The Antler Has Finally Arrived

At long last, I finally received the package I shipped to myself from Japan 5 weeks ago.  And contained within was the ultimate hiking trophy, an intact deer antler.

I placed it above my window in my bedroom to remind me of frolicking through the Japanese wilderness.

Well, even though I only flew back home from Tucson early this morning, I’ve been forced back into normality.  Errands and deadlines…  Bla…  Gotta run.

Japan Photo Update

Hello friends!  My Dutch hiking partner sent me her photos from Japan, so the photo album has finally been updated (for good).  Here are some good ones…

Here’s a (very unflattering) shot of my rear end.  That’s one view we should have left in Japan…

And here we are in a cab.  It was mandatory to ride diagonally (so it seems)…

So check out the new photos!

Sayonara Japan!

Tokyo –> Florida

Well, I had a long sleep last night, but woke up very sad.  I don’t want to go home!  Two weeks into my second trip to Japan, and I’ve finally gotten into the swing of things.  I’m practically Japanese already…  I stay out all night and sleep on the train.  Even the complicated act of removing one’s shoes and stepping into slippers without ever letting the bare foot (or sock) touch the floor has become natural to me.

Mark my words:  I will move to Japan someday.  I just need to find the right job…

Well, the trip back home was damn near unbearable.  There were delays galore!  I took planes, trains and automobiles and there was a delay with each one!  And to top it all off, I came down with the flu!

Can One Bring Antlers on a Plane?

Kyoto –> Tokyo

I had kept a deer antler we found while hiking in Oita, and I had been wondering for days if I should try to fly it home with me.  But I kept imagining what would happen when a Japanese customs officer asks me (in Japanese) what I’m doing with an antler.  Ultimately, I decided to mail it and hope for the best.  So I went to the post office.  Although the post office employees didn’t speak English (and I didn’t know the appropriate postal words in Japanese), the whole transaction was completed using charades, and only took about 15 minutes.

I shipped my hiking stuff with the antler, and I pitched my hiking shoes, which freed up a lot of room in my bag.  ‘Cause all my friends know, if it doesn’t fit in my bag, it doesn’t come with me.

Since I’m leaving Japan tomorrow, *sob* I planned to hang out in Tokyo with my Aussie hiking mate.  However, the last train back to my hotel leaves at 8:00PM, so much for a night out.  Instead, I decided to do some last minute, emergency souvenir shopping in Asakusa.

Bitten on the Bum

Kyoto and Nara

I woke up with a wicked hangover, but I killed it with copious amounts of water and Tylenol.  I went to a shopping arcade, to find it packed with Western stuff (and Westerners).  It’s beyond my comprehension why people would come to Japan and buy crap they could get at home.

I went to Mister Donut (yum), then went on my JTB Nara tour.  Nara was quite a tourist trap.  I didn’t take many pictures because honestly, I had seen much cooler stuff.  But I came to Nara for the deer, and I sure got them (and they got a bit of me, too).  They were expectedly aggressive, and I was completely accosted when I had the biscuits.  One deer bit me right on the bum to get my attention.

grrr…

So many people were throwing the biscuits, screaming and running from the advancing deer.  I wish I had a camcorder because I would have loved to post a video on YouTube, “Screaming Japanese Schoolgirls Run from Violent Deer”.

After Nara, I went back to Mister Donut (yes, again), then back to the hostel to debate late into the night with the other guests.  Some of you may think I’m a particularly argumentative person because I (very) often find myself in rather intense debates.  However, it just so happens that I’m a female, uber-conservative American, which is very much the opposite of most people I meet.  So naturally, I end up with different opinions on most issues.  One can only debate opposing sides.  So I’m not argumentative, I’m unique.  Or at least that’s the story I’m sticking to…

Quiet Day in Kyoto

Tokushima –> Kyoto

After another delicious meal, Sensei’s family took me to the station to see me off.  My Tokushima friends are some of the best people in the world.

In Tokushima City, I hopped a bus to Kyoto.  It’s about a 3 hour ride and very scenic.  Once I arrived in Kyoto, I did some shopping at Kyoto Handicraft Center.  Now, I’m not the biggest fan of this place, but if you’re looking for typical cheesy Japanese souvenirs, this is the place for you.

I headed over to K’s House Kyoto for the night.  There I buddied up with a couple of Americans and another Aussie.  The Aussie and I went to an okonomiyaki place near Kyoto station.  We had okonomiyaki and yakisoba (yes, yakisoba again).  For only 700 yen per person, this place is my New Kyoto favorite.  It’s on the corner of Shichijo-dori and Karasuma-dori.

Later, we went back to the hostel to drink and chat with the other guests.  I made a comment that I was quite surprised I was drunk, considering the vending machine drinks had only 3.5% alcohol… until the Aussie informed me that the 3.5% was the amount of fruit juice, there was a bit more alcohol.  Oops.

It was my first time staying in a mixed dorm (me + 3 guys).  I felt a little wierd, but I guess I can’t complain about the young, sexy and shirtless Aussie eye candy.  Regardless, I went to bed fully dressed in my day clothes.  Oh, I’m so repressed…

Dinner and a Show

Tokushima

Sensei took me to one of Shikoku’s 88 pilgrimage temples.  Many people make a pilgrimage through Shikoku, visiting these temples.  The one I saw was really beautiful, and I always feel lucky to see people so devoted to their faith.

Later, I visited another friend in Tokushima City.  We went to a traditional indigo dying place, and I got to dye a handkerchief.  It was quite a unique experience.

I took the local train back to Sensei’s house, trying to pretend I didn’t notice all the locals staring at me.  A foreigner is a bit of a novelty in rural Japan.

After another delicious dinner, the family gave me a special performance.  Obaasan performed a dance (with the baby trying to copy), the older son did a kendo performance, and Okaasan gave me a lesson in traditional Japanese flower arranging.  Sensei and his family are so proud of their Japanese culture, I’m really glad I was given the opportunity to experience some of it.

Feels Like Home

Tokushima

Another day of train travel (thank God for the Japan Rail Pass), this time to visit my friends in Tokushima.

We had yakisoba for dinner (my favorite), and I had 3 servings!  I can always count on sensei’s house to have the best food in Japan!

The Views Were (Literally) Breathtaking

Oita

Ok, so I guess I thought I was ready for the next hike, but it was rather brutal for me.  It turns out that this sea-level dweller has a hard time breathing at 2000 ft.  I made it through today’s hike without dying, which is about all I can say about that.

We all drove to Beppu and stayed at a ryokan, which was pretty nice.  Anywhere I can bathe, wash my clothes and get on the ‘net, gets an “A” in my book.  I have never before so much appreciated being clean.

300 Steps to Enlightenment

Oita

The hike wasn’t too challenging today, so we had plenty of time to look around and enjoy the scenery.  Our team hiked to Monjusenji Temple, an old, secluded Buddhist Temple at the top of a 300-step staircase.

The views were beautiful.  I could really feel the spiritual energy surrounding the temple.  The team split up for individual exploration.  It was so quiet, I could hear a beetle walking on a leaf.

We had quite a bit of time to relax and meditate.  At bedtime, I was pondering my purpose in life, and I must have been on the right track because I could feel the earth move… literally.  There was an earthquake!  It was my first time experiencing an earthquake, so it was pretty cool.  The guide told us the next morning that it was a level 4.3 earthquake.  I was feeling rejuvenated and ready for the next day of hiking!