From a Beautiful Anna to a Wild Scotsman
Trip Start
Dec 01, 1999
1
64
103
Trip End
Aug 31, 2000
Kyoto,
Japan
Wednesday, March 8, 2000
Well, my Japanese Adventure has just about ended.
Once again I sit in the Ancient capital of Kyoto after having just left the Ancient 'Ancient' capital of Nara. The last couple of days have been very restful and spent with Anna who left yesterday for Tokyo to fly home to Sweden. We took a few walks around the town and whilst she was off exploring I sat in a park reading and resting my 'Anti-skin' feet until she returned to tell me what she had been up to and had found.
It was a real sad Good Bye!
She was a really beautiful person and great to get to know.
I would have liked so much more time.
Bugger!
After she left I headed to the library to stay out of the rain and to see what a Japanese Library was like. I sat there for a few hours and then decided on a small walk to find some noodles and fruit to eat.
While walking around I ran into a couple of Aussies who were in Nara teaching English.
WOW! Note to self...must return to Japan to teach English sometime in the future!
Imagine living in Nara or on on Shodoshima Island!
Mi-Gawdz!
Anyhow, back to reality (where ever that is! I think I left that back in Melbourne didn't I!).
I ended up spending the evening at an English Pub with the Aussie guys who thankfully paid for all my drinks and offered to prior to me accepting.
Why did I let them pay?
I'm in freaking Japan mate!
Probably the dearest country on earth to live and travel!
The only beers I usually drink are the 500 ml cans that come out of a vending machine...cold too!
Unless it is one or two in a noodle bar that sells beer.
BUT....there is no way I can afford a beer at a bar!
All in all, we had a fantastic time and I couldn't thank them enough for allowing me a night on the turps without having to worry about living on the street for the next few weeks. To them it was nothing at all as here in Japan they get paid quite well. I couldn't question them as I had run into several English Teachers during my journeys and they had all said the same thing.
I must have smelt bad on those days as none of them had offered to take me to a pub and pay for my night's beer!
Bastards!
Ha Ha!
Before we parted they gave me the address of a Hostel here in Kyoto that has no curfew and allows you to drink and smoke and come and go as you please throughout the day and night. So this morning I said a sad good bye to the Nara YHA Staff who really were the greatest Hostel Staff I have come across since arriving in Japan.
So happy and so full of life!
I then grabbed a taxi and then a tick back to beautiful Kyoto.
The train ride back here was awesome to watch out the window. The exact opposite than the one I took what seems months ago from Kyoto to Nara. This time it was from trees and temples back into suburbs and houses and then back into the city.
More beautiful than it sounds.
Unlike when I first arrived in Kyoto the first time, this time I got some help from some students who were more then willing to join me on a bus ride and to help me find my current accommodation. They were great fun and so full of questions about, who I was, where I come from, where I had been travelling so far and where I was heading in the future.
I gave them big Thank Yous as I would have spent sometime walking trying to find this place.
I spent the afternoon at what is called the 'Kyoto Castle' which I think was once where the big guys used to run Japan from. The gardens were beautiful and I spent many hours sitting in the sun reading. I then decided to head down to my favourite Huge Mall from last time I was here.
Of course stopping in at Mc D's for a spot of J-Rock and a burger or three.
Here I met Ju Ju who was a wild Japanese rocker who was so over the top in love with bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. What a guy. We spent several hours in Mc D's chatting all things 70's and 80's Metal before he had to run off for band rehearsal. After leaving I soon ran into a Wild Scotsman who believe it or not had been traveling the world for the last three years playing his bag pipe.
The Japanese couldn't get enough of him and left loads of Yen before they each departed.
I sat to watch and listen until he finished and went over to say G'Day. After I explained that my ancestors were of the Benson/Mc Gregor Clan we hit it off straight away and went for a beer. I told him where I was staying and he quickly decided to go grab his belongings and come join me at my Hostel of Freedom!
Needless to say, he's offered to share some of the huge amount of Yen I saw dropped into his case this afternoon and we will soon head off on a huge night on the town. Prior to which we are going to have a roast dinner.
Meaning STEAK AND VEGGIES!
Steak, my gawd, red meat! It's been so long since I could afford steak or any red meat. Don't get me wrong, I also believed him that not every day or week is like what I saw today.
Some days go past with barely a dime being dropped into his case.
I guess what comes around must go around!
It will be my time to offer to the needy back packer in the future!
So that's it for now, from beautiful Anna from Sweden to a Wild Scotsman
Life on the road is full of wonderful surprises!
Beers N Cheers toya....shane
Accommodation: Uno House
Near corner of Teramachi - Dori & Marutachi - Dori
Ph: 075 231 7763
____________________________________________________________ ___
The soundtrack to this entry was from none other than The Stone Temple Pilots
The album was 'Tiny Music'
