Three Days of FUN - this is a long one

-DAY ONE-

I arrived at the airport at the crack of dawn ready and had plenty of time to kill. I was able to have a bite to eat before boarding the plane and I'm very happy my mother, father, and best friend were able to see me off. Thank you!!

The parents

Me and Jesse

The flight from Pensacola to Atlanta, was short and uneventful as usual. Unfortunately I didn't feel compelled to snap any photos for the chance that I might anger the other passengers. After all it was still dark outside.

As I settled in, I noticed that the couple next to me seemed to be wide awake. I soon became aware that the male, (who I'll call John since I've forgotten his name), was very nervous and had never flown before. The flight became quite enjoyable at 5:45 in the morning. As the flight progressed, I noticed the ominous clouds (remnants of tropical storm Fay) began to lose it's dark intentions as the sun's morning rays illuminated the sky.

We landed in Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport approximately 10 minutes late. Having plenty of time till my next flight I took my time to the gate. After about an hour of people watching, the Flight attendants called for the first group to board the plane. I thought to myself, "Japan is only 14 HOURS!!!! away."

The 14 hour flight was very boring filled with pretty much the same routine. I'd play some games on the monitor, watch a movie, watch a t.v. episode, sleep about an hour, and get woken up by the flight attendants for food or snacks. This seemed to be the theme through out the flight, so as we began to approach Tokyo Narita Airport I was very happy to see land and break out of that very boring cycle.

As I exited the plane and walked into the concourse, I began to feel very excited and rush of energy kicked in an spurred me on to do some exploring. Only one thing was holding me back, Customs. I thought this might be a pain, but it really wasn't too bad. I made it safely through customs and all the airport attendants who insisted on speaking english to me regardless of how much Japanese I replied with. I guess I look too American. I started lugging all my luggage all over the airport looking for the departure desk for my airline, which I conveniently forgot. After about 20 minutes of toting around my things, I began feeling a buzzing sensation coming from inside my suitcase. It then hit me, those stairs I just dragged my stuff down must have set off my shaver. So, in front everyone I had to dig through all my clothing and search for the mysterious buzzing noise... Well, anywho, after that wonderful mess, I found the desk and the wonderfully nice lady actually spoke to me in Japanese, but told me I could not go to the gate because it would not open for another 3 hours. Since, I was able to check my bags in, I could now explore the airport freely and find that "airport mall" that I saw a sign about.

Tokyo Narita Airport

Observation Deck by the Airport Mall

The airport mall was awesome. I didn't buy anything, but that wasn't the reason I wanted to see it. I really really really wanted to see all the stuff that I remembered from when I was a kid. Unfortunately there was a McDonalds, which by the way I refuse to go to through out my trip... It soon became time for me to make it to my gate and I had one of the strangest encounters at my gate.

As I sat waiting for my plane to begin boarding, next to me was a Japanese mother doing her best to keep her two year old son and 10 month daughter entertained and under control. Then I noticed that she was speaking english and japanese to her son. This became one of my strangest encounters. I started speaking to the mother in English and then she asked me if I spoke Japanese. After that we started talking about how she looked at me and wondered if her son would end up like me and I began thinking that I must have been like that little boy. Though the encounter was strange and felt like I was literally looking at myself 20 years back, my gratitude towards my mother and father grew 10 fold. I'm really glad my mother insisted on speaking Japanese to me through out my youth.

Soon we boarded the plane and began to depart. I quickly made another new friend, Kuri-chan. Sitting next to me was what I thought to be an 18 year old Japanese girl, but it turned out she was 25 and a school nurse. She was returning home from Brazil and lived in Osaka, where I was heading. While we started talking I noticed out the fuselage window a snow capped mountain protruding through the canopy of clouds. I soon realized that it was Mount Fuji and we would literally be passing right by it.

Mount Fuji, from afar

Mount Fuji from... not afar

After only about an hour, that seemed to fly by, since I got to carry on a wonderful conversation with my new friend, we arrived to Osaka Itami Airport. I knew that my friends would be coming to pick me up, but I really didn't know who or how many. I knew that my girl friend Mayu would be there and my friend Sho. I expected an awkward moment with my girlfriend since I haven't seen her in 8 months and I fully expected Sho to egg on the moment.

After 24 hours, I've arrived in Osaka Itami Airport

Honami (right) Sho (left)

from left to right Hide, Ai, and Taka

These are all the friends that came to get me from the airport. They were all my residence in Florida and I was really happy to see them again. There's just one thing from the last two pictures... you can completely tell the sense of awkwardness between me and my girlfriend considering I don't have a single picture of her from when they picked me up hahaha. Just to inform, it's not awkward anymore and it's completely like we have been together the whole time. Also not pictured is my friend Shota who came with the group.

From here we drove all over Osaka and ended up eating at a Kaiten Zushi. A Sushi restraunt that has a conveyor belt with a bunch of sushi on it.

Driving around Osaka

Us at Kaiten Zushi. Left to right, Ai, Taka, Shota, Hide, Sho, Honami, and Mayu

The sushi was delicious and Sho, would not stop ordering Pineapples... eventually the manager came out and apologized for not having anymore Pineapples. Sho, then decides it'd be a wonderful idea to order Pineapple Bar (frozen Pineapple on a stick)... Oddly enough they had that and it came slowly around on the Conveyor Belt.


-DAY TWO-

The second day was filled with a lot of stuff. While my girlfriend went to a Job interview I went with Sho, to a place just outside Kyoto to pick up Shota. We then went to Sho's house where I met his very sweet and kind grandparents.

Sho and I on our drive

After hours of driving, we were all able to get together again and ended up going for dinner to one of Sho's favorite Ramen restraunts called Muteppo. It was truly DELICIOUS, I seriously can't describe how good the soup was. It was really thick and probably not good for anyone with high cholesterol, but it was irresistibly good. You could order the level of flavor for the soup and the toughness of the noodles. All of this was only 700yen or $6.85. Oh, and if you finished all the noodles but still had soup left you could order more noodles for 100yen or $.85. You can always tell how good a place is by the number of people that wait outside. We arrived and there were about 8 people in front of us. By the time we were able go in there were about 20 people lined up behind us. So, while we waited for our turn we killed some time here's pictures of Muteppo...

Sho, Hide on the swing

Me and Hide on the swing

Sho and Hide in the kid's play house

Hide and Ai enjoying Tonkotsu Ramen

Ai, Honami, and Shota doing the same


Seriously the Best Ramen I've ever Had, Tonkotsu Ramen

We then left and went to a temple in the middle of the night. That was pretty cool. It was a beautiful building, but I wish I was able to learn more about the history behind the building... or even the name.

The temple

After I midnight jaunt here at the temple we took a detour to a store called Bandai Shoten. And they literally sell EVERYTHING. Clothes... dreamcasts.. super nintendo games.. x-box games.. PS1-2-3 games.. Sega Saturn.. stuffed animals.. manga.. videos.. dvds.. bee bee guns.. fishing rods.. guitars.. cards.. models.. and they had Pachinko machines (slot machines pretty much)... And I seriously do not think that was it.

BUT we did find this...

the purple afro

We headed out and decided that it'd be fun to go bowling. We then ended the nigh bowling and headed home. Oh... and I suck at bowling, but believe me I had a blast. Especially when Sho would launch his ball seriously 2/3 of the lane in the air before it hit the ground... and not once did the workers tell us to stop... it was a blast.

Shota, and Sho in the background

Me and Hide's Game Face

Mayu and Ai's Game Face...

That was Day two.


-DAY THREE-

Sorry, but I don't have pictures for day three. I woke up and my girlfriend ended up having work, so when she went off for work I spent most the day with Taka riding bikes around Osaka. Which was fun, though it was raining, I really enjoyed it. Eventually Sho, called to see if we wanted to eat some Curry Rice with him and Honami. The curry was absolutely delicious. After that I took a ride on a scooter motor bike. We went to the local Tsutaya... or rather Sho and I went to about three of the local Tsutayas. We did this all in the rain, weaving in out of traffic and through the tiniest roads on earth... and, yes, I loved every heart jumping second of it.

I hope to have lots more to write about next time thanks for reading!!!!