August 11, 2017
Not much to say
today. I just chilled, which I really
needed. I did talk to the A/C
technician, but they can’t fix it today since it’s a holiday, so they can’t get
the parts. Later. It has to be later. Got a small heart attack when my boss called,
but it was very cordial. I am typically anxious,
but my bosses are really wonderful people and I do feel lucky to have
them. Aside from that, I did a bit of
shopping, bought some soda at the Yamaya and got some fast food. It was a nice relaxing day.
I also finished up One
Shot, which is an amazingly charming game that is like Undertale light. It’s a point and click adventure meeting a 16-bit
rpg and while it seems generic at first, it really does make you care about the
characters and the world and has some truly amazing 4th wall
breaking moments that I loved. It was
great. And I am slinking back to
Hearthstone for the new expansion and its free missions. Screw constructed play though. Gwent, I can handle real people, but
Hearthstone is friggin awful when it comes to playing against real people. Anyway, tomorrow, we explore Sendai Aquarium
and probably get some sweets, all you can eat.
August 12, 2017
Bleh. I went to the Sendai Aquarium today, but it
rained all day, so I was hot, sweaty, wet, and tired by the end. The aquarium was…nice in parts? It was too crowded. That’s what I get for going on Saturday and
during holidays, I guess. It was
suffocating at times, but at times it was also really beautiful. I…guess I liked it, even though it cost too
much to get into and it was more of a family destination, as evidenced by all
the kids around. I’d only go again with
someone special, because it’s, again, not a thing for loners. I did like all
the nice titles given to each section.
Like “The Sparkling Sea,” or “The mother ocean,” or “The Kelp
Forest.” Really cool stuff.
After
the aquarium, I headed to Sweets Paradise, to have their all you can eat sweets
buffet. I have learned from my previous
life experiences with buffets, however, and paced myself. I tried the cakes and ice cream, but they
also have noodles and other carby things like rice and salads to help cleanse
the pallet. It was…again, okay. Not
great. I went there out of nostalgia for
when I went to the Osaka version when I was in Hirakata. That was outrageous, but the company and the
fact that it was new probably helped with that.
Anyway, I was also next to the Tohoku pokemon center. It…didn’t do anything for me, as I don’t
really play or care about pokemon that much now. It’s still cool and fun, but not my bag. I do know some people who love it though, so
if anyone wants to put in gift requests, please do so, I can mail them to
you. After all that, I got home and got
a shower.
I
had to pay double for parking my bike because the place didn’t have anyone in
when I left it and they didn’t seem to get the money I left. Still, it’s only 100 yen. Lesson learned, as they say. I’m pretty tired from today, so I will
probably push resuming writing onto my next day where I’m not traveling, which
will be either Monday or Tuesday. I’m
still on vacation and wanting to do things my way, for now. Also, I have tons of pictures from the
Aquarium and my new haircut. I’ll
probably stagger releases of photos weekly, so people don’t get spammed with
them all at once.
August 13, 2017
Today has been
pretttttttttyyyyyyy bad, all things considered.
It was hot, I only had long sleeves to wear, I didn’t have any water and
the loop bus I took was ridiculous. I
went to Sendai to catch a few things I missed previously, some museums mostly,
but most of them were closed. History?
Closed. Botanical gardens?
Closed. The museum of art was open and
that was nice, but by the end of the day, I was just done and wanted to go
home. I liked the sumi exhibits in the museum because…hey, I love sumi, but
I…ugh. The plan was to get Mexican
tonight in one of the only Mexican restaurants in Sendai, but I just could not
be bothered…planning to tomorrow if I can make my trip to Zao Onsen. Ugh…a lot of the sights I saw were not worth
the effort or money and a few buses were so loaded down, they apologized, then
drove on without opening their doors at a few stops. Got to see CG Sendai Castle, which was pretty
cool and the art museum was nice, but I would have had a better time just…staying
at home, really. Well, I still have a
few days of vacation left, so staying at home will happen sooner or later.
August 14, 2017
Shoulda stayed home. Today was an out and out disaster. I made it
to Zao Onsen, but…ugh…the journey was a nightmare. I spent six hours in transit today, maybe
more. I left my house at 8am and got
back at 8pm, so half my day was just in trains, buses, bikes, walking, or sky
cars. To top it all off, my phone’s GPS
is stupid and sent me to the wrong bus company twice. I managed to make my bus, and the ride was
nice as I like watching the scenery pass, but…look, Zao is pretty. It is. I have pictures, you’ll see them
later, but NO A/C anywhere, basically.
When you have a breeze, this isn’t a problem, but when you
don’t…ugh…anyway, I took a sky car and got to see the whole of the
mountain. Didn’t explore much near the
top because it was marshy and there were a ton of dragon flies and other bugs.
I got very little food
today…more on that later, but I had to also climb up to the onsen shrine to
find my way to the open air hot spring which is so famous. I nearly died, again. Too much heat, too little water. I brought a full bottle and it didn’t even
last half the trip. The hot spring
is…okay, I guess. It tingles when you
get in because of the acidity, but what I noticed most was how light headed I
got and how my body stank of Sulphur afterwards. That was fun…so, I’ve been through a shower
and two changes of clothes since then to try and clean up a bit. Like I said, I barely got any food today, so
I was tired, sleepy, and running on empty.
When I got back to Yamagata, where the bus was, it was an hour long wait
for a train to Sendai. So, I said, to
hell with it. I didn’t want to wait
basically 3 hours to get Mexican food and just bought dinner there. I napped on the train ride home and didn’t
stop in Sendai for long, just long enough to get another train to Natori. And it was raining as I rode my bike
home. Christ, I’m tired. Zao is a beautiful place, but I’m not
convinced by the hot springs. I prefer my
bath house more. Also, I can make tacos
here in my home so I’m less desperate for Mexican than I was 3 months ago. I still need to try the restaurant but I have
no craps to give at the moment. My phone almost died, my 3ds ran out of juice,
and I was stuck lugging my heavy backpack around all day. I just want to lie down and rest. Next two days, I stay in Natori and get some
good local food. I am dying for ramen.
It’s summer, by the
way. No matter how much rain or what
other say, it is still summer and too hot for me. I should not travel in summer.
August 15-16, 2017
Welp, my vacation is
almost over. I go back to work tomorrow
and in two days, I speak with my boss on my performance. Trying not to stress. My last two days off have been very restful. I’ve gotten food that’s probably a smidge
more unhealthy than I need, but that felt good, I’ll admit. I’ve been watching up till the current point
in Star Vs The Forces of Evil and playing a few games, as well as writing. It’s been nice.
I feel it also important
to finish this entry, and this set for my journals, with a message for the
US. To anyone reading, you cannot simply
pretend the hatred going on in Virginia is not your problem. The right has basically gone completely
insane because they believe people will not stand. This is to my family and friends
especially. Stand and fight back. Against bigotry and hatred. Do not go, “Oh, but free speech,” or any
other shit like that. People are killing
other people and this isn’t something you wave aside. Riots in Virginia. All I need to say. I’ve made it clear where I stand. No
alt-right. No Neo-Nazis. No hatred is acceptable. If you want to in anyway excuse the actions
of the alt-right scum in Virginia, be you friends or family…I do not want you
in my life. Now or ever. Because that is excusing hatred and butchery
of innocent people. Words alone cannot
express how lucky I feel to be in Japan now.
The US is fighting to keep its conscience…when I am living in a country
where rioting and open bigotry is not a thing…I can only shake my head at the
things going on in the US. So, for those
who read. I encourage you. Make yourself
known. Hatred. Racism.
Sexism. Bigotry. Nazism.
Facism. These are things we do
not want or need in America. Do not sit
by quietly and wait for it to go away.
Sigh…I don’t like to get
political here. But politics is a part
of life for everyone, whether you like it or not. It remains.
So, at the very least, say what you believe in…say you believe in a
world without hatred. Naïve as it may
sound…if we work for it, it will eventually happen. I believe so at least. Signing off.
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