http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/LostInOsaka/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from LostInOsaka en-us Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:56:46 +0000 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:56:46 +0000 Okay this weekend was one for the record books. I'm just going to do a daybyday account because otherwise it will just be too long and confusing. Friday Skipped my morning class went to Reading and Writing. Then Zach and I headed into Shinsaibashi to do some windowshopping. We found Osaka MUSE kicked around the Apple Store drooled on the iPODs went to Namba and DenDen Town and ate http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Osaka/Hirakata/blog-21880.html Whoo it's been a while since I've written I've been busy in a good way and this is the first time I've really sat down and made time to write.Okay let's see... last Saturday I think it was Jim and I headed off to Kyoto once more this time without a map or guidebook. Our goal was to find his hotel for during break which we did quickly and then just explore. So wandering around the Goj http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Nara/Nara/blog-21045.html Yatta I'm actually going to a concert Not the one next week that I wanted to go to it was sold out. But I got a ticket for a show at Osaka MUSE on the 15th of October. Featured bands are Kra Duel Jewel MASK and Antic Cafe with perhaps a couple more to be announced. Let me tell you the Lawson's ticket machine is an adventure in and of itself. First you have to find the show you want http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Osaka/blog-19626.html Actually this was my third AND fourth time in Kyoto but I'm getting ahead of myself. To put things simply yesterday sucked. We the usual suspects had decided to go back to Kyoto to check out Gion and Pontocho the two big geisha districts. We waited 'til five when Levi was done with class joined at the last minute by Sebastian which was fine. Took the express to Keihan Shijoeki. No pr http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-19260.html Last night we Zach Levi Sebastian and I went out with Haruna Madoka and Ayako for karaoke and dinner. We ate at a great little okonomiyaki place... I had pork and it was really great I usually hate cabbage but it didn't taste like cabbage at all. We were stuffed when we finished I thought Haruna was going to explode We then headed to Green a karaoke bar club that has allnight http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Osaka/Hirakata/blog-18467.html So I headed off to Kyoto... not alone as planned but with Jim because he was going anyway and seemed open to checking out the places I wanted to see. So I was basically in charge.We got on the train at Hirakatashi off at Kyoto Shijo Station. From there it's a good long walk 30 mins to Mibudera the first stop on my itinerary. Mibudera is the Buddhist temple where the Shinsengumi train http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-18035.html We decided to go to Kyoto on Thursday to prepare ourselves for the official tour on Friday. It ended up being only Jim Chris and myself and we set out pretty late. We did manage to get to the Kyoto Museum before it closed which was nice but kind of lacking. I thought they would have more Bakumatsu stuff but I didn't really see any at all. I did learn they once had a Shinsengumi exhibit http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Kyoto/blog-17799.html Well I've been in Japan for a week now even though the time has flown by and it barely seems real. It's been an adventure from the beginning. Our Zach and I flight from Baltimore was cancelled so we had to get a plane from Reagan International in Washington D.C. From there it was all smooth sailing although the flight was very long. I slept most of the time waking up long enough to cat http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Japan/Osaka/blog-17796.html It's down to less than 3 weeks 'til we leave and I'm beginning to get anxious. Not nervous just excited and ready to go. Everything seems to be falling in line I have my passport visa certificate of eligibility insurance info and flight confirmed. The latter I did today and tried to get Zach and I seats together. No problem on the BaltimoreDetroit flight but DetroitOsaka was difficul http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Warren/blog-15500.html This week I mailed all my informationapplication stuff to the Japanese Consulate in New York so they can send me back my visa. It was pretty scary placing what is essentially my entire life at the moment passport certificate of eligibility into an envelope and giving it to complete strangers. Correction complete strangers who work for the Postal Service. shudder Just kidding Still I http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Warren/blog-13675.html As you can probably tell I'm not in Japan yet. But things are starting to fall into place so I thought this would be a good time to start. I got my certificate of eligibility from Osaka so I can mail everything to the Japanese Consulate and get my visa. I also have a housing form to fill out so that Kansai Gaidai knows where to put me. I got a new scholarship from the Warren Foundation so http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Warren/blog-12159.html