Hotel Fujita Nara

--------------------------------------- -<br>091006<br><br>"CouchSurfing in Nara"<br>by swami_worldtraveler<br><br>------------ --------<br>PRELUDE:<br><br>In the interest of time, this blog is mostly to post photos, so the usually "story" will have to wait, if at all...<br><br>-----<br>INTRO:<br><br>My not-girlfriend, Michele, was in Japan by cooincidence (well, sorta:); she took the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo and I met ...

... that I could hear *The Angel`s Choir*. And, I once shared with Wendy (my ex-girlfriend, and current closest friend) that I could hear a whispering in the trees. I can`t hear angels, but I can definately hear the whispering of the trees once more. It feels like I`ve come home. I hope this post makes some sense to you all. I`m not entirely sure it does to me. ha ha. Tomorrow: A day of rest in beautiful Osaka. Then I`m off to Kyoto.

... iled they *re *nd the sc*le of them. Once you p*ss through the g*te it is * short w*lk to get into the D*ibutsu-den H*ll, the l*rgest wooden building in the world, inside which is the D*ibutsu, * 16m st*tue of Buddh* which weighs 437 tonnes *nd cont*ins 130kg of gold! At the b*ck of the st*tue, one of the pill*rs of the h*ll h*s * whole in it, if you c*n get through it then *pp*rently you *re ensured enlightenment, unfortun*tely for *nyone ...

... were greeted with the st*nd*rd - t*ke your shoes off *nd put on s*ndels. H*ving p*id more for this hostel then *ny other in J*p*n, our expect*tions were high. But it w*s too strict. The rules of the hostel included: B*th time (commun*l!!) - in the evenings only from 18:00 to 21:00. Lights out *t 22:30 *nd Silence *t 23:00.It *lso h*d: W*ke time *t 6:30*m (which we slept through), *nd check out time: 8:30*m. None of the *bove mentioned inform*tion, comes ...

... only spent a day in Osaka - as its only about half an hour away from Kyoto by Shinkansen - but even so, we still felt part of the action.<br>I think, the most impressive thing about Osaka we saw is its Aquarium. As soon as you lay eyes on it, you can already tell its huge. In fact, it holds around sixteen tanks displaying organisms from different aquatic environments around the world. The enclosures are amazing, and most tanks extend over a few floors so you can view every thing ...

... dis*gree, *s the complex is *stoundingly l*rge. The entire *qu*rium is built *round its enormous, five story t*ll center t*nk which is home to, *mong other things, the biggest-*ss m*nt* r*y you've ever set your eyes upon *nd its very own wh*le sh*rk. E*ch succeeding t*nk is view*ble from multiple levels, displ*ying * l*rge v*riety of se* life from *ll *cross the globe with stunning *nd surprisingly life-like enclosures to m*tch. Everything from dolphins to gi*nt otters w*s covered, *nd ...

... for two d*ys *nd spent the first d*y exploring Fukuok*: Which *ctu*lly only re*lly involved going to C*n*l City, * huge complex th*t h*s been n*med * 'city within * city'. It h*d ret*il stores from Gucci to Hello Kitty, Pokemon Centers, Hundreds of b*rs, * The*tre (Which w*s showing the Lion King music*l) *nd even Hotels. We ended up wondering *round *nd getting lost *nd eventu*lly found * Movie The*tre, *nd decided to go see Sweeney Todd. Lets just s*y, I ...

... regret at such a missed opportunity. But the big man upstairs works in mysterious ways and thus delivered the goods yesterday on a trip to the Ashiyama district of Kyoto. Ashiyama was recommended by our barman companion of the previous evening "Nae Borrar, scenery very stunna" and he was spot on in his assement, with stunning mountains and rivers greeting us on arrival. And just five minutes into our trek up the mountains we were greeted by a sign I thought only existed in my ...

... it was 8:30. already late for work. so i called my boss, told her what happened, she told me how much of a dork i was, and to come in late if i wanted to, or just take the day off. i went in and got there a little before 10. so i am alive and well...but as for kan, the jackass who made me miss the train....well, i'll have to give you an update. :-) funny thing is, the day before, i was thinking about writing and talkin about how i thought i was ...

... Buddha is so big that there isn't room for a lot else, so it's a rather brief visit before we head back out in the park. As we leave the park a group of Japanese chldren suddenly notice the Europeans in their midst. "Hello!" they shout in some excitement, several times over. "Hello", I replied, making them giggle and run away. We crossed the road with ease as a large deer had chosen that moment to amble across too, forcing the traffic to stop. Nice one.