Imperial Osaka

... fit body, soft h*ir, *meric*n culture *nd l*ngu*ge, *nd being tre*ted like * l*dy.<br><br>I h*ve found th*t the gender roles *re * bit reversed here. One d*y I w*s st*nding *t the foot of *n esc*l*tor, turned *round, *nd noticed three be*utiful J*p*nese women se*ted in * row, st*ring *nd smiling *t me. When we m*de eye cont*ct they s*id hello *nd st*rted flirting with me. It w*s quite the ple*s*nt surprise:)<br><br>My friend Momok* w*s w*iting for me *t the top of the esc*l ...

... Japanese girls often wear impossibly high heels and very short skirts, while guys display huge manes of died hair, tight jeans and huge curved shoes that look like a cross between cowboy boots and Middle-Eastern slippers. For those of you familiar with Japanese animation, you might be surprised to know that they are not completely fictional: some Japanese people really do look like the life version of ...

... entire youth culture of elaborate hair, makeup and clothing emerges after dark to party it up. Other random observations - Most places require you to remove your shoes when you enter, including this hostel. They do provide slippers. They also provide umbrellas, presumably for rainy and/or sunny days. Japanese hospitality is great. - I've noticed quite a few people wearing surgical face masks out in public places, like on planes, trains and in restaurants and shopping malls ...

... we decided to head out for a traditional japanese snack.....at McDonalds. On the way there we checked out the famous "99 yen" shop which sells almost everything at 99 yen (less tax). We got to Maccas and it is somewhat similar to your regular Maccas apart from some menu items and funny uniforms! Megan and Tellii order double cheese burgers (very original) and I ordered a cheese cutlet burger and a "shaka shaka chicken"! Two items which ...

... t really come in handy when your town is under attack by an army of angry Samurai wielding flaming torches. Which is why almost everything is a reconstruction. Unfortunately, Todaiji was partially burned down during the first few years after it was made. Yet it still stands to this day and is gigantic. Whats scarier is that what stands now, is still just one third of the original.<br><br>Inside Todaiji Temple is the most breathtaking thing I have ever seen. It contains Japan's ...

... of the most *m*zing so f*r in its *bility to m*int*in *n *ir of sophistic*tion whilst simult*neously combining the big city vibe of Tokyo with the historic*l relev*nce of sm*ll temple towns. The outskirts of Kyoto, not five minutes *w*y by subw*y, feel *s though you've tr*veled to some f*r off, qu*int vill*ge town rich with cultur*l signific*nce. With the *mount of be*utiful temple complexes, shrines *nd J*p*nese zen g*rdens we visited, it would be impossible to *dequ*tely describe ...

... Shogun*te. Its dec*dently l*id out with gold-le*fed p*intings *nd wood c*rvings, *nd h*s wh*t *re c*lled 'Nighting*le Floors' which *re like *n *ncient house *l*rm system. The floorbo*rds *re so tightly bound together th*t they m*ke high pitched 'singing' sounds when stepped on, me*nt to w*rn the residents of *n intruder. Prob*bly m*de the trip for * secret midnight ice cre*m binge kind of tricky.<br><br>AND th*t is th*t, for now. Until l*ter,<br><br>R*ch*el Out.<br>

... to a freaking docile hippopotamus which you could feed potatoes.<br><br>As the day drew to a close, however, it was time to try out the famed Japanese bathing culture. It is said that no trip to Japan is complete without an onsen visit; the opportunity to bathe in various forms of hot springs with others in heats supposedly so intense, you have to take breaks every hour for fear of passing out. We opted for one of the only mixed bath houses in Beppu, which as it so happens ...

... e' proprio quella giusta, i boccioli dei cigliegi non sono ancora sbocciati per dare uno spettacolo che tutti i giapponesi portano nel cuore, ma forse e' meglio cosi, altrimenti avremmo dovuto affrontare code kilometriche ovunque... Qui abbiamo scoperto l'essenza dei giardini zen. Questa ghiaia rastrellata apparentemente coglie l'apice del buddhismo nella sua austerita' in contrapposizione con la natura organica. Piante potate alla perfezione, muschio (V.I.P. vedi foto... he he he ...

... VISA card and paid all the tuition fees with it. As I have some friends in Europe, it´ll be my oyster once I arrive. This holiday just seemed to be the best one ever. However, I got caught in the body check. I had forgotten that I was carrying a large Swedish knife. But to my suprise, ANA All Nippon Airways packed it especially for me free of charge, and I could collect it in Frankfurt Airport. Very kind ...