Friday August 8, 1997: very late
I'm not even going to bother with any details of my day cuz it would undoubtedly be eclipsed by the happenings of the *drinking party*. Ah yes, my evening started at around 6:45pm when I left the office with Hidaka-san, Tsurumi-san, and Uesugi-san. Uesugi-san just got back yesterday rom a 3 month business trip to the States - that's why we were holding this drinking party. But even though he was in the STatues for so long he says that his English is bad. We talked in Japanese, so I wouldn't know.
We headed over to Tachikawa by train and from there walked to a bar called "Watami" - the same bar we went to for Shravan-san and Behera-san's welcome party. Everyone else was already there mostly - I'd say we were a party of 20. Wow. Right away they hand out the beer and we do a cheers (kampai!) and the drinking begins! Also, the food was enldless... wow. Anyways, everyone was drinking a lot! There was some free drink deal before 9... so I think we took advantage of that to the fullest! At one point I had a mug of beer, a glass of wine, a whisky sour, and some mystery drink (with a whole plum in it at the bottom) in front of me... oh well, so much for not mixing... Needless to say that eeryone was very talkative. I was sitting at a table with only Japanese guys, actually, the only other gaijin who went was Shravan-san. I got to talke with Uesugi-san and the other guy who'd gone on the trip too. I hadn't really met them before because they left Japan the day I arrived.
I can't describe how much fun this was - these guys are hilarious!
We were at Watami until 9 and I thought the party was over... but BOY was I ever wrong! Oh no, the evening's amusement had barely begun... we still had karaoke to go to. Awwwright! So we headed next door (how convenient!) to the karaoke place. We got a huge room to ourselves (as usual, in Japan), and it had a stage! A small stage, but big enough to make you feel like a star when you're up there.
So first things first, more drinks are ordered. Oh, and since I got tequila, my nickname "Tequila Goddess" came up. Heh. Oh, I was sitting beside the "freshman" as they call him, who started work with Epson last week (hence the label "freshman"). Well, one of the first things he asks me is if I like the Bangles! I'm like "Hello! 80s freak right here! DO I LIKE the Bangles?!!?" (In Japanese, you say this phrase as "Hai") And a few minutes later he points to a song in the book and asks me if I know it... guess what it was. Guess! "Dancing Queen" by ABBA! Woah! So I was like "Of course I know Dancing Queen - I AM the Dancing Queen!" and I explained how that is also my nickname. As it turns out, we've got the same taste in music - even the Japanese stuff!! It was funny when each time I'd say the name of a song that he liked too, he'd wave his hands and get all excited. Funny guy!
So I sang quite a few songs... "Dancing Queen" (of course), "Faith" (classic 80s!), "Patience", and a duet with Shravan-san to "California Dreamin'". Now Shravan-san didn't actually know the songs he sang ("California Dreamin'" was no exception), so he'd just kind of "speak" the lyrics on the screen in any tune, with any rythm, at any time. Everyone just clapped, yelled, whistled, and sang along - fabulous! Oh, it was great! We were there until midnight and then we headed on home.
Oh yeah, I walked home from the station with Mura-san again. And he told me that he'd tried out my bike route to work, cuz last time I'd told him a way to avoid all the big hills in between here and the office. Anyways, he said that at night it was scary because it's back paths with no lights. See? I'm not the only one who finds it that way!
Most people are leaving tomorrow for their holidays and taking Monday and Tuesday off so the office'll be empty! Cool.
What a night! I'm going to sleep...
Saturday August 9, 1997: 5:45am
Woah. I must've been really tired (or - uh - either that or I drank too much) because I woke up at 5 and my stereo was on really loud. I guess I fell asleep with it on (not unusual), but I can't remember. Anyways, I turned it off and went back to sleep, only to be woken up at 5:30 by an EARTHQUAKE! Yeah! And this time I actually managed to jump up and get under the doorway _before_ it was over. IT wasn't big, but it's enough excitement for 5:30 in the morning! Sheesh, I still feel light-headed from last night. Or was it from jumping out of bed so quickly? Anyways, it's time to get some more sleep.
11am
Wow, it's a scorcher out today - blue sky and everything. I'm debating whether or not I should go out... I don't want to be assaulted by 40C weather. I know that it was 36C right outside my kitchen windown at 9:30am, so my guess is that it's - uh - hot out!
Oh but tonight I *do* have a plan... there's supposed to be some matsuri (festival) in Shinjuku Central Park today and tomorrow, so I want to try to find it. It's supposed to start at 6, so I'll be headin' out before then, I guess.
noon
Some Apples n' Cinnamon Quaker Oatmeal package wisdom:
Demand, and you'll get a truned back. Ask, and you'll receive and outstretched hand.
Ooo.. even better...
Sunshine streams into a house filled with love
*Where* do they get these things from?!?
10pm
Well in the end I just couldn't take the blue sky anymore. There was no way that it could be such beautiful weather and me not be outside. So at about 2 I packed up my camera and left for Tachikawa. I thought I would go there and find that neat park I've heard people talk about. I was going to read through the TONS of information I have on Kyoto/Osaka/Nagoya/Nara at the park, somewhere *in the shade*. But, alas, nothing ever goes as planned in Alexa-world, as I've discovered, and I ended up WALKING to Tachikawa (an hour) (in the heat) (regretting it the whole time) instead of taking the train. There wasn't a particular reason I walked - well, it was because the sky was so blue!
After about 10 minutes of walking I realized the stupidity of the choice as the heat became kinda overbearing. Oh well, I couldn't be bothered to turn around ("backtracking" is a word not in Alexa's vocabulary) so I just kept on going. So by the time I got to Tachikawa, I was a bit overheated. So instead of finding the park (which would require walking and undoubtedly getting lost) I found myself an air conditioned department store to cool down in. That was nice.
At about 4:45 I made my way over to Shinjuku to find that matsuri (festival). First I had to find the Shinjuku Central Park, which ended up being really easy - I suppose it's because I'm getting quite familiar with Shinjuku. Anyways, it's a really, really, beautiful park right in the middle of West side Shinjuku... the high-rise centre of Tokyo. You wouldn't even know it though, from inside the park, because there are these huge overhanging trees and beautiful paths. I even found a temple that was very cool. I drank some of it's holy water stuff for good luck... and of course, I found the matsuri! I was there a bit early so they were still getting set up. They were playing Japanese folk music really loud of loudspeakers. In the middle of the large clearing where the matsuri was being held stood a huge platform - maybe 6 metres tall. And on the top there was a huge kettle-type drum on its side, and some guy dressed in traditional clothes rythmically drumming to the music. Not only did it sound great, but he also looked really good drummmin. There seemed to be a whole art to it. From the top of this platform to each corner of the clearing there were festive lanterns hanging from a suspended rope. All along the perimeter of the place food stalls and a few games stalls were set up. But the best part was the people. Since I was a bit early there weren't many people, but the ones that were there were predominantly dressed traditionally. Actually, many of the women, dressed in beautiful kimonos, were already out practicing the bon odori (folk dance) for which they were holding this matsuri. They stand it a circle and with very slow deliberate movements, perform the dance. Many of the moves reminded me of farming movements, such as raking the earth, throwing seeds to the ground, and harvesting. In a way, I could see where the dance originated from.
Soon more people started arriving and the festival began. What this means is that they turned the music up, the guy on the drums really got into it, and the women dancers moved their circle to surround the platform; a large circle surrounding the the small circle surrounding the platform. And spectators joined in, some already knew the dance and some just tried to follow along. There were 60 year olds and 6 year olds and every age in between. It was really beautiful. Next time I'm going to joing in, even if I *am* the most uncoordinated Canadian to set foot on Tokyo soil. Ever.
I left at about 7 because I wanted to get back to Hino before 8. Why? Well, let me tell you. See, as I was walking to Tachikawa earlier on in the afternoon, I saw a sign in passing, and the word "matsuri" (festival) caught my eye. Actually, that's more impressive than you may think because it's not often that something written in Japanese "catches" my eye! Ok well, I went to examine the sign more closely and found that it was just my luck that I could understand it! And even luckier was that it said there was a festival TONIGHT at the Hino Central Park, right by my house! Wow, a festival so close! Coolness.
So I only got to the Hino matsuri at about 8, and things were winding down. But there were just tons of people, again, of all ages. It seems as though this matsuri was more in an amusement-park style, with lots of games and activities for kids and stuff.
I walked around for a bit, and then found the jazz banc that was playing in hounour of the matsuri, oh, I *do* love jazz! It was fabulous, I just stood there tappin' my feet until they had to stop playing because of the end of the matsuri. Aaah, it was great! And now I'm going to start planning my trip!
Sunday August 10, 1997: 3pm
OK, I am now an *expert* on Kyoto. Fine, I'm not an expert, but I've been reading for the last 6 HOURS!! Sheesh. All I can say is that I should be spending 2 WEEKS in that city, not my measly 2 DAYS. Actually, I've decided to spend one of my Osaka days in Kyoto because Osaka is, like, void of things to do, and Kyoto's got TONS. OK, here's the planned itinerary (editor's note: in Alexa-world nothing EVER goes as planned...)
*Tues Aug 12th*
3pm leave by Shinkansen for Nagoya. I'm freeeee!
5:20pm arrive in Nagoya. Get some sights in if things are still open. Must check-in to the youth hostel by 9:30pm
*Wednes Aug 13th*
get up - gack - early and finish up Nagoya by lunchtime. Take some local train to Kyoto and check out the sights near the hotel (the hostel, btw, is 50 mins from the centre of Kyoto...)
*Thurs Aug 14*
get up eeearly (twice in a row?!?) and spend the day doingg Kyoto's East side. Yes, the whole darned East side. Sure, I'll have to move like superman, but I'm determined.
*Friday Aug 15*
This day I'll go to Nara and spend the day there. I HAVE to go on this day because they're lighting the 3000 stone lanterns at some famous shrine, and they only do this twice a year (Feb 3 & Aug 15), and it's supposed to be spectacular. At night I'll be staying in Osaka, 40 mins away.
*Sat Aug 16*
From Osaka I'll go back to Kyoto (40 mins), and like Aug 15th and Nara, I HAVE to go on this day because of the Daimonji Yaki. THe Daimonji Yaki is when they light huge bonfires in the shape of the Chinese character "dai", which means "great", on each of Kyoto's 5 surrounding mountains. This happens only once a year and is very famous. I'm really excited aboutit because I'm sure it will be phenomenal. I mean, these bonfires are huge! you can see them on the hillsides from any tall building in the city!! Oh yeah, during the day I'll do central Kyoto, along with the South. *whew*
*Sun Aug 17*
morning Osaka touring. I've heard that I'll only need the morning.
afternoon Kobe. Actually, I read that I shouldn't go there at all, but I'm defying the guide-book world.
*Mon Aug 18*
head back to Kyoto. Spend the day there doing whatever I didn't fit in on my other 2.5 days there. I can promise that there will be LOADS of things I'll be leaving undone. Sometime in the afternoon I'll make my way back to Nagoya - at 9:30pm or so my Shinkansen train leaves for Tokyo.
11:50pm arrive back in Tokyo. End of vacation. Must report to work early the next morning. Ack!
5pm
I just went to the grocery store and on my way there an ambulance told ME over its loudspeakers "chotto matte kudasai" (please wait a sec) Wow! That's sooo cool... in the middle of a busy intersection and traffic, I get the attemtion from the ambulance of the loudspeakers. I feel so special.
Oh - I saw a neighbour for the FIRST TIME! Seriously, I've lived in this building for 3 months now and the closest I've been to seeing anyone else living here has been to see a door close. I would think that no one else lived here except that the occasional knock on the wall/ceiling/floor/whatever reminds me that indeed, other people live here.
7:30pm
Well I've just packed my bag... and the contents are...
•one towel, one sheet (youth hostel does NOT provide)
•one pair of shorts, 2 tank tops
•PJs
•2 pairs of socks, lots of underwear (I'm a fan of clean underwear)
•one pair of running shorts and one running shirt
•hat
•flip flops (for the hostel showers...)
•toothbrush/toothpaste/soap/etc
•passport/money/train tickets (Mom, should I be bringing the passport?)
•the dictionary and my portable Japanese notebook
•a 20 pg. wad of my travel plans/temple info/maps
•my camera and one extra 36 roll
•swiss army knife
•one or 2 pens
•"A Brief History of Time", just in case I, like, have some spare time
On my body I'll be bringing:
•one t-shirt, one pair o' shorts, underwear and socks
•running shoese (I chose the runners over the Birks... good idea or not? I'll soon find out...)
You may notice that my journal is not included on either of these lists... don't worry, there's a good reason for that. I'm within 10 pages of finishing this one, and I'm pretty sure I'll write more than 10 pages on my trip. So I face this dilemma... do I leave this one behind with blank pages, and start a new one? Hmm, but I haven't bought a second journal yet - I want one with as much personality as this one. Or, I could bring this one along and hope I don't run out. Since I'm backpacking it, minimizing the weight on my back is a great concern! DIlemma!!!
Monday August 11, 1997: 6:30pm
Today I received my very first bday present, I'm so excited! Ok, I won't open it yet, I've heard it's bad luck to open them before your bday. Not like that's ever stopped me before...
So this morning that runner guy caught upto me about 3/4 of the way through. He's a tad annoying actually, because he runs a full metre in front of me (which is a lot when you're running) but won't just keep on running. It's the male ego thing... I've encountered it before (not only in males), but never a full metre! Oh, and he says "Hot, huh?" every 2 minutes. Seriously. Oh well, maybe it's just cause he doesn't know I can speak some Japanese. Ok ok ok, I'm being mean, I know. Hey, I met another runner and he seemed much more cool.
Oooo - and today at work a mysterious big green envelope was delivered to my desk by Nakamura-san. Hmm... what *could* it possibly be? So, I open the envelope to find.. to find.. a complete personalized health report! Yeah, you know that company checkup from hell and the 4 hours of filling in forms? Well, at least I got the most comprehensive assessment of my health EVER. Sure, I can't understand more than 1/10th of it because of the kanjis... but it's the thought that counts, I guess.
You know, today was really hot, but a real humid kind of hot. Ok, in Japanese you say hot as "atsui", and they have a special word for "humid and hot" - and it's so cool. Why? Well, guess what it is? That's right, "mushi-atsui". Neat. Now isn't that just perfect? Like, it feels mooshy ouside.. and hot.. so it's mooshy hot! I love it!
Well, this will probably be the last entry into this journal (this actual book, not writing the journal) because I bought a new one tonight. It's not anything special looking, but it'll do for now, I guess.
Oh, Hirabayashi-san told me some good news today - he said that he thought Kyoto wouldn't be as crowded as usual because during Obon people go home to their furusato (hometown). I knew this, but for some reason I still thought that Kyoto would be crowded. Hmm.. I may luck out!
Tuesday August 12, 1997: 8:15am
I'm so proud, I beat the sun up this morning! Really, I was up at the bright 'n early hour of 4:40 to run... yoiks. Anyways, I walked to work today with my loaded green backpack - all set to go on my trip! Ack, I'm so excited! Like, I can faintly hear the echose of Madonna's "Holiday" running through my head. Ya know, "If we took a holiday (oo yeah, come on), took some time to celebrate (come one, let's celebrate) -- just 6 days out of life (holiday!) it would be, it would be so nice.." Ok, so it's a bit different, but I don't care, I'm goin' away!!!
And the trip begins...
The Obon Holidays Special Edition: Day One...
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