And so we have said our farewells to China and flown to Osaka. At first, it was not at all what I expected it to be like. We got the train from the airport and passed through what I assume were the suburbs. People seem to live in these small, neat doll houses, with colourfully painted shutters and beautiful little gardens. With the mountains as the backdrop to the east, the calm blue sea to the west, and a clear, sunny sky above, it was very picturesque. But, like I said, not what I was expecting. Then, as we got further into the city, the stereotypes became much more evident. High rise buildings loomed over us, businessmen (with compulsory smart suits and briefcases) crammed the streets, as well as flocks of giggling school girls, with hair
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