Enlarge text at your browser's menubar: view>zoom
Labels: memory
The best ever wish of my life came true.
Went to japan!
@ kansai region. went to osaka, nara and kyoto prefectures and the main towns there
Gotten off wikipedia.
the highlighted region is Kansai
*transferring frm cam to com now, will probably post some here too*
Experienced way too many things there. Summarise time!
Places/attractions
Mainly see. Temples. Shrines. Castles
Such as the Todaiji temple which is a world heritage site by unesco
Beautiful gardens and dachangjin-isque buildings
The nijo castle in kyoto, another world heritage site [they have alot of those huh...]
Caste in the distance. Was playing with camera shots =D
i think this is osaka castle btw. not nijo
See cities and long shopping streets that can run our 2.4 and havent finish.
yeah serious! osaka had a few of those streets. longest being like 2.6 km i think...
Hella yeah. a general sight. crowded streets.
OH Oh, went to 8 storey aquarium, kaiyukan. nice place.
Autumn season = red leaves!
very beautiful sight all over, makesure u bring cam along if u are going!
Food
see alot of displays like this outside shops
Foodwise. can be considered eye opener to some extent.
They eat alot.
Like. In a set. you get. rice with toppings like mushroom. small plate of pickled veg. A plate of meat or tempura or anything. AND a big bowl of udon noodles in miso.
Beat that. Its rice and noodles in a meal. each separately the amt enough for one.
Cost: not too ex ranging from 700 odd yen to 1000? thats like only about $16 max.
NOTE: This is only a 2 bowl meal of rice with pork katsu and noodle. imagine more hehe.
Takoyaki oct balls that we eat here? BAHH! you know, that one sucks big time
The oct balls there. *Hehe* super tasty with a nice chunk of oct inside unlike here as well as lots of bonito flakes with lots of sauce and mayo..
One for 50 yen only.. which is like 80cents with exchange rate 1000yen - $16
Tried japanese curry? they have it quite widespread there, curry rice blah
its not like ours here. spicy or a lil creamy with our coconut milk.
japanese curry is NOT spicy [they cant take hot] and is SWEET [yumm. really]
They like bread alot. tho breads are overpriced there like our $1 odd sugar bread [just an eg.] can cost $3 there. Get my point?
Ramen.. they have super thick stock. if u havent tried. try it.
Tried once there, a bowl 600yen which is cheap. Tho not as gd as the one uncle treated us here. hehe. a secret restuarant that serves authentic jp fd.
Sashimi and sushi. too bad teh old folks don appreciate such greatness! nvm. anyw, alr tried rarities under uncle's treat. what abt sea urchin for u?
Shabu shabu. their ver of steamboat. nothing impressive. id rather save my money and go to one down back here. its cheaper and nicer.
They have super big and exp fruits..
They love starbucks. too many outlets around.
People
what to say! im starting to treat japanese like an elite race already...
well they are courteous and stff. keep smiling. bow as u come in/go out of shop, or buy things.
Strays a little off. The cute lady who served me my curry rice. i saw her once only =/
heartwarming salespeople. mr cow tongue and mr muah chee.
you all gave so many samples with such big portions everyday i wonder how u recoup losses!
They cycle alot! many bikes all over zipping across
MINUS: smoking everywhere! they have many designated smoking areas. some restaurants can smoke! zzzt.. feels like las vegas..
Fashion!
autumn/winter season
stockings for ladies. high boots. furrycoats
beanies. earmuffs. and surprisingly still many miniskirts.
guys. trendy jackets, bubbly material.
jeans.. nice hair there! weet
students! in winter uniform!
sweet. guys are so suave in that blackcoat attire. so feel like buying. longlong hair unlike us.. zzt.
slingbags like many of us here.
girls. nice attire, short skirts. high socks. black schgirl shoes [what they called?]
Technology
What powers a guy besides girls, really.
its tech. the sweetness, the sleek, the fast pace, the raw power, the metal and shine, the speed..
my particular fav.
KETAI! handphone cameras.
They are everywhere. they are so advanced. they come flipping in clam types. they have rotatable screens. they watch tv on phones. u see them surfing web on trains, anywhere, while here, people dont really use it.. they come with big megapix cam. they [newmodel] can come waterproof. now hows that. hehe. crazyness.
Picked up a nice phone at the airport. 911sh by sharp. actl its very old, just for keepsake and memories cos i cant use it here either. incompatible networks
trains! subway is really a mess ini with so many lines. operators. subway and kintetsu and JR ... but after awhile it got really easy to use.
Toilets! super hightech too.
like seat warmers. special spray to wash ur bottom.
Entertainment
Hehe. loads of it. on tv
have many animes. caught one piece. gundam. some hello kitty thingy haha.
Shops selling anime character attire! now thats the ultimate otaku enjoyment!
gameshows! u really must appreciate all the laughter!
The comedian who looks like my uncle. i think. haha
Music!
my my. going crazy. heard so many songs in one short period of time!
nakashima mika. ai otsuka. koda kumi. tohoshinki...
An opinion here. if u ever go anywhere. TAKE SQ.
The onflight entertainment has many jap songs! WAHAHA. And they are all within 6months old only if im not wrong. many fresh hits/new artists to explore.
For kyouhei at least. i knew about people like arashi. my recent fav ikimono-gakari
heard many other known names. utada [YAYY] ken hirai, orange range, chemistry, crystal kay
So much for japan.
HIGHLIGHT
Ikimono-gakari's Akaneiro no Yakusoku [sunset promise wld be a more apt name than the one on wiki, crimson coloured promise, if we see some lyrics]
Ikimono Gakari - Akaneiro no Yakusoku
作詩：水野良樹 作曲：水野良樹
茜色した 陽だまりのなか 無口な風が ふたりを包む
歩幅合わせて 歩く坂道 いつもあたしは 追いかけるだけ
standing in the glowing red sunny spot, the silent breeze wraps around us
walking in step on the road, i am always chasing after you
つまずいたり 転んで 泣いてみたり
決して うまく 生きれる あたしじゃないけど
あなたがほら あたしの 手を引くから
恐がる 心も 強くね なれるよ
to stumble and fall, and to cry
i've decided to live well, its not me but
look, because you've let go of my hand
even my fearful heart has become strong
だから
therefore
泣いて 笑って つないだこの手は 重ねた言葉に負けない 約束
あなたに 出逢えた 茜の空に ほら あの日と おなじことを 願うよ
just cry and laugh, this hand that was held is a promise in the many words that can't be lost
in the glowing sky of when we met, look i am still wishing for the same things as then
時はいつでも 木の葉散るように 知らぬ間に手を すり抜けていく
time is always like the scattering leaves, your hand is slipping away while i'm not noticing
ひとつひとつ 季節は過ぎていくけど
あと いくつの 想いを 伝えられるだろう
ありふれていた 日々さえ 戻せはしない
この毎日を 一瞬を 愛しく 想うの
one by one, the seasons pass but
after, how many of my thoughts reached you?
i can't even bring back the normal everydays
all those days and all those moments feel so dear
だから
therefore
涙も 笑顔も つないだこの手も 幾重の写真に負けない 想い出
あなたに 出逢えた 茜の空に ほら あの日と おなじことを 誓うよ
tears and smiles and this hand that was held, memories in the many photos that can't be lost
in the glowing sky of when we met, look i am still making the same vows as then
やがて「別れ」が訪れても ふたり すべてを 受け止めていく
「出逢った場所」も「今いる場所」も 永遠に 心と 繋がっている
ほら 振り返れば 足跡が 続くよ
before long we'll have to reach our 'farewell' and everything about us will end
the 'place we met' and the 'place we are now' will be close to my heart forever
look, if we look back, the footprints continue on
だから
therefore
泣いて 笑って つないだこの手は 最後の瞬間まで 離しはしないで
この道の先を またふたりで
歩いていこう… 歩いていこう…
just cry and laugh, this hand that was held, don't let go of it until the last moment
before this road, together again
lets walk, lets walk
だから
therefore
泣いて 笑って つないだこの手は すべての言葉に負けない 約束
あなたと 出逢えた 茜の空に ほら あの日と おなじことを 願うよ
just cry and laugh, this hand that was held is a promise in all the words that can't be lost
in the glowing sky of when we met, look i am still wishing for the same things as then
ikimonogakari daisukiiiii!