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.
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.
Glad to see that my hard earned ££ are'nt being wasted, i'll send you some more once the ink has dried? Get STUFFED
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