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Published: February 9th 2014
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Back in January 1996...that's a long time ago...
I was in the middle of my last year at University. Preparing to graduate in Economics and writing my last paper on the ODA and FDI relationships between Japan and ASEAN. I had never been before to Asia, I was just 22 years old, I had studied Japanese, 2 hours per week at University for 2 years....and I was convinced that over the next few years, I would be living in Japan...or Asia. That I knew...
First few years at University, I was a student leader convinced of a bright future in the political spheres...than made a switch...and became a pretty rewarded golf teacher for Club Med...all over sunny places...while being a full time student. Than came January 1996. I was doing my last few months at University...going for an Erasmus exchange program in UK (Southampton) from February till June...but before this, the big dream...the big trip. Dugging properly, I found a return ticket Brussels-Tokyo on Singapore Airlines...at a discounted student price...those did still exist at the time...we had no proper internet, but we had student discounts on airfares...the bonus, I could have free stopovers in Singapore,
Hong Kong and Taipei...told you, I didn't discovered good deals yesterday!
I went for a month...Singapore, Cherating, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Hong, Taipei, Tokyo and Kyoto. First, I planed to spend time trying to find where to move...by October 1996. The first idea was Japan...but with a little life experience, I found out HK would be easier...or Singapore had I been an engineer....HK it was going to be!
But I did spend a full week in Japan, first in Tokyo, next in Kyoto. From these days, few great memories(not a single bad one!). First, for a good friend who is going to read this...I met Christophe P at Tokyo bus station, just before midnight, on my way to Kyoto...we spent 3 or 4 fun days in Kyoto....and today, Christophe is still a great friend...so Christophe, this entry is...mainly...for you!
Next, I first thought I would spend few years living in Japan. I never did, and beside transferring from flights from Asia to the States, never did anything more than a transfer either in Narita or Osaka airports (still, love those lounges)...so today, it's time to get back...for way more!
My first ever night spent in Japan was in Tokyo...and what a night. I was a student, I was bag-packing, let say, I was kind of broke. I landed at Narita early February...exact same time of the year as now. It was 10pm, and I had hope to camp in the airport. But at the time, no night flights (I didn't know), and by 11.30pm, they would close down the airport. It was freezing, and actually snowing outside. I made my way on the last train to Ueno...hoping to camp the night in a Mac Donald...that one closed at 2am. Than I walked, slowly, all my way to Tsukuji fish Market, "the" famous fish market...which I knew, would be opened by 5am. It was freezing outside, I walked, and rested on my bagpack...I was young, life was good...and I was there for the adventure...have you ever had your first visit of Ginza at 3am middle of the week? I did! Tsukuji fish market was an amazing place...for sure, I was there at 5am!
So 18 years later, I'm back in Japan...with Tiffany and Leslie. Direct flight from Bangkok on Thai Airways...no upgrade...but the top floor on the
A380, and we each have 4 seats to sleep....good idea for a night flight. Early arrival in Kansai, and straight on bus to Kyoto.
This is where the fun start...we stay at the Westin Miayako in Kyoto. Guess what?!? Nice upgrade...I would only found out the next day, that the upgrade is nothing else...than the presidential suite...since when do you go from sleeping in the street...to the presidential suite in a top hotel. Life is sweet...I'm laughing big time...since the presidential suite cost me....for two nights...160usd per night...including breakfast for three...and free drinks in the lounge from 5.30pm till 7.30pm...yes, that's including white wine and sake plus few snacks...and few things I didn't even bother to try...
In 1996....visiting a temple or a shrine was 5 or 6 usd...per temple/shrine...that was at the time the same price as a basic meal. And you know what...18 years later...prices are the same. But back than, I was living on 50usd a night, a luxury in Japan. Today, with the same prices...travelling a full day on busses with Leslie and Tiffany, 10usd for three of us....a good lunch of ramen and gyoza...22usd for three of us. Japan
was than expensive for the student I was...today, Japan is...and I'm not kidding....cheaper than Thailand!?!
In 1996, I still remembered how it worked...live on 50usd per day...so there is 10-15 us for a bed in a dorm in a youth hostel...and 8 usd for a sinlge basic meal per day...plus one dry noodle for a second meal...and a slight snack for breakfast, 3usd. That's roughly 25usd gone....add a bus or 2...because who is walking 10km with a bag-pack...3 times a day...there is 20usd left...that's 3 temples/shrines...you'de better choose wisely...and forget about any comfort that day.
Today I'm slightly....older...with a slightly better budget...but trust me, today, Italy is luxury...Japan is a bargain...and in Japan, quality, service and the smiles are amazing...even better when the few words of Japanese I remember...came back pretty fast...
Curiously enough, the weather pattern was exactly the same as in February 1996...first day cold and sunny....second day...snowy...third day, cold and sunny....what a place! And I know April is better here....but slightly more crowded...if not slightly more expensive too!
Back in 1996, we visited what our feet would allow to transport us...plus what a full day
on a bus day-pass would allow us to see...with the limited hours of sunshine and opening hours of the site. I have to admit Christophe, we saw a lot more this time in two days and a half. I name, but not limited to ...Kinkaku'ji, Ryoan-ji, Arashiyama bamboo groove, Fushimi-Inari-Thaisa, Kanzen-ji, path of the philosopher, Ginkaku'ji, Nishiki market, Nijo Castle, Chion-ni, Gion area...
And Christophe, do you remember Sanjusangen-do, that's the place where all those students wanted to take pictures with us. The place is amazing, I need to dig in my old picture to see if I have a picture from the inside, with the thousand Kannon statures. I kept this place as our last visit...remembering so much of the amazing visit... And yes this time, no instant noddles, just amazing food...and some few fancy drinks...
Christophe, you should really try to get you kids here too...before the prices start to raise again...what an experience...few years later...yes, just 18 years later...we are not younger...but our eyes are still full of this Japan we love...hopefully for Leslie and Tiffany....they will come back sooner than I did. Big difference, at 11 and 13, they not
only know much more about Japan than I did at the time, they also have some good Japanese friends at school...the world belongs to them...for Christophe and I, it was just about discovering it...and we haven't done so bad the last twenty years...
Coming soon, Nara and Osaka...and some more...
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Mamy
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Kyoto
que de souvenirs tu nous mets dans la tête avec ce blog.... ta jeunesse... un voyage qui avait fait de toi un gars bien décidé à aller travailler là où on travaillait fort !!! mais aussi notre passage en octobre 2007 durant lequel nous avons pu admirer toutes ces belles choses (moins l'hôtel !!! ah ah !!!) et dont nous gardons toujours un souvenir extraordinaire et quelque part un rêve d'y retourner un jour...