Kind of like Kishwaulkee, but a little higher Altitude

I would like to begin by thanking everyone for caring so greatly about yours truly.

Beauties never thought Possible...
Well, I have seen what I thought was only made for the movies in Japan. The countryside. This week has been pretty kind to me. I didn’t have to work the past few days (as we were having a campus festival, and all of the teachers were given some time off). Therefore I thought that it would be good to get out of town.
Heading out for the second time by myself I didn’t know exactly what it was that I wanted to do or where I was going to go. Then it dawned on me that I hadn’t been anywhere yet where the trees were taller than the buildings; so I headed out to the mountain, Mt. Rokko.
After navigating my way through the city and onto the train I was headed out towards the mountain; which was easy, they stick out a bit. I then found a bus and through the few words that I do know I found someone going to the top.
Now the tough part; how do I describe this? I have been in an area that is constantly surrounded by buildings, cars, bikes, businesses, people, and so many other things that provide elements for headaches that to see or experience something different was to experience Japan again for the first time. It was beautiful.
The bus drove up the steep hills cut into the side of the mountain so slowly that I didn’t know whether to gasp for breath because of the height and it’s consequent fear or because of the sight of the area I was slowly escaping. It was amazing.
When I reached the conservation center at the top I immediately began to wander. Eventually I found a path and set out taking pictures, about three rolls within an hour…a little overkill maybe, but I was happy. After walking around in the bright sunlight I began to realize that I this was a first, I hadn’t seen or heard someone for about an hour…weird. It was nice, but it had to end.
Wandering and than turning back around to go home I experienced a little rejuvenation. Japan ain’t so bad.

Kyoto
Still having time off a new day dawned; today it was off to Kyoto. Kyoto was one of the only cities saved from the attacks upon Japan during world war two; therefore it is a little more traditional than the area that I live in now. We were all set to go and see the golden palace, once a playground of the Emperor, it is now a bit of a temple and a bit of a tourist attraction. It was quite an astounding place. Painted all gold and stuff…but there were too many people. But it was cool to see some of the more traditional architecture and ornaments.
Then it was off to the movieland…woo hoo! Okay, so have you ever seen those horrible samurai movies that they sometimes show on late-night tv? You know, the ones that are all dubbed over and have those horrible bad-guys or maybe even monsters? Or have you at least seen “Big Trouble in Little China Town,” starring Kurt Russell? Because if you haven’t then you must go and rent it. Well anyway, I went to one of the places that they keep some of the sets and props from such blockbuster films. Imagine universal studios in the 1980’s, because that’s about what it was. No startling visual effects or amazing feats here…just robotic dragon heads popping out from behind fake hills and mountains while scary water flowed faster.
The highlight had to be when we waited in line for about 20 minutes to enjoy one of the main “attractions.” It was an exciting ride called, “To the Office.” After sitting in a chair made for someone slightly smaller than I the lights went out and the screen came up, it was off to work for me. After skiing down a mountain, taking a boat ride, and then jumping onto a motorcycle (all of which felt the same thanks to the chair) I finally made it to work. How exciting. But then I found out that I worked with the 7 God’s of…something (past actors from this amazing movie house). Oh what fun! It was totally lame…dude.
So, after walking around a little bit more my companions and I began to wonder why it was that we had paid the \2,200 to get into here. Then we remembered the words of the cabbie who asked if we were going to try the haunted house, which cost an extra \500. Would it be as “great” as the last ride? Who knows? We sure didn’t and weren’t sure if we wanted to pay anymore money for some lame stuff. But then again, we were curious. Needless to say it was one of the best and most frightening things I have experienced, outside of the man in the ape mask from Halloween. There were fake, or so I thought, dead bodies everywhere; along with some people in costume hiding and waiting to make me wet my pants. And did you ever see The Ring? Because I am pretty sure that the girl from the video lives in that haunted house. One of the best parts: we are walking along with me leading when we turn a corner and see another figure with extremely long matted hair standing in front of me, I think to myself “she is so alive,” just as someone asks, “is she alive?” and another responds, “no she is fake, it’s okay, really, we are almost done.” Well, he was wrong and he did a good job of losing someone’s confidence that day as the long-haired kimono wearing woman jumped on top of the scared girls in the middle making them collapse to floor crying. Ha. What a blast.
So the cost was made up and things were alright.
We then headed out for a nice dinner and ended up in a Tijuana-Prison-like hell at a place called “Mexican,” there may have been more, but this was the English translation offered on the sign. The food contained far too much egg and not enough beans and the tacos tasted like rump-roast (without the tasty carrots and potatoes). It was interesting to say the least; and then he started singing. His singing was like karaoke as suicide is to murder. Ouch, my ears still hurt. But at least he was taking requests; but he wanted money for them. “Please, here, have my money and make me sick.” It’s not like I was trying to get out of gym class by coming here (you get it, sickness, gym class…).
Well, I’ve talked enough. If I save up my money maybe I will get the pictures developed from the past few days and try to learn how to scan and post them. No promises; If I do get them scanned, and you are interested in some pictures, then please e-mail me. Peace love and happiness.