Friday January 24 , 2003 ....
Well, today was my last day to enjoy the lap of luxury at the Four Seasons for a while. But then I discovered the spa level which I was entitled to use for free since I was a guest. I went down there and they gave me a key to a locker. They had an Onsen (hot spring) so I tried this first. It most likly is built using heated water instead of a natural hot spring but I am not complaining at all. You are supposed to disrobe and somehow sit on a 6 inch tall stool and wash yourself off and scrub before entering the Onsen bath. I managed but it was not very easy for a big guy like me. The Onsen (hot spring) was nice and warm like a hot tub and they recommended that you did not stay over 10 minutes in it. Afterwards you sit on the stool again to rinse off. Towel off and into the swim trunks to hit the co-ed pool area. Don’t forget the bathing cap though!
First a nice soak in the warm and bubbly Jacuzzi, boy that sure relieved some tension in my shoulders. Then after a while I hit the pool next to it for some laps and goofey swimming. It was a shock to enter the cooler pool after the warm Jacuzzi. But I enjoyed it as I am a fish by nature. It was nice water not over Chlorinated at all. After swimming for 45 minutes it was back to the Onsen for
another quick dip and then off to my room to pack.
I checked out of my room at 9 30 or so and luckily I did not rack up any additional charges on my bill. I filled out the internal questionnaire I was given upon check in and I praised the hotel as it is outstanding in services and friendliness. I did not eat there
however as I was too busy and I wanted to see how my money would be for the remainder of my trip even though I would get half off on the food. I took a taxi with my bags to Mejiro station once again and I transferred a few trains until I got to Kowagoe an outward suburb of Tokyo where Bob works. Bob met me at the Station at around 11 30 Am. Bob lives close to the station within easy walking distance and I dropped my bags off at his apartment. We chatted a little bit and then Bob directed me to the main shopping street. Bob had some work to do at the school so I spent the afternoon exploring the street with it’s shops.
I tried my luck at visiting a Japanese restaurant after exchanging some more money. I determined that there was not Seafood in the Dish, so I ordered Soba Noodles. They were fine but it came with a broth which had essence of seaweed. Though I am not allergic to it has a funny taste that I was not used to so I only finished half of the dish. I di howeer get to observe the essence of sluping noodles Japanese Style. Though it is not in my nature to do this it was interesting to observe and hear.
I continued to walk down the street and I found a store that specialized in paper goods. Maybe it is
my artistic streak but I found a lot of interesting paper designs and I bought 2 packs of Origami sheets with nice designs. I went to a CD shop and I investigated the music scene. But I really did not find any Special CD imports available that I absolutely had to have. Mostly it was the same Classic rock titles that you can get over here. I was surprised that they did not have very many newer titles like the Dave Matthew’s band available for example.
I bought some grapes at a fruit stand maybe more expensive than the states but I needed some fruit in my life. actually the fruit is rather expensive to buy over there but it all looked nice. I saw a woman in a Kimono or similar dress on the streets for the first time. It was cold out but she was in no hurry to move quickly as she was busy talking on her cell phone to someone. I turned around and headed back. In a country with such a homogeneous culture it was interesting to see the teenager / early 20’s guy with the Dread locks ALA Bob
Marley I should have taken his picture. Someone mediating from the norm.
I stopped off at a bicycle Shop and I tried to have a conversation with the owner. Bikes are everywhere in Japan which I think is a good thing. Cold weather sure does not stop
the Japanese from riding them either. Maybe heavy snow might but I did not encounter such deep snow. I think half of the people do not even lock their bikes. It is a major
offense to steal in Japan I think. As it is here but It is refreshing that it does not occur very much over there. But then again almost all of the bikes I saw were old
fashioned single speed bikes. I saw that you could by an average bike for 13,000 Yen ($ 115 ). I told the owner that I have a Trek bicycle and he knew of that brand. Mine is a
20 speed but I told him that in America 95 % of bicycle usage is only for recreation.
I made it back to Bob’s office and we went out to get some dinner -- I discovered melon soda which I sort of like. we were lucky and we were in time at 5 PM to catch a little
mechanical presentation about Japanese culture built into the wall of the mall where we got our food and that was kind of nice to see. Then I was fortunate enough to observe
Bob teaching 2 of his groups English. it looked interesting and fun to me so It is something that I might look into doing in the future.
Afterwards we went nearby to a bar and a group of us experienced Izakaya a Japanese style informal get together. It was fun and I met some nice people that Bob works with and teaches I really enjoyed talking a little bit to th spincs harmer who learned his English whil attending school in Indiana for 6 years. We had nice food to sample and good beer to drink I think I am actually getting half way adept to using Chopsticks by now though everybody still laughs at me for how I hod them in the middle instead of toward the top ends ha ha ha. It was fun except my big legs are not used to sitting on the floor like the Japanese do and they got stiff easily. After a night of fun and walking the group to the train station for them to catch their trains home, we retired to Bob’s apartment. Bob gave me the opportunity to
e-mail my family to tell them that I was still alive, and just to check my messages too. Am I Internet dependent hmm maybe I am. We crashed and the next morning I said good bye for a couple of weeks and I departed off to Tokyo and then Kurashiki on the Shinkassen -- Bullet train.
