oh japan II

Katie follows a vlog (not a typo–like a video blog) of a couple she likes, and the guy posted that he is “Alive, happy, safe, and loved.”  Katie said it’s her mantra now and what more can you want!?  Ditto!

In keeping with my commitment to write about the ups and the downs, let’s just get the bummer stuff out there so I can tell you all the amazzzzzzzing other stuff!   So the worst first, but mind it’s not for the faint of heart.

Yesterday I was going to meet Katie to get lunch but I had a half hour so I decided to explore my new neighborhood.  It seemed like a truck was following me, but I figured I was wrong…..but I wasn’t.  Soon a guy pulled up by me and said something, but I just smiled and waved and turned down a narrower street where it didn’t seem like he could get his truck.  I then realized he was following me on foot and trying to talk to me…..then I realized was gesturing in an extremely lewd way, like exposed.  I firmly said NO and he kept walking toward me, so I put my hand out to say stop.  I turned and walked away quickly.  I glanced over my shoulder and he was leaving.

So that happened.  Barf.

I debated with Katie what to do.  I still have not heard from my host, so I’m confused and worried about that.  Wifi is working though so I was just going to put it in my review.  But now this.  I messaged AirBnb on their Safety Support line and finally heard back last night wanting to know my plans.  I have messaged them again and no response 6 hours later.  So I’m really disappointed in AirBnb.  I’m in this apartment until April 4, but have not ruled out leaving.  I went to a police box, like a Tardis for you Doctor Who lovers, but couldn’t get an English speaker on the phone.  I’ll keep you posted.  (Update from this evening:  I heard from the host who had internet issues.  Whatever.  I also heard from AirBnb trying to see if I want to stay.  I do not.  I felt really conspicuous in my neighborhood, even wearing a hood to hide my hair.  I have requested to move.)

As my gun rights friends say, it could happen anywhere.  But I won’t deny it has shaken my confidence.  Moving on though!

On the excellent side, let me pick up where we left off.  I realized on the way from from Katie’s 2 nights ago that there was a Torikizoku on the way home.  That is the place Katie took me to on my very first night.  On a whim I climbed the stairs to maybe go in.  There was a line on the stairs.  A young woman could see I was about to leave and in broken English asked me if I was alone.  When I said yes, she did a good job of explaining it wouldn’t be a long wait.  Instead of registering with a hostess, you sign in on a machine and since it was in Japanese she did it for me.  In hindsight I can’t believe Katie knows how to do this!

This was the same day I tried to eat that take-out food that ended up in the trash.  I knew Katie and I had a yummy cheese thing there and it was just an appetizer–perfect!  So I used the iPad like thing on the table to try to order it, which was stupid because……….it was in Japanese.  A waitress came and helped me get a beer and Moji Cheese, which are like little balls of cheese in a flavored sauce.  Then a different waitress brought me an English menu–great!  I told her what I think the other waitress ordered for me.  I got  my beer and cheese and thought, finally, got the food thing figured out!  Then the first waitress brought me a second cheese thing haha!  Oh man!  I realized the guy next to me way putting the skewers in a little cup, so I accidentally left one cheese ball on a skewer. Then when no one was looking, I stuck 3 more in the baggie my moist towelette came in and stuck them in my purse haha!  I know it’s ridiculous!  I was feeling chilled and glad to at least be settled in my place even if it didn’t go smoothly.  I decided to order fries, which were really good!  They came with a little dish of ketchup and another dish of melted butter–yuck!  I tried it but it just was not good!

It was Katie’s day off yesterday and totally beautiful outside, so we went to Shinsaibashi to the eggs and pancakes place.  I was excellent all over again!  We walked around and discovered a shrine with cherry trees blooming!  Here is a preview of the upcoming excitement in April!

Lots of people were milling about and taking pictures.  The shrine included this rack of like wooden ornaments.  Katie said you can make a donation and write a wish or prayer.  

Later we saw this sign outside a restaurant.   Not sure if you can see the English translation in the picture below, but they are pretty specific about the meat, including small bowel and aorta.  Guess it’s all what you’re used to!

Can’t help but brag about my kids and how great they are to be with–lucky me!  Katie and I wandered around, had coffee and tea, shopped a little.  A salesgirl was trying to get people to go on that crazy yellow oval ferris wheel that I posted a picture of last week or so.  Katie wanted to go on it and it was only 600 yen so we did!  Apparently it’s pretty unusual to have an oval shaped ferris wheel.  It took us really high over the city, with the river below in the area with all those people.  It was nighttime so it was a fantastic view!   The picture below shows the area we were in 🙂    

Finally, we went to karaoke again!   We stayed all night–literally!   We got there at 8 p.m. and left at 4:30 a.m..  It was just so much fun!  This was at a different place but it looked pretty similar; this time we were in Room 33–these places are huge and you can hear rooms full of crooners as you walk by!  This time it was with 3 of her coworkers.  We got McDonald’s on the way home and it was an magnificent way to wrap up the day for sure!!!

Photo:  Osaka from atop the ferris wheel at Dotonbori and below inside ferris wheel