Shabu-Shabu, Kyoto Redux, and the Traveler's character

Hello again, dear viewers

I must apologize for the lateness of my update, but I have been very busy.  Classes keep me occupied during the day and study or unwinding keeps me occupied at night.  If I have any extra free time, I either prefer socializing or trying to write....so I have had less and less time for my blog.  But, I'm here and ready to talk about a few more trips.

On Friday, I went to eat Shabu-Shabu, which is hot pot beef.  

Essentially, at the restaurant, I sat with friends amidst a long table where a pot of hot water was set to boil.  Then vegetables and beef were brought along.  We'd dump the vegetables and beef into the pot, wait for it to cook, then fish it out with chopsticks and eat our fill, as it was all you can eat.  For sauces, we had a sesame mixture we had to grind ourselves.  It was an unbelievable experience that mere words cannot describe.  I would recommend it to any travelers to Japan, as it is one culinary experience that simply cannot be replicated.

I did more karaoke after this, and earlier this week as well.  No pictures because I was tired, but there really is something primal about singing your heart out, whether you're drunk, sober, or hyped up on sugar with a belly full of beef.  It's an experience that usually leaves you happy, but very drained.  And so I was.

Then, I went to Kyoto...again.  Yes, this makes three trips in less than a month, but this time was different!  I went to a bazaar...or rather, an Asian Marketplace.

There was so much to see here and I bought far more than I should...but it was impossible not to.  The streets were lined with all manner of sellers, from clothes, dishes, and antiques, to toys, games, and even prints of art.  Some of these pieces were moderately priced, while others ran in the hundreds, despite their obvious quality.  The marketplace was a great place to find rare and exotic items...just not cheap items.  Still, it was amazing.  It was filled with food vendors as well and I got my first taste of a treat shaped like a fish but filled with sweet and savory beans.  Another signature treat of Japan, I'd recommend it to anyone.

The rest of the day, however, was a bit more introspective, with temple visits and even a trip to the imperial palace of Kyoto...which was closed, but, hey, my traveling companions and I at least got to the outside walls.  it was quite a trip...hot, sweltering, filled with far too much walking, but on the whole, I saw things in that one day I might never see again.  To save you all the trouble, you can see what I saw too.

 The above pictures were taken at the temple to Sugawara no Michizune, a courtier of ancient Japan who was aposthesized after his death.  He was unfairly exiled and to appease him, people began praying to him after a series of disasters.

 This is the stand where I got the bean cake shaped like a fish, followed by a better shot of the bazaar.

 The golden pavilion and surrounding area is one breathtaking thing to behold, even though it was crowded.  It was a temple unlike any other.

 The imperial palace and its surrounding gardens were large and impressive, even if we couldn't see most of them.  It was a pain that we couldn't see them, but it didn't matter too much.  Just looking at the walls and how far they ran gave a basic idea of the scope of the royal family's power in the olden days.

 The kanji for book, or the hon in Nihon, is on the mountain below, albeit very hard to read.  During the Kyoto fire festival, it is lit up with torches and is truly spectacular...however, circumstances prevent me from being at the fire festival, so I thought you might at least enjoy seeing the mountain.

 Below was a nice treat for my comrades and I.  There was a rock path that crossed the river leading to our train, so we all decided to climb over the slippery rocks to get there.  Some were shaped like turtles or stars, but just being out in the river, the beautiful scenery, and surrounded by people, was the true spectacle.  It was a fun way to end a very exhausting day.

For my family, rest assured, I did get souveneirs for you all at the  bazaar.  You're welcome.

Finally, I think I need to take a moment and talk about the character and endurance of the world traveler.  It must be absolutely staggering.  I say must because, I've not traveled abroad often or for long periods...and this trip has worn on me in more ways than one.  I've felt almost regressed back to the age of when I was in high school and superficiality reigned...and become tired and weak as I did so.  Threw more than a few tantrums in that time too.  It was disappointing to see me backslide that much.  But...well, I think that's part of traveling.  Different cultures not only make us look at our own homes differently, but the experience of being stranded, alone, or out of one's depth can make us really examine who we are and how we want to change.  I've managed to regain my confidence and started working to improve myself because of this.  And that is why I must say, the world traveler must be a being of extraordinary stamina and character.  Because wherever they go, they are challenged by all they see and experience, not just culturally, but right down to their character.  I've since become far less insufferable to those around me(in my own opinion at least) and I'm working to become just such a world traveler.

For those who haven't traveled much or who haven't strayed far from home, student or parent alike, let me say this.  Take the plunge.  It may be painful.  You will doubt yourself more than once and find yourself pleading for the attention of others or desperately trying to figure out who you are and what's wrong with you...but that's a good thing.  Such questioning leads us to realize who we are, who we want to be, and what we need to do to change for the better.  I'm working to...well, not change who I am.  I like me.  But I am trying to make my appearance more...how do you say...gentle, to the public.  Not quite as scary as the big man in the leather coat.  We'll see if it works, but this re-examination has also given me a new appreciation for what I am good at.  And for the people waiting for me back home.  I miss all of you, but I hope to return better than I left.  That is my hope.

Not sure if I have the character of a world traveler, as it takes many long trials in many different countries to truly be immune to doubt or comfortable with oneself, but I'm working towards that goal.

Anyway, I don't intend to rant all night.  Thought that would be travelers, as well as the world weary might appreciate that though.

Lots of classes, probably some more mundane activities along the way, and me spending time with some of my new friends, coming up.  In two weeks...maybe expect me to talk about Hiroshima, as that's on the horizon of my calendar.

Until next time, dear readers, let me bid you adieu.

Adventures in Eye Disease

No.  No, you're not reading that wrong.  I'm in Japan and I'm sick.  Life sucks.  Okay, now that that's out of my system, let me give you a few new tidbits dear viewers, as my time being sick has given me some interesting experiences here in Japan.

My eye disease started on saturday, as best I can tell.  Thought it was just an irritation or something.  Before that, I met with my speaking partner and went to Kuraten Zushi, one of the revolving sushi dish restaurants.  It was jaw droppingly cheap, with two large pieces of sushi at only 100 yen a piece, and this included most deserts too.  I gorged myself on eel, egg, octopus, and shrimp.  This also reminded me that though many things are super expensive in Japan, some things aren't.  Fresh fish is really really cheap here and healthy food is not hard to find.  In many ways, the most expensive stuff is what's actually bad for you...sometimes.  And the fact that the food, usually fish, comes straight from the ocean to your plate does wonders for the taste.  No preservatives, just natural goodness.

Anyway, I also discovered the wonders of phone charms, as Japan has tons of little machines that give out trading cards, toys, charms, etc for practically nothing(200 yen)  This is easy to get carried away with.

After Saturday, I headed back to Kyoto on Sunday.  I love Kyoto, but the trip, led by Japanese students, tested my patience, as the heat, the walking, and just getting lost in parts of Kyoto that were not pretty really wore on me.  We did get to see some fascinating sights though.

 Architecture and the like is really amazing in Kyoto.  We got a bus pass to help the day along and after getting lost, we found our way to a sweet/tea house, where the activity of the day began.  Making Japanese confections.  Like the ones below.

 These treats are unholy expensive, usually because they are beautifully crafted and very delicious, but it was shocking.  One box of sweets costs the same as over a week of meals for me in this particular shop.  Still, it was a beautifully designed place, very rustic and reminiscent of tea houses seen in movies or novels.

 These lovely ladies and two gentlemen not in the picture, were our hosts.  They are all fun and spoke English pretty well, but were always asking questions about how life was in America, how to pronounce certain things, etc.  It was a bit shocking, being given so much attention...and after a while it exhausted me, but they were very friendly.

 Yes, that's me in an apron...DO NOT LAUGH!

 Fits the ladies better, eh?

 This was our workstation.  We didn't actually mix the sweets, but rather crafted them, molding lumps of colored sugar into beautiful confections that people would be proud to eat.  It was an interesting experience and gave me an appreciation for the craft of not just baking, but creating a work of art in and of itself.

 These are my finished products and they were delicious.  But the labor I went through to make them...we had to shred, mold, and mix all manner of sugars together, then carve them into shapes that were pleasing.  It was a lot of work.

 Closing out this rant on art, look at these statues...they are all made of sugar.  They are all edible...that boggles my mind.  These Japanese craftsmen are just amazing.

 Had to get a shot of this.  An old school toilet in the Japanese tea house.  It takes some practice to use right.

 After confections, we went to a music box museum, which was as beautiful as it was eerie, but a bit too expensive for our tastes.  At least the gifts and the grand tour was.

 This was the bamboo path, a deathly hot, but very spiritual place to visit.  The shrine in the deepest part is pretty standard, with charms and tags for good fortune, but the pathway is so mystic...it almost blocked out the sun with how tall the bamboo were.

 As the day turned to night, we did a little bit of shopping along the Kyoto coast and it was just beautiful...the water here is so clean and serene and I really wanted to stay longer, but time didn't allow it.

These last shots were from an okonomiyaki shop, which is like a japanese pancake filled with meats and vegetables.  It's okay, but I wouldn't want to eat it everyday.  Not only are all these statues a little creepy in their realism, but also kind of funny, as this statue actually shows a dog trying to pull down a delivery boy's pants.

It was quite a trip...and when I got back home on Sunday, I realized my eye was swollen and inflamed.  I do have a chronic eye disease, but this was nothing like what had happened before.  I was a little worried...this worry lasted into Monday, a holiday in Japan, and I decided to see the doctor on Tuesday.

My trip to the doctor was...interesting.  The Kansai Gaidai CIE office was very obliging in this matter, as a very helpful young lady guided me to the hospital and acted as my translator, which was good, because the doctors and nurses spoke so fast that I could barely keep up in Japanese.  My translator was very kind and very funny, asking me questions about English and pronunciation just like the students on the Kyoto tour.  The tests were inconclusive, though they acted very similar to eye exams in the states, with my pupils getting dilated and the doctors looking into my eye.

Also, a few things to be added.  Anyone traveling to Japan and who doesn't plan to get the Japanese national health insurance, be prepared to pay at the door.  I had to pay about 8,000 yen for my visit, which isn't too bad, but is annoying.  I can get reimbursed through my international insurance, but for a student on a budget it is...disconcerting.  And apparently, this eye disease isn't just me alone.  My translator commented on plenty of foreign students visiting hospitals as they adjusted to the new diet, environment, and countless new germs they'd never encountered before.

Chances are my eye disease isn't too critical.  The doctor gave me medicine to bring the inflammation down and I'm heading back on Thursday to see how things turn out.  This appears to be a pretty average experience for foreign students in Japan, as something or another, stress, germs, allergies, can easily screw with your bodily system.  I even spoke with a girl on Monday who'd been through the same experience as me.  So, this is not out of the ordinary.

On the whole, I'm tired and sick, having to administer drops and pills to myself while I wait to see the doctor again.  Good thing though is that, while Hirakata city doesn't often have snow days, they do have typhoon days, and school was canceled on account of a nearby typhoon.  They happen more often than I thought.

I'm a bit tired, so I'll cut this short.  I don't know what caused my eye to turn red, but I'm handling it.  The doctors and nurses were pretty nice and CIE offered me plenty of help in getting to and understanding the doctors, which was much appreciated.  My trips were hindered by my eye and how exhausted it made me but...well, with all the traveling I've done since arriving, I guess getting sick as an inevitability.

I'll manage though, so no one needs to worry.

See you next time.