Osaka

It's been 6 days. Osaka could never be more exciting, every day was different place, different scenery, different japanese cuisine and lingo - it's kinda overwhelming.

I've stayed at a ryokan at Mount Koyasan. A ryokan is a Japanese temple which houses people like an inn, so I guess it's an inn as well. You would imagine prayers all day long and monks roaming along the corridors or ringing bells or a big gong. Nothing of that sort! In fact, it's simple tranquil setting, together with a typical traditional Japanese interior of wood floorings and tatami mats made everything zen and peaceful. That's what I call an ideal retreat.

And oh, the weather was a little cold - actually, it was very cold (10.1 degrees to be exact). The only heater was located in the rooms. So the corridors are always cold. Imagine going to the toilet? And shower? Brrrrr...

Strolling along Shinsaibashi was fun. Looking at kawaii Japanese girls and really cute Japanese boys (enough for each of my girlfriends). The people here dress really well. But of course there are some who think that yellow and blue and green and red and black and strips and polka dots go well altogether, but that's another thing on its own. But for the rest of the normal Japanese population, they look great. The men dress well, the women actually bother to make-up (I would say a good 90% of the women are all well made-up). They dress so well that they make our typical Singaporean dress code look like pyjamas!

If I go on to talk about the food, this post will never end. I will put up pictures when I return on 1 May. Till then, to many more happy days in NIPPON!!!

Hokkaido here I come!