Officially solo...

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I am now a solo traveller once again...hostelling it...hooray!

Before I left Sachiko and Namiko, we went to a small town called Nara. It used to be the capital of Japan many many years ago. Deer roamed the streets and liked invading your personal space. We visited the world's largest wooden building...it was quite overwhelming...not to mention the giant gold Buddah that sat peacefully inside. There was a vertical wooden beam at the back of the building with an arch shaped hole cut out from it at the bottom...this was to show the size of one of the Buddah's nostrils..kids could climb through it and even one lady who just about made it through!

So now I've been exploring Japan alone...and already I'm loving being a free traveller again! On my last night in Kobe I decided to go out to a bar to see if I could make some friends...

First bar...empty, with a barman who couldn't speak any English and wanted to charge me for using the bar on top of the shiro wain (white wine) I wanted...so I swiftly left.
Whilst walking down the road I saw this little sign down one of the darker side streets, it mentioned something about music, so of course I went inside.
I opened the door to find myself in the smallest bar I've ever seen and with 5 bluegrass musicians, barman and bar owner looking at me...the silence was deafning.

Awkwardly I made my way past the huge double bass, microphones, guitarist and banjo player to the bar..."shiro wain o kudasai"...I was handed something that looked like wine but it most certainly did not taste of it!

I was so lucky to have found this place as I had a fantastic night! I was the only customer in this bluegrass bar and got given free beer and camembert cheese! Also my original plan for the evening succeeded as I made friends with the barman and then was able to make plans with him for the next day. So my first day as a solo traveller ended with me not being solo anymore...

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