The Shikoku Witch Project

Well well, what a weekend. The week just passed moved along without much of note, that is until Friday night when we headed to Berber once again to celebrate (Hong Kong) Tony`s birthday. Before the clubbing began I met Basim, Marina and Basim`s cousin Mohammed in Paiyama. We went to an Izakaiya for dinner and drinks, all paid for by Mohammed I hasten to add. Nicely warmed up we moved back to Paiyama where I introduced myself to the waiting crowd by jumping on a rail, grabbing someone and falling flat on my face. Nice.

In the club the usual banter ensued. Highlights include THAT photo on facebook, Tony being forced to down a bottle of champagne and a hip-hop dance-off to finish the night. I returned home to pack and go to bed. 4.30am... plenty of time.

7.30am my alarm goes off. Still "intoxicated" I manage to pack my suitcase. 3 peanut butter sandwiches, beer, vodka, Fanta and a quilt. Essentials packed we somehow navigated ourselves to the bus that would do the 3 hour journey to Shikoku. The bus journey was sobering at last, as I sat quietly sipping my iced coffee, and listening to Metallica way to loud. Once at the bus terminal we scrambled Supermarket Sweep style around the centre to grab supplies before we headed out to the middle of nowhere to our campsite.

We boarded the next bus, and before long we were working our way around one of the most exciting bus routes in the world. 1 lane and a million hairpin and blind turns, with a mountain on one side and a sheer drop on the other made for some squeaky bum time. The only thing smaller then the margin of error for the driver was our chances of survival of crashing over the side. Still we made it to the campsite, and discovered our box for the weekend.

Our first activity of the weekend was to work our way to the Onsen (traditional Japanese natural spring baths). The walk boasted some impressive views, but meant it took over 1 hour to walk to 3/4 km to the baths.

Once we arrived at the Onsen, we brought our tickets and towels and rode the cable car down several 100 meters to the riverbank and the actual baths. Once there, we split into the sexes, Marc and I one way, Yume, Lilly and Anika the other. Marc and I then proceeded to get but naked before navigating our way down a slippery staircase, which was exposed to the outdoor elements - IT WAS FREEZING, and down to the sulphur heated bath. It was a weird experience, but having the Japanese stare and Marc`s and my you-know-what was slightly unnerving. Not mentioning the guy with the tripod camera taking photos of the baths whilst we where there.

On our way back night had already crept in, and as it was the middle of nowhere, the buses has stopped and there were no streetlights to be seen. Armed with only our phone light, we headed into the darkness before being discovered by a car halfway. To our amazement, a car with 5 Japanese pulled over, emptied bar the driver, and took us back to the campsite before returning to his now stranded friends!

To wind down the evening we drank, ate and were merry. Still, no more details as what happens in the box stays in the box.

Day 2. Having slept in all our clothes and under all possible blankets we awoke and brushed-up before we caught the bus down to a nearby(ish) tourist spot. It turned out to be an ancient vine bridge you could cross, set to the backdrop of the impressive river and waterfall.

After the bridge, we stopped off for some food, which included this local delicacy. Its a whole fish on a stick, grilled slowly outdoors around some hot coals. Very nice it was too.

Back at the campsite the rain had moved in for the night. Still, Marc and I played the men cards and soon had a fire going that lasted a good couple of hours. We enjoyed the fire whilst Marc got red-eyed and proceeded to totally fail.

Having left Anika and Marc in the box, Yume, Lilly and I decided to go for a walk in the cold, dark rain. We worked our way down to the reception where we were invited in by the lonely manager. We google-earthed our homes etc (to which I became all nostalgic over) before we discussed, in Japanese I might add, Communism, Welsh and Japanese linguistics, French philosophy and Boar hunting. All the while we were eating his homemade, and self-hunted, wild Boar and pumpkin soup.

We then moved back to the box.......

Come the morning we packed and headed for the bus, assuming that the weekend was over. Not quite yet as it turned out. We had a 3 hour gap between our buses and exploited this by grabbing some food and attending a small village festival just down the road. Before we knew it we were on stage with lots of old Japanese women and having an awesome time.

The long bus back was not so interesting as we had to sit separately and my MP3 ran out of battery after only 20 minutes. Still, what an absolute legend of a weekend. God bless Japan and its numerous 3 day weekends!

Rokko Festival Weekend

Another weekend flashes by in seemingly no time at all. This weekend saw me and my fellow linguists attend a "festival" on the university campus on Saturday night. I forgot my camera again, so pictures will soon follow, as in the blog previous. However, this was not the start of the weekend with Anika`s birthday seeing a group of 20+ pour into a small Pakistani run restaurant in Sannomiya. This was a tabe/nomi houdai - (all you can eat/drink) affair and it soon descended into chaos.

With the poor restaurant owner struggling to produce food quicker then we could eat it, Andrew took his position behind the bar and it began getting messy. It was almost my oddest night out in Kobe to date, with weird Indian music videos, a drinking game involving a crocodile, a mint flavoured hashish and a random hour of Karaoke all contributing to the weirdness.

Still, I exploited my ever convenient living quarters and was able to pull myself together for what I thought would be a rather tame affair at the Rokko festival. Now, I thought I was beginning to work Japan out, but just when you think that, this country blows your mind all over the wall.

We arrived at 8pm with no intention on exploiting the "all night long" billing. No need to tell you that it did not work out that way. We walked into the building which at any other time is a hub of knowledge and Japan hit us with another dose of the surreal. With no teachers in sight, the place had descended into what felt like a pre-apocalyptic party. Men ran around with skirts, a man in a scuba divers outfit played Jazz Trombone whilst down the corridor a very drunk Japanese man informed everyone he was Gene Simmons and proceeded to stick he tongue out at anyone who met his gaze.

Seeking a more logical refuge, as well as a respite from some exceedingly drunk course mates, Basim, Marina and I went to the makeshift cinema cafe. If the Japanese are weird, their independent films are as mundane as a kaleidoscope on LSD. Having abandoned all reason, and hopes of the last train home, I was convinced to work my way down into Rokko proper and seek out a British bar named "Andi`s Imagine". However, what happens in there, stays in there.

Just about managing to stay sane, I awoke this morning to pull my life together ready for another week. Its been nearly 2 months already and at this rate I will be home a lot sooner then I would either have thought or liked. Plan for next weekend is to visit Shikoku, Japans 4th island, so maybe a return to some more travel writing rather then a drawn out eulogy of my bank account and liver.

Pigs, Snakes, Lizards and Beer.

Adamant that I was to go home and study, and avoid going out at all costs, I hung around Paiyama (Literally "Tit mountain") in Sannomiya, which is a kind of meeting place in the heart of the city, and waited to be coerced into going out. I agreed to go for food, and ended up 15 minutes from my house in a little bar tucked away under Motomachi station.

The bar was famous for a live baby pig that roamed the bar, squealing loudly when anything other then a peanut was offered to it. The pig was followed by a lizard and a snake whom both took residence around my neck and torso for about 30 minutes each. It was a good laugh, and I can write the evening off as I spoke some (bad) Japanese to a few locals about British music, and where I could find a rock club in Kobe. I really could go for a night out in Metros in Cardiff!

Pictures to follow.

D-Day + 52

Sorry about the lack of posts, with no Internet and nothing major to note I thought I should post something today...

So its been nearly 2 months already, and over 5 months since I downed tools after my last exam in the summer. THATS why I feel I`m getting worse - I havn`t done anything for 5 months! Beginning to get my act together now, and if i don`t, I will end up wasting the year, as I did with my time at Cardiff (academically speaking).

My time in Sannomiya has been so far so good, but its draining funds quicker then I can think of an excuse to visit the Bank of Dad. I need to get some business cards sorted so I can con some businessmen into paying me a couple of thousand yen an hour to sit in a pub and chat in English. I need the 20th to role around asap for my next scholarship lot to come in so I can keep on scraping by. My British loan is supposed to be for rent but that account seems to have a hole in it too. I guess I have no choice but not to go out for a week.....

STILL havn`t played football and if I don`t play soon I think I`ll start getting the shakes... Although there is nothing interesting to blog about doesn`t mean I`m not having a good time, and even offering a doomed olive branch will not change that.

p.s. Its good to see Charlton loosing to the likes of Northwich Victoria. I was getting uncomfortable with winning anyway. And thanks for the near 1000 hits x

文化休み - Culture Day!

Japan has a lot of bank holidays, almost twice that of Britian, and Tuesday was Culture Day. What a perfect chance to party on Monday and have a house warming. The night started with a few pints down at HUB, the British style chain pub here in Japan, with a hand full of people. This group slowly grew, and after a further 1 or 2 in Second Chance, we went back to mine for merriment.

We shuffled in to my apartment on the 4th floor and proceeded to annoy everyone in the building with excessive noise and banging. They will have to get used to that! It was good to actually exploit some cheaper entertainment for once. Pre-drinks at ours will become an established tradition at this rate...

After the house we moved on to one more place before wrapping up the evening and, for me anyway, heading home. Some of the others stayed until the first train.... suckers!

So that's the house warmed up, and now that I finally have a Japanese phone, all I need is the Internet at home to feel complete again. Also, playing football for the first time tomorrow! Its been too long...

Home Sweet Home

So Fukae is now history as tonight winds down and my 4th night in my new place draws in. This place has been a massive financial commitment, and along with a phone, I have spent al ot of money on furniture etc and now I must look for a English tutoring position asap.

Still, this is nothing compared to what this place has done for me. Living in Sannomiya has given me a shot in the arm. I finally have my appetite back and everything is falling into place. I am saddened when I think back to how I handled my first month here but what was I supposed to do eh!? I still can`t work that one out...

Reality is another thing however, and Sannomiya is the place to be in order for me to do what is best for me at this crucial time of my degree and indeed my life. My new place looks like this!

I have since invested in a desk and chair and have tidied up a bit, before it got wrecked at the house warming party...

Off The Radar

So I have moved in, and settling down nice and quick. Just a very small post to say that I will not have Internet for 2 weeks, and I don't have time to edit/update now as I'm writ ting an essay/flirting on facebook.

I will try and figure out how to get the Internet in university so I can finish my last blog and update 2 or 3 posts. As for now I`m offline. And it feels like I`ve lost a limb...