Book One: Missed Shots
First Shot
Second Shot
My first flight! I was feeling both nervous and excited, from the airport, in the plane and even as we arrived in Japan’s airport four hours later. It was a quarter past ten in the morning when we arrived. We decided to go to the hotel to deliver our luggage and to rest for a while.
We took a tour package so we had our tour bus waiting for us as we got out from the airport. I took a seat by the window as I always do. Misaki was sitting beside me. Byul and Chie were seated on the opposite side. We were the first ones in the bus, so were able to observe the other passengers as they boarded.
One chubby man looked like he just came to Hawaii; he was wearing a straw hat, sunglasses, a brightly colored, flower-patterned short sleeve with matching shorts and sandals. Another, a young couple, who looked like newly weds on their honeymoon. There was also an elderly couple, they wore matching casual clothes. I hope they don’t mind me taking a picture of them.^^
“I wish I’d be able to grow old with my beloved just like them.” Byul commented as we looked on. We all agreed. Not many couples stay together that long nowadays.
There were a few more passengers who boarded. Most of them were foreigners and some more Asians. Then the bus engine started and we were on our way.
Our tour guide introduced herself as Lina. She welcomed us to the tour and also commented on some of the places we pass by.
We enjoyed the scenery as we moved along. My neck almost hurt from turning here and there, following my friends’ ”look at that!”, “look over here”, “Isn’t that from the scene of …?!”, “ he looks like…” or “hey, that’s so cool!”. There were a lot of interesting things all over the place. Ones we’ve only seen in the pictures, videos or internet. My camera would have broken with all the clicking here and there.
Finally, we’ve arrived at the hotel. It was called Daiji inn. It was a traditional building like the ones you would see in the samurai days. It was long and wide instead of tall with lots of floor levels.
The garden, surrounding the rooms, was wonderfully filled with various kinds of flower and, of course, cherry blossoms. There was even that bamboo contraption that makes a “tok” sound as it fills with water.
There was also a shrine guarded with small animal-like stone statues in one corner. It doesn’t seem hidden but it is not easily seen either. It was a serene place that gives anyone who stays there a sense of peace.
When we entered the hotel, it was rather refurnished and a bit modernized though the attendants who greeted us were wearing kimonos.
“Irrashaimase!” they greeted us as we entered. One of them led us to our room.
“Watashi wa Keiko tomoshimasu. Hajimemashite! ( I’m Keiko, please to meet you.)” She said as she introduced herself. She was wearing a sky-blue kimono adorned with small cherry blossoms and a big white flower print at her left leg part. She is a pretty young woman, about our age. She also wore light make-up and had her straight black hair tied-up halfway.
“Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. (please take care of us.)” we said as we finished introducing ourselves also in Japanese. Though she doesn’t seem so surprise to hear us, she asked if we were fluent in Japanese, we said “no”, only in English. Nevertheless, she seems pleased with our introductions. She told us a short background story of the hotel as she led us to our room.
“We will be serving lunch by 12 noon. If you need anything else just call me.” She informed us when we reached our room. She’s definitely Japanese yet she has good English pronunciation. “Please make yourselves comfortable.” She added as she retreated.
The room is spacious for the four of us. When we entered, we saw a small square sitting room in the middle. There was a low table with four cushions on each side and a flower in a vase in the center of the center of the table. Behind it was a sliding door which led to the garden.
On the right side of the room, there was another sliding door leading to our room. It has four futons or Japanese bed, pillows and blanket folded on one corner. There is also a lamp and an air conditioner at one side and a large wooden wardrobe on the other.
We placed our luggage inside the wardrobe as we went to explore the other side of the sitting room. We found the bathroom on that side. It is a usual bathroom except for the Japanese decoration. There is a public hot spring in the hotel so there is only shower in the bathroom.
It was still half past eleven, so we decided to rest for a while then by a quarter past twelve, we went to have our lunch.
The dining area was a separate building from the hotel it was called Sugiru restaurant. It was almost packed with the other tourists already.
There was this cute little girl with curly black hair, about five years old; she was holding a bunch of blue flowers tied with a gold ribbon. I took out my camera and took her picture just as she was giving it to a guy, who seems to be her family sitting with their backs towards us, just a few tables away. I thought it was a cute picture with the cute girl.
“What should we eat?” I asked my friends as we looked at the menu. There were a lot of delicious-looking traditional foods.
“I want this one.” Misaki pointed to a picture of a sushi dish. It looked very colorful, probably one of the reasons why she chose it.
“I think, I’ll have this one.” Byul said pointing to a stir-fried noodle.
“I’ll have Rice cakes.” Chie said.
“I’ll try the ramen then.” I finally decided.
After our orders arrived, we each had a taste test to each other’s dishes. I even took a picture of the foods and while we ate.
“Ittadakimasu! (we happily receive this food)” we said in unison before we ate, followed by an “oishi! (yummy)” after the first spoonful. It was delicious.
A/N: that ends the second chap! ^^
Third Shot here.