Japan Musings - Part 2

Busy busy...one more work day, then the weekend!

5/2 - Nara (city about 40 minutes away from Kyoto) - It's hot today in Nara. I'm sitting in a park under the shade. My feet hurts and the train station is a bit of walk. I ate too much. If someone was with me, I could have shared my food and tried more things. So many things to eat!!!

-Allergies are really getting to me.
-There's a man smoking near me. I'm going to stop writing now because the smell is making my allergies worse. I really like how people really smoke only in smoking areas. In Korea, people smoke everywhere, especially when they are walking along in front of you. The air is so much cleaner in Japan. I love not smelling cigarettes everywhere!
-It's really hot today. I'm sweating a little. I longed for warmer weather in Korea, but now I'm a bit scared. It's really uncomfortable and it's making me moody too. I feel fatter when it's hot too.
- I met an old man on the train today. He asked me for directions and he ended up talking to me half of the train ride back to Kyoto. He was really cute. He had a book and he was asking me for the correct pronunciation of some words he didn't know. I took the local train home because there were seats and my feet were begging to for me to sit down. It took almost half an hour longer, but I was so tired, I slept most of the way back.

-Wow, English level is really low in Japan. I had trouble with ordering an iced latte at Doutor. I had to repeat it a few times. Thank goodness for Konglish in Korea or the language barrier would be huge. Is there Japlish? Japanlish? Ha, whatever.
-This is my 4th time in Japan, yet I only know how to say 'hi' 'bye' 'thank you' 'yes' in Japanese.
-I'm eating now. The waiter just taught me how to eat cold soba noodles - dip it in the soy sauce, not pour it over.

5/3 - Last day in Kyoto
-Wow. AMAZING! I just rode a bike around Kyoto. I hope I never forget this feeling. Feeling of freedom and carelessness. The morning wind in my hair is awesome. Riding across the stream is fun, but I'm only a few feet away from death. Well, not death, but total embarrassment if I fall over...there's no rails!
-My feet can't touch the ground when I stop my bike. I think I can ride for hours.
-People leave their bikes everywhere without locking it. No matter how safe the country is, I still have an American mindset. In my mind, the bike would not be there when I come back from wherever I went. People don't commit petty crimes here and I love that.
-I love riding my bike along the sidewalk without needing to worry about motorcycles and even cars up in my business! When will Korea enforce harsher rules on motorcycles and cars on the sidewalk. It's madness!
-I'm at Kinkaku Temple now - AHHH! Loads of Chinese tour buses. So annoying. Mandarin is rather annoying and loud.
-Bye Kyoto. You were AMAZING! I'll be back!