The Week that was Golden...

Sunday's here again, and back to work tomorrow. So much has happened, and possibly too much to write in a blog, so it's going to be as brief as possible so not to go on and on for ages!

So Jo, Abra and I went to Osaka on Wednesday, we had to sit in the smoking car since the shinkansen was busy. Abra and I had joked that we should wear masks, so we did! Very amusing, but of course very Japanese so not an eyelid was battered! We got to Osaka, met Paul and checked into the Kinki Hotel. Paul had previously sited a beer garden, and we were ready to go! But Abra thought we should be cultural, or at least walk around a bit. In the end, we went to check what time the beer garden opened (5.30-9pm - nomi/tabehodai), so we wandered around til that time!

Ah it was lovely, we ate and drunk ourselves silly! Towards the end of the night, Paul had the bright idea to go talk to a rawkous (sp!?) group of J-folk. So we headed over, and were befriended immediately. There was yelling and cheering, whooping and celebrating the gaijin drinking with them! Then of course things got onto, "Do you like sex?", penis size, breast poking, and general Japanese drunk guy sukebe-ness!! All this was from one particular guy in a pink shirt! When it came time to leave, somehow it was decided that that one guy had a small penis, and he was very proud of this! So we were in the foyer, and he is trying to show ushow small! Very bizarre and hilarious at the same time - especially when the lift door opened and all his girl mates come out!! I think they found it hilarious/embarrassing and shocking all at the same time! We were all so drunk it was fabulous, and only 9pm! We then went to puri-kura with another group of guys who wanted in on some of the gaijin action. The pink shirt guy and his mates thankfully headed off. After going back to the hotel to change, waking Paul up again, we headed off to Sam & Dave's. Not as good as Fukuoka's - they wouldn't play the music we wanted.

So Thursday we woke up and not a hangover in sight! How brilliant is that! We all went to Kyoto for the day. Such a nice day, having all been to Kyoto at different times, we all knew where different cool places to wander and shop were. So we cultured ourselves at Kiyomizu-dera (4th time for me!), sighted a Maiko in Gion area going to work, shopped in the wee streets, and downtown, and generally had a lovely day. I bought some omiyage for myself to take home.

We got back rested and some how decided to have a "P" night, don't know how that letter was chosen... After yakiniku (the p-things were starting after), Abra when into the Porn cinema to ask prices! Very amusing! Then we tried our luck at pachinko. We were hoping to have Laura's luck! We didn't, and we also got to sound really lame saying an attendant "I want to play, but I don't know how!" Thanks Paul for stepping up to the plate! So we all lost our 1000 yen, and stood in awe at the people who had baskets and baskets of balls lined up! Then we went to a pub...

So enjoying a few drinks, and towards the end this guy comes over to chat... I'd previously chatted to him at the bar, I'd said I was from NZ, and he had lived there for 2 years, said it was terrible place financially, and luckily Abra, Paul and my drinks came so I left him there at the bar. He was weird, cos he had bad teeth, and kind of frothed at the corners of his mouth when he talked..! So fast forward to him talking to us... WEIRD!!!!! I will keep it brief, here are the facts according to him in relation to us all:
Abra: Portland is strict, full of Mormons, and has "people-sized infrastructure"!? No we never did find out what this is!
Paul: "Oh, you're a handsome guy, yeah I like you, you look like you're from California - yeah, you're a good guy"... Paul had said he was from England earlier...!? The guy had been to various places in England, including Rugby. Paul:"Why have you been to Rugby?" "Because my Grandmother's Indian."!!!!!??????
Jo: To Jo, he said "I can tell you're from England, cos you're plain."!!? Pretty much interest stopped there concerning Jo!? How rude!
Me: (remember I have talked to him about NZ before) He says, "Where are you from?" I let him guess, so he says America, so I agree, then I say "Where in America do you think?" He says Massachusett (sorry can't spell that!?), so I agree! He is a world traveller after all, and can pick nationalities! I asked him what he knows about Massachusett, and he says "Racist." Then gets angerish..."You're walking down the street and you see a black man, what do you do? What do you do? - You run scared." Alright then...!?

So that was the weird guy, total freak and I cannot believe he is teaching English here! We escaped him for home asap! Friday Abra left us, another good bye..! Then Paul and I went to Himeji for more culture. Cool castle, but terrible weather unfortunately. Stayed at Pauls Friday night, watched some downloaded TV... slept some. Didn't work on Celta stuff which was meant to happen! Saturday came back to Asa, and met Louise for dinner and a movie. Today Jo came to Asa and we met Louise for a Joyfull lunch. Now I am watching "Secret Life of Us", and enjoying it greatly!

So good GW, going to post some photos later.