[private] To Japan for the second time
Just a little introduction... ^^´
I knew it back then, two years ago. At the moment we left Tokyo for another part of our journey across the middle Japan, I knew that I have to return there again. Once was simply not enough.
That time, I was just a member of a big group of tourists, which happened to be an obstacle anywhere it moved (and it was really getting on my nerves >…<). As it was my first time in Japan, I was in awe over everything I saw and experienced. Not that I was not thrilled about the tiniest things AGAIN, only this time it was exactly that kind of vacation I was eager for. Being able to follow (and to constantly change) own schedule and spending hours on the places, which might seem insignificant to usual tourists, but they were precious to me. That was what I needed and that was what I enjoyed to the last bit.
If I should express it briefly, my second vacation in Japan together with my dear sis was one of the best periods of my life. To a stranger, I´m not able to explain properly, what attracts me to Japan so much, except mentioning the culture, nature, language, music, anime and manga. They still don´t understand. And maybe I do not understand it either… But I am really happy, that I have ever fallen for this country; taking it whole as it is, with its good and bad sides. I cannot imagine my life without it anymore…
Sorry, I will stop pondering about my inner ´Japanese self´ for now. And if you are interested, allow me to tell you something about the actual time I spent in Tokyo. ^^ I will divide my experiences in a few posts and I will try hard not to be boring. No matter if you were, are, going to be, or want to be in Japan, I hope you will enjoy reading this. ^^
As we live quite far from the Czech capital with its airport, our journey started on Saturday 20th September already, even though we were supposed to leave the country on Sunday. With the night spent in Prague, I didn´t have to worry so much about catching up our flight. In reality, we had even more time at hand than we had expected, as our flight was delayed for an hour…
This time, we used Russian airlines Aeroflot with a transfer in Moscow. We arrived there late, but fortunately with still enough time to find our gate at the other terminal. Sheremetyevo airport itself was… ehm, confusing and the staff there not very friendly. You can imagine I was really glad to see most of the passengers for our transfer to be Japanese. :D
The night flight was long and boring and cold, but as I already knew what to expect I managed to deal with it somehow. It was worse for my Nee-chan, who really suffered there. I think I watched some western on the way, but most of the time I tried to relax, as I was not able to actually sleep there.
And then, finally, before noon of Japanese time on Monday 22nd September we landed at Narita.
Heavily relieved that our suitcases arrived with us, we headed for the final check through customs. There we came across a very young officer, who obviously took his job quite seriously. He proceeded exactly like according to some textbook, as he searched through our luggages, uttering constant apologies. We had a lot of fun, when he tried to put our things back in the same order, as it was before and he failed awfully. I guess he has never played Tetris. XD Some other time I would be probably furious about somebody going through my personal stuff, but this time I had a hard time to suppress laughing, as well as my sis. XD
When we were finally allowed to enter the country (accompanied with a deep bow of the officer), we decided to eat something at the airport - which was the result of my stupidity for ordering a ´low fat version of that awfull airplane food´ and we also had enough time before checking in at our hotel. So I bought same take-out yakisoba noodles and we seated ourselves on the first free chairs… And guess what? I managed to barely bury the sticks in it, when three Japanese approached us and one of them was holding a mic, second a camera and the third one was a girl speaking to us in English. I was like this for a few seconds: O_O
Those guys were from the TV show: ´YOUは何しに日本へ？´alias ´Why did YOU come to Japan?´
I was able of just nodding on their request to make an interview. XD
Ok… We barely landed in the country and there was a TV on us already? I should have known that our vacation was going to be a lot of fun at that moment already. :D
So, we talked with them for quite long and it was surprisingly funny. But let me tell you, that when I searched for the show on YT, I didn´t find us there (I checked two episodes, which would probably include us). And I´m quite sure they cut us out. The reason? I guess we talked about KAT-TUN too much. Because, you know, it´s quite dangerous to ask Czech fangirls about what they like in Japan. XD
But we didn´t say anything forbidden or bad, I swear! Maybe, it was just that we mentioned Kame and Jin in one sentence? :D No idea, on the other hand I´m glad they didn´t include us probably, I was kind of nervous to be exposed on the Japanese TV and Internet. XD XD XD
Well, and that was the beginning and we were not even in Tokyo yet. :D
As the jet lag started to work gradually, we almost fell into a comatose state in the train, but luckily we managed to get off on Asakusa station. Our hotel was located one minute of walk from Kaminarimon Gate. ^^ And no matter the tiredness and the heavy suitcases dragging behind us, I had to smile seeing the chatting crowds on the pavement and feeling the smell of the sweets with bean paste...
After we accomplish to accommodate, wash away that awfull feeling from the long journey and let everyone home know that we arrived safely, we set off to the evening street. And there, seeing the bluish sparkles of Skytree across the river and standing next to Senso-ji temple, illuminated by beautiful lights, walking around lanters with kanji signs and listening to loud cicadas, I´ve realized that fact finally - I was in Tokyo again. And I haven´t felt so well and relaxed in whole months…
To be continued~
PS: Do you remember a certain geisha dancing in a certain PV with this background? As comes for us, seeing this five-store pagoda, we immediately remembered Jin´s ´Hey, what´s up?´. And in this spirit, connecting everything to our dear ´idols´, our whole vacation continued. :D
I knew it back then, two years ago. At the moment we left Tokyo for another part of our journey across the middle Japan, I knew that I have to return there again. Once was simply not enough.
That time, I was just a member of a big group of tourists, which happened to be an obstacle anywhere it moved (and it was really getting on my nerves >…<). As it was my first time in Japan, I was in awe over everything I saw and experienced. Not that I was not thrilled about the tiniest things AGAIN, only this time it was exactly that kind of vacation I was eager for. Being able to follow (and to constantly change) own schedule and spending hours on the places, which might seem insignificant to usual tourists, but they were precious to me. That was what I needed and that was what I enjoyed to the last bit.
If I should express it briefly, my second vacation in Japan together with my dear sis was one of the best periods of my life. To a stranger, I´m not able to explain properly, what attracts me to Japan so much, except mentioning the culture, nature, language, music, anime and manga. They still don´t understand. And maybe I do not understand it either… But I am really happy, that I have ever fallen for this country; taking it whole as it is, with its good and bad sides. I cannot imagine my life without it anymore…
Sorry, I will stop pondering about my inner ´Japanese self´ for now. And if you are interested, allow me to tell you something about the actual time I spent in Tokyo. ^^ I will divide my experiences in a few posts and I will try hard not to be boring. No matter if you were, are, going to be, or want to be in Japan, I hope you will enjoy reading this. ^^
As we live quite far from the Czech capital with its airport, our journey started on Saturday 20th September already, even though we were supposed to leave the country on Sunday. With the night spent in Prague, I didn´t have to worry so much about catching up our flight. In reality, we had even more time at hand than we had expected, as our flight was delayed for an hour…
This time, we used Russian airlines Aeroflot with a transfer in Moscow. We arrived there late, but fortunately with still enough time to find our gate at the other terminal. Sheremetyevo airport itself was… ehm, confusing and the staff there not very friendly. You can imagine I was really glad to see most of the passengers for our transfer to be Japanese. :D
The night flight was long and boring and cold, but as I already knew what to expect I managed to deal with it somehow. It was worse for my Nee-chan, who really suffered there. I think I watched some western on the way, but most of the time I tried to relax, as I was not able to actually sleep there.
And then, finally, before noon of Japanese time on Monday 22nd September we landed at Narita.
Heavily relieved that our suitcases arrived with us, we headed for the final check through customs. There we came across a very young officer, who obviously took his job quite seriously. He proceeded exactly like according to some textbook, as he searched through our luggages, uttering constant apologies. We had a lot of fun, when he tried to put our things back in the same order, as it was before and he failed awfully. I guess he has never played Tetris. XD Some other time I would be probably furious about somebody going through my personal stuff, but this time I had a hard time to suppress laughing, as well as my sis. XD
When we were finally allowed to enter the country (accompanied with a deep bow of the officer), we decided to eat something at the airport - which was the result of my stupidity for ordering a ´low fat version of that awfull airplane food´ and we also had enough time before checking in at our hotel. So I bought same take-out yakisoba noodles and we seated ourselves on the first free chairs… And guess what? I managed to barely bury the sticks in it, when three Japanese approached us and one of them was holding a mic, second a camera and the third one was a girl speaking to us in English. I was like this for a few seconds: O_O
Those guys were from the TV show: ´YOUは何しに日本へ？´alias ´Why did YOU come to Japan?´
I was able of just nodding on their request to make an interview. XD
Ok… We barely landed in the country and there was a TV on us already? I should have known that our vacation was going to be a lot of fun at that moment already. :D
So, we talked with them for quite long and it was surprisingly funny. But let me tell you, that when I searched for the show on YT, I didn´t find us there (I checked two episodes, which would probably include us). And I´m quite sure they cut us out. The reason? I guess we talked about KAT-TUN too much. Because, you know, it´s quite dangerous to ask Czech fangirls about what they like in Japan. XD
But we didn´t say anything forbidden or bad, I swear! Maybe, it was just that we mentioned Kame and Jin in one sentence? :D No idea, on the other hand I´m glad they didn´t include us probably, I was kind of nervous to be exposed on the Japanese TV and Internet. XD XD XD
Well, and that was the beginning and we were not even in Tokyo yet. :D
As the jet lag started to work gradually, we almost fell into a comatose state in the train, but luckily we managed to get off on Asakusa station. Our hotel was located one minute of walk from Kaminarimon Gate. ^^ And no matter the tiredness and the heavy suitcases dragging behind us, I had to smile seeing the chatting crowds on the pavement and feeling the smell of the sweets with bean paste...
After we accomplish to accommodate, wash away that awfull feeling from the long journey and let everyone home know that we arrived safely, we set off to the evening street. And there, seeing the bluish sparkles of Skytree across the river and standing next to Senso-ji temple, illuminated by beautiful lights, walking around lanters with kanji signs and listening to loud cicadas, I´ve realized that fact finally - I was in Tokyo again. And I haven´t felt so well and relaxed in whole months…
To be continued~
PS: Do you remember a certain geisha dancing in a certain PV with this background? As comes for us, seeing this five-store pagoda, we immediately remembered Jin´s ´Hey, what´s up?´. And in this spirit, connecting everything to our dear ´idols´, our whole vacation continued. :D
Click to view