May 26 - Castle In a Box

                   We woke up feeling refreshed after a night of DELISHUS relaxation at the Yumenoi Ryokan. We had a long and restful bus ride back to Himeji City where we checked into Hotel Claire Higasa. We then headed towards Himeji Castle, but not before having lunch and an epic dessert as always. (Can we say FRUIT EXPOLSION?!

                  We arrived at Himeji Castle, which some of us joked was limited edition and could be taken home in a box. We were all amazed at how immense it was. As some people would agree, it was an anticlimactic experience due to the scaffolding structure that surrounded the Castle under renovations. Overall, it was remarkable to see the renovations in progress as well as tour the main tower and get an inside look at the original interiors of a Japanese castle.

                  After touring the Himeji Castle, we made our way to the Koko-En Garden where we had a chance to practice our tea ceremony etiquette during a private tea ceremony. We made it inside the tea house just as the rain arrived. The tea house provided us with great views of a garden, great hospitality and tasty, delicious sweets and green tea.  After having great conversation with the ladies that served us our tea, we walked through the gardens and admired the landscape and ponds full of Koy and Carp.

Although it was raining, we were able to enjoy the gardens without school kids in every other photograph and take in the peaceful views. The day ended with every one splitting up for dinner. Hannah opted for a yummy sushi and mango dinner from the grocery while Piper and I joined Rochelle, Jesse and Amanda and had a SCRUMPTIOUS Chinese meal and enjoyed a couple of rounds of arcade games for dessert.

Until next time!

-Bernice, Piper, Hannah



May 25- Rest and Relaxation at the Onsen

Moving on, today is the day we get to go to the onsen, (which is basically like a vacation hotel with hot springs), awesome!

We had our final breakfast at the hotel we stayed at which consisted for me of Chinese noodles(?) rice, orange juice, fish and a lot of other delicious stuff. We got to watch a weird Japanese TV show about eating food, flying in tiny helicopters and saving the rain forest while doing so. 

 After break fast we had some free time so some of us (Hannah, Buehler and I) went down by the bay (where the water melons grow) since we were already by an ocean and it would be really cool. On the way we saw a gigantic fish that was a part of a café (like five stories tall). When we got there, it was nice and refreshing. Looking at the ocean while still being able to see the mountains behind us, it was quite a spectacle. We sat down and chatted leisurely for a while as Chris transformed into lobster man. We were actually at a place called Earthquake Memorial Park with spacious surroundings, weird structures and a pirate ship.

 

Leaving for the onsen at noon we took a long ride up the mountain where we had nice scenic views of the rice fields. It was pretty long so most of us dozed off.

 Our rooms were traditional Japanese style again, and we had the nicest view. While on the balcony, someone was playing a flute as we gazed at the mountains ( it was Hannah’s Japanese lover calling to her).

The onsen was huge, commercial looking and relaxing. The entry way was really western looking but it had a nice garden we could walk out into. I’m proud to say that I wore my yukata all day and like most everyone, went quickly into the baths. It was the ladies’ day for the big baths so we soaked to our hearts content. The open air bath had such a nice view of the mountains. With the cold air mixing with the warm water, it was really refreshing.

 

Later at night we had another group dinner like that at Koyasan but more delicious. Eating back in America will never feel so whole again. After eating, we finally got our group picture with everyone in full Yukata gear. The hostess took our picture and told us we looked like a choir and asked us to sing. We sang Rocky Top and danced around, and I quote from her,” ah, to be young.” After dinner, most of us took another refreshing dip.

 

Everyone just got really silly at night as we visited everyone else’s rooms. In the boy’s room we learned how to burp, talk while breathing in, play big booty,  remember hand clapping games and act like Japanese ghosts with hair in our faces (mostly just Rochelle with a little Amanda on the side). Bernice almost stabbed Rochelle in the face with an umbrella, and Amanda made cat noises inside a closet.

 

Walking back to sleep, the beds were folded out so nicely in the dark, with a lone lantern guiding the way, I love onsens.

May 24_ Kobe (Chinatown, Japan)

We woke up this morning and headed for Kobe (Sayonara Western breakfast!). With Amanda leading the way we were lucky to get to our hotel in Kobe (it was conveniently located right across the street from the subway station). We soon discovered that we were in the center of Chinatown (helloooooo, delishus Chinese FOOOOOOD!). Our lunch comprised of steamed buns with meat (?), wonton noodle soup and ice cream! Since we were in Chinatown, it was nice to finally be able to eat our food while walking the streets (well, all the kids were doing it). After lunch, we were led by Bernice down the treacherous path down to the Earthquake Museum and Hyogo Art Museum (Bernice claims it was David, but anyways, it was comparable to "human frogger"). 

When we arrived at the Earthquake Museum, we watched a simulation of the 1995 Earthquake of Kobe. It was really shocking to most of us because none of us have ever experienced anything like that. The damage from the Kobe earthquake was unbelievable to see but the scope of damage from this year's earthquake in Northeastern Japan far surpassed it. Although the museum allowed the visitors to understand the magnitude of the Kobe quake, it also showed how Kobe has recovered and rebuilt itself. The rebuilding of the city was really focused around the residents and their experiences by adding more quality public spaces. The Kobe quake was an important lesson for Japan to learn about future building codes and precautions to take; this tsunami should be a similar lesson. 

The redevelopment of destroyed waterfront of Kobe was designed by Tadao Ando (aka God…or Buddha). The complex comprised of an Art Museum, amphitheater, large boardwalk and smaller parks, had a very European feel as in being spacious and having a very linear organization. The art museum was organized into 3 bars with a curtain wall enclosing an inner concrete box (aka The Modern Fort Worth also designed by Tadao Ando). Jesse, Amanda and Bernice were running a little early (we're never early) so they decided to slow motion run to Chariots of Fire (well, it was only Jesse). 

FOOOOOOD time! Back to Chinatown…this time Jesse and Rochelle ate all of Chinatown's meat (?) supply (literally). Here's our tasty list of our meat treats: a steamed bun with meat (?), yaki-tori (skewers with either beef (?) or chicken (?)), Lord Stowe's custards (DELISHUS! and conveniently located in every city we have traveled minus the buddhist monastery…they're just not soggy enough), beef (?) croquette, a humburger (yes, that's right, humburger…FYI Jesse ate the last humburger (DELISHUS) and Bernice was pissed), a mango slush, french fries and a chicken snack from good ole' Mickey D's (seriously, DELISHUS!). Then we finished the day with Totoro (To-to-ro To-to-ro note: must be swaying while singing). That is all. Ok.

Sayonara,

Rochelle, Amanda and Jesse

May 23 - Rain, Rain, Go Away!

            Rain streaming down endlessly, we began our morning with much-needed beauty sleep. Today was deemed a free day; allowed to wake up as we chose, most of us, unsurprisingly, chose to sleep in as late as possible. Our shoes were still a bit damp from yesterday, and the sky gave no hope of drying them out any time soon; in Kyoto it rained from sun up to sun down.

            As per the unsatisfactory weather, some of our number chose to utilize the free day for catching up on reading, managing photos, or contacting family and friends. Others, less inhibited by the rain, ventured out into the soggy city to sketch, shop at our group's favored Japanese dollar store, or simply walk around to escape our hotel. 

            In the evening, some of the group went downtown and had an interesting dining experience. Upon entering the establishment, they found a vending machine that displayed dinner options, which ranged from individual selections to entire meals, that they paid for and were in turn given a ticket. The waitress collected the tickets once they seated themselves, and in a Jetson-like fashion they were delivered their food. The waitress struggled with explaining the concept of bottomless bowls of rice, just as they struggled with understanding why a vending machine should replace a waitress. The highlight of the night was the waitress' comical explanation: "Many, many rice, eat, okay."

            Although the day was not as eventful as our other days in Japan, the group concurred that the rest and rejuvenation was well needed and well deserved.



May_22 The first day of rain.

(click to elnarge images)

Waking up this morning, the sun wasn't shining, for we had the looming clouds over head. Noticing this sudden change in weather we all ran and grabbed our rain gear before heading to the Silver Pavilion. 

Upon arriving at the Silver Pavilion, we were greeted with deep, deep sand raking that looked almost dug out of the earth, instead of the typical ones which seemed to be made using a garden rake. A few moments after we arrived on the Pavilion grounds, first came the thundering of the school children, followed shortly by the thundering of rain. The whole pavilion area was soon covered in both, with the two noises sharply…"contradicting" each other. 

 After a now hasty walk around, we left the Pavilion, and started off to look for a tea house. This adventure was cut short by the squishing of socks in shoes and it was decided the course of action would be to head to the International Manga Museum a few hours earlier than we had planned. 

Lunch was bought from Fresco's grocery, which was eaten before we walked down to the International Manga Museum. By now the rain had thankfully stopped, and it allowed us to see a rare site. Behind the walls of the Museum, in it's courtyard we saw Japanese Cosplayers.  For those of you not familiar, a Cosplayer is simply one who dresses up as a character from their favorite animated TV show, film, or video game. None of us had expected to see them there in the courtyard and we were all awed at the level of detail and craft that was put into these costumes. 

 

Later, we had a few hours of free time, then we met up for a group dinner. I think one of David's favorite stores is Takashimaya, for that is where we've had quite a few rendezvous points. After we had all met up we found a nice little japanese restaurant where everyone had their fill of raw fish, Okonomiyaki, octopus and (some) sake. Seeing how David has more than one sweet tooth for desert, we promptly finished dinner and set out for what I know is David's favorite store in Japan. 

Now, when I say this store has the most epic Ice Cream I have ever seen, I am not joking. On display were over 50 kinds of ice cream, ranging from leaning towers of soft-serve, to giant, $100 bucket delights of sugary goodness.  Just one parfait was, well…amazing. When we were served we had our breaths quite literally taken away with the sheer awesomeness of the dessert placed in front of us.

After that day and that dinner, we waddled back to the hotel, quite content. 

~Buehler, Andrea, Alicia