Not Fun Anymore

Eons ago, I mentioned that I would really love to go to Japan, the land of the rising sun. My parents were obviously against it, citing reasons like I’m too young, too reckless, know nothing about everything and tried to convince me that after graduation would be a better time. I did not take any of that.

Maybe I have been selfish in these matters, I decide and want everything my way. Calls were made to and from back home to me. Some were really good arguments, some turned ugly. I finally won them over but kept on questioning myself whether I went too far with my parents this time. I kinda had half a mind to give up when there were troubles booking the flight(we wanted to see the sakuras but the only flights available were from early May, which translates to being able only to see sakura tree trunks). But this chance will not come again, vaguely understanding this, I pushed on. And finally the flight was decided to be on 14th April 11:55pm, the day of the final paper for the exam week itself. It was unfortunate for my travel companion to have a paper that day and had to rush to catch the flight but she made it in time and that’s all that mattered.

So it was an Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo, two-week trip. We landed at Kansai International at 7 in the morning, local time, to a beautiful morning. Not bothered by lack of sleep, we soldiered on, almost with springs in our steps to check-in to our hotel. It took a 50-minute train ride and a 7-minute walk to our hotel(if we actually knew where we were going), which is located near Tennoji, Osaka.

Well, the walk around the park took us the whole afternoon and we headed back to the hotel. I was so tired I slept for an hour or so and by the time I woke up, it was around seven. Then I showered and we later headed up to Dotonbori for dinner. What’s disappointing, is that, in Japan, and I mean all parts, the shops close at 8p.m, sharp. If you walk the shopping areas any time after that, you’ll feel deserted. But thank god food outlets(and pachinko outlets) at least wait until 10. Yeah, 10, wth.

I had in mind to try takoyaki, little batter-balls filled with octopus and cabbage, because Osaka is where it’s originated and I love them to bits AND was thoroughly devastated when the ‘Tako Tao’ outlet in south city plaza bit the dust. I was hoping to find Tako King, with the famed “big red octopus wearing a crown”(to quote wikitravel). Instead , I found a giant mechanical crab(which was also a landmark of sorts, ok?). Never mind then, I settled for a takoyaki stall with a number of people gathering around and wasn’t that disappointed after all.

Now, of course those little balls weren’t filling. We walked around further and finally decided to have ramen at a supposedly famous shop. Hey, they’ve got newspaper clips and were supposedly recommended by lonely planet or something. And we weren’t disappointed.

Okay, this has somehow got to do with Naruto. I had expected to eat ramen by the roadside and stuff, but don’t you EVARR believe that lie. The most was just people standing while holding those huge noodle bowls to their face, slurping merrily away, and THAT was only in the train station. So, Japan myth number one, busted.

Pictures:

Onboard meal of a chicken or beef and I chose the beef.

Osaka Castle

 

Dotonbori at night

Kids looking forward for dinner at a goldfish stall en route to Osaka Castle

 

View from the window, Kansai International to Shin-Imamiya.

 

Dotonbori Street

 

Our main mode of transportation.

 

 

 

Guess what Phoebs? We saw Daffler The Wabbit near the castle.

 

The was an old dude playing Kuidaore Taro in the park near the Castle.

 

________________________________________________________________

I was so exhausted by the end of the day that I slept VERY well that night. Really, because I didn’t even catch 20 winks the night before.