DID YOU KNOW THAT:
- the schoolbell sounds exactly the same as it sounds in anime? - Japanese women (or at least those that are in the same rooms as I am) make a lot of noise, without saying anything (sighing, talking to themselves, ... )? - This translates into snoring at night? - they drive on the left here? - they serve dinner in at least 5 different bowls? - I always forget to take a picture of the food? - I'm now bored to death and hoping to get a phonecall concerning my bike real fast, so I can go outside? - it is dark around 20h and it starts to get light around 4h? - I just heard 'Poker Face' on television? - some of the programs on television resemble 'Erinn' a lot, if you only listen to the voices? (I can't understand what they are saying)? - The sleeparea is pretty old and there used to be (or still is) a problem with moisture, of which you can still clearly see the consequenses? - the tv has an antenne and is thereby old-fashioned? - this differs greatly from the super modern toilet they have, which they call a Western toilet? - a Japanese toilet resembles a French toilet a lot? Luckily for me they have Western toilets (the Japanese way) almost everywhere!
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Okay, some things I've noticed!
DID YOU KNOW THAT: - Japanese people are in no way subtle when seeing foreigners (wearing a helmet at the airport and putting it on when you leave the airplane so you have your hands available for your luggage ended up in lots of giggles and strange looks)? - My flight only had a couple of non-Japanese people, including 2 other Belgians? - I got an invitiation from a professor from Hiroshima while waiting at the gate? - I lost my box with businesscards on the plane, including the card from that professor? - I had to show my neighbor that I could read katakana by reading the cities on the map? He wrote his last name in kanji because I said I could read simple kanji. - He was very surprised when I was actually able to read both kanji? His name was 山田 (Yamada). - He also invited me to contact him when I was in his town and needed a place to sleep or eat? We didn't exchange anything though... . - I had to give away my Marcassou sausage, they are not allowed in Japan? - The customs officer wasn't happy with the fact that I could not provide hotel information, nor a telephone number, nor knew anyone in Japan? - She let me enter anyway? - Japan is now the proud owner of an ugly picture of me and the fingerprints of both my index fingers? - all cars in Japan are small and resemble mini-buses? - Those cars all have sliding doors which open and close automatically if you pull the lever? - I can withdrawel money with my normal card as quickly and efficiënt as in Belgium? - the machine tends to give a lot of warnings (please make sure you have everything with you, pleaase do not forget anything) and everywhere else you hear them too? - a supermarket has lots of food in small packages, they all look really good so I'll probably buy whay too much? - a supermarket sells everything? (food, clothing, parfum, books (MANGA), bento, hashi; curtains, ...) - manga only costs 400 Yen (3.46€)? - they have supercute bento-boxes, hashi and everything for toddlers? - they sells icky animals (rhino-beetles) as pets? - if you ask something and they don't know the answer they will go and ask other people, so that you will get an answer? - they are very sorry if they can't help you, even after asking several persons? - they bend a lot and give a lot of welcoming words in the shop, while there is childrens music playing? - they have brands lilke Kellogs, Coca-Cola and Kit-Kat? So, this will keep you all busy for a while! See you next time! Hi everyone,
On the 25th of June it was finally time for me to leave. In Brussels I discovered that I was traveling first class, which was a good start! I slept most of the trip though, since I was awake all night packing my bike and stuff. Everything went very smoothly once I arrived in Paris, after an hour or so I was sitting at the gate. However... . My flight got delayed for 3 hours and eventually cancelled. Some people that needed to do the technical check-ups were on a strike. I spend the night at the Radisson Blue hotel, with diner and breakfast, paid by AirFrance. I arrived at the hotel around 21h and went straight to bed, after diner of course. I was allowed to leave my bicycle at the airport, so I didn't have to take it with me to the hotel. The next day it was a lot busier at the airport, but this time I knew what to do and I didn't have my bicycle with me. Apparently they had to find another plane, which meant that I had another delay. Because of that I missed my connextion in Osaka Kansai Airport (I arrived 10 minutes after my other flight departed). I had to take another flight to Sapporo to transfer there in a very small, old plane to Wakkanai. In the meantime it was the 27th of June, in Japan. I eventually arrived at Wakkanai with a delay of one day and 4 to 5 houres. While in Osaka I discovered that my bicycle was still in France, so I had to walk to the town of Wakkanai, with my luggage. I couldn't take a taxi, because I had no money and I couldn't go to the bank, cause it was already closed. After walking for about one hour (and walking part of that hour in the wrong direction) a car stopped and the friendly couple brought me to the youthhostel. I love Japan! At the hostel I explained that I didn't have any Yen at the moment and this wasn't a problem. The man already knew my name, 'cause they had already called him concerning my bicycle. I gave his address and phone number to the autorities, since I have neither in Japan. There was no food available at the hostel that evening, so I ate my emergency food. I couldn't eat it all though... . I wrote a bit in my diary and went to bed at around 21h30. Today (28th of June) I woke up early (7h30) and went showering. Yes, the Japanese way. Thankfully I was the only one! Showering in Japan is a special thing. You first enter a small area. In this area you put all your clothes in a basket. You put your soap and stuff in a small plastic box and enter the next room naked. This room is divided into 2: a place to shower and a place with the big bathtub (to share with everyone). First you shower. This means you have to sit on a small plastic bench and wash thorougly. If you're entirely clean and without soap on your body you're allowed to enter the bathtub. I didn't go into the bathtub though, it was too early and the water wasn't that warm. On top of that I'm still a bit stressed in these bathrooms and I'm always afraid someone else will enter. Guess I'll have to get used to that... . After the shower I had a Japanese breakfast. Yummie! I went to the post and the supermarket with a Chinese girl that spoke excellent French. At the post I succeeded to get money with my card (thankfully!). Everything is so cheap here! I bought some ramen (kind of noodles) to try out for camping and half a liter of Cola for 273 Yen (2.38 €). After that we went back to the hostel to eat and then we were on our way again. I still needed some gas for camping and I found them in another supermarket. I didn't find new pedals, which I forgot in Belgium. We walked around town for about 3 houres, which isn't too bad, considering I don't like walking! (I actually kind of enjoyed it) Tomorrow they will let me know around what time my bicycle will arrive at the airport. Perhaps I'll stay here another night, but possibly I'll already leave. I won't do much kilometers, but I have to cycle up north first anyway. We'll let the weather decide! I'll eat here tonight and I can't wait to see what's on my plate! I'm gonna stop typing now, you've had enough to read! Photo's will follow later on! Cheers, Kelly |