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Published: October 21st 2008
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Last weekend eventful. On Saturday we went to the Nagoya festival and enjoyed the passing parade. All kinds of strange things went by including Miss Goldfish, sword wielding Samurai (one of whom had forgotten to remove his digital watch), some beautifully made-up Geishas and other women wearing assorted traditional dress, flag wavers, dancers, creepy puppet bird things on stilts and of course the ever present brass bands. Have to say that considering Nagoya is the fourth largest city in Japan the police present was minimal to none existent. One guy we saw looked about 16 years old. (Makes me think of the ineffectual 'countryside' police in 'Hot Fuzz' but hang on we're in the middle of a major city, maybe he's harder than he looks). I asked about the festival at one of my schools and it seems the locals don't really go, they seem to prefer the Kasugai festival which was today and yesterday. Seems the Nagoya festival is for the rest of the worlds benefit which kind of makes sense.
Anyway, the Kasugai festival was a bit of a let-down. I had been sold tea ceremony tickets by one of the teachers so I went along. Unfortunately, unlike
my school festival tea ceremonies, this one was performed in a modern meeting room rather than a tatami room and the students were dressed in their school uniforms rather than traditional dress. I couldn't quite understand it. The next thing that happens is cameras start to appear and people want to take out photograph. Look! The local English teachers! Quick, get a picture! There was less interest in the Nagoya Dragons (baseball team) lined up in the road. I had a horrible feeling of being set up and worse still the tea ceremony teacher refused to listen to my 'Sumimasen. Nihongo ga Wakarimasen'. (Please excuse me, I don't understand Japanese) and continued to give instructions in Japanese whilst almost breaking my arm. (I think she was saying 'Not like that, like this, look idiot girl). They went easier on Ian who desperately wanted to spit out the disgusting tasting sweet but managed to choke it down. Eventually we escaped to stall selling Yakisoba (noodles with bacon, cabbage and pink ginger, actually very nice) and given the unrelenting heat (yes it is the 19th October), smoke and crowds we escaped and headed home. No buses today so a long walk.
What else happened last weekend? Ah yes, white water rafting and onsen. A group of us went up to Gifu for the day to generally experience getting very wet and a bit terrified. The Australian instructor got us organised with life jackets, helmets, a crash course on how to raft and some safety instructions. ('The longest we had anyone under water was 60 seconds' - For me this is 57 seconds to damn long, I am looking nervous). Despite my doubts I gingerly shuffled myself in to place. There were four in our boat and another instructor guy on the back who knew what to do. He did the steering, shouting of instructions and telling of bad jokes along the way. I'd tell you one but I can't ever remember jokes. In fairness I think we did ok. I managed to stay on my inflated seat and more or less managed to keep in sequence. I did feel increased levels of adrenaline (fear) going down the rapids but the guy at the back seemed to be very confident in his abilities so I put my entire trust in him. We only got yelled at once for crappy back paddling the
rest of he time he seemed happy so I count that as a success. We enjoyed an excellent BBQ and bento lunch on the river bank (beautiful scenery, no toilet) and later on everyone took turns at jumping off a rock face. Am activity affectionately known as tomb stoning. I decided I was too old and delicate for such madness, fortunately someone else did as well so I didn't feel like too much of a wuss.
Best part of the day for me was the Onsen (natural spa) after. If you imagine an onsen as being like a posh gym but instead of gym equipment they have three heated baths, one inside, one super-hot one outside undercover and one properly outside. Of course before the nice hot bath you have to get showed before hand. So imagine if you will a room of naked ladies all sat in rows on little plastic stools facing individual mirrors (!). Although the shower is very nice and is provided with free shower gel and shampoo I do just feel like I'm in some kind of war-time emergency situation crossed with someone's crazy art project. All in together girls. Then clutching 'modesty towel'
in the appropriate way I shuffle off in the direction of the awaiting hot tub. I have to say, I'm lucky, despite obviously being a tall westerner with boobs and hips I am mercifully ignored. Ask Ian how he got on. (hee hee hee). Afterwards an ice-cold beer sat on a comfy cushion in an enormous and very soft tatami room. The Japanese do get some things right.
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