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Thursday, 3. January 2008
-6°C + short skirt = goose bumps
carschti, 14:53h
03.01.2008 Nikko
The bell rang 5:25 this morning. We had to go up to catch the 7:22 shinkansen to Utsonomiya. I was soooo lucky on the shinkansen. Right after leaving Ueno station I could see Fuji-san with no clouds and clear blue sky.
We arrived at Nikko at 9:08. Too early to check into the hotel and so we planned to go to the lake and see the waterfall. Unfortunately the next bus was leaving 10:30. This would have ment to wait 1 1/2 hours at the train station. We changed the schedule and went for the temples. The temples are a must see.
A must try for europeans are the japanese version of the crepes. The are not better or worse than the french version, but completely diferent. The dough is as different as the filling is.Not speaking about the shape. The only thing which is the same are the hot plates.
During the visit of the temples I figured out 9 rules, which add to my puzzle.
1. Even when it´s cold, japanese don´t care. Especially the girls. Short skirts, no socks, only a thin jacket. -6 °C.
2. When it´s freezing legs with goose bumps are common.
3. When a holy fire is light up the girl with the shortest skirt stands closest.
4. If it´s cold, japanese use aluminium cans and plastic bags to feed the holy fire.
5. Holy smoke is sometimes very "Beppu".
6. Boys are dressed warmer than the female counterpart.
7. If it´s not cloudy, cold and windy and you see a couple with sunglasses - bet whenever you can and whatever you have in your wallet that they are american.
8. Some monks cheat. Tourist have to take off their shoes when entering the temple, but the monks wearing warm lamb coat shoes.
9. Never ever press the "STOP at the next station" button twice in a row when you don´t want get off (and be the only guest in the bus)
Back from the temples we took a bath in the onsen. Perfect to end a day.
The bell rang 5:25 this morning. We had to go up to catch the 7:22 shinkansen to Utsonomiya. I was soooo lucky on the shinkansen. Right after leaving Ueno station I could see Fuji-san with no clouds and clear blue sky.
We arrived at Nikko at 9:08. Too early to check into the hotel and so we planned to go to the lake and see the waterfall. Unfortunately the next bus was leaving 10:30. This would have ment to wait 1 1/2 hours at the train station. We changed the schedule and went for the temples. The temples are a must see.
A must try for europeans are the japanese version of the crepes. The are not better or worse than the french version, but completely diferent. The dough is as different as the filling is.Not speaking about the shape. The only thing which is the same are the hot plates.
During the visit of the temples I figured out 9 rules, which add to my puzzle.
1. Even when it´s cold, japanese don´t care. Especially the girls. Short skirts, no socks, only a thin jacket. -6 °C.
2. When it´s freezing legs with goose bumps are common.
3. When a holy fire is light up the girl with the shortest skirt stands closest.
4. If it´s cold, japanese use aluminium cans and plastic bags to feed the holy fire.
5. Holy smoke is sometimes very "Beppu".
6. Boys are dressed warmer than the female counterpart.
7. If it´s not cloudy, cold and windy and you see a couple with sunglasses - bet whenever you can and whatever you have in your wallet that they are american.
8. Some monks cheat. Tourist have to take off their shoes when entering the temple, but the monks wearing warm lamb coat shoes.
9. Never ever press the "STOP at the next station" button twice in a row when you don´t want get off (and be the only guest in the bus)
Back from the temples we took a bath in the onsen. Perfect to end a day.
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She smiled at me
carschti, 14:51h
02.01.2008 Tokyo
The whole travel schedule had one fixed date. 02.01.2008 The day when the emperors palace is open. So this was mandatory to go there. I had no idea what I was expecting or what will happen there. We reached Tokyo station around 9:15. From there we walked to the palace. The only difference to my last visit have been all the flowers which were arranged on the sidewalk. The further we went, the more people with japanese flags were on the road. Now I realised that it will not be a walk in the park. And I was right. It was more or less a march. After passing two security checks we were allowed to get into the the big crowd. Thousands of people were hitting for the palace. Not able- and not allowed- to stop we were swimming to the the front of one of the buildings. There was already a big crowd standing so we decided, after seeing all the professional press photographers to wait. One of the woman told her husband that it will be another 20 minutes. Ok, not too long and then? I knew that it is the birthday of the emperor when the palace is open. The building had some kind of balcony with safety glass. So may be he will show up?
Exactly at 11°° the crowd began to yell to clap and to shout. The flags (some years ago the things would have been called waving elements, but this time is gone by now) were waved and then the whole family showed up.
Unbelievable, the princess waved at me....watashi wa kawaii, desu ne?
After the event of the year, we went for the Ueno zoo. Hippos, a giraffe, crocodiles, gorillas, Tigers, porcupines, lions. Animals I´ve never seen before in real live.
The area for the tigers, lions and gorillas are really great. I wish all the animals would have such a home.
When the night set down we took the train to Akihabara just to see the lights in the dark and to walk through one the shops. Yasmin fell asleep in the shop and missed all the train and most of the way to the hotel. She must have heard us, talking about skipping the dinner, because she was sleeping. Right in front of the McDonalds she woke up.
01.01.2008 Tokyo
Yesterday we went for the bell ringing. Yasmin was sleeping very tight. I think the day was too tiring for her.
The bell ringing was soo different to what I´m used to for new years eve. It was silent, relaxed and no alcohol. Instead we had some sweet rice soup. I liked it.
In the morning, when the last people went home, we took the shinkansen and hit for Tokyo, where we arrived early in the afternoon. The next step on our schedule was to get my luggage from the Hotel in Kagohara, which I left there. This one should go back to Germany, since most of the things I don´t use anymore in the wintertime. The trip to Kagohara was not too bad, but the Hotel was closed. What a pitty! So we did a bike ride with Yasmin in the front basket of my mama-bike.
A hotel shutdown. Ok, it was the 1st day in the new year, but how much does it cost to shut the hotel down completely...
The whole travel schedule had one fixed date. 02.01.2008 The day when the emperors palace is open. So this was mandatory to go there. I had no idea what I was expecting or what will happen there. We reached Tokyo station around 9:15. From there we walked to the palace. The only difference to my last visit have been all the flowers which were arranged on the sidewalk. The further we went, the more people with japanese flags were on the road. Now I realised that it will not be a walk in the park. And I was right. It was more or less a march. After passing two security checks we were allowed to get into the the big crowd. Thousands of people were hitting for the palace. Not able- and not allowed- to stop we were swimming to the the front of one of the buildings. There was already a big crowd standing so we decided, after seeing all the professional press photographers to wait. One of the woman told her husband that it will be another 20 minutes. Ok, not too long and then? I knew that it is the birthday of the emperor when the palace is open. The building had some kind of balcony with safety glass. So may be he will show up?
Exactly at 11°° the crowd began to yell to clap and to shout. The flags (some years ago the things would have been called waving elements, but this time is gone by now) were waved and then the whole family showed up.
Unbelievable, the princess waved at me....watashi wa kawaii, desu ne?
After the event of the year, we went for the Ueno zoo. Hippos, a giraffe, crocodiles, gorillas, Tigers, porcupines, lions. Animals I´ve never seen before in real live.
The area for the tigers, lions and gorillas are really great. I wish all the animals would have such a home.
When the night set down we took the train to Akihabara just to see the lights in the dark and to walk through one the shops. Yasmin fell asleep in the shop and missed all the train and most of the way to the hotel. She must have heard us, talking about skipping the dinner, because she was sleeping. Right in front of the McDonalds she woke up.
01.01.2008 Tokyo
Yesterday we went for the bell ringing. Yasmin was sleeping very tight. I think the day was too tiring for her.
The bell ringing was soo different to what I´m used to for new years eve. It was silent, relaxed and no alcohol. Instead we had some sweet rice soup. I liked it.
In the morning, when the last people went home, we took the shinkansen and hit for Tokyo, where we arrived early in the afternoon. The next step on our schedule was to get my luggage from the Hotel in Kagohara, which I left there. This one should go back to Germany, since most of the things I don´t use anymore in the wintertime. The trip to Kagohara was not too bad, but the Hotel was closed. What a pitty! So we did a bike ride with Yasmin in the front basket of my mama-bike.
A hotel shutdown. Ok, it was the 1st day in the new year, but how much does it cost to shut the hotel down completely...
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