉｎｇ ３００ ｍｌ ｂｏｔｔｌｅ ｓｏ ｆｏｒｇｅｔ ｉｔ． Ｇｏｔ ｃｈａｒｇｅｄ ２４ ＬＴＲ ($16) ｆｏｒ ｌｅｆｔ ｌｕｇｇａｇｅ ｅｖｅｎ ｔｈｏｕｇｈ ｔｈｅ ｏｔｈｅｒ ｇｕｙ ｓａｉｄ １２ ｂｕｔ ｉ ａｍ ｏｖｅｒ ｔｈｅ ２４ ｈｏｕｒ ｌｉｍｉｔ ＡＮＤ ｔｈｅ ｍａｎ ｉｓ ｇｉｖｉｎｇ ｈｉｍｓｅｌｆ ａ ｈｅａｒｔ ａｔｔａｃｋ ｊｕｓｔｉｆｙｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｃｈａｒｇｅ． Ｄｕｒｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｄａｙ ｇｏｔｒ ｓｔｏｐｐｅｄ ｂｙ ｔｅｈ ｐｏｌｉｃｅ， ｉ ｌｏｏｋｅｄ ａ ｒｉｇｈｔ ｈｏｂｏ ｗｉｔｈ ｍｙ ｐｌａｓｔｉｃ ｂａｇ ｃｏｎｔａｉｎｉｎｇ ｓｌｅｅｐｉｎｇ ｂａｇ ｔｉｅｄ ｔｏ ｍｙ ｄａｙｐａｃｋ， ｔｈｅｙ ｌｅｔ ｍｅ ｇｏ ｏｎｃｅ ｔｈｅｙ ｒｅａｌｉｓｅｄ ｉ ｗａｓ ａ ｔｏｕｒｉｓｔ．ｆｕｎｎｙ ｏｎｅ＊ ｔｈｅ ｙｏｕｎｇｓｔｅｒ ａｔ ｔｈｅ ｐａｓｓｐｏｒｔ ｃｏｎｔｒｏｌ ｓｔａｒｔｓ ｒｕｂｂｉｎｇ ｖｉｇｏｒｏｕｓｌｙ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｐａｓｓｐｏｒｔ ｐｈｏｔｏ ａｎｄ ｇｅｎｅｒａｌｌｙ ｍａｎｈａｎｄｌｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｐａｇｅｓ ｏｆ ｍｙ ｐａｓｓｐｏｒｔ， ａｎｄ ｃａｌｌｓ ｏｖｅｒ ｈｉｓ ｓｕｐｅｒｖｉｓｏｒ ｔｏ ｃｏｎｆｉｒｍ ｉｔ ｉｓ ｇｅｎｕｉｎｅ！
ＡｉｒｐｏｒｔＷｈｉｌｅ ａｔ ｗａｉｔｉｎｇａｒｅａ ｔｈｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｃｈａｐ ｎｅａｒ ｍｅ ｋｅｅｐｓ ｔｈｕｍｐｉｎｇ ｈｉｓ ｃａｌｆ ｍｕｃｌｅｓ ｗｉｔｈ ｈｉｓ ｆｉｓｔ， Ｉｔ ｉｓ ａｎｎｏｙｉｎｇ ａｓ ｉｔ ａｌｓｏ ｓｈａｋｅｓ ｔｈｅ ｂｅｎｃｈ ｈｅ ｉｓ ｓｈａｒｉｎｇ ｗｉｔｈ ｍｅ， ｍａｙ ｂｅ Ｉ ｃｏｕｌｄ ｈｅｌｐ ｈｉｍ ｏｕｔ ｂｙ ｔｈｕｍｐｉｎｇ ｈｉｍ ｍｙｓｌｅｆ？ ｔｈｅｎ Ｉ ｎoｔｉｃｅ ｔｈｅｒｅ ａｒｅ ｓｉｍｉｌａｒ ｂｅｈａｖｉｏｕｒｓ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｏｎ ｂｙ ｏｔｈｅｒｓ ｔｏｏ， ａ ｆａｉｒ ｎｕｍｂｅｒ ａｒｅ ａｌｓｏ ｗｅａｒｉｎｇ ｆａｃｅ ｍａｓｋｓ． Ｔｕｒｋｉｓｈ ａｉｒｌｉｎｅｓ ｔｅｎｄ ｔｏ ｄｉｓｈ ｏｕｔ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｓｍａｌｌ ｂａｇｓ ｏｆ ｓｔｕｆｆ ｅｖｅｒｙ ｆｌｉｇｈｔ （ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔ ｏｎｅｓ ｅａｃｈ ｔｉｍｅ Ｉ ｔｈｉｎｋ， ｓｏｃｋｓ， ｔｏｏｔｈ ｂｒｕｓｈ ａｎｄ ｐａｓｔ， ｓｌｅｅｐ ｍａｓｋ，） ｆｅｅｌｓ ｓｕｃｈ ａ ｂｌｏｏｄｙ ｗａｓｔｅ ｏｆ ｓｔｕｆｆ． ｖｅｒｙ ｃｕｔｅ ｈｏｓｔｅｓｓ ｗｉｔｈ ｗｈｏｍ Ｉ ｆｌｉｒｔ ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈｏｕｔ ｔｈｅ ｆｌｉｇｈｔ ｇｏｏｄ ｆｕｎ． Ｌｉｎｇ ｆｌｉｇｈｔ ｂｕｔ Ｉ ｄｏ ｍａｎａｇｅ ｔｏ ｓｌｅｅｐ ａ ｆａｉｒ ｂｉｔ， ｔｈｅｙ ｓｅｒｖｅ ｆｏｏｄ ｆｏｒ ｗｈａｔ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｂｅ ｎｏｒｍａｔ ｔｉｍｅ ｏｆ １ ａ．ｍ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ａｂｏｕｔ ９ ａ．ｍ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｃｏｎｆｕｓｅｓ ｔｈｅ ｓｙｓｔｅｍ． Ｉ ｍａｎａｇｅ ｔｏ ｏｐｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｌｏｏ ｄｏｏｒ ｏｎ ａｎｄ ａ ｓｃｒｅａｍ ｒｉｓｅｓ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｌａｄｙ ｏｎ ｔｔｈｅ ｔｏｉｌｅｔ！ ｎｏ ｅｙｅ ｃｏｎｔａｃｔ ｗｈｅｎ ｓｈｅ ｃｏｍｅｓ ｏｕｔ ｅｖｅｎｔｕａｌｌｙ， Ｉ ｗａｓ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｍａｋｅ ａｐｐｏｌｏｇｅｔｉｃ ｎｏｉｓｅｓ． Ｉ ｎｏｔｉｃｅ ｓｈｅ ｉｓ ｎｏｔ ｔｈｅ ｏｎｌｙ ｏｎｅ ｎｏｔ ｌｏｃｋｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｄｏｏｒ ｂｅｈｉｎｄ ｈｅｒ／ｔｈｅｍ！ Ａｌｍｏｓｔ ｆｏｒｇｏｔ， ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｑｕｉｔｅ ｓｔｒｉｃｔ ｏｎ ｆｌｕｉｄｓ ｔａｋｅｎ ｉｎｔｏ ｂｏａｒｄｉｎｇ ａｒｅａ ｓｏ ｏｎｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｌａｄｙ ｉｓ ｍｏｓｔ ｄｉｓａｐｏｉｎｔｅｄ ｗｈｅｎ ｈｅｒ ２ ｃａｎｓ ｏｆ ｔｕｒｋｉｓｈ ｂｅｅｒ ｉｓ ｃｏｎｆｉｓｃａｔｅｄ ｆｒｏｍ ｈｅｒ ｈａｎｄ ｌｕｇｇａｇｅ， ｔｈｅｙ ｏｆｆｅｒ ｆｏｒ ｈｅｒ ｔｏ ｄｒｉｎｋ ｔｈｅｎ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｓｈｅ ｄｏｅｓ ｎｏｔ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｐｏｕｒｅｄ ａｗａｙ， ｎｏ ｉｄｅａｓ ｗｈａｔ Ｅｆｅｓ ｂｅｅｒ ｔａｓｔｅｓ ｌｉｋｅ ｂｕｔ ｄｏｎｔ ｗａｎｔ ｔｏ ｄｒｉｎｋ ｗｈｉｌｅ ｆｌｙｉｎｇ ｅｉｔｈｅｒ． Ｃｈａｔｔｉｎｇｔｏ Ｔｏｓｈｉｋｏ ｍｙ ｔｒａｖｅｌ ｃｏｍｐａｎｉｏｎ ｉ ｄｅｃｉｄｅ ｔｏ ｇｏ ｓｔｒａｉｇｈｔ ｔｏ Ｋｙｏｔｏ ｉｎｓｔｅａｄ ｏｆ ｏｖｅｒｎｉｇｈｔ ｓｔａｙ ａｔ Ｏｓａｋａ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｅｖｅｎ ｆｒｏｍ ｍｙ ｂｒｉｅｆ ｓｅａｒｃｈ ｏｆ ｔｒａｖｅｌ ｃａｔａｌｏｇｕｅｓ ｉｓ ｈａｒｄｌｙ ｍｅｎｔｉｏｎｅｄ ａｎｙｗｈｅｒｅ． Ｈｅｒ ｔａｘｉ ｉｓ ｆｕｌｌ ｓｏ Ｉ ｍａｋｅ ｍｙ ｏｗｎ ｗａｙ ｂｙ ｔｒａｉｎ， ａｓ ａ ｖｉｓｉｔｏｒ ｍｙ ｔｉｃｋｅｔ ｉｓ ｃｈｅａｐｅｒ ｔｈａｎ ｎｏｒｍａｌ， ｎｉｃｅ ｔｒａｉｎｓ， ａｓ ｉ ｗａｉｔ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｉｎ ｔｏ ｂｅ ｃｌｅａｎｅｄ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ ｂｏａｒｄｉｎｇ， ｔｈｅ ｓｅａｔｓ ｓｗｉｖｅｌ ｅｌｅｃｔｒｉｃａｌｌｙ ｔｏ ｆａｃｅ ａｌｌ ｔｈｅ ｓａｍｅ ｗａｙ！ Ｏｈ， ｔｈｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｓｅｅｍ ｔｏ ｌｉｋｅ ｈａｖｉｎｇ ｌｏｔｓ ｏｆ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｄｏｉｎｇ ｓａｍｅ ｊｏｂ； ｏｒ ｏｎｅ ｐｅｒｓｏｎ ｄｏｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｒｋ ｗｈｉｌｅ ５ ｏｔｈｅｒｓ ａｄｍｉｎｉｓｔｅｒ ｏｒ ｓｕｐｅｒｖｉｓｅ， ｉｔ ｔｏｏｋ ５ ＦＩＶＥ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｔｏ ｃｈａｎｇｅ ｍｙ ｍｏｎｅｙ， Ｉ ｗａｓ ｌｕｃｋｙ ｉｆ ｉ ｗａｓｎｔ ｆｉｌｌｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｆｏｒｍｓ （ｙｅｓ ｙｏｕ ｄｏ ｆｉｌｌ ｆｏｒｍｓ ａｎｄ ｏｎｅ ｆｏｒｍ ｐｅｒ ｃｕｒｒｅｎｃｙ） ｔｈｅｒｅ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｐｒｏｂａｂｌｙ ｈａｖｅ ｂｅｅｎ ６ ｏｒ ｍｏｒｅ！ Ｉｔ ｗａｓ ａ ｇｏｏｄ ｉｄｅａ ｔｏ ｇｏ ｔｏ Ｋｙｏｔｏ， ｓｏ ｍｕｃｈ ｔｏ ｓｅｅ， ｓａｗ ｍｕｃｈ ｌｅｓｓ ｔｈａｎ ｉ ｈｏｐｅｄ ａｓ ｉ ａｍ ｔｒｙｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｒｅｃｏｖｅｒ ｆｒｏｍ ａ １７ ｈｏｕｒ ｔｒｉｐ． Ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍｓ － ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ； ｖｅｒｙ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｉｓ ｗｒｉｔｔｅｎ ｉｎ Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ ａｎｄ ｖｅｒｙ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｓｐｏｋｅｎ ｔｏｏｇｏｏｄ ｐｏｉｎｔ； ｙｏｕ ａｓｋ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｌｉａｂｌｅ ｔｏ ｃｏｍｅ ｗｉｔｈ ｙｏｕ ａｌｌ ｔｈｅ ｗａｙ： ｄａｙ ｏｎｅ ｏｎ ａｒｒｉｖａｌ ｗｈｉｌｅ ｔｒｙｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｌｏｃａｔｅ ｍｙ ｈｏｔｅｌ （ｐｒｏｂａｂｌｙ ｔｈｅ ｃｈｅａｐｅｓｔ ｉｎ ｔｏｗｎ ａｔ ４２００ ￥ ａｂｏｕｔ ３０ ｐｏｕｎｄｓ ｓｔｅｒｌｉｎｇ） ｉ ｓｔｏｐ ａｎｄ ａｓｋ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ａｂｏｕｔ ｔｏ ｅｎｔｅｒ ａ ｂａｒ ａｆｔｅｒ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｗｏｒｋ， ａｂｏｕｔ ９．３０ ｐ．ｍ， ｔｈｅｙ ｐｈｏｎｅ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ａｎｄ ｇｅｔ ｔｈｅ ｎｕｍｂｅｒ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｈｏｔｅｌ， ｇｅｔ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ｔｗｏ ｇｉｒｌｓ ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ ｗａｌｋ ａｎｄ ｈａｎｄ ｍｅ ｉｎ ａｔ ｔｈｅ ｒｅｃｅｐｔｉｏｎ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｈｏｔｅｌ． Ｄａｙ ２ Ｉ ａｓｋ ｆｏｒ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ ｔｏ ａｎ ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ ｃａｆｅ， ａｇｉａｎ ｔｗｏ ｙｏｕｎｇ ｍｅｎ ａｓｋ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ａｎｄ ｐｏｉｎｔ ｍｅ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎ （ｊｕｓｔ ａｃｒｏｓｓ ｔｈｅ ｒｏａｄ ｅｍｂａｒｒａｓｉｎｇｌｙ）， Ｄａｙ ３ Ｉ ａｍ ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ ｆｏｒ ａ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ａｎｄ ａｓ ｉ ａｍ ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ ａｔ ａ ｍａｐ ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ ｃｙｃｌｉｓｔ （Ｉ ｈｉｒｅｄ ａ ｃｙｃｌｅ ｌａｓｔ ｎｉｇｈｔ ｆｏｒ ２４ ｈｏｕｉｒｓ， ｇｒｅａｔ ｗａｙ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｒｏｕｎｄ Ｋｙｏｔｏ ｏｎ ｐａｖｅｍｅｎｔｓ， ｉｔ ｉｓ ａｌｓｏ ｐｏｗｅｒ ａｓｓｉｓｔｅｄ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｉｓ ｈａｎｄｙ ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ｈｉｌｌｓ， Ｉ ａｍ ｂｅｃｏｍｉｎｇ ｍｏｒｅ ａｎｄ ｍｏｒｅ ｄｅｐｅｎｄｅｎｔ ｏｎ ｍｅｃｈａｎｉｃａｌ ｔｒａｎｓｐｏｒｔａｔｉｏｎ ａｓ Ｉ ａｍ ｒａｔｈｅｒ ｔｉｒｅｄ ｏｒ ｊｕｓｔ ｈａｖｅ ｔｏ ｆａｃｅ ｔｈｅ ｏｌｄ ａｇｅ！ ｒｅａｌｉｔｉｅｓ ｏｆ ｎｏｔ ｂｅｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｗａｌｋ １０ ｈｏｕｒｓ ａ ｄａｙ） ａｓｋｓ ｉｆ ｉ ｎｅｅｄ ｈｅｌｐ （ｉ ａａｓｓｕｍｅ ｔｈａｔ ｉｓ ｗｈａｔ ｓｈｅ ｉｓ ｓａｙｉｎｇ） ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ｐｒｏｃｅｅｄｓ ｔｏ ｆｏｌｌｏｗ ｍｙ ｏｎ ｈｅｒ ｂｉｃｙｃｌｅ ｆｏｒ ａｂｏｕｔ ｔｗｏ ｍｉｌｅｓ （Ｉ ａｍ ｎｏｔ ｓｕｒｅ ｉｆ ｓｈｅ ｈａｄ ｐｌａｎｎｅｄ ｏｎ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｔｈａｔ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎ ｓｉｎｃｅ ｉｔ ｉｓ ｔｈｅ ｏｔｈｅｒ ｃｏｒｎｅｒ ｏｆ Ｋｙｏｔｏ ｆｒｏｍ Ｋｉｙｏｍｉｚｏｄｅｒａ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ｉ ｈａｄ ｊｕｓｔ ｌｅｆｔ． Ｉ ａｍ ａｗａｒｅ ｏｆ ｉｔ ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ ｌａｔｅ ｂｏｔｈ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ｏｐｅｎｉｎｇ ｈｏｕｒｓ ａｎｄ ａｌｓｏ ｆｏｒ ｒｅｔｕｒｎｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｂｉｃｙｌｅ ｂｕｔ ｂｙ ｎｏｗ ｄｏｎｔ ｈａｖｅ ｔｈｅ ｈｅａｒｔ ｔｏ ｔｕｒｎ ａｒｏｕｎｄ！ｅｖｅｎｔｕａｌｌｙ ｉ ａｍ ｄｅｌｉｖｅｒｅｄ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｇａｔｅ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｍａｎ （ｂｙ ｔｈｅ ｗａｙ ｅｖｅｎ ｔｈｏｕｇｈ ｙｏｕ ｄｏｎｔ ｕｎｄｅｒｓｔａｎｄ ａ ｗｏｒｄ ｔｈｅｙ ｗｉｌｌ ｓｔｉｌｌ ｃｏｎｔｉｎｕｅ ｅｘｐｌａｉｎｉｎｇ ｉｎ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ａｎｙｗａｙ） ｌｅａｖｅｓ， Ｉ ｐａｙ ｍｙ ｒｅｓｐｅｃｔｓ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｇａｔｅ， ｇｅｔ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｂｉｃｙｃｌｅ ａｎｄ ｆｉｎｄ ａ ｎｉｃｅ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｒｏｕｔｅ ａｌｏｎｇｓｉｄｅ ａ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｓｔｒｅａｍ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｂａｃｋ ｉｎｔｏ ｔｏｗｎ ｔｏ ｒｅｔｕｒｎ ｔｈｅ ｂｉｃｙｃｌｅ．Ｍｙ ｈｅａｒｔ ｗａｒｍｅｄ ｂｙ ｋｉｎｄ ｇｅｓｔｕｒｅｓ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｗｈｏ ｌｉｔｅｒａｌｌｙ ｇｏ ｏｕｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｗａｙ， ｓｅｔ ａｓｉｄｅ ｗｈａｔ ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｄｏｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｙｏｕ ｗｈａｔ ｙｏｕ ｗａｎｔ， Ｉ ｃａｎ ｒｅｌａｔｅ ｔｏ ｔｈａｔ， ｎｏｔ ｓｕｒｅ ｗｈｅｔｈｅｒ ｔｈｉｓ ｉｓ ａ ｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌ／ｒｅｌｉｇｅｏｕｓ ｔｒａｉｔ ｂｕｔ Ｉ ａｍ ｇｒａｔｅｆｕｌ ｒｅｇａｒｄｌｅｓｓ． Ａｔ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｌｗａｙ ｓｔａｔｉｏｎ ｗｈｅｎ Ｉ ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ ａｔ Ｋｙｏｔｏ， ｉ ｎｏｔｉｃｅ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｍａｃｈｉｎｅｓ ｗｉｔｈ ｆｏｏｄ ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ ｏｎ， ｙｏｕ ｓｔｉｃｋ ｓｏｍｅ ｍｏｎｅｙ ｉｎ ｐｒｅｓｓ ｔｈｅ ｂｏｔｔｏｎ ａｎｄ ｇｅｔ ａ ｒｅｃｅｉｐｔ ｔｈｅｎ ｗｈｅｎ Ｉ ｗａｌｋ ｉｎｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｐｌａｃｅ Ｉ ｈａｎｄ ｉｔ ｉｎ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｇｕｙ ｂｅｈｉｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒ ａｎｄ ａ ｆｅｗ ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ ｌａｔｅｒ ｍｙ ｆｏｏｄ ａｐｐｅａｒｓ， ｕｎｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ ｉｔ ｔａｓｔｅｓ ａｎｄ ｌｏｏｋｓ ｔｏｏ ｍｕｃｈ ｌｉｋｅ ｓｐａｇｈｅｔｔｉ ｂｏｌｏｇｎｅｓｅ！ ｔｈｅ ｐｌａｃｅ ｉｓ ｖｅｒｙ ｓｍａｌｌ， ｂａｒｅｌｙ ｏｎｅ ｍｅｔｅｒ ｓｐａｃｅ ｂｅｔｗｅｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｗａｌｌ， ｍｅｎ ｌｉｎｅｄ ｕｐ ｗｉｔｈ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｂｏｗｌｓ ｏｆ ｆｏｏｄ ｗｉｔｈ ｗｏｒｋ ｃｌｏｔｈｅｓ， ｌｏｔｓ ｏｆ ｓｌｕｒｐｉｎｇ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｏｎ ａｓ ｎｏ ｓｐｏｏｎｓ ａｒｅ ｈａｎｄｅｄ ｏｕｔ ｅｖｅｎ ｗｉｔｈ ｗｈａｔ ｌｏｏｋｓ ｌｉｋｅ ｓｏｕｐ ｓｏ ｙｏｕ ｄｒｉｎｋ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｂｏｗｌ．
today is 23/12 I am in Kyoto trying to type these on a Japanese keyboard, not easy because if I touch a key accidentally keyboard, the characters chane or sentences are duplicated! Istanbulshowerr and shave, slept very well. did some exercise using spare blanket as floor cover. The radiator (ther was one as floor cover. The radiator (ther was one!) floor cover. The radiator (ther was one!) had dried my clothes from the night before. had washed both my jeans in Uganda but both look dirty, hard to get the clay out of textile.
Have chai and tost at a teashop while groups of men arriving at a nearby meeting hall all greeting one another (some touch the two corners of forehead to one anothers, hadnt seen that before), some kind of a political party? Try to find a tourist info, THREE hours later still walking, ankle sore, get couple of hours of tram ride to get some rest as well as see the city. Port very busy with fishermen, travellers, boats doing Bosphorus trips or going over to the Asia side of Istanbul. BNosphorus tour sounds interesting but I need 3 hours and cant risk it. so I go to the Asian and cant risk it. so I go to the Asian side, all I see is pople, shops and more of the same again and agin, Boring! Ｒｅｔｒｕｎ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ Ｅｕｒｏｐｅ ｓｉｄｅ ａｎｄ ｆｉｎｄ ａ ｓｅｌｆ－ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ ｆｏｏｄ ｐｌａｃｅ， ｎｏｔ ｂａｄ． ａｓｋ ｔｈｅ ｇｕｙ ａｂｏｕｔ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ， ｈｅ ｍａｋｅｓ ａ ｊｏｋｅ ｗｈｅｔｈｅｒ Ｉ ｗａｎｔ ａ ｂｅｅｒ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ ｅｔｃ， ｌｕｃｋｉｌｙ ｓｏｍｅ ｇｕｙ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｑｕｅｕｅ ｈｅｌｐｓ ａｎｄ Ｉ ａｍ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｅｄ ｔｏ ａ ｐｌａｃｅ ｏｆｆｅｒｉｎｇ Ｎａｒｇｉｌａ （ｔｕｒｋｉｓｈ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ）， ２０ ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ ｌａｔｅｒ ａｎｄ Ｉ ｆｉｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｐｌａｃｅ ａｎｄ ｓｉｔ ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ ｔｈｉｓ ｃａｆｅ ｕｎｄｅｒ ｃｏｖｅｒｓ ａｓ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｎ ｂｅｇｉｎｓ ｔｏ ｐｏｕｒ， ｇｏｏｄ ｔｉｍｉｎｇ． Ｉｎｓｉｄｅ ｄｏｚｅｎｓ ｏｆ ｍｅｎ ａｒｅ ｇｌｕｅｄ ｔｏ ＴＶ ｗａｔｃｈｉｎｇ ｆｏｏｔｂａｌｌ ａｎｄ ｃｈａｎｇｅｓ ｏｆ ｅｍｏｔｉｏｎ ａｒｅ ｆｕｎｎｙ ｔｏ ｗａｔｃｈ ｆｒｏｍ ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ， ｔｈｉｓ ａｌｓｏ ｍｅａｎｓ Ｉ ｄｏｎｔ ｇｅｔ ｔｈｅ ｓｅｒｖｉｃｅ Ｉ ｈｏｐｅｄ ｆｏｒ ｗｈｅｎ ｉ ｗａｎｔ ｍｙ ｓｅｃｏｎｄ ｃｕｐ ｏｆ ｔｅａ ｂｕｔ ｉ ｏｒｄｅｒ ｗｈｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｎｉｃｅ ｍａｎ ｃｏｍｅｓ ｔｏ ｒｅｎｅｗ ｔｈｅ ｒｅｄ ｈｏｔ ｃｏａｌｓ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｓｈｉｓｈｅ． ｍｅａｎｗｈｉｌｅ ｉｔ ｉｓ ｐｏｕｒｉｎｇ ｗｉｔｈ ｒａｉｎ ａｎｄ ｉ ｈａｖｅ ｈａｄ ｔｏ ｃｈａｎｇｅ ｓｅａｔｓ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｏｕｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｎ． ｉｔ ｉｓ ｒａｔｈｅｒ ｃｈｉｌｌｙ ｎｏｗ ｂｕｔ ｉ ａｍ ｎｏｔ ｇｉｖｉｎｇ ｉｎ， ｒｅｓｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｌｏｃａｌｓ ｈａｖｅ ｒｅｔｒｅａｔｅｄ ｉｎｄｏｏｒｓ ｏｒ ｌｅｆｔ ａｌｔｏｇｅｔｈｅｒ． ｔｈｅ ｓｍｏｋｅ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ Ｏｒａｎｇｅ ｆｌａｖｏｕｒｅｄ ｔｏｂａｃｃｏ ｃｏｍｂｉｎｅｄ ｗｉｔｈ ｓｔｅａｍ ｄｕｅ ｔｏ ｃｏｌｄ ｗｅａｔｈｅｒ ｉｓ ｐｒｅｔｔｙ ｉｍｐｒｅｓｓｉｖｅ． Ｉ ｌｅａｖｅ ａｂｏｕｔ ８．４５ ａｎｄ ｈａｖｅ ｍｉｓｓｅｄ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｒｓｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｎ， ｗａｎｔｅｄ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｓｏｍｅ ｓｈａｍｐｏｏ ｂｕｔ ｄｏｎｔ ｆａｎｃｙ ｃａｒｒｙｉｎｇ ３００ ｍｌ ｂｏｔｔｌｅ ｓｏ ｆｏｒｇｅｔ ｉｔ． Ｇｏｔ ｃｈａｒｇｅｄ ２４ ＬＴＲ ($16) ｆｏｒ ｌｅｆｔ ｌｕｇｇａｇｅ ｅｖｅｎ ｔｈｏｕｇｈ ｔｈｅ ｏｔｈｅｒ ｇｕｙ ｓａｉｄ １２ ｂｕｔ ｉ ａｍ ｏｖｅｒ ｔｈｅ ２４ ｈｏｕｒ ｌｉｍｉｔ ＡＮＤ ｔｈｅ ｍａｎ ｉｓ ｇｉｖｉｎｇ ｈｉｍｓｅｌｆ ａ ｈｅａｒｔ ａｔｔａｃｋ ｊｕｓｔｉｆｙｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｃｈａｒｇｅ． Ｄｕｒｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｄａｙ ｇｏｔｒ ｓｔｏｐｐｅｄ ｂｙ ｔｅｈ ｐｏｌｉｃｅ， ｉ ｌｏｏｋｅｄ ａ ｒｉｇｈｔ ｈｏｂｏ ｗｉｔｈ ｍｙ ｐｌａｓｔｉｃ ｂａｇ ｃｏｎｔａｉｎｉｎｇ ｓｌｅｅｐｉｎｇ ｂａｇ ｔｉｅｄ ｔｏ ｍｙ ｄａｙｐａｃｋ， ｔｈｅｙ ｌｅｔ ｍｅ ｇｏ ｏｎｃｅ ｔｈｅｙ ｒｅａｌｉｓｅｄ ｉ ｗａｓ ａ ｔｏｕｒｉｓｔ．ｆｕｎｎｙ ｏｎｅ＊ ｔｈｅ ｙｏｕｎｇｓｔｅｒ ａｔ ｔｈｅ ｐａｓｓｐｏｒｔ ｃｏｎｔｒｏｌ ｓｔａｒｔｓ ｒｕｂｂｉｎｇ ｖｉｇｏｒｏｕｓｌｙ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｐａｓｓｐｏｒｔ ｐｈｏｔｏ ａｎｄ ｇｅｎｅｒａｌｌｙ ｍａｎｈａｎｄｌｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｐａｇｅｓ ｏｆ ｍｙ ｐａｓｓｐｏｒｔ， ａｎｄ ｃａｌｌｓ ｏｖｅｒ ｈｉｓ ｓｕｐｅｒｖｉｓｏｒ ｔｏ ｃｏｎｆｉｒｍ ｉｔ ｉｓ ｇｅｎｕｉｎｅ！
ＡｉｒｐｏｒｔＷｈｉｌｅ ａｔ ｗａｉｔｉｎｇａｒｅａ ｔｈｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｃｈａｐ ｎｅａｒ ｍｅ ｋｅｅｐｓ ｔｈｕｍｐｉｎｇ ｈｉｓ ｃａｌｆ ｍｕｃｌｅｓ ｗｉｔｈ ｈｉｓ ｆｉｓｔ， Ｉｔ ｉｓ ａｎｎｏｙｉｎｇ ａｓ ｉｔ ａｌｓｏ ｓｈａｋｅｓ ｔｈｅ ｂｅｎｃｈ ｈｅ ｉｓ ｓｈａｒｉｎｇ ｗｉｔｈ ｍｅ， ｍａｙ ｂｅ Ｉ ｃｏｕｌｄ ｈｅｌｐ ｈｉｍ ｏｕｔ ｂｙ ｔｈｕｍｐｉｎｇ ｈｉｍ ｍｙｓｌｅｆ？ ｔｈｅｎ Ｉ ｎoｔｉｃｅ ｔｈｅｒｅ ａｒｅ ｓｉｍｉｌａｒ ｂｅｈａｖｉｏｕｒｓ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｏｎ ｂｙ ｏｔｈｅｒｓ ｔｏｏ， ａ ｆａｉｒ ｎｕｍｂｅｒ ａｒｅ ａｌｓｏ ｗｅａｒｉｎｇ ｆａｃｅ ｍａｓｋｓ． Ｔｕｒｋｉｓｈ ａｉｒｌｉｎｅｓ ｔｅｎｄ ｔｏ ｄｉｓｈ ｏｕｔ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｓｍａｌｌ ｂａｇｓ ｏｆ ｓｔｕｆｆ ｅｖｅｒｙ ｆｌｉｇｈｔ （ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｔ ｏｎｅｓ ｅａｃｈ ｔｉｍｅ Ｉ ｔｈｉｎｋ， ｓｏｃｋｓ， ｔｏｏｔｈ ｂｒｕｓｈ ａｎｄ ｐａｓｔ， ｓｌｅｅｐ ｍａｓｋ，） ｆｅｅｌｓ ｓｕｃｈ ａ ｂｌｏｏｄｙ ｗａｓｔｅ ｏｆ ｓｔｕｆｆ． ｖｅｒｙ ｃｕｔｅ ｈｏｓｔｅｓｓ ｗｉｔｈ ｗｈｏｍ Ｉ ｆｌｉｒｔ ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈｏｕｔ ｔｈｅ ｆｌｉｇｈｔ ｇｏｏｄ ｆｕｎ． Ｌｉｎｇ ｆｌｉｇｈｔ ｂｕｔ Ｉ ｄｏ ｍａｎａｇｅ ｔｏ ｓｌｅｅｐ ａ ｆａｉｒ ｂｉｔ， ｔｈｅｙ ｓｅｒｖｅ ｆｏｏｄ ｆｏｒ ｗｈａｔ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｂｅ ｎｏｒｍａｔ ｔｉｍｅ ｏｆ １ ａ．ｍ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ａｂｏｕｔ ９ ａ．ｍ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｃｏｎｆｕｓｅｓ ｔｈｅ ｓｙｓｔｅｍ． Ｉ ｍａｎａｇｅ ｔｏ ｏｐｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｌｏｏ ｄｏｏｒ ｏｎ ａｎｄ ａ ｓｃｒｅａｍ ｒｉｓｅｓ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｌａｄｙ ｏｎ ｔｔｈｅ ｔｏｉｌｅｔ！ ｎｏ ｅｙｅ ｃｏｎｔａｃｔ ｗｈｅｎ ｓｈｅ ｃｏｍｅｓ ｏｕｔ ｅｖｅｎｔｕａｌｌｙ， Ｉ ｗａｓ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｍａｋｅ ａｐｐｏｌｏｇｅｔｉｃ ｎｏｉｓｅｓ． Ｉ ｎｏｔｉｃｅ ｓｈｅ ｉｓ ｎｏｔ ｔｈｅ ｏｎｌｙ ｏｎｅ ｎｏｔ ｌｏｃｋｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｄｏｏｒ ｂｅｈｉｎｄ ｈｅｒ／ｔｈｅｍ！ Ａｌｍｏｓｔ ｆｏｒｇｏｔ， ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｑｕｉｔｅ ｓｔｒｉｃｔ ｏｎ ｆｌｕｉｄｓ ｔａｋｅｎ ｉｎｔｏ ｂｏａｒｄｉｎｇ ａｒｅａ ｓｏ ｏｎｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｌａｄｙ ｉｓ ｍｏｓｔ ｄｉｓａｐｏｉｎｔｅｄ ｗｈｅｎ ｈｅｒ ２ ｃａｎｓ ｏｆ ｔｕｒｋｉｓｈ ｂｅｅｒ ｉｓ ｃｏｎｆｉｓｃａｔｅｄ ｆｒｏｍ ｈｅｒ ｈａｎｄ ｌｕｇｇａｇｅ， ｔｈｅｙ ｏｆｆｅｒ ｆｏｒ ｈｅｒ ｔｏ ｄｒｉｎｋ ｔｈｅｎ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｓｈｅ ｄｏｅｓ ｎｏｔ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｐｏｕｒｅｄ ａｗａｙ， ｎｏ ｉｄｅａｓ ｗｈａｔ Ｅｆｅｓ ｂｅｅｒ ｔａｓｔｅｓ ｌｉｋｅ ｂｕｔ ｄｏｎｔ ｗａｎｔ ｔｏ ｄｒｉｎｋ ｗｈｉｌｅ ｆｌｙｉｎｇ ｅｉｔｈｅｒ． Ｃｈａｔｔｉｎｇｔｏ Ｔｏｓｈｉｋｏ ｍｙ ｔｒａｖｅｌ ｃｏｍｐａｎｉｏｎ ｉ ｄｅｃｉｄｅ ｔｏ ｇｏ ｓｔｒａｉｇｈｔ ｔｏ Ｋｙｏｔｏ ｉｎｓｔｅａｄ ｏｆ ｏｖｅｒｎｉｇｈｔ ｓｔａｙ ａｔ Ｏｓａｋａ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｅｖｅｎ ｆｒｏｍ ｍｙ ｂｒｉｅｆ ｓｅａｒｃｈ ｏｆ ｔｒａｖｅｌ ｃａｔａｌｏｇｕｅｓ ｉｓ ｈａｒｄｌｙ ｍｅｎｔｉｏｎｅｄ ａｎｙｗｈｅｒｅ． Ｈｅｒ ｔａｘｉ ｉｓ ｆｕｌｌ ｓｏ Ｉ ｍａｋｅ ｍｙ ｏｗｎ ｗａｙ ｂｙ ｔｒａｉｎ， ａｓ ａ ｖｉｓｉｔｏｒ ｍｙ ｔｉｃｋｅｔ ｉｓ ｃｈｅａｐｅｒ ｔｈａｎ ｎｏｒｍａｌ， ｎｉｃｅ ｔｒａｉｎｓ， ａｓ ｉ ｗａｉｔ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｉｎ ｔｏ ｂｅ ｃｌｅａｎｅｄ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ ｂｏａｒｄｉｎｇ， ｔｈｅ ｓｅａｔｓ ｓｗｉｖｅｌ ｅｌｅｃｔｒｉｃａｌｌｙ ｔｏ ｆａｃｅ ａｌｌ ｔｈｅ ｓａｍｅ ｗａｙ！ Ｏｈ， ｔｈｅ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｓｅｅｍ ｔｏ ｌｉｋｅ ｈａｖｉｎｇ ｌｏｔｓ ｏｆ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｄｏｉｎｇ ｓａｍｅ ｊｏｂ； ｏｒ ｏｎｅ ｐｅｒｓｏｎ ｄｏｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｒｋ ｗｈｉｌｅ ５ ｏｔｈｅｒｓ ａｄｍｉｎｉｓｔｅｒ ｏｒ ｓｕｐｅｒｖｉｓｅ， ｉｔ ｔｏｏｋ ５ ＦＩＶＥ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｔｏ ｃｈａｎｇｅ ｍｙ ｍｏｎｅｙ， Ｉ ｗａｓ ｌｕｃｋｙ ｉｆ ｉ ｗａｓｎｔ ｆｉｌｌｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｆｏｒｍｓ （ｙｅｓ ｙｏｕ ｄｏ ｆｉｌｌ ｆｏｒｍｓ ａｎｄ ｏｎｅ ｆｏｒｍ ｐｅｒ ｃｕｒｒｅｎｃｙ） ｔｈｅｒｅ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｐｒｏｂａｂｌｙ ｈａｖｅ ｂｅｅｎ ６ ｏｒ ｍｏｒｅ！ Ｉｔ ｗａｓ ａ ｇｏｏｄ ｉｄｅａ ｔｏ ｇｏ ｔｏ Ｋｙｏｔｏ， ｓｏ ｍｕｃｈ ｔｏ ｓｅｅ， ｓａｗ ｍｕｃｈ ｌｅｓｓ ｔｈａｎ ｉ ｈｏｐｅｄ ａｓ ｉ ａｍ ｔｒｙｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｒｅｃｏｖｅｒ ｆｒｏｍ ａ １７ ｈｏｕｒ ｔｒｉｐ． Ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍｓ － ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ； ｖｅｒｙ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｉｓ ｗｒｉｔｔｅｎ ｉｎ Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ ａｎｄ ｖｅｒｙ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｓｐｏｋｅｎ ｔｏｏｇｏｏｄ ｐｏｉｎｔ； ｙｏｕ ａｓｋ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｌｉａｂｌｅ ｔｏ ｃｏｍｅ ｗｉｔｈ ｙｏｕ ａｌｌ ｔｈｅ ｗａｙ： ｄａｙ ｏｎｅ ｏｎ ａｒｒｉｖａｌ ｗｈｉｌｅ ｔｒｙｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｌｏｃａｔｅ ｍｙ ｈｏｔｅｌ （ｐｒｏｂａｂｌｙ ｔｈｅ ｃｈｅａｐｅｓｔ ｉｎ ｔｏｗｎ ａｔ ４２００ ￥ ａｂｏｕｔ ３０ ｐｏｕｎｄｓ ｓｔｅｒｌｉｎｇ） ｉ ｓｔｏｐ ａｎｄ ａｓｋ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ａｂｏｕｔ ｔｏ ｅｎｔｅｒ ａ ｂａｒ ａｆｔｅｒ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｗｏｒｋ， ａｂｏｕｔ ９．３０ ｐ．ｍ， ｔｈｅｙ ｐｈｏｎｅ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ａｎｄ ｇｅｔ ｔｈｅ ｎｕｍｂｅｒ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｈｏｔｅｌ， ｇｅｔ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ｔｗｏ ｇｉｒｌｓ ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ ｗａｌｋ ａｎｄ ｈａｎｄ ｍｅ ｉｎ ａｔ ｔｈｅ ｒｅｃｅｐｔｉｏｎ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｈｏｔｅｌ． Ｄａｙ ２ Ｉ ａｓｋ ｆｏｒ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎｓ ｔｏ ａｎ ｉｎｔｅｒｎｅｔ ｃａｆｅ， ａｇｉａｎ ｔｗｏ ｙｏｕｎｇ ｍｅｎ ａｓｋ ａｒｏｕｎｄ ａｎｄ ｐｏｉｎｔ ｍｅ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎ （ｊｕｓｔ ａｃｒｏｓｓ ｔｈｅ ｒｏａｄ ｅｍｂａｒｒａｓｉｎｇｌｙ）， Ｄａｙ ３ Ｉ ａｍ ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ ｆｏｒ ａ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ａｎｄ ａｓ ｉ ａｍ ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ ａｔ ａ ｍａｐ ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ ｃｙｃｌｉｓｔ （Ｉ ｈｉｒｅｄ ａ ｃｙｃｌｅ ｌａｓｔ ｎｉｇｈｔ ｆｏｒ ２４ ｈｏｕｉｒｓ， ｇｒｅａｔ ｗａｙ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｒｏｕｎｄ Ｋｙｏｔｏ ｏｎ ｐａｖｅｍｅｎｔｓ， ｉｔ ｉｓ ａｌｓｏ ｐｏｗｅｒ ａｓｓｉｓｔｅｄ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｉｓ ｈａｎｄｙ ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ｈｉｌｌｓ， Ｉ ａｍ ｂｅｃｏｍｉｎｇ ｍｏｒｅ ａｎｄ ｍｏｒｅ ｄｅｐｅｎｄｅｎｔ ｏｎ ｍｅｃｈａｎｉｃａｌ ｔｒａｎｓｐｏｒｔａｔｉｏｎ ａｓ Ｉ ａｍ ｒａｔｈｅｒ ｔｉｒｅｄ ｏｒ ｊｕｓｔ ｈａｖｅ ｔｏ ｆａｃｅ ｔｈｅ ｏｌｄ ａｇｅ！ ｒｅａｌｉｔｉｅｓ ｏｆ ｎｏｔ ｂｅｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｗａｌｋ １０ ｈｏｕｒｓ ａ ｄａｙ） ａｓｋｓ ｉｆ ｉ ｎｅｅｄ ｈｅｌｐ （ｉ ａａｓｓｕｍｅ ｔｈａｔ ｉｓ ｗｈａｔ ｓｈｅ ｉｓ ｓａｙｉｎｇ） ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ｐｒｏｃｅｅｄｓ ｔｏ ｆｏｌｌｏｗ ｍｙ ｏｎ ｈｅｒ ｂｉｃｙｃｌｅ ｆｏｒ ａｂｏｕｔ ｔｗｏ ｍｉｌｅｓ （Ｉ ａｍ ｎｏｔ ｓｕｒｅ ｉｆ ｓｈｅ ｈａｄ ｐｌａｎｎｅｄ ｏｎ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｔｈａｔ ｄｉｒｅｃｔｉｏｎ ｓｉｎｃｅ ｉｔ ｉｓ ｔｈｅ ｏｔｈｅｒ ｃｏｒｎｅｒ ｏｆ Ｋｙｏｔｏ ｆｒｏｍ Ｋｉｙｏｍｉｚｏｄｅｒａ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ｉ ｈａｄ ｊｕｓｔ ｌｅｆｔ． Ｉ ａｍ ａｗａｒｅ ｏｆ ｉｔ ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ ｌａｔｅ ｂｏｔｈ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ｏｐｅｎｉｎｇ ｈｏｕｒｓ ａｎｄ ａｌｓｏ ｆｏｒ ｒｅｔｕｒｎｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｂｉｃｙｌｅ ｂｕｔ ｂｙ ｎｏｗ ｄｏｎｔ ｈａｖｅ ｔｈｅ ｈｅａｒｔ ｔｏ ｔｕｒｎ ａｒｏｕｎｄ！ｅｖｅｎｔｕａｌｌｙ ｉ ａｍ ｄｅｌｉｖｅｒｅｄ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｇａｔｅ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｔｅｍｐｌｅ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｍａｎ （ｂｙ ｔｈｅ ｗａｙ ｅｖｅｎ ｔｈｏｕｇｈ ｙｏｕ ｄｏｎｔ ｕｎｄｅｒｓｔａｎｄ ａ ｗｏｒｄ ｔｈｅｙ ｗｉｌｌ ｓｔｉｌｌ ｃｏｎｔｉｎｕｅ ｅｘｐｌａｉｎｉｎｇ ｉｎ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ａｎｙｗａｙ） ｌｅａｖｅｓ， Ｉ ｐａｙ ｍｙ ｒｅｓｐｅｃｔｓ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｇａｔｅ， ｇｅｔ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｂｉｃｙｃｌｅ ａｎｄ ｆｉｎｄ ａ ｎｉｃｅ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｒｏｕｔｅ ａｌｏｎｇｓｉｄｅ ａ ｌｉｔｔｌｅ ｓｔｒｅａｍ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｂａｃｋ ｉｎｔｏ ｔｏｗｎ ｔｏ ｒｅｔｕｒｎ ｔｈｅ ｂｉｃｙｃｌｅ．Ｍｙ ｈｅａｒｔ ｗａｒｍｅｄ ｂｙ ｋｉｎｄ ｇｅｓｔｕｒｅｓ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｗｈｏ ｌｉｔｅｒａｌｌｙ ｇｏ ｏｕｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｗａｙ， ｓｅｔ ａｓｉｄｅ ｗｈａｔ ｔｈｅｙ ａｒｅ ｄｏｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｙｏｕ ｗｈａｔ ｙｏｕ ｗａｎｔ， Ｉ ｃａｎ ｒｅｌａｔｅ ｔｏ ｔｈａｔ， ｎｏｔ ｓｕｒｅ ｗｈｅｔｈｅｒ ｔｈｉｓ ｉｓ ａ ｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌ／ｒｅｌｉｇｅｏｕｓ ｔｒａｉｔ ｂｕｔ Ｉ ａｍ ｇｒａｔｅｆｕｌ ｒｅｇａｒｄｌｅｓｓ． Ａｔ ｔｈｅ ｒａｉｌｗａｙ ｓｔａｔｉｏｎ ｗｈｅｎ Ｉ ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ ａｔ Ｋｙｏｔｏ， ｉ ｎｏｔｉｃｅ ｔｈｅｓｅ ｍａｃｈｉｎｅｓ ｗｉｔｈ ｆｏｏｄ ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ ｏｎ， ｙｏｕ ｓｔｉｃｋ ｓｏｍｅ ｍｏｎｅｙ ｉｎ ｐｒｅｓｓ ｔｈｅ ｂｏｔｔｏｎ ａｎｄ ｇｅｔ ａ ｒｅｃｅｉｐｔ ｔｈｅｎ ｗｈｅｎ Ｉ ｗａｌｋ ｉｎｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｐｌａｃｅ Ｉ ｈａｎｄ ｉｔ ｉｎ ｔｏ ｔｈｅ ｇｕｙ ｂｅｈｉｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒ ａｎｄ ａ ｆｅｗ ｍｉｎｕｔｅｓ ｌａｔｅｒ ｍｙ ｆｏｏｄ ａｐｐｅａｒｓ， ｕｎｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ ｉｔ ｔａｓｔｅｓ ａｎｄ ｌｏｏｋｓ ｔｏｏ ｍｕｃｈ ｌｉｋｅ ｓｐａｇｈｅｔｔｉ ｂｏｌｏｇｎｅｓｅ！ ｔｈｅ ｐｌａｃｅ ｉｓ ｖｅｒｙ ｓｍａｌｌ， ｂａｒｅｌｙ ｏｎｅ ｍｅｔｅｒ ｓｐａｃｅ ｂｅｔｗｅｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｗａｌｌ， ｍｅｎ ｌｉｎｅｄ ｕｐ ｗｉｔｈ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｂｏｗｌｓ ｏｆ ｆｏｏｄ ｗｉｔｈ ｗｏｒｋ ｃｌｏｔｈｅｓ， ｌｏｔｓ ｏｆ ｓｌｕｒｐｉｎｇ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｏｎ ａｓ ｎｏ ｓｐｏｏｎｓ ａｒｅ ｈａｎｄｅｄ ｏｕｔ ｅｖｅｎ ｗｉｔｈ ｗｈａｔ ｌｏｏｋｓ ｌｉｋｅ ｓｏｕｐ ｓｏ ｙｏｕ ｄｒｉｎｋ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｂｏｗｌ．
Monday, December 7, 2009
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