Happy new year!

Yaaaay! It's 2009! That was a fast year!! Happy new year everyone! I wish you all the best! I hope you're all successful in whatever you have set your hearts on! Be that work, love, a new hobby, a resolution, travel....nani nani...

I ended up meeting up with Minae for dinner at first. There was this guy who was studying next to us. And I guess my curiosity was a little too obvious...so he asked me if I wanted to know what I was studying in english. Turns out his english was really good, and that he was studying accounting. We got chatting a bit, and he ended up being a translator for some parts of the conversation, as I was trying to explain to her the workings of some guys minds. It's funny, Nao said he thought I was very wise about guys and knowledgable. I was laughing because I know I get teased at home for exactly the opposite. I think I just have an advantage over some of the girls here...it seems it's possible to be even more innocent! Which you know...isn't a bad thing...unfortunatley it's not so helpful when others are corrupt.
We then got him to come along to the new years party. It was really good. It was Dj night and so there was cool music and food. Apparently you need to eat Soba on new years eve because it indicates a long life? (soba noodles are verrrry long).
The place really filled out the closer it got towards 12. Again there weren't actually that many foreigners, it was mainly japanese people. Which rocked. It makes you speak to people, and try to speak in japanese/english. there should be a word for that..... japlish! Aha! Add that to the dictionary!

sorry I got sidetracked. Anyways!! It was awesome. There was this one Dj who seriously rocked the dance floor. It was a mix of hip hop/RnB/house/garage/pop/dance. Really strange! But it got everyone dancing and rocking. It was great after the count down. Everyone was hugging each other saying happy new year. It was a good party.

Kobe

Well...I miss kyoto..It was such a beautiful place! Anyways....We went off to Kobe the next day, after having a long lie in. Getting up early and walking around all day actually takes it's toll! We met up with Matt at the station in Kobe and went off to his halls. It was a little bit of a mission, because technically he wasn't allowed ot have guests, so we had to go in groups...and act non chalant. It felt like we were on some mission! We then went off to harbour land and had a snoop around. A lot of things were shut- again because of the oncoming holidays. I didn't really like it too much. It was strange it felt more like England...and the beach...and cheesy...it didn't feel very japanese at all. Not that I don't like england...but that cheesy beach feel isn't that great. The city is very shopping centre orientated. It had a cool Afflex palace version though which went on underneath the train tracks. It was pretty cool looking. We decided to go home early though, because Matt was quite ill and because everything was shut for the holidays there wouldn't be much to do. So I ended up on the train yesterday back home.

Nara

3rd day in Kyoto. We originally wanted to go off to the museums but then realised that a lot of things were shut due to the oncoming new year celebrations. So we spontaneously made our way to Nara. I really wanted to go, because I was told by Tom that it's really beautiful. He was right! The town itself, was quite lovely too! Lots of small streets with omiyage shops. We walked up towards the park, and were confronted by a lot of deers...all over the place. They were very tame though and pretty uninterested in us, apart from the possibility of food. We happened upon this temple which looked quite chinese really. We were mesmerized by this Monk doing calligraphy for a customer. Apparently it is custom to have a book or a pad of sorts, and go to every temple to have this calligraphy prayer (?) done. It's like a reminder of every temple I suppose? It's amazing how fluid this monk was moving..the strokes were a piece of art everytime. He was writing for this older man. Halfway through the man turned to me and offered me his second pad/board thing. he said "Please, a gift". I was so honoured! So I had my own calligraphy prayer/souvenir done too. I love this country!!! We then walked through the wood to another temple, and found gorgeous strange looking trees on the way.
I really suggest Nara as a place to visit. If you like beautiful nature and "older Japan".

Golden Temples and Monkeys

I know I know...this blog wasn't written on the actual day these events occurred. But I figured I might as well write it when I have my own laptop and my pictures at hand (which reminds me there are pictures for the previous blog now..should you be interested).
So! Second day in kyoto. I wake up at 8.10am and notice that Anthony is gone. I am the only girl in the dorm room..which is alright, the blokes are all nice, though I am not to sure I like the unisex bathroom....maybe I am more insecure than I thought. Anyways I go to the bathroom and come back to much stirring and my phone ringing loudly. Me; "S%*&*)(*!! I am so sorry!" Climbing up that ladder to my bed as fast as I can to pick up. It's Anthony wishing me a good morning. I feel the need to kill a little gerbil. I kindly point out that the whole room has been woken by my phone ringing.

I get chatting to one of the guys in the dorm after we've all gotten ready. We have a laugh about travels and he tells me about this awesome ninja restaurant in Tokyo. Which I MUST go to! We end up joining up with him (Eric) and his cousin jeffrey and head to the golden temple together. The Temple is beautiful, and very impressive. The surrounding area is also extremely well done. It's the whole japanese thing of doing everything perfectly but including flaws on purpose to make it look like..perfect nature. Very strange.
We then wanted to make our way to monkey park. We weren't entirely sure what to expect. But it was awesome! We walked up this pretty path, and could occasionally hear terrifying squeals...something out of jurassic park... we were fully bracing ourselves for the attack fo genetically mutated monkeys with a liking for human flesh. This did not happen though..instead we found, the higher we walked the more monkeys were lounging around all over the place. They were relatively oblivious to us taking pictures of them. I guess they get that all the time really. I made friends with these 2 japanese students who were discussing the moves of one male monkey on (I hope) a lady monkey. he wasn't very sucessful...I guess his moves were a little obvious. Monkey park is definatley worth going to! It was only 550yen, and for the amazing view you get up at the top..it's worth it, even if you're not a monkey fan!

Kyoto-first day

Who rang me at 5.18 this morning???? huh? Huh??????? Out with it!

lol...well it's ok because I had to get up 12 minutes afterwards....because we were going on our big trip to kyoto. Fun times cycling with 2 bags. It was freezing as well. The train journey went ok, apart from Ant being a monkey and losing his shinkansen ticket somehow...so we missed that train and had to get him another ticket....apart from that though all was good! We finally found the hostel after several failed attempts of finding the right alley way. Met a nice english dude who was also a little lost and got chatting. The hostel was really nice, and we went straight off to explore. We walked up to the Emperors palace...which you couldn't get in to without some kind of pre-application. We the walked along the river down in to the Gion district which is where the Geishas supposidly live. It's a beautiful little corner. the streets are narrow lined with wooden houses that look dark inside. But it really felt like olf Japan. Kyoto is an awesome place for shopping. The amount of times we made a detour in to a cute little shop...I am glad Ant has the patience of a saint, and a slight female thinking process to be able to cope with me...I don't know what Japan is doing to me..but I enjoy shopping now!...sooo bad.

There are a heck of a lot of foreigners here too..which is odd...and makes it feel less like Japan. I felt very embarressed to be associated with them today though. When I was in this cute sock shop a family of americans came in. While I was paying for my cute socks one of the boys went up to the cashier and kept on tapping her on the shoulder with his empty plastic pot saying "Trash? Trash? Trash?". The cashier was a little confused....and took the pot off him which he was shoving under her nose...she turned around and he went on "NO can you put it in the trash for me? Thanks", then his brother came over and while she confusedly (I know that's not a word..shut up), put it in the bin, he was saying "yeah can you take this too please, and put it in the trash". I was a little shocked...and mesmerized by the pure ignorance, rudeness...and argghhhhhhh . My first impulse was to grab him and shout "what the HELL are you doing?", my second was to go over and say "for future reference; you could try " Gomi daijoubu desu ka? Sumimasen"...." or something like that. Ghosh....it baffles me...how...terribly ignorant one can be...in such a rude way...I am not suggesting they learn japanese before they come out...but at least be humble...and try and learn one or two words....

anyway...small rant finished.
Obviously they weren't all like that. So it was ok. It's weird...it kind of feels like summer when we went to spain and travelling..what with being in a hostel and all that jazz...But I feel more at home...my territory...cause I live in the country...oddness.
well I shall stop babbling now!

Menny Kurisamusu!

raaaaaaaaaaaar....I was finally able to sleep in! I came home at 5 this morning...so forgive me if I talk rubbish..or my grammar isn't quite right.
Well it's been a really nice few days actually! Not christmassy in the sense I am used to..but still nice! On the 24th I was let out early at school, which I was really grateful for. I left at 3!!! Yay! Made my way to buy cake and then came home to try and help Antony with the cooking. Turns out he had it all under control, and so I was just doing random errands for bits and pieces. Major Deja vu! We had an awesome amount of food. Antony made chicken casserole in a nabe pot, Imogen made the tastiest mashed potatoes ever, as well as some cheating roast potatoes. We had stuffing, and gyoza. All this of course was eaten with chopsticks, on the floor, by candlelight! It was really cool. Another girl Liz brought some traditional english christmas cake (from new zealand), and mince pies (ewwwww...but go ahead my dear british folk and indulge). So we had quite a feast really. A few more people joined us later, so we ended up having quite a full house,with everyone opening presents (because that's what you do on the 24th when you're not english :p ), and having family members call. My family called at around midnight, which was so nice. It felt so good to talk to family and friends back home.

The 25th was also a good day! I had school for half the day, it actually went quite fast, I was sorting out games for january's lesson, did some paper work, and we all had lunch together in the teachers room. Ant and me had a nice dinner together and then cycled off to Speak EZ for the christmas do there. It was a great atmostphere! There were some families there, so we had hyperactive kids run around the place. Well...It is now boxing day. Have an aesome new year everybody!!!