Well, this is it. 18 days in Japan and 3 nights in KL, over in a blink of an eye. I can't explain how this feels; it's the kind that makes me smile to myself when I think back about the past half-month of memories in a foreign land, and I can't seem to specify exactly what I'm so happy about. In the past 21 days, I have learnt new things about different people, from the people I travel with to other travellers whom we've met on the way. I like listening to them tell me about their travelling stories and what bigger adventures have planned in future; I like the glow in their eyes when they do. It makes me want to grow up with them, so I can watch them accomplish what they're set out for (or perhaps even join them). More importantly, I have learnt that the horizons are endless. There are so many things out there we've yet to see and so many people out there we've yet to meet. But it all comes down to whether you're willing to take that step out to explore what's behind those borders. All I've ever needed was a pinch of courage and an ounce of faith (and maybe the boldness of these insane travel buddies) to push my boundaries a little further. Here's to never stopping. I'm never stopping. But for now, I'm home. And I'm here to tell my story :-)
Day 1: It was an overnight transition flight under AirAsia from Singapore to KL to Nagoya. The boys managed to snitch a worthy deal of $350+ to and fro inclusive of 20kg luggage weight. SO CHEAAAP.
Day 2:
Touched down at the Nagoya Chubu Airport and immediately made our way to Kyoto via the meitetsu train. Our place of stay, JAM Hostel was conveniently located in the Gion district, where we could witness the culture of Geishas whom we occasionally catch a glimpse of when they walk on the streets at night. Also, the Yasaka Shrine just two streets down, that we chanced upon, was a street food paradise. Apparently, the week we arrived was the creme de la creme of the Sakura season so there were large groups of locals at the Maruyama Park doing Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) and drinking tea under the Sakura trees. Like kids in an amusement park for their first time, we were awed by every little thing, from the Sakura flowers that greeted us at every corner of the road to the hot canned corn soup from the convenience store. The weather was chillier than expected, but thank god for the hot shower back at the hostel.
JAM Hostel (Kyoto, Gion)
70 Tokiwacho, Higashiyama-ku,
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0079, Japan
http://www.jamhostel.com/
8-bed mixed dorm, ¥2670($32.73)/night
Day 3:
Set out early in the morning for our VIPlace-to-visit in Kyoto, the Kinkaku-ji, otherwise known as The Golden Pavillion. Think a large golden temple settled in the middle of a glistening lake; the entire place shimmers as a whole. Pictures don't do the Kinkaku-ji justice. We were feeling adventurous that day, so we moved on to another huge tourist attraction site, the Arashiyama Village, where the Sagano bamboo park laid. Feeling small among tall people is one thing, but walking into a forest where bamboo plants tower over you by almost tenfold is another.
Day 4:
Our Australian roommate, Paul warned us about the three-hour hike up the mountains at the Fushimi Inari Taisha but we decided to take on the challenge anyway. We thought it'd be easy peasy lemon squeezy but noooo, it almost brought Nic and I to death. Luckily for the boys they've literally just climbed Mt Everest the week before, so it was peanuts to them (my friends are so cool). The Fushimi Inari Taisha is known for its thousands of torii's (large bright orange/red Japanese gates) and kitsune (fox) statues. It's a mesmerizing view from the top (therefore the achievement pose in the above picture). Also, nothing beats a carton of piping hot takoyaki after a 4km hike. Nothing.
It was our last night in Kyoto and we sought refuge from a Manga/internet cafe named MediaCafe Popeye and boy I didn't regret. For ¥1980($24.27)/pax, we were provided with a "flat seat" room that can accommodate for two, free showers, free flow of beverages, free access to manga/internet, a TV and a computer and even free shower amenities.
MediaCafe Popeye
B1, 42-6 Ebisu-cho, Sanjō agaru,
Kawaramachi, Nakagyō-ku
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
http://www.mediacafe.jp/branch/sanjokawaramachi/index.html (JP)
Flat seat room, ¥1980($24.27)/night
Day 5:
The Kiyomizu-dera temple was undergoing massive construction work so I didn't get to take much pictures of the place. But I took the opportunity to snap secret shots of other tourists in rented Kimonos. Trust me, it's not easy to get one of them to take a picture with you or pose for your camera. Also, there was this talented old man who was painting landscapes of the place like it was his hobby. He just sat there, along the sides of pathway, doing his thing while everyone else crowded around him in amazement. I've noticed how people in Japan are constantly displaying the culture of art, regardless of age or occupation. I'd love to immerse myself in such a society.
Took the WillerExpress coach (http://willerexpress.com/) from Kyoto to Osaka in the afternoon for only ¥500($6.13) and we were hoping to catch a long nap but it ended up as an early arrival. Osaka felt different, definitely much more city-like, so I guess the level of hostility increased accordingly as well. But thankfully we ran into two kind youthful-looking ladies who kindly led us to the train station when no one else would. Grabbed a quick dinner at this amazing curry house near a mall called DD House before we retreated back to yet another MediaCafe Popeye in Osaka. Osaka's outlet is much more costly (approx 1.5x more) so we opted for a cheaper alternative there, which was the single-seater, meaning that only a table, chair and computer was provided. The experience was interesting but horrible. Do not compromise on your money for a bad night's sleep. (P.s. if you still wanna try it out, it's located at B1F of DD House)
Day 6:
Finding our hostel in Osaka was a tough job. Peace House Showa was located amidst the narrow allies of a quiet road, which made it difficult for us to recognise the turns or to ask for directions. Didn't expect the area to be a "no talking" zone. I'm not even exaggerating; there were signs for it. We made a swift check-in, set up our futons (Japanese mattresses) and left our backpacks there before we scooted off to make full use of the hours we had left before dawn. What else could have been a better plan than a soak at the onsen in a chilly weather like that? Naniwanoyu Onsen was our onsen of choice and it was only ¥800($9.81) per pax for unlimited hours! Plus the facilities weren't too bad at all. Nic and I brought our friendship to a whole new level soaking in the onsen naked together, hiak hiak. The Sakura pink pool was my favourite (mainly because it was opaque so that made things less awkward for us but also mostly because it's pink).
Peace House Showa
2-8-4 Sanno, Nishinari-ku,
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 557-0001, Japan
5-bed mixed dorm, ¥2500($30.65)/night
Naniwanoyu Onsen
1-7-31 Nagaranishi Kita-ku,
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 531-0061, Japan
Unlimited hours, ¥800($9.81)/pax
Day 7:
Surrounding the Osaka Castle are ancient citadels and gates, accompanied by a beautiful trail of Sakura trees (perks of travelling during the Sakura season). There are eight stories in total and each tells a tale about the history of the Osaka Castle in chronological order, from up to down. Also, aren't we kawaii in our checkered shirts together? ^_^v
For night activities, we explored the Dotonbori shopping street. Expect lotsa small eateries (esp for okonomiyakis) and Japanese snack stores. That's where you'd wanna find good food and souvenirs at.
To be continued...
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