Kyuushuu ho!
So before I head off to Kyuushuu, and slightly less likely internet access than Thailand, I think I've decided how to deal with creepy oyagi guy. I think I will write back to him as the teenage son of a middle aged woman who "owns" my account. I'll try and get it written and sent off today before I leave: C.O.G. has now taken to wasting internet space rather than just his own time -the latest email was a link to a compilation of his favorite songs for me..all love songs circa about 1992 mind you. I'm totally grossed out.
So Tom and I decided to do a day trip on Thursday. I found a webpage that gives maps and directions for several self guided tours in and around the Tokyo area, so we went out to Hino and did a shinsengumi tour! we got a bit lost at first, since there are several sites left over in the Hino area from the Bakufu. We turned the wrong way at first, since we saw a shinsengumi flag and followed it to a small museum that wasn't on my original plan (but it was closed for lunch) got directions from the mail carrier, when back to the main street, got more directions from the konbini clerk, stopped at the place we were looking for, read the kanji wrong and continued down the street looking for it. we finally get to a hospital and ask directions yet again, find out we've passed it, get told to go to the opposite side of the street. Walking back on the opposite side we find the library that we've been told is nearby and discover that yes, the "culture centre" is really what we were looking for. Luckily they had a discount ticket for that site and the museum that was next on our list and a very good map that led us there.
Tom and I got to dress up and Shinsengumi! Don't you think I'll have no problems passing as a boy in Nagasaki if need be? After we finished at that museum, where there was a very informative and patient guide to show us around and help us dress up, in the interests of finding food (and plain forgetting) we ended up walking to the next place rather than catch the bus we were supposed to. I'm actaully quite proud of my returning map-making and direction finding skills since we not only took a shortcut, but I chose the right street to turn on! At the bus stop we were supposed to get off at originally, we asked the very befuddled 7-11 staff which direction we needed to walk two minutes in. They eventually decided we wanted to go to the temple. They drew a very nice map on a paper towel and sent us on our way...though we found the place we were looking for on the way to the temple. No wonder they didn't know what we were talking about; the site had been turned into a youth centre!
We decided to have a peek at the temple, while we were there. I hould explain that all day Tom and I had been joking about stealing the "flags" that people use to advertise here. In the temple's graveyard I saw an unattended temple flag that I was this close from snagging. But you know, it's a graveyard you know...I'm not really keen on footless spirits haunting my walls. *laughs*
Since we had been walking so far and it hadn't been that bad, we decided to keep walking. The last stop was a big temple complex with a shinsengumi statue. When we were wandering near the fox-spirit shrine, I found a set of steps that were roped off. Since my Tara-devil had been thwarted earlier in flag snagging, I decided to ameliorate some of the tension by going up those same said steps while Tom found another way up. About halfway up I realized that there was a good reason why they were blocked: the steps were crumbling and cracking up pretty badly. But I made it unscathed to the top, with a smidgon of my naughtiness relieved.
Poor Jason...I may have to get rid of more in Kyuushuu. That and he has to beat my awesome manhole cover find! Beat this one Jason!
In Korea news, Tom and I have bought our tickets: April 8-17 for about $350 CND or so roundtrip. Guess who's excited? Now depending on the temp, I have to choose between the summerweight nice dress I brought, or my kimono if it'll be too cool yet for a backless, knee length dress. I've been practicing my shoddy obi-tying skills just in case...I'd better improve and soon!
Well, I'd better get into the shower and finish my packing and get my garbage taken out etc. I'll still be reachable on my cell while I'm gone if anything comes up. Until the 28th (or whenever I next get internet access!)
So Tom and I decided to do a day trip on Thursday. I found a webpage that gives maps and directions for several self guided tours in and around the Tokyo area, so we went out to Hino and did a shinsengumi tour! we got a bit lost at first, since there are several sites left over in the Hino area from the Bakufu. We turned the wrong way at first, since we saw a shinsengumi flag and followed it to a small museum that wasn't on my original plan (but it was closed for lunch) got directions from the mail carrier, when back to the main street, got more directions from the konbini clerk, stopped at the place we were looking for, read the kanji wrong and continued down the street looking for it. we finally get to a hospital and ask directions yet again, find out we've passed it, get told to go to the opposite side of the street. Walking back on the opposite side we find the library that we've been told is nearby and discover that yes, the "culture centre" is really what we were looking for. Luckily they had a discount ticket for that site and the museum that was next on our list and a very good map that led us there.
Tom and I got to dress up and Shinsengumi! Don't you think I'll have no problems passing as a boy in Nagasaki if need be? After we finished at that museum, where there was a very informative and patient guide to show us around and help us dress up, in the interests of finding food (and plain forgetting) we ended up walking to the next place rather than catch the bus we were supposed to. I'm actaully quite proud of my returning map-making and direction finding skills since we not only took a shortcut, but I chose the right street to turn on! At the bus stop we were supposed to get off at originally, we asked the very befuddled 7-11 staff which direction we needed to walk two minutes in. They eventually decided we wanted to go to the temple. They drew a very nice map on a paper towel and sent us on our way...though we found the place we were looking for on the way to the temple. No wonder they didn't know what we were talking about; the site had been turned into a youth centre!
We decided to have a peek at the temple, while we were there. I hould explain that all day Tom and I had been joking about stealing the "flags" that people use to advertise here. In the temple's graveyard I saw an unattended temple flag that I was this close from snagging. But you know, it's a graveyard you know...I'm not really keen on footless spirits haunting my walls. *laughs*
Since we had been walking so far and it hadn't been that bad, we decided to keep walking. The last stop was a big temple complex with a shinsengumi statue. When we were wandering near the fox-spirit shrine, I found a set of steps that were roped off. Since my Tara-devil had been thwarted earlier in flag snagging, I decided to ameliorate some of the tension by going up those same said steps while Tom found another way up. About halfway up I realized that there was a good reason why they were blocked: the steps were crumbling and cracking up pretty badly. But I made it unscathed to the top, with a smidgon of my naughtiness relieved.
Poor Jason...I may have to get rid of more in Kyuushuu. That and he has to beat my awesome manhole cover find! Beat this one Jason!
In Korea news, Tom and I have bought our tickets: April 8-17 for about $350 CND or so roundtrip. Guess who's excited? Now depending on the temp, I have to choose between the summerweight nice dress I brought, or my kimono if it'll be too cool yet for a backless, knee length dress. I've been practicing my shoddy obi-tying skills just in case...I'd better improve and soon!
Well, I'd better get into the shower and finish my packing and get my garbage taken out etc. I'll still be reachable on my cell while I'm gone if anything comes up. Until the 28th (or whenever I next get internet access!)