Better air and Castles - notes
Trip Start
Unknown
1
13
22
Trip End
Ongoing
Kyoto,
Japan
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Posted a 6kg box of stuff (having picked up some stuff) for 25GBP overland. Central Post Office right next to Kyoto Station where we were. Lunch in station.
Filled happily with soba and soup ventured to Nijo-ji. Double moated castle with beautiful gardens. Tokugawa crest. Nightingale floors- musical. gold leaf covered panels and painted walls, ceilings. Secret compartments for body guards. Bumped into A.
Drinking in Japan
In one word.. "easy". Vending machines like glowing angels of XXXX dispense canned salvation for a few hundred yen. Cocktails are no more expensive. Needless to say I have indulged a little but mostly with food. Traditionally the Japanese ate as well as drank in places serving small grilled delights, yakitori. It is rather reminiscent of Spanish meze. Things have however changed in the 10 years of recession. Alcohol problems are on the up with few services available to those addicted to the demon. The Japanese apparently do not view alcohol as a drug and are remarkably tolerant of the drunk. For centuries alcohol has served as social lubricant and pressure valve on a tightly controlled society. Alcohol has perhaps been the only way to let go.
Apart from imported Guinness, getting an alcohol fix in Japan is a remarkably affordable. M's pind of Guinnes at the Pig & Whistle cost a grand 800 Yen (£4). On the other hand all the cocktails we imbibed cost half that amount each
