This year marks the 1300 year of Nara. It was founded in 710 as the first capital of Japan. It only had this distinction for less than a century, but it still holds tons of important cultural treasures. The most significant of those is the Giant Buddha. It truly is a sight to see. The statue is huge. It is one of the largest statues of Buddha in Japan. This was the second time for me to see it, but it was still awesome.
Another major draw to Nara is the deer park. Hundreds of deer wander about the parks looking for people giving out deer crackers. These deer can get pretty aggressive and won't hesitate to snatch anything they can. I saw one deer grab some leaves from an old man's bag. It was pretty amusing. You can buy a stack of deer crackers for about 100 yen. It's worth to do once, but if you have small kids it's probably better not to.
The only bad thing about this trip is that my camera bugged out. It actually started freaking out the previous day. The pictures would come out all distorted and oddly colorful. I thought that it was overheating, but found that if I squeeze it it goes back to normal. I have no idea what's wrong with it. I just know that it picked a horrible time to finally die on me. I guess I'm lucky that it has lasted as long as it has. I bought this thing in preparation for my trip to Guam back in 2006. It has been a good and loyal piece of equipment, but now it's retirement time.
One interesting thing about this was that it was one of the very few times that I rode in a private car on a Japanese highway. My girlfriend drove and I navigated and admired the scenery. It was overall a nice drive. Had I been driving we would've stopped several times for picture breaks. Through most of the cities there were high walls which prevented some views, but outside the urban areas you could see mountains covered in trees and valleys and far off cities. It was neat. I definitely want to do this again.
Nara is just absolutely gorgeous. I really wish that my camera hadn't messed up on me. I won't have to opportunity to go back there for a long time. But when I do, I'm going to have a new and awesome camera to capture the beauty of this great city.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Pre-trip jitters
I'm going to the Philippines in 2 weeks. I wasn't very nervous or gave it much thought until today. I realize now that I'm nervous as hell about it. This is my first time to a so called "third world nation". I'm starting to hear all these warnings about it and such. It's freaking me out. I have a friend there, but she's going to be in school during my trip so I won't get to see her much at all. I'm going to be by myself. This is the first time that I've gone on a trip internationally by myself to somewhere I'm totally unfamiliar with. Sometimes I think I messed up and I shouldn't go, but I've committed to this trip. My friend and her family are expecting me.
I'm pretty sure I have nothing to worry about. I'm going to leave all my valuables here in Japan and keep just a little bit on me. I know I won't need much there since it's cheap. I'm also cultivating my beard and hair to give me the "crazy man" look. Hopefully that will deter touts and thieves. I'll just keep my head about me and I won't have problems.
A friend who went there a few years back didn't have problems. He even ventured away from Manila. I'm not sure if I'm going to do that, but we'll see.
Worries aside, I'm really looking forward to this adventure. It's a new place with new experiences. I hope I'll meet some cool new friends with whom I'll have great new adventures.
I'm pretty sure I have nothing to worry about. I'm going to leave all my valuables here in Japan and keep just a little bit on me. I know I won't need much there since it's cheap. I'm also cultivating my beard and hair to give me the "crazy man" look. Hopefully that will deter touts and thieves. I'll just keep my head about me and I won't have problems.
A friend who went there a few years back didn't have problems. He even ventured away from Manila. I'm not sure if I'm going to do that, but we'll see.
Worries aside, I'm really looking forward to this adventure. It's a new place with new experiences. I hope I'll meet some cool new friends with whom I'll have great new adventures.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Planning trips
I love to daydream and to imagine what my future exploits will hold. I have many many places that I want to go. The problem is is how to see them all. My answer is to try to combine destinations. For example, I am planning a trip to France next year. I've been there once before, but that was years ago before I really could appreciate the finer aspects of life and art. I therefore intend to do a few of the same things that I did before, namely the Louvre. After that I will bum around with a couple French friends to other parts of France. Now there's no reason why I can't hop over to Germany (another place I want to go, but have never had the chance) after my France trip. So that's exactly what I intend to do. I'll spend a week in France then go to Germany.
I have no real itinerary set up yet, just a vague idea of what I want to see and do, but basically I'm going to just get tickets to and from Paris and see where the wind takes me. That's the style I like. I don't like being bogged down by deadlines and time tables. I'll wake up in the morning and see what I feel like. I may not necessarily want to leave the area I'm in, or I might meet someone with a good recommendation. And traveling is more fun when it's up in the air. When I was 16 I went to Scotland and Ireland with my mom. We had plane tickets, our suitcases and a couple travel books and that was it. We would get to a city and start calling places to see if they had rooms. We did that for the entire 10 day trip. One night we actually stayed at this British couple's house. They were very nice and hooked us up with food and stuff. Very awesome experience. It's stuff like that that make me want to just go and not to make plans. I don't know what's around the corner.
I'm going to the Philippines in July. I'm basically following my formula for that trip as well. I've got a list of places and things I'd like to see, but no real plan. I have a place to stay, but other than that, nothing. I'm going to see what happens and just live day to day, in the present.
Trips that are in the works:
Philippines July 2010
France and Germany Summer 2011
I have no real itinerary set up yet, just a vague idea of what I want to see and do, but basically I'm going to just get tickets to and from Paris and see where the wind takes me. That's the style I like. I don't like being bogged down by deadlines and time tables. I'll wake up in the morning and see what I feel like. I may not necessarily want to leave the area I'm in, or I might meet someone with a good recommendation. And traveling is more fun when it's up in the air. When I was 16 I went to Scotland and Ireland with my mom. We had plane tickets, our suitcases and a couple travel books and that was it. We would get to a city and start calling places to see if they had rooms. We did that for the entire 10 day trip. One night we actually stayed at this British couple's house. They were very nice and hooked us up with food and stuff. Very awesome experience. It's stuff like that that make me want to just go and not to make plans. I don't know what's around the corner.
I'm going to the Philippines in July. I'm basically following my formula for that trip as well. I've got a list of places and things I'd like to see, but no real plan. I have a place to stay, but other than that, nothing. I'm going to see what happens and just live day to day, in the present.
Trips that are in the works:
Philippines July 2010
France and Germany Summer 2011
Setting goals
A good friend of mine is embarking on an awesome journey of a lifetime. He's backpacking around Japan and will then go into China and eventually wind up in Southeast Asia and beyond. I've kept up with his adventure and really long to do my own. As such I've decided I should set some goals.
My first major feat will be no ordinary backpacking trip. No, I intend to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro before I turn 35. As such I have decided that I will climb it the summer before. So in Summer 2016 I will go and climb that mountain.
I've already begun thinking of some things which I will need to do to prepare. The first and most obvious is to start practicing mountain climbing. I've done 2 mountains in the last few months. I've got some plans to do more and will incorporate this goal into future trips. I really want to do some hiking in Wyoming and in New York state. I will use those trips to practice my skills. I also need to start collecting equipment. I have a lot already, but I need to go through and prepare what I have and replace what I can't use.
I'm also confident because I have 6 years to prepare and to plan. I think this goal would be very unlikely of reaching if I were going to go for it in the next 2 years or so, but as it stands now I should be able to do it with few difficulties.
Also, I hope that either before or after Kilimanjaro, I can hit up Kenya as well. I've wanted to go there for years and I see no reason why I can't hit both. If time and money permit I would like to also go to Ethiopia on the same trip. But for right now, I'm setting my sights on the mountain.
My first major feat will be no ordinary backpacking trip. No, I intend to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro before I turn 35. As such I have decided that I will climb it the summer before. So in Summer 2016 I will go and climb that mountain.
I've already begun thinking of some things which I will need to do to prepare. The first and most obvious is to start practicing mountain climbing. I've done 2 mountains in the last few months. I've got some plans to do more and will incorporate this goal into future trips. I really want to do some hiking in Wyoming and in New York state. I will use those trips to practice my skills. I also need to start collecting equipment. I have a lot already, but I need to go through and prepare what I have and replace what I can't use.
I'm also confident because I have 6 years to prepare and to plan. I think this goal would be very unlikely of reaching if I were going to go for it in the next 2 years or so, but as it stands now I should be able to do it with few difficulties.
Also, I hope that either before or after Kilimanjaro, I can hit up Kenya as well. I've wanted to go there for years and I see no reason why I can't hit both. If time and money permit I would like to also go to Ethiopia on the same trip. But for right now, I'm setting my sights on the mountain.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Rainy Season
It is said that Japan actually has five seasons; spring, summer, fall, winter and rainy season or tsuyuu). Rainy season falls between spring and summer proper. During this "season" it rains. And it rains and it rains and it rains. I've been told of times where it has rained the biblical period of 40 days. I've lived in Japan for five years. As such I've experienced the rainy season 4 times (I was gone for one rainy season). Of those 4 times 3 have been non-stop constant rains for about a month. Until today I thought we were going to have a dry one.
However annoying the rainy season is, it's necessary for Japan. The rice which is typically planted in May needs the rain in order to grow properly. If the rainy season is bad so will be the rice harvest.
My first year in Japan the rainy season was bad. It barely rained at all and consequently a lot of rice went bad. I remember friends lamenting the loss of their crops and thus having to buy from stores. One guy gave up his entire field for that year because of the lack of rain.
So even though it's annoying, I put up with the constant shower. It's just another day living in Japan.
However annoying the rainy season is, it's necessary for Japan. The rice which is typically planted in May needs the rain in order to grow properly. If the rainy season is bad so will be the rice harvest.
My first year in Japan the rainy season was bad. It barely rained at all and consequently a lot of rice went bad. I remember friends lamenting the loss of their crops and thus having to buy from stores. One guy gave up his entire field for that year because of the lack of rain.
So even though it's annoying, I put up with the constant shower. It's just another day living in Japan.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Festival Weekend
This past weekend was a whirl wind of activity.
On Saturday my friends and I went to the Atsuta festival. It was pretty awesome (like all Japanese festivals are). I wore a jinbei, a traditional male summer outfit, and bought a bottle of sake to keep costs down. We wandered around best we could in the huge crowds. We did the obligatory shrine visit and bought some food from one of the many many vendors. My group then retreated to the nearby park in order to watch the fireworks and drink our booze. It turned out to be a very nice fireworks display. It wasn't as awesome as some Fourth of July demonstrations, but it was nice.
This wasn't a crazy festival like the Penis Festival up in Komaki. It wasn't one filled with dancing or karaoke like previous festivals I've been to. There were no effigies aflame. However, for some reason this festival felt more festive than others. People were enjoying their time and practicing ancient rites. It was a very inspiring time. I enjoyed it and I am glad that I got the experience.
Sunday was another festival. This one varied from Atusta in that it was much smaller and felt more homelike. There were more kids running around and people meandering around. I enjoyed it a little more than Atsuta. I guess it was the smaller crowds or the neighborhood feel or the place, but I just liked it.
One interesting thing was a display talking about old Nagoya and how it was in the past. It's amazing what 100 years will do to a place.
After these festivals I began to feel as if I wanted to stay in Japan longer. I know it's hard to stay here and not teach English, but it's starting to feel more appealing.
If any of you are in Japan don't miss out on these festivals and always check out the local ones. They are usually diamonds in the rough.
On Saturday my friends and I went to the Atsuta festival. It was pretty awesome (like all Japanese festivals are). I wore a jinbei, a traditional male summer outfit, and bought a bottle of sake to keep costs down. We wandered around best we could in the huge crowds. We did the obligatory shrine visit and bought some food from one of the many many vendors. My group then retreated to the nearby park in order to watch the fireworks and drink our booze. It turned out to be a very nice fireworks display. It wasn't as awesome as some Fourth of July demonstrations, but it was nice.
This wasn't a crazy festival like the Penis Festival up in Komaki. It wasn't one filled with dancing or karaoke like previous festivals I've been to. There were no effigies aflame. However, for some reason this festival felt more festive than others. People were enjoying their time and practicing ancient rites. It was a very inspiring time. I enjoyed it and I am glad that I got the experience.
Sunday was another festival. This one varied from Atusta in that it was much smaller and felt more homelike. There were more kids running around and people meandering around. I enjoyed it a little more than Atsuta. I guess it was the smaller crowds or the neighborhood feel or the place, but I just liked it.
One interesting thing was a display talking about old Nagoya and how it was in the past. It's amazing what 100 years will do to a place.
After these festivals I began to feel as if I wanted to stay in Japan longer. I know it's hard to stay here and not teach English, but it's starting to feel more appealing.
If any of you are in Japan don't miss out on these festivals and always check out the local ones. They are usually diamonds in the rough.
Sudden kindness
A friend recently showed me a Brazilian grocer who among other nice things sells very cheap yet delicious meats. Since being shown that place about 2 weeks ago I've gone 4 times. It's not too far and like I said they have cheap meat.
The other day I went there just to pick up some ground beef. As I was looking around at random stuff an older lady who was stocking one of the coolers caught my eye. She started speaking to me in Portuguese and was trying to hand me a package of chili peppers. I responded by asking if they were hot (in Japanese) and she says yes. I really didn't want to spend 3 bucks on them right then, so I said I'd get them some other time. She then points to something on a shelf in another cooler. I pick it up and it looks like a type of salsa. She tells me that the peppers are in there as well. It's only 190 yen, so I decide to buy it, but then she tells me that it's a gift and I don't have to pay! I'm totally blown away by that. I graciously accept it and boy it was great. I can't wait to make something with it tomorrow.
It's moments like this that make me love living and living in a country where I stick out. People go out of their way to make you feel at home. I will never forget that old lady. I look forward to seeing her again and telling her how much I liked that salsa.
The other day I went there just to pick up some ground beef. As I was looking around at random stuff an older lady who was stocking one of the coolers caught my eye. She started speaking to me in Portuguese and was trying to hand me a package of chili peppers. I responded by asking if they were hot (in Japanese) and she says yes. I really didn't want to spend 3 bucks on them right then, so I said I'd get them some other time. She then points to something on a shelf in another cooler. I pick it up and it looks like a type of salsa. She tells me that the peppers are in there as well. It's only 190 yen, so I decide to buy it, but then she tells me that it's a gift and I don't have to pay! I'm totally blown away by that. I graciously accept it and boy it was great. I can't wait to make something with it tomorrow.
It's moments like this that make me love living and living in a country where I stick out. People go out of their way to make you feel at home. I will never forget that old lady. I look forward to seeing her again and telling her how much I liked that salsa.
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