Blogs from Osaka, Osaka, Japan, Asia

It was so nice to visit Manabu and Miyuki again in Osaka. I did not realize how much I missed them. Their wonderful 2 and a half year addition is a pretty cool little guy too. It was great to eat, drink and be able to talk with people on the street, on the train and to ask for simple things like directions! Can't get enough of Osaka... read more

OSAKA, DAY 2 - Went downstairs for breakfast and a long line had formed. Buffet was about $35. US and the American breakfast was about $30. So I thought I could do better on the street or in the mall I ate dinner in last night. I was correct in that the prices were significantly lower, but I wasn’t that hungry. I just wanted enough to take my pills and get the day started. I went to McDonald’s, but I used the Japanese menu (picture)! An egg mcmuffin and coffee cost about $4. US. Fortified I went to one of the major tourist draws in Osaka, the Osaka Castle. It’s not far from my hotel as the crow flies, but the crow doesn’t walk up the hill! Beautiful grounds, I have taken literally hundreds of pictures ... read more

Where to start...? Firstly that I made it here, after the long plane journey where I was far too excited to sleep! When I stepped off the plane and breathed a sigh of relief and performed a mini victory dance as I had actually made it, I couldn't quite believe it! Then I suddenly had a panic, what if they don't let this crazy British girl in their country?? But after some questions about my intended stay, a photo and finger prints I was through! Phew! Now onto the next battle...how to get to my hotel. You will all be pleased to know I got there just fine, no wrong trains or wrong directions, I was pretty chuffed with myself! The first thing you notice in Japan is that the majority of people are at least ... read more

Japan is een weergaloos land om in te reizen. Wat betreft haar keuken, geschiedenis, mensen en natuur is Japan het best te omschrijven als de Wijze Grootvader, met trekjes van een hippe tiener. (China zou dan de Gekke Oom zijn.) Ik ben onwijs dankbaar om hem weer te hebben mogen ontmoeten. Mijn tweede bezoek aan Japan duurde ruim zeven weken en we hebben veel van het échte Japan kunnen proeven, door (via Couchsurfing en WWOOFing) veelal met locals te leven (van jong tot oud, stad tot platteland en van Japans tot expats). Hierbij Japan tot zijn essentie samengevat in de 10 meest fundamentele verschillen met Nederland =) 1. Japanse toiletten zijn verwarmd, spelen muziek en schieten een straal water tussen je billen. Nederlandse toiletten doen dat simpelweg niet. En laten we wel wezen: dit symboliseert hét ... read more

Day1-2 Travelling to Osaka We have spent most of the first day travelling, with a 10.5 hr flight from Schipol to Osaka, and then the time difference means we arrived a full 24 hours after setting off. The flight with KLM wasnt bad, the film choices were ok, the evening meal ok, breakfast indifferent, but their version of "reclining" seats certainly wasnt ours - a whole 2 inches! This resulted in us only getting a couple of hours sleep each, we got through immigration without a hitch although taking a picture of your face and finger printing both your index fingers, shows the Japanese are still a pretty paranoid society. We were tired but not wanting to miss out on the day ahead, we went out and about. We are staying at the airport hotel, which ... read more