There's no escaping
Krawi
at
4:37 AM
I miss Japan. The food, the weather, the surroundings, even the weird voices of sales people greeting you as you enter any vast supermarket. Shoot me for living in the past. It's been almost three years since my exchange student stint and clearly, I haven't recovered from a serious hang over.
I was just reading a novel about contemporary Japan written on a foreigner's perspective. It was comforting since I found myself in the shoes of Gaby and feeling the adjustment - not always good - she makes. It made me long for Yokohama, Tokyo, and Kyoto, my favorite cities in the country I have grown to love despite the brutal history it shared with mine. And since I loved my experience there so much, it didn't surprise me that I remember nada of bad things and more of the funny encounters.
Yokohama Cosmoworld:
3-minute roller coaster ride with Claudio: Y700
15-minute Ferris wheel ride with Claudio and Michelle: Y600
Comforting a crying Mich on a wheel car and a flushed
Claudio praying the rosary on a speeding coaster: PRICELESS
Ferris University Staff:
Ito-sensei: best and coolest language teacher evah!
Hayakawa-san: sorry, can't say something nice about her except that she's persistent
Nogi-san: hmm...how do I begin?
Uchida-sensei: Supermom and super [unofficial] guardian. She rocks!
Dormitory:
Claudine couldn't stand the heat inside the lounge so she opens the sliding doors. She jumps when the alarm goes off, realizing only too late that it was past curfew (and that the police-linked alarm system has been activated). Dorm manager asks why she did it and Claudine could only apologize in the politest, most earnest manner. The TANGA factor? The lounge is equipped with two air conditioning units. Way to go, Claudine.
Hiroshima Study Tour:
Here's an excerpt of a supposedly hushed conversation between two Filipino girls amid an important tour lecture at the Underground Communication Room in one of the city's preservation sites:
Michelle (whispers): unsa'y "sleepy" in Japanese?
Claudine (nag tinanga): Nemui! (in a voice definitely not hushed)
Echo: Nemui...nemui...mui...mui...
Students: (laugh...laugh...laugh)
Dynamic Tokyo Tour:
I was glad Mich won the SONY writing contest that sent us preparing for a whole-day tour of Japan's capital, complete with lunch at the swanky Four Seasons hotel and an afternoon cruise at the Sumida River.
Tokyo Disney Resorts:
Childhood fantasy fulfilled, making me want for more, more, more!
Tip: While in Japan, visit Disney Sea as it is only found in the land of the rising sun.
Kamakura:
We got to meet the Great Buddha and see what's inside him too!
Ueno:
Cherry blossoms and beer-drinking men, boating on the lake, and Jesman's unfortunate encounter with Grace's skirt *snicker...snicker*. Ah the fresh scents of spring...
Osaka:
Universal Studios Japan may not have half of Disneyland's charm but it certainly rocked. Spiderman the Ride and Snoopy's Water Slide, you completed my day at the theme park.
Kyoto:
Early in the morning, just prior to sight seeing, Claudio forgot to secure the Durian safely inside his duffel bag when we left the Utano Youth Hostel. By the time we returned to claim our rooms, the door to the storage area where we left our stuff already had a sign that said "DO NOT PUT DURIAN INSIDE THE ROOM". (!!!)
Oh well, I guess some Filipino tourist made these Japanese aware of the nasty smelling Durian waaay before our little slip. hahaha
Needless to say, with its historic temples sharing the landscape with futuristic buildings, Kyoto is THE BEST PLACE EVER!
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