Summer trip 3

Bex, Binkz and Tin's Voyage around Japan continued...

Day 16

A hectic morning - we bused and then taxi-ed to the wrong studio (Maica), we were already running late... so I call the studio and then we taxi again to the correct studio (Shiki - http://www.maiko-henshin.com/english/) and we begin our transformation into maiko!! (apprentice geisha).

Binkz and I are given some undergarnments and tabi (japanese socks) to change into before they put on the white foundation and maiko make-up on us. Next we picked any kimono we liked to wear. We stand there while the ladies dress us in many layers and extra padding.
After choosing an obi (sash) they put a wig on us -it was so very heavy.

Tin is by now already dressed as a samurai. Binkz and I wiggle over to the photo studio to get two pictures taken, one with a maiko bag and one with a ball thing. I thought Binkz was amazingly Japanese and maiko looking in her black kimono.

After our photos the ladies hitched up me and Binkz's kimono, gave us high high wooden geta to wear - it took a while for both of us to get used to them.
We went outside to take our own photos in the heat. After a while the wig was too much for us and we went back inside to undress.

It was such a weight off our shoulders!! literally!
Back in the change room there's instructions and oils, tissues, towels, face wash, moisteriser and everything for us to take off the make-up. We redress and go to pick up our photos. Binkz and Tin's were so pretty! but I must say mine was complete waste of money - I made a fugly maiko...

Near our studio are beautiful streets lined with old fashioned looking shops, it's a veritable maze of beautiful traditional arts and crafts, food and of course souvenir stores. We bought a lot of Kyoto sweets and stuff that day ^^.

The reason for this is the very beautiful and popular Kiyomizu Temple is also there. The very best viewing times are spring and autumn because the cherry blossoms and maple leaves are in full bloom. But it's all very nice anyway. The temple is built on the top of a mountain and it has a very nice view of Kyoto. In summer it's really really hot T_T

There's also a spring where everyone lines up to have a sip. Apparently if you sip once you prolong your life by a year, twice by two years and thrice by a long time.

Before we left we sat down under an awning for some refreshments. I had some hiyashiame which I later found out is a Kansai ginger drink very rarely seen outside the area. It was really really yummy!!

To finish the day off we once more visit Kyoto station, the station is again architectually impressive and new - it goes very high. The escalators and stairs go up at least 5 storeys - the top level has a nice garden/sitting level. There were soo many couples LOL.



Day 17

To Nara!! The very very first capital of Japan. We took the train - i had no idea the ryokan i booked was several stations from the actual Nara Station but my annoyance was removed when we saw how traditional and quaint this small town was.

We were only staying one night so after a rest and a late lunch we travel (the long way... lol) to Nara station and Nara Park. Almost as soon as we got off the bus we spot our first deer!!
As we amble our way through the park Binkz and Tin decide to buy some deer biscuits to feed the deer - the deer are aggressive in terms of food...let's just say it's an experience. I wasn't as brave hehe - I watched them get harrassed >=D

Todaiji Temple. The largest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan, and the biggest wooden building in the world - it was rebuilt to two thirds of its size.
It is THE most impressive place I've ever seen. The sheer size and age of both statue and the hall radiates an ancient and venerable energy you don't feel elsewhere.

Inside the hall (apart from the Great Buddha) is a pillar with a small hole at the bottom. If you can crawl through that hall you will apparently gain a spot in heaven (some sources say gain wisdom). Binkz and I managed to crawl through... it's kinda stupid cos that means larger people can't go to heaven - that's just bs.

Tin donated funds to the preservation of the temple by buying a tile that he wrote his name, place and a message on, that tile will be used in repairing the temple.

We wander around the park a bit more...seeing a big bell and more deer, and a beautiful sunset over and through the trees before having an oily Japanese BBQ dinner and sticker photos!!



Day 18

Off we train to Osaka!! The weather remains very hot and sweaty in Kansai - I get us slightly lost looking for J-Hoppers Osaka but with the help of some locals we get there ^^. Leaving our luggage there (it was too early to check-in) we have sushi for lunch - people stared when we went in lol. We wander around Osaka and Umeda before going back to the hostel.

Again we share a room. We were on the top level - it's a hell of a walk. The hostel is quite small, and the showers are on every other floor and there's a roof area at the top to look over Umeda though. Binkz figured out the co-eds are on the top floor, followed by guy/girls floors.

Umeda is the business and department store district, whereas Nanba is where everything else is - clubs, shops and food. We first walk along Dotembori - the foooooood place before calling Dara (ICS Osaka) to ask her where the shops were. We manage to find Shinsaibashi - shops galore!!!!!

We have dinner and then meet up with Dara later for dessert.



Day 19

Dara said she didn't believe in going out during the day...but we made her take us to Osaka castle ^^ . This is the second castle that's had a lot of historical figures use it. The top level gave us a good view of Osaka, the castle itself is like the other ones, the bottom levels full of history.
The garden around the castle is pretty extensive as well.

When we left we had some yummy sofuto (flavoured [or not] soft serve) - we walk around the grounds trying to find the station again, we find a dog standing on a man's bum bag with its forelegs on the mans shoulders... weird...

Dara mentions the longest shopping street in Japan - after getting very lost in the heat we taxi there. It definately is the longest street...but it's also the most boring - full of old pplz shops.

We all went home for a rest, then we went to have Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) Osaka style!! at the store where Nishikido Ryo went to - Dara took us lol.



Day 20

Binkz and I went shopping!!!!!

During our shopping adventure I noticed that Osaka people definately dressed differently to those in any other city we had visited. They wore a lot more revealing, skin-hugging clothes - which I might add is a big deal in Japan, they weren't actually that skin revealing - tattoos were also in plain view.
Definately NOT something that occurs in Japan (unless you're in a gang... but still they hang around certain areas).

The guys are definately hotter in Osaka!!! They're also better at dressing, some try and fail, but a greater percentage are successful in Osaka O.o Ahhh the eye candy >=D
Osaka is a very busy city - almost like Tokyo, people bustling around doing their own thing, often in a hurry. To be honest I haven't quite made up my mind about Osaka, I have nothing bad to say about it.

But the dialect was very pronounced here...hard to understand...other than that all good.

At night we went to Ame-mura (America Town) for some clubbing... our first attempt wasn't successful - the club was completely empty even after we'd been there for a couple of hours...

I went home early.



Day 21

I do believe we slept the day away...shopped a little then along with Dara went to a much better club called the Grand Cafe. No one danced much at first - but it got better. It was Dara's first time clubbing and she wanted to go to other clubs - the Grand Cafe was underground and a little small - so I went with her...Sitting outside the club for a rest many guys went up to talk to Dara hahaha

The other clubs we went to were pretty shocking...

Day 22

I spent the night at Dara's apartment and got a quick tour of her uni before we head off together to Hiroshima to meet up with Tin and Binkz. They were at Himeji and Kobe. It took a little while to train to Hiroshima, by the time we got there it had started raining again.

Dara goes to her hotel and I streetcar (tram hehe) my way to J-Hoppers Hiroshima. After we settle in Dara and I explore the area around dotombori?? i think it was... that's the hubbub area.