By the time I get to Narita
Osaka, Japan.
I got out of bed quite a lot later than I intended to - the tiredness of travelling and not having yet stopped is certainly taking hold.
Last night, after a traditional local dinner, we found our way down to Umeda and visited the floating garden observatory, from which one could witness breath-taking views of Osaka some 170 metres above ground. Maybe I was tired, but at the time I would have preferred being in the streets than viewing all of it from above. Or maybe recently having seen Shibuya from the 25th floor ruined it for me ...
Today, I braved my way to Dotombori, or Dotonbori (no one seems to agree on the spelling, even in the area itself). I'll admit that the glittering sci-fi nightscape reminiscent of Blade Runner
tagline caught my attention, though I wanted to see the area during the day. More than once since being in Osaka, I am grateful to be able to read and remember a fair amount of kanji. Some four hours of trekking up and down sidestreets and the shopping strips of Shinsaibashi and Ebisubashi later - having visually feasted on all manner of shops and quaint restaurants - the threatening approach of storm clouds finally drove me home.
No friendly teethless old men today, but I had to push my way past a big crowd of girls who were congregated in front of a particular building. From the posters on a wall and those held by excited, bouncy girls, it looked as if some boy-band was making an appearance. By the time I made my way home, however, the event seem to have wound up - the number of girls pouring down the stairs was a colourful procession of squeals and delight.
Tonight, an eight-hour-or-so bus trip back to Tokyo, then some hours of train, and tomorrow evening, some fifteen-hours-or-so of flying. So, over and out for a day or two. Keep warm, or cool, whichever suits.
Posted by sniffles at August 27, 2002 06:31 PM