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Konnichiwa Japan (V): First steps

First, before I forget and I mess with any other nonsense: to reiterate that Japan is very cold in winter, much, really. It was a bitterly cold temperatures. You just got in, cold and wet they say. I do not know ultimately what the hell it was, but I had a pint like this:

addition, four shirts, sweatshirt, three pairs of socks, leggings under pants and of course gloves.

On the street however you could easily see a Japanese with minifalta WITHOUT STOCKINGS! and worse with no socks and slippers! What kind of superhuman race living in this country? Mary told me it is also common to see Japanese go with the bike down the street in heels, skirt (which looks you have to be uncomfortable) and holding an umbrella. And hearing problems. Unfortunately I could not witness such a natural spectacle. Worthy studies, the Japanese, and talk about it later. Japan's

several things struck me on arrival. The first thing I said it, drive on the left (and micromachines in which they pretend to lead). Then, bikes, everywhere, very respected. But perhaps what surprised me most was the dark.

We are accustomed to seeing images of Japan like this:


All full of shops and lights everywhere. Well, this is only in the most central streets. The rest are really quite dark, the streetlights are not many hard and if they illuminate little. Maybe it's something to live on outside, but my feeling was that there was very little light pollution (and, if compared with the holidays here with all the streets full of useless lights long story).

transport prices is criminal. Criminal, really. A simple subway cost 200 yen (euro and a half) and overall return from the center of Osaka Habikino cost us to Mary and me about 8 euros each. There is no type of travel voucher for those who live there nor for those who come (although curiously there is indeed a tourist voucher valid for 15 days but which can only take a certain train (several companies)).

Of course, in subway cars and train had heating under the chairs (padded chairs and all). What a bliss.

remarkable

And last thing that struck me about the early days. In Japan PAPER NO. Nothing, not one. Do not look, you will not find. Well, you're like a lot and find a walk every mile. Curiously it's all spotless. You will not find even a bare butt on the floor. It would be nice to learn from them a bit (and that they became acquainted with the concept of trash, of course).

But perhaps more surprising to arriving in Japan is that it was not so different from Spain.

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Japan (IV): Adaptation

As I said, the trip to Osaka was exhausting. I left Spain on 23 and arrived in Japan on 25, with the aggravation that I got there at 9:30 local time. That is, with all day to go before bedtime. I was not worried, a man strong and indestructible as the jet lag I must give you the same.

Together with Mary, at the airport waiting for me also Lawrence, who had come with the car to go straight home. Here begin the surprises. In Japan they drive on the left! and above all "this is a car?

In response to the second after Japan discovered that making cars like scale. Serve this photo as an example.

And though occasionally you see a BMW or Audi, the truth is that almost all cars are so small, very small. This already seems representative of Japan and its culture. Practicality is the first, the display has no meaning unless there is a discomfort in another aspect. In this sense, as opposed to the U.S., where the typical car is something well. In Europe we seem to like the middle.

We got home (I hallucinating, of course) Lawrence and then urges us to take the bikes going to teach us around so that we stand on our own. The man has 7 or 8 bikes ready for guests. This was one of the things I liked about Japan. This year I bought a bike and I use everything I can in Granada. The use yet aware that if a cop comes across the wires hook I may be fined by a lamp post or by going down the sidewalk. The alternative is to go on the road and risk my life in the chaotic traffic flowing from Granada. However there were bikes everywhere, using them from the very young to old ladies who will make the purchase. According to Lawrence told us, Moreover, the cycling is fully covered and cyclists are absolutely respected by drivers. Needless to say, was seldom necessary to lay any type of lock. They do not rob anyone.

We took the bike and after 30 hours of travel there is nothing better than a few kilometers recorrerte bike. I'm a bull, do not worry. Lawrence teaches the supermarket, video store, the FamilyMart (and talk about this) and the train station. I'll freaking out on the road to the house (and put photos in the previous post) between the voices of Mary and Lawrence, "Taimyr, drive on the left trample you."

Another place to which it leads to a food chain (such as Burger King but healthy ... in Japan there are many food chains "fast"). There is miso soup, various pieces of fish, some meat, noodle soup and rice of course. It's like a buffet, you serve what you want and pay at the end.

This photo is the second time we went in which an egg I thought I had caught was a hard boiled egg, pressed it to open, exploded and I was filled with hair bud. The best thing is that I had a piece of shiny hair like there used a special shampoo for two days. You know, wash your hair with eggs.

I was unable to finish the meal, but no problem, the restaurant has prepared plastic tupperware to bring you food (and they give you chopsticks, of course). Very important feature of Japan, is all designed and ready to give all facilities. We get lunch and back home. And I, vigorous and new, of course.

Maria starts coughing more and more insistently. Before the night is already in bed with a fever.

next day woke up with a gripazo two impressive. And I also sore everywhere and exhaustion out of the ordinary.

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not trust, when you make long journeys will never forget that the jet lag will be there, waiting to attack your greatest moment of weakness.

flu

And tucked into bed with a fever spent almost all of the first five days in Japan. Yes, very nice room. But it is unacceptable to say that in Japan-paper house, LITERALLY. The windows had to keep the cold polar entered were made of paper. And the walls ... the thickness of a locker door. Mary and I slept with two quilts fat, two thin, two blankets and two pillowcases. In the morning we woke with a sense of crushing. Of course, all cold.

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Japan (III) : The Road Home

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Lawrence's home was in Habikino, which is just outside Osaka, something like Maracena to Granada to Madrid and Leganes. To go to the heart of everything we were therefore obliged to go by train (a paste, of course, I'll talk about it) to the center.

Lawrence told us the train station was the next door, sure thing if you are too permissive in your conception of proximity (something not very common in someone of people like me in 5 minutes gets anywhere). The way there took us about 15-20 minutes brisk walking tours, and the truth often seemed eternal to return at night after having gone round all day.

On the way home with some very tasty traditional style with beautiful gardens and trees and everything. Sometimes even crossed orchards alongside rice. It was certainly odd to be in that rural environment while almost half an hour by train from the whirl of the big city.

Some photos of the road:

gift
And some of the garden of the house where lived.

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Japan (II): The accommodation

accommodation in Japan is not cheap. Nor particularly expensive, it must be said, but price is not pulled. Since my trip was low (very low) budget which allowed the country was Rising Sun was that Lawrence welcomes us into her home.

Lawrence is an American who has spent 18 years living in Japan. There was celebratory visit with a friend, liked it and stayed. Obviously I had no idea pajolera Japanese and had to stay or anything. As we had survived many months based on finding people who let him stay overnight at his home. During the first years looking for any job that offers to fix or clean anything.

Of all the hospitality and help they received saved a memory so dear now decided to offer their home to people who needed it. To Mary and I were left stay two weeks at home with guests. And thanks to him I could go to Japan, so that the words of thanks will always fall short for something, but the truth is that I wish the world works a bit more this way.

The house was awesome. Here is a photo gallery of interior and other photos of the exterior . Of course we stayed, as I said in the guest house, you can see in the pictures. More tiny but we had our own room and even kitchen, yes, to go to the bathroom we had to go to the big house.

Both

Lawrence and Tomoko (his wife) gave us all the time available to complete your home, your help, your attention. Everything. Seriously, need people like that. I hope some day come to Spain and to return the favor.

truth

Their lives could hardly be more interesting. Tomoko, like Lawrence spent his youth abroad. I remember that was in several places but where toughest and where his daughter was born Amarai was in Ibiza, where he lived the hippie life with her boyfriend, English. Once her daughter was born changed everything and was forced to leave her boyfriend's lazy and go back to Japan. There he met Lawrence but I never knew how.

Lawrence for his part before going to Japan was in Germany several years living in France, too, and it seems to 50% in the United States.

People

world. And I, who died of envy.

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Japan (I): The journey

I got up at a reasonable hour (the 12 or so), I finished setting things up, I ate early (to have cleared the stomach), I prepared a sandwich, I said goodbye to Adrian and all, I left home. I waited over 30 hours of travel before reaching Osaka. A beating, but with a vengeance.

is important to mention that before carrying out a week (or so) worried, because I'm a disaster, anyone who knows me knows I forget things constantly and since then I am the last person to give responsibility for anything. A long journey, with transfer to another continent, all alone ... I was afraid of what might be capable. I do not give security in such situations. Come on, I was terrified. We prepared everything thoroughly, and leaving, I can not forget anything. I dated a long time that there was no possibility of screwing up.

directly from home to catch the bus. The first option was to take the 10 and go straight to the station but Adri (rightly) suggested that I was not a good option 10 is the bit with the way round cut. Discarded, lest they be delayed half an hour and all the advantage not avail. The second option is to take the 4 and then take the Creek 3. Perfect, are the two most buses go from Granada (along with 33).

From here begins a series of calamities interesting. At the stop of 4 monitors say he is more than 15 minutes. Shit, if it takes, for example, 20 minutes, I'm fucked up because just that afternoon on 3 more than I already rushed. For ale, to take the ass, to carry the suitcase and backpack to stop 3 is not, therefore, is acceptable. Once you reach the stop of 3, surprise, this has left more than 15 minutes to arrive. But what the hell is going on here! Usually the 4 and 3 are in 10 minutes at most. Nothing, if waiting and 3 pm, for example, 20 minutes, could arrive in time, but very tight, and as we have been busy traffic. Nothing dropped. I resign myself and walk to the station (and I having made a detour). It starts to rain, touch your balls. As a boy I am proactive, do it all the way along the route of 3, on the sidewalk where it should go through if you give to spend and save me walk. It is clear that there is a distance between stops. When I was halfway between two see an approaching 3 (okay? Do not you have 20 minutes?) And I am in the right distance from the stop at which does not give you time to come but just enough to stay with honey on the lips. I curse my luck and once at the stop I ask myself wait another 3 or even 33, which was already on this route. I'm not convinced the option, 3 had passed and leave everything up to 33 I hated it. I keep walking. I was ahead by 33. Cagüenlaostiaputa. Resigned crossed the sidewalk to better address the station, two buses were worth just passed me, and I have nothing else to keep walking. Spend a March 2 minutes later. MuerteatodoslosputosconductoresdeautobusesdeGranada. A few minutes later another 33 passes. And I do not, I am immune.

time I arrive, of course (for something had gone so soon) but soaked and tired, bad start to face what I expected.

I enter the bus and the radio sounds. Ring the news, have canceled all flights of an airline. They say that (then knew it was Air Comet or something). But does it? Is the whole world against me? Will not I be able to have a smooth ride? Well, come, I hope to put a decent movie on the bus and take the ass on the radio. Since then the events do not give me security.

It turns out that the bus is older than the sun and there is no way connect the headphones ... suputamadre. To hear the movie through the speakers of the bus and put it up as TS-Screener downloaded from the mule. Be given.

Finally, in Madrid, metro to the airport. Jose at the end turns out not to be able to stay with me all night so I get to spend the night at the airport alone. Putamierdaostia. However it is nice to see a good time. I turn up the mood.

In cards I found a picture worth seeing. People sleeping everywhere and in every position imaginable. Worth doing a photo shoot, which in the end I did not dare to do. After 6 hours of waiting at the airport boarding the plane. Of when I reached the second checkpoint. Once in Paris I can easily find the gateway for my next flight, I have 4 hours of waiting. I try to sleep, but the speakers begin to repeatedly call someone to pick up your suitcase, something that brought me great memories . Have closed over a military area and there are several scattered around. Chungo. An hour later they heard an explosion. Some think they know what is (can not quite hear it) and do not care. I prefer not to give either.

I get into the plane safely. Checkpoint 3 and now I can only get to Japan. A little over 10 hours away. Patience. On the plane I have a little screen for me only and a library with films, series and others. The trip is more enjoyable because of that. And is not that long, really. Yet I get exhausted.

Once in Japan I follow the crowd until I find a Japanese who wants me to give you a questionnaire that they had given us on the plane, I do and tells me that if I fail to complete the field "rather than stay "will not let me pass. At last some normalcy, I knew that something had to cock it, no I have no idea what is the address where I'll stay. Repeatedly attempted to call Mary. Do not leave me for some reason. I despair. In Japanese only seem to speak English is not well understood and I'm in the middle of a site full of pictures on the posters not learn anything.

Finally, after three quarters of an hour with them contact Mary sent me the address by sms. I get out. At the exit waiting for me Mary.

Respiro.