Awesome day

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Amazing day despite some set backs with cell phones in asian style toilets. I went to Kamakura today and it was amazing. It was incredibly hot which made it harder to enjoy but it is a beautiful place. When it comes to Japan, we hear so much about Tokyo that its easy to forget most of it still looks like a scene out of totoro. A 40 minute train ride brought me through rice paddies and into what was almost a jungle. There were giant cicadas, colorful spiders and huge toads and of course the temples dotting the hillsides were amazing as well. I got to see the giant buddha and go inside which was cool. Leaving Tokyo definately made navigating a bit more difficult since everything wasjust in kanji but I ended up tgging along with this japanese tour group to find my way.

Oh and about the toilets. So they are on the ground and you have to squat over them. I happen to keep my phone in my back pocket - you can guess the result. But after a few hours of anxiety and holding over a fan, all seems well.

Later I went to dinner with Sean (cousin) and his family. They are a beautiful family and I was grateful for the meal after two days of rice crackers and soy beans. It was nice to see a familiar face and it made me wonder how he managed to move so far permanately. When I thanked him for dinner her said it meant a lot that I visited and that even though he has a family there, it can be a pretty lonely place. I know what he means too - its easy to feel invisible in a big city.

Finally, after sean dropped me off I went for a walk and ran into a group of 20 somethings haning around and drinking. Before I knew it, I was handed a free beer and introduced to the group. One of them was a DJ and singer so we talked about music a lot. Both the dudes seemed pretty interested in me but I didn't really know enough japanese to communicate much. They took me to kareoke and despite my terrible singing, it was a lot of fun. I gave them my facebook info and agreed to meet up again if I'm ever back in Tokyo. I guess it just comes with the size and density of the city but its hard to be alone here. I can be just as shy and avoidant as at home but some random group seems to spot me and bring me along almost every time I go out the door. I can't complain - if only it was that way at home making friends would be so much easier lol.

Anyways, im off to kyoto tomorrow. I'll probably add some pictures later as well. Can't wait to see everyone again!
-Terri

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Comments

[Rochelle]

Woah!
You went to see the Daibutsu?!?! Awesome!