All Nippon Airways Gate Tower Hotel Osaka

Yesterday we made the trip back to Honshu, leaving our Okinawan experience behind us. It is quite nice to be back on the 'main land' and in the great city of Osaka. We are now definitely back to the Japan that I know.

Osaka is certainly a busier place than Naha -- definitely not as laid back here! There is obviously work to be done, people to see, and food to eat. The thing that always strikes me about Osaka is the sheer scale of eating establishments of all ...

Seconds please. I had to go back to Osaka, one way or another (my return flight was leaving from here). Ate just as well if not better than the first go around. Went to the Takoyaki museum at Universal city walk but it was more tako vendors than museum, not such a bad thing. Had simply amazing Kobe ...

... pointed it precisely, depressed the button, and swiftly make my way back to our waiting tea ceremony...

[CLICK, CLICK, CLICK...] We posed, and toasted, and enjoyed:)

We finished our tea off with the complimentary sweets left for us - kind of a Fig Newton, but with a sweet bean center. Very tasty:)

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DINNER:

A fter a short nap for Michele and a little blogging for SwaME, we donned our yukatas (summer kimono "robe"), slid into our slippers, and solemnly ...

Meaning to ruin oneself by extravagance in food. Heard another translation - "Eat, eat until you fall down." Why Osaka is my entry point to Japan. It also translates to eating as much Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki as possible. BTW Takoyaki - Octopus balls. Okonomiyaki - Pancake-ish dealies. Oh Osaka.

... nd * little bit enriched, I hope:)

OK, now re*d on *s you ple*se...

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INTRO:

It's not Tokyo!...

Os*k*ns *re proud of their region *nd hold to their loc*l customs *nd di*lect, or *t le*st so I'm told. Wh*tever the c*se, I re*lly dug Os*k*. S*IKO! ("the best!" - pronounced like "psycho").

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MOMOK*/GUEST HOUSE/ROOMIES:

Momok*, * kind *nd be*utiful Os*k*n I met in Cost* Ric* l*st ye*r, met me *t N*mb* St*tion *fter my ...

... ja Rauno mahtuivat ihan hyvin huoneessa olemaan ja nukkumaan, niin taatusti mahdut silloin sinäkin! Koska ensimmäiselle yölle ei ollut vapaana tupakoimattomien huonetta, niin vaihdettiin heti seuraavana aamuna huonetta ja tässä kävikin nyt melko nolo homma. Nimittäin hotellin pieni äijä halusi välttämättä siirtää meidän rinkat uuteen huoneeseen ja tempaisi molemmat rinkat reteästi kerralla selkään, ja hupsista vaan! Voitte vaan arvata mink ...

... flash from every direction, the town's hip young crowd flaunt their unique sense of fashion and the occasional tourists looks around in a somewhat confused manner. As per usual my mom and I, completely by accident, managed to get lost in the somewhat dodger section full with 'cute girl' posters and some 'interesting' halloween costumes... Our best 'Japan ...

... to get away from the development. Then the view of Hong Kong stretches into the mist. From the south side, you look out on the South China Sea. Heading back to Kowloon in the afternoon I decide to make for the cinema and catch a film. Then back to the hotel and an evening spent chatting with my new dormmate. Frank is a Chinese student studying in Singapore. It is fun getting his attitudes and ideas on China's future and its relationship with the world. The other new member ...

... good, and the alcohol was forthcoming! To top it off we got fries after our meal :) Ahh, just like home :P The poor waiter didn't understand what we were asking, and the drinks menu had no pictures! Luckily words like 'sake' and 'biru' got us through. Of course, Jo and I had to try the pink alcoholic drink called "X" in some cocktails which there were pictures of! Very girly, and quite tasty. Strangely enough, the place didn ...

I was unable to get online with my computer until just yesterday, so many of these first entries will mix current events with ones of the past week or so. I apologize for any confusion. We left Kansai International Airport sometime shortly after the last light of the sun had gone. Our bus took an expressway that was elevated far above the bustle of Osaka, Japan's second largest city. From this vantage point, I had my first real glimpse of ...