three life lessons learned this past weekend. but first! let me tell you what i did this weekend.
i went to hiroshima! i took an express train, then a shinkansen, and then a short walk. it was a lovely three day weekend, and everyone was heading to the japanese town of yummy oysters for the annual sake festival. that's right, every sake producer in japan was there to be represented. a short local train ride out of hiroshima, and outside the station the streets are lined with men and women trying to get you to try some sake. kids and school children are passing out fliers, and the air smells of the favorite japanese past time. on the way to the park you see stands with 5 dollar sticks of chicken shishkabob, ridiculously cute doraemon shaped cakes, and googley-eyed goldfish waiting to be scooped by the skillful hand
here's where i ran into the first life lesson. never trust japanese atms. the thing about 5 dollar sticks of greasy chicken and seared pork is that they taste just as good as they smell and look. one might even be brought to believe they're worth the cash! however, when you go to another city in japan, take cash out from your local bank first. went to 7-eleven atm, and my bank decided to close its atm privileges... on saturday. in the middle of the day. when i was hungry. when i was broke. when i was... sad. for sad i was. i was hungry and without cash for shishkabob.
we make our way to the park, and i hope the dude that owes me money can save my butt. he's broke as well and with the same problem as me. a friend pays the $16 to get me into the festival, and i am indebted to him. minors permitted free of charge. i walk through the gate, a blonde haired japanese dude hands me a bag with a tiny sake cup and a list of every sake available. there are hundreds and hundreds to choose from. the booths are set up by province. okinawa sake over here, fukuoka sake over there, and rosy-nosed, staggering patrons in every corner. as long as i have cup in hand i don't have to pay another cent while i'm in the park. so...
let the fun begin! i walk up to a booth, and they ask me what i want. i think... food! so, my friend is kind enough to buy me some noodles... yum... i go back to the booth! there are about 30 bottles to choose from, and i tell him to pour his "osusume" (recommendation). it's strong! i go to the next booth, just following my friends, and try from all parts of japan, my sake cup getting stickier and grimier as i go. we meet up with friends, and a relaxing day follows sitting on the grass in the cool autumn weather.
we chill in the park until all the sake has been drunk and make for the station. 16 bucks for about 7 hours of festival fun. i'm doing fine, as japanese sake is, not surprisingly, about as strong as water for a non-japanese dude who paces himself. after an entertaining train ride home with a bunch of rowdy foreigners and frightened japanese people, i head straight back for the hostel, as i have no money for further entertainment until the next morning when my bank will let me pull out my money.
second life lesson? bring your own towel and soap when staying at a hostel...
i played mario and luigi (awesome game) and turned in early. the next day i had money, was able to buy something to eat, and walk around hiroshima. i went to the peace park! it was a sad place. i made my way to the river, met with some of my new friends nearby, and hung out for the afternoon.
the next day was me sleeping late, sleeping on trains, unpacking and going to bed earlier than anyone under 70 should ever do. after a six day workweek, i needed a lazy hiroshima vacation. thank you hiroshima. i won't forget you.
i went to hiroshima! i took an express train, then a shinkansen, and then a short walk. it was a lovely three day weekend, and everyone was heading to the japanese town of yummy oysters for the annual sake festival. that's right, every sake producer in japan was there to be represented. a short local train ride out of hiroshima, and outside the station the streets are lined with men and women trying to get you to try some sake. kids and school children are passing out fliers, and the air smells of the favorite japanese past time. on the way to the park you see stands with 5 dollar sticks of chicken shishkabob, ridiculously cute doraemon shaped cakes, and googley-eyed goldfish waiting to be scooped by the skillful hand
here's where i ran into the first life lesson. never trust japanese atms. the thing about 5 dollar sticks of greasy chicken and seared pork is that they taste just as good as they smell and look. one might even be brought to believe they're worth the cash! however, when you go to another city in japan, take cash out from your local bank first. went to 7-eleven atm, and my bank decided to close its atm privileges... on saturday. in the middle of the day. when i was hungry. when i was broke. when i was... sad. for sad i was. i was hungry and without cash for shishkabob.
we make our way to the park, and i hope the dude that owes me money can save my butt. he's broke as well and with the same problem as me. a friend pays the $16 to get me into the festival, and i am indebted to him. minors permitted free of charge. i walk through the gate, a blonde haired japanese dude hands me a bag with a tiny sake cup and a list of every sake available. there are hundreds and hundreds to choose from. the booths are set up by province. okinawa sake over here, fukuoka sake over there, and rosy-nosed, staggering patrons in every corner. as long as i have cup in hand i don't have to pay another cent while i'm in the park. so...
let the fun begin! i walk up to a booth, and they ask me what i want. i think... food! so, my friend is kind enough to buy me some noodles... yum... i go back to the booth! there are about 30 bottles to choose from, and i tell him to pour his "osusume" (recommendation). it's strong! i go to the next booth, just following my friends, and try from all parts of japan, my sake cup getting stickier and grimier as i go. we meet up with friends, and a relaxing day follows sitting on the grass in the cool autumn weather.
we chill in the park until all the sake has been drunk and make for the station. 16 bucks for about 7 hours of festival fun. i'm doing fine, as japanese sake is, not surprisingly, about as strong as water for a non-japanese dude who paces himself. after an entertaining train ride home with a bunch of rowdy foreigners and frightened japanese people, i head straight back for the hostel, as i have no money for further entertainment until the next morning when my bank will let me pull out my money.
second life lesson? bring your own towel and soap when staying at a hostel...
i played mario and luigi (awesome game) and turned in early. the next day i had money, was able to buy something to eat, and walk around hiroshima. i went to the peace park! it was a sad place. i made my way to the river, met with some of my new friends nearby, and hung out for the afternoon.
the next day was me sleeping late, sleeping on trains, unpacking and going to bed earlier than anyone under 70 should ever do. after a six day workweek, i needed a lazy hiroshima vacation. thank you hiroshima. i won't forget you.
