I may be in love ... with Japan

Sitting in front on the steps leading up to Kyoto station watching passerby, I can't help but still feel the effects of culture shock in Japan. It had been worse a few days ago when I first arrived in Japan. I was greeted by a familiar face, Yuki my classmate from Queen's University, and everything was so clean, organized, efficient and expensive compared to East Africa.

Nothing encapsulates this more than the homeless old woman I saw who had her mat and blankets neatly folded when Yuki and I were in Kyoto. People didn't lock their bikes to anything and then take away the seat and a wheel, taxi drivers didn't yell at you, salespeople greeted you politely with a bow saying "Irasshaimase!"

I was not in Africa anymore.
Unfortunately for my budget, I was indeed not in Africa anymore.

After 1.5 days of traveling time, 4 time zone changes I arrived 2 days later at the Tokyo-Narita airport to the face of my familiar Japanese friend Yuki. While it was easy to spot him at Queen's (look for 5'-6" tall Japanese looking guy with GPA) it was substantially harder to do so in Japan. Later on, I would take a picture in the Kyoto train station that is reminiscent of "Where's Waldo?" but the Yuki version.

We took the first day easy. I used the lightning fast Japanese fibre-optic-to-node internet to catch-up with contacts and upload pics while Yuki rested since he been up out all night with coworkers. He didn't even go home to sleep before making his way to meet me in the airport in the morning. We then took the double decker overnight bus from Tokyo to Kyoto. It was an incredibly comfortable ride since there was space and the seat was fully reclinable. Yuki and I also laid the foundation for a humourous dictionary of verbs and terms for Apple Math students.

For example:

To Taka:
1) (verb ) To attempt something up to a certain sufficient point since any more effort may be futile
2) To confuse someone beyond all hopes
3) (adjective ) ridiculous, describing something
4) (fashion style ) To dress 15-20 years younger than one should. Possibly wear shirts that are short enough to reveal midrift when one's arms are raised

Since I told Yuki that I wanted an authentic Japanese experience, a mix of old and new, we started in Kyoto, the embodiment of historic/traditional Japan. Kyoto was where the emperors lived until it was moved to Tokyo after the Meiji restoration. There are numerous historical landmarks and shrines here. In my 2 days, I visited the Kinkakuji and the Ginkakuji temples. While walking to the Kiyomizu temple temple, I passed by a very classically traditional neighbourhood in Gion and saw numerous geishas! By the end of the day, I would see 10 of them. However, I didn't get any pics with them since I didn't see other male tourists or locals do so. I also visited Nijo Castle and loved the use of nails in the floorboards to emit nightingale-like sounds when walked on; this was to prevent people sneaking into the castle to assassinate someone.

I spent my night in Kyoto at the Higashiyama hostel, the cleanest and nicest hostel I've been to. It didn't have the greatest atmosphere and the 10:30 pm curfew prevented me from visiting my sister's friend who works at a bar in Kyoto. Although, even if I could have, I'm not sure it would have been the greatest idea.

I can just imagine from her point of view: Random guy shows up saying, "Hi, I'm Mey's brother, Wei!"
Smooth.

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Finally, one of the most significant change has been the people. Everywhere I go, I am greeted extremely politely with a bow. My orders are taken and then repeated by someone in the back in a sing-song voice. Also, due to the fact that I spent my last week in conservative Zanzibar, the stylishly beautiful Japanese women have been candy for my eyes.

Well, I'm off to go 300 km/hr on the Shinkansen bullet train back to Tokyo tonight!