The Flight and My Short Vacation

The Flight

March 27-March 29, 2017

            Hooooooooooo boy.  So, let’s just talk a bit before we get into the flight.  This was a rough experience.  I basically feel like I went on a two and a half to three day flight with only sporadic naps in between and I am recording this after my final flight ended, so it’s fresh in my mind.  The flight itself was only about 30 hours with layovers and time in the airport included, but it felt like oh so much longer. Please bear that in mind if things seem a bit off.  I am really tired, jet lagged, and sick…yes, we’ll get to that.

            Starting things off, it was a bit somber saying goodbye to my parents.  We got my boarding passes, I went through security, and then I, about 3 hours early, headed off to my gate.  This is where our story starts.  RDU is a nice airport.  It’s clean, it’s got some great shops, it’s got pretty good waiting areas.  I got a bit of food and got into my gate to wait.  First, the flight was delayed.  Nothing too serious, but annoying.  Heading out was fine.  I always like seeing Raleigh from a sky view at night.  It’s like countless diamonds twinkling in the twilight.  Though, I have to say I don’t much care for takeoff or landing.  When we’re in the air, it’s fine, but that sudden burst of speed or sudden deceleration for landing really gets me apprehensive.  That and turbulence.  But we’ll get to that.

            For all my flights, I thankfully had my music, my 3ds(with Dragon Quest 7 kindly given to me by my best friend,) and the thrilling adventure hour.  Truly an amazing podcast that can make even the crappiest trips somewhat bearable.  Speaking of crappiest trips, let’s talk about JFK in New York.  It sucks.  It is easily on China’s level for worst airport I’ve ever been to.  Despite the fact that I went through security in RDU, I went through security, AGAIN and had to get my boarding passes changed because EVA air doesn’t play nice with Jet Blue, my first connecting flight.  So, that was fun…except not.  And we were all placed into a waiting gate that looked like a shelter or a refugee center.  I swear, it felt like I was in a second or even third world country waiting for my flight out to Taipei.  And I dropped 15 dollars on a juice and a crummy sandwich.  Gotta love that airport inflation!  This is even more ludicrous later.  Just wait.

            The flight to Taipei was…I won’t say it was bad, but it had a lot of issues that kept me from ever really relaxing.  I was on edge for the entire flight.  This is where me being sick comes in.  Not sure what happened, but from the start of my airport odyssey, my stomach started throwing fits.  It was always churning about and causing trouble and making me want to use the bathroom in the air.  Problem is that while I wanted to use the bathroom, I couldn’t.  Either due to the long lines or just…my body not cooperating.  So, yeah, we’re in that limbo hell of wanting but not being able to get relief.  I was also stuck between two people without a window seat, so I couldn’t look out or lean against anything when I finally tried to sleep.  I did my best, but I only got a few hours out of the 15 hour flight as sleep.  Imagine taking like five or six one hour naps without ever really drifting off for any long period of time.  And then the stomach starts groaning and the cycle starts all over again.  I’ll say this for the bathrooms, they were well maintained and smelled good.  Like all the time.  I was pretty amazed.  I did some over the shoulder movie watching mostly because I was tired and my brain was easily distracted.  I didn’t want to watch a movie myself, but over the shoulder watching was easy to do while having a podcast on. The flight really pushed my ability to survive, as I felt sick, tired, and frustrated with the conditions all the way through.  Somehow, I made it through and landed in Taipei.

            Taipei’s airport was…well, first, I went through security, AGAIN.  Ugh…this paranoia crap is really getting to me.  Anyway, Taipei’s airport was cheaper in terms of food, as I got a better meal than at crappy JFK for half the price, as I got curry noodles and pork for about 7 dollars.  Let me take the time to say that despite my stomach issues, I kept both using the bathroom when possible and eating more, as I found myself exhausted, sweating, and dehydrated frequently from the temperature and the stress, so I needed to keep refilling my batteries, which just fed into the cycle I told you about before.

            Now, one thing I do want to say is how AWESOME, Taipei’s design is, but how stupid it’s info system is.  See, the panels talking about flights, arrivals, departures, etc. are really not that helpful.  They can be up to 30 minutes out of date, focus on only one set of gates, excluding others, or can omit vital information.  Getting info is best left to the information desk, who helped me find my gate, since my final boarding pass had nothing on it.  Now, Taipei has two areas for boarding.  Upstairs and downstairs.  Downstairs is fairly standard, it’s got seats and the flight gate.  HOWEVER, upstairs has some cool thematic element, like a diorama, informational mural, or just better seating.  Since upstairs is where you go first, it’s a great place to relax and unwind and since many people want to be first in the boarding, people constantly leave and head downstairs so it never gets too crowded.  The design is elegant, but also unique and feels very engaging and relaxing.  My gate was like a tribalistic, almost Hawaiian style of place to hang out, with stone tables and chairs and benches like out of a luau.  Compared to the third world treatment at JFK, Taipei was like a shining jewel…at least the airport was.

            The final flight to Japan was…rough.  We had lots of turbulence and…look, I don’t get airsick.  I just don’t.  But with my stomach all messed up and the severe turbulence, I found myself in a new type of hell, struggling to make it through. Though it was only three hours, it felt like so much longer…also, airplane bathrooms, no matter how clean, are impossible to use effectively when the plane is doing somersaults.  Ugh.  Immigration into Japan was pretty quick and easy.  They got my finger prints, did a quick photo, checked my immigration card, visa, and COE, and I was off to get my bags, which were waiting for me, hurray!  Customs was pretty simple too.  Honestly, I could have just not said a thing about my medicine and they probably wouldn’t have checked me, but I declared it because that was the right thing to do.  I explained to them that I had a thirty day and a ninety day supply and had my Yakkan Shoumei documentation ready.  The staff looked it over, checked my doctor’s notes and prescriptions, and sent me on my way with all my medicine.  My preparation paid off.  So, with my massive luggage in tow, I stepped out into my first breath of Sendai air.

March 29, 2017 – Day 1 of Vacation

            Okay, before we continue, this isn’t…really a vacation.  I just think of it as such since it’s me in limbo till I meet my boss.  I got a really amazing deal on Expedia that saved me about four hundred dollars, but…I had to arrive before my boss was ready for me, so I’m on a short break to…frankly recover.  So, this is going to be my time at my hotel and struggling with my stomach.

            I’m not giving much of an impression of Sendai yet since honestly…I am thrashed.  I landed and the grass seemed a bit brown and the area a bit bleak, but like I said…I know literally crap all about Sendai and I am wrecked by jetlag and sickness.  So, I stepped into the brisk Sendai air and found a cab almost immediately.  The driver looked more like a professional chauffeur more comfortable in a limo than a taxi and he listened to Enka music.  Nice.  He got me to my hotel with no issues, but the drive did cost me almost 30 dollars American.  I couldn’t care less.  After my time on the planes and being in desperate need of a shower and a bathroom that doesn’t sway, I’d’ve probably dropped a hundred if he asked me to.  I checked into the hotel, I’m really reminded of how poor my Japanese is, despite how much I do know.  I can communicate well enough, but still have trouble understanding.  Either way, I got the info I needed from the front desk and dropped off my bags.  Room is pretty tiny, but it has all I need.  Funny thing, when looking through their informational documents, they have an adult on demand brochure front and center full of Japanese porn…I think I know a few of the actresses.  Kidding…well, half kidding.  It’s not nearly as up front about this sort of thing as other budget hotels I’ve stayed at and it’s pretty nice for the price(the hotel, not the porn).  The modern toilets in Japan are amazing…AMAZING!  I’ve used them before, but it’s always hard to go back from a heated seat and a bidet.  Need to try their restaurant and public bath here, but for today, I just wanted a shower and to crash.

            Before the shower, I got directions to a local convenience store and headed out there because once I got in the shower, I knew I’d be done for the night.  Not really up for much tonight, with my stomach causing issues, but some liquid life would be nice, hence this trip.  I stocked up on lemon tea, calpis, melon milk, coke plus, and strawberry latte.  Great stuff…I love Japanese drinks.  Swear, the lemon tea was better than Lipton’s and probably healthier besides.  Since I was beside the highway on this excursion, I have to say I didn’t get to the best impression of Natori, my city, but…again, I’m thrashed, no judgement.  I will say the air is BRISK for the end of March.  If it stays this cool year round, I can forgive a lot.  Sendai is a cool place…literally, haha. I got my liquid life, let family and my boss know I’m alive, and have basically been nursing that stomach pain as I write this.  Today, I’m just resting to recover from that nightmare flight. I’ve got my pink lamb by my bedside for company, a dwindling supply of Japanese beverages, and a nice bed to rest in.  So, signing off for now.  I’ll be back tomorrow after I explore the surrounding area a bit, take in a ramen shop, go shopping, and maybe try the public bath.  We’ll see.

March 30, 2017 – Day 2 of Vacation

Still sick and bloated.  Ugh…tired of that already.  I got about 9 hours of sleep last night but due to both dehydration and all the Japanese beverages I had, I was up about every 3 hours both using the bathroom and getting water.  It’s not the long long sleep I wanted.  I got up around 7am and got Japanese breakfast.  No fish eyes, but a bit odd in places.  For example, the eggs were cold and made with kewpie mayo, sorta like an egg salad.  They also had some soup that was so well refined the onions had a texture more like noodles.  Good stuff.

I girded myself for a cold day and went exploring, but it wasn’t that cold, actually.  My family would have shivered themselves silly, but I overdressed with my big heavy coat.  I intended to go shopping at a small mall, but it didn’t open till 9:30, so I went walking and got pretty lost.  My skills at wayfinding have gotten better though and I managed to find my way.  I followed the train to a train station and then took it back to the one near the mall.  It felt good riding a Japanese train again.  This wasn’t a crowded one, but just sitting/standing and watching the scenery pass felt good.

My legs are killing me…I always overdo it before I’m ready, unfortunately.  I walked a bit too much and am super tired.  Got to the mall again and bought more drinks, a few snacks, and a bag to carry it all in.  One thing I always recommend is for people to find a backpack after getting to a new country.  This at first gave me flashbacks of school, bad flashbacks, when I was in China, but it really is useful.  If you can’t take one on the plane, like me because it was too small to house my laptop case, then buy one when you land as it lets you pack supplies like water for walks or make grocery shopping easier.  It’s just an all-around good idea.

On the way home, I stopped by a bakery that was Santa Clause themed.  Japanese bakeries are a bit strange.  They place aesthetic at a high level and all their treats look divine.  Taste wise, they are generally less sweet than in the US, but I find that better, actually.  It doesn’t make you feel sick, bloated, or lethargic, it just feels sweet and light and easy to eat.  Portioning is definitely a big thing here in Japan and I’ve felt like I get enough with my meals without usually getting too much.

I crashed and got a shower after my walk.  Still pretty tired from the trip, but I’m also a bit out of shape from all the time I wasn’t running and was instead prepping for the trip.  It’ll take time before I’m able to do these kinds of long walks without feeling pain.  But I’ll get there.

After that, I got ramen at a ramen shop right next to my hotel.  It’s weird, as it was only open from 11:30am-5:30pm, but I liked it. Ramen is a wondrous food when done right.  It proves that looks can be deceiving, as when I saw sesame seeds and red flecks of spice in my broth, I was worried, but it had just the right kick to be savory and delicious without overly spicy.  It was also a good receptacle for vegetables, as I downed tons of bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and some green onions as it was all part of the meal.  I also got some dumplings and at first I laughed because the phonetic name for them was “Juicy,” dumplings, but damned if they weren’t really juicy and delicious.  It was a good meal and after that, I laid down to veg for a bit and to try and deal with my stomach. 

Despite being off the plane and having some good food, I’m still bloated, constipated, and feeling a bit sick.  Not sure what to do at this point, since I can’t get medicine yet, I don’t know where a pharmacy is, and my Japanese isn’t good enough to ask about or read about bloating.  I guess like most sickness issues, I just have to ride it out.

Woahhhhhh…so, I took a break in between sections writing this and I just got back from the public bath.  I’ve been to public bathes before, but I guess I’d forgotten…holy…I feel really light headed, but in a pretty good way.  I feel all clean and cleansed.  Thing about Japanese bathes is you don’t go into them to get clean, you clean yourself before entering.  You go in there to soak and boy do you.  I feel you could lose weight just by taking bathes here.  My heartrate was way up before I left and all my pores feel opened up and loose.  You do need to be careful though.  I’m a bit light headed, but folks with a weaker constitution might even faint, which could be dangerous.

For those of us more skiddish about this, I want to say you know who you are but I’ll just wink towards someone my age who is a girl, if you come to Japan, public bathes mean public nudity.  I’m more or less fine with it, but I feel a bit weird at times because I am fat and not handsome.  So, get used to that if you want to come visit me, hehe(Yes, there’s gender separation, so relax).  This bath was empty, so I got it to myself and it was really nicely laid out, with marble around a large pool, nice surroundings, tatami mat, or something similar, flooring…I might go again before I leave this hotel.  It’s a really therapeutic experience, in my opinion.  That said, I am now relaxing with a cool drink and gummies.  Japanese gummies are something else.  American gummies are crass compared to the magical flavor of a good Japanese gummy.

Before I change the topic again, I also want to mention how AMAZING Japanese water is.  I dunno what they do to it, but from chilled restaurant water, yes, the Japanese use ice water, suck it China, to the tap water, it just…tastes right.  So refreshing and delicious.  Bottled water…results may vary, but from the tap or from restaurants is just…you can taste the difference.  It reminds me of the last time I visited here and after a year of Chinese water, I tasted some kushikatsu water and said it was the best I’d ever had.  Nice to see that hasn’t changed.

March 31, 2017

Today was an odd day.  Like I said, my sleep’s been strange.  Stateside, I could do like 8-11 hours without blinking, but here I always seem to get 9 hours like clockwork, barring the interruptions we mentioned previously.  Not sure what to make of that.

I pushed myself too hard again.  I can always tell when my body is close to its physical limitations when my legs start twitching uncontrollably with weight on them.  Happened today with my right leg as I explored Sendai Castle’s site.  It’s always the right one too. Huh…either way, I made plans to take the train and visit Sendai castle and in the process probably walked close to 4-6 km over the course of the day.  I am tired.  Sendai castle is interesting because it’s a massive uphill climb, so I really got my workout.  It was largely destroyed in the Meiji era, so we have lots of markers of where things used to be, remnants of walls, and all that.  Still, they had a shrine and an incredible view of the city.  The shrine was fine, not too big, not too small, so I visited it and then hiked back down.  My day was largely hiking in the cool air.  I feel tired, but hoping it’s the start of me losing weight and being fitter. We’ll see.

I wanted to visit the Sendai museum and some of the cool restaurants at the shrine, since they sell Taiyaki, but alas, but were closed.  I think they’re only closed until tomorrow, when I can’t go, so…irony?  I’ve had my ramen, but I miss some of the other foods I loved here.  The drinks are good, but no taiyaki or takoyaki yet.  Which is a bummer.  I headed back to Sendai the city, as opposed to the castle, and got some omurice, which was okay.  Beef tongue apparently tastes like roast beef.  It was rice under an egg with beef tongue.  I never know how they can manage to get the egg so fluffy and creamy, as I can never manage it with my own creations.

My thoughts on Natori so far, bearing in mind that I’ve only been here a few days, is that it’s very bleak.  The countryside has a few things of convenience, but the walks between train stations are long and the crops and fields seem like they’re still waiting for spring.  Sendai is a bit better, but it is a big city so it has more resources to allocate.  I still need more time to get a fuller idea of what it’s like.  The temperature suits me very well, but I worry that I might just want to stay in if it’s cold and there’s not much to do in the future.  Still, it’d just be me staying in in Japan as opposed to me staying in in the states if that happened, so…not really the worst of options, it’s similar to what I was doing when I was dead tired from my last job.  Anyway, getting ahead of ourselves.  Both areas have a nice balance of modern and old fashioned nature and tech, which I like.  Farmlands and gardens next to factories, trains, and stores.  It’s cleaner than China, but there are still some issues here, like with trash in the aquaducts(is that the right term?  I don’t even know.) or cigarette butts in the ground.  The smoking in Asia is still something I have to get used to.  While people in Japan keep it much more private than in China, the smell is still about a few places and even in my hotel, there is an entire section of rooms where smoking is allowed.  I am in non-smoking, naturally.

I want to close out today by saying that during my journey, I was listening to a podcast from the Nightvale folks called Within the Wires.  I won’t spoil anything, but it hit me hard in a few places.  Two lines really stick out to me.  They were from a woman recording a tape for a patient in a sinister mental institution she’s trying to help.  It was her saying why didn’t you remember me?  And then later on she says the second line.  I hope I can see you again.  I don’t really have a person to love in my life, not the kind of love that I think this story focused on, however it reminded me of at least one person I know.  You’re the one I teased in the last entry, if you need it spelled out.  I don’t want either of us to forget.  And I don’t want it to be goodbye forever, me being here.  I’m…not sure what to make of how the feelings have hit me.  I thought I was better with this kind of separation, but it still bothers me.  I didn’t want to be home, but I don’t like being separated from you, at least.  The choices we’ve made, however, seem to hint that we’re not going to be able to live close.  At least not without compromise.  I don’t know how that makes me feel…other than empty, which is not a nice feeling.  Within the Wires is a nice little psychological thriller podcast, though.  It’s a great story told in an unorthodox way that’s equal parts scary, gut wrenching, and innocuous.

And that’s all I have.  I still have time before I begin my new life tomorrow and meet my boss, but I’m going to spend it resting.  I spent the first half of my day exploring and I am tired.  More than anything, I doubt I have the will to explore on my own for too terribly long.  Why spend the whole day exploring when you can spend some of the day exploring and some recovering?  Especially when a lot of people push you to explore, but to really explore and enjoy, you need to do it for yourself, not for them.  Either way, I need to recover. So, I’m going to do that now.  I think I need a bit of regularity in my life, like a month of being settled, gaming, teaching, day to day stuff before I can really appreciate diversions like what I tried to do today.  I’m reporting on my journey, but I doubt people realize that my great joy is in storytelling over sightseeing.  I’d rather read a good book, listen to a great podcast, or play a great game than see a fantastic view. I really do need someone to explore it with to make it truly worthwhile…most of the time, I’ll probably head back to Sendai castle later, just…not now.  And with that, I’m signing off.  Till later.