[Note: I am writing this two years after the fact. I could have sworn that I wrote it all up, but I guess I didn't, and I have a feeling I threw out the notebook with my journal because it was dying. >_> I will do my best to recapture those days.]
Okay, so, Monday and Tuesday my friend and went to various shrines and tourist sites in Kyoto. Wednesday morning our group took the shinkansen down to Hiroshima... outside the station there was a small festival going on, 20 or so food stalls in a large square; it smelled great, and I could see a takoyaki stand. We didn't have much time before the streetcar came and we headed toward the Memorial Peace Park.
During this time, many schools were visiting the area, so between the cranes and museum we were all asked, "Where are you from?" "What does peace mean to you?" etc. etc. Honestly, it hadn't set in that I was at such a tragic site until I entered the museum. I walked through the first floor, reading the info cards and weaving through the middle school kids. Before I headed up to the second floor I stopped and looked at the miniature model of the city before and after the bomb exploded. In my head, I was starting to realize what was going on, but all I could hear was the jargon of young teenagers just on another school trip. They hardly seemed to care, or be affected by the museum. It was an mix of shame and confusion and frustration that I held onto until I completed the tour of the museum. Somehow I ended up ahead of the group, so I waited outside for the others alone. More kids approached me with their questions, which I tried to answer as energetically as possible. Comprehending that day was numbing.
Thankfully, our group assembled again and we returned to the station for lunch. I can't recall if the food stands were still there or not (if they were, I have no idea why I didn't get food from them!!) but I ended up getting a variety onigiri set from the convenience store. We tried to eat lunch in the shade, along with a few other resting individuals. Then the pigeons came. They kept their distance at first, but all it took was one unfortunate drop of rice that motivated them to attack. (Pretty sure I dropped the rice.)
As our small lunch group moved from the shady spot full of pigeons to the fountain in front of the station I noticed a few guys hanging out. They looked at me curiously, cocking their heads as I walked by. I heard "Hara? Hara?" SO CONFUSED. WHY DID THEY KNOW MY NAME? Where they even talking to me? WHAT? DO? I? DO? well. I ignored them obliviously and sat with my friends to eat, just a few meters away from the guy.
5 minutes later I realized that I was wearing a shirt that I had designed. It had my name in katakana along the front side. DERP. That would explain everything.
That night, like many of the following nights up until we left Kyoto, a small group of 2, or 3, or so of us headed down the street to the large shopping area. We browsed and walked around aimlessly more than anything. I fulfilled my intention of having takoyaki that day! IT WAS DELICIOUS. Tasted like yummy chicken pot pie, but better O.o
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Thursday, off to Miyajima! To see the shrine, sure, but I think it was under construction at the time. The rest of the area itself was beautiful: a nice little island that we took the JR ferry to reach. And the deer are super friendly, aka comfortable around humans and trying to score some food. There was one deer that tried to enter a restaurant as we walked by, but the owner kindly led him away.
When we returned to Kyoto, a large part of our group met with our professor at a kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi). Every plate came with two good pieces of sushi for about a dollar (100 yen) each. I had 10 plates. 2 of which were actually cake. It was only 100 yen, so I had to try them. They were a bit dry. The sushi was exponentially better. For future reference.
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Friday. Oh, Friday. Thank God for the JR pass because we basically spent most of Friday on the train haha. First, my friend and I headed to Osaka. Aside from the Pokemon Center and the digital maps, there wasn't too much to look at in the station so we headed outside. Our goal, on our last day in Japan, was to follow Dr. Hara's advice and get lost.
We wandered down one street, around and up another. Through a shady-ish street of various clubs and small restaurants and the BIGGEST pet store I have seen in Japan. Along with the usual kittens and puppies, they had gigantic fish, birds, and OWL, sugar gliders, rabbits and a couple monkeys. So cool.
From there we continued to wander aimlessly. I did my best not to pay attention to which way we were turning so we would have a chance to get lost. The peak of that venture was a little discount vending machine that sold Gun Gun Gurt for only 100 yen (instead of its usual 120 yen). With some prize in hand we started back toward the station. Despite my efforts, we found the station :/ But before we left we stopped at a rice bowl place for lunch.
THEN WE HEADED UP TO NAGOYA. YUP.
I went in search of Osu Kannon, so I could show my friend all the cool KPOP stuff. Did we find it? Nope. Failed. I asked an officer which subway line went there, but he didn't seem too sure, and we ourselves couldn't read the Kanji for it when we found a map. We made do and wandered around Nagoya before returning to Kyoto.
A car was set to pick us up at around 5:30 am the next morning. Like all sane people, I was basically packed and set to go that night. Initially, 6 or 7 of us intended to stay up all night, snacking and chatting and holding a mini hall party. Only 3 survived. The only down-side was that I was so tired in the car that I had a hard time staying awake for a 30-minute car ride that was actually and hour. Then I totally passed out on the 1-hour plane from Kansai Airport to Narita [we were in the best, comfiest seats ever!! Definitely wasn't coach].
Then, we came home... Only with the memories and intention to return again.
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Returning to Japan: September 2013, and counting down the days~~!!
