Hi all,
Here are the latest hostel arｒangements for the later part of the trip. Let's call it part 4:
Osaka 31st Oct to 01 Nov
We booked 1 night at the Asahi Capsule Hotel :) they even have an onsen, I couldn't resist.
Sanity check ok: the beds are 200cm long and there are women rooms. I say it's a go, go, go!
http://www.asahiplaza.co.jp/capcel/english.html
Kyoto 01st Nov to 03 Nov and beyond
Night 01 to 02 remains to be booked: decision pending - but probably Nara (1h from
02 to 03 is already booked in Kyoto Bola-Bola
03 to 04 is already booked in Kyoto Bola-Bola （Arashiyama)
Night 04 to 05 was cancelled in Kyoto Bola-Bola (50% cost. ah too bad!): Joop and Magnus will go to shinjuku in Tokyo for their sake last night. For the rest of us the whole of Japan is still open for grabs: Shinjuku with the boys? Hakone with the girls ? :)
...Still work in progress for now
For the far away readers who might wonder -- what happened in part 2 and 3:
Part 2
We just came back from 2 night sin Oshima island in the bay of Tokyo. Great fun on a volcanic islet, bathing in these boiling hot onsen in open air under the prickling rain and waking up to a grand view on the smoking cone... What a relish. If you add to that an adventure on the return boat a free night in the best class hotel, nothing can beat Oshima. Great people, great location, unique (stinky) fish speciality, and well not to forget our brazen luck! :-P
No pictures for the moment, the cameras are with the other members of the trip.
Part 3
We split the group temporarily to accommodate different plans in al limited timing:
Our world adventurers Olaf, Joop and Marlies have ridden towards the setting sun in Hiroshima for 2 days of discoveries.
Magnus, vigorous gentleman viking, went to greet a gracious Norse young lady in Nagoya
Akiko and Thierry are now back in Tokyo to attend the long anticipated wedding of Akiko's brother :)
We will reunite on Oct 31st at 4PM in front of the Osaka castle.
See you all very soon ;)
Japan touristos
TOUS MES VOEUX DE BONHEUR O SHIAWASE NI
ReplyDelete(prononciation francisée : O SHÏAWASÉ NI)
écriture japonaise : お幸せに（おしあわせに）
Thierry à transmettre de notre part
au frère d'Akiko et à sa future épouse !
Mum
thanks Mum, the wishes passed the test and will be passed on :)
ReplyDeleteWeddings in Japan seem to be a real institution, driven by wedding professionals. The bride and groom were officially married one month ago already, but the real thing was not done yet as far as family and friends are concerned.
About 100 persons gathered in a richly decorated interior at 10 AM. The families were formally introduced to each other by the father in a private room, then the bride and groom made their appearance.
Following this all guests gathered in the Ceremony hall, fashioned after a modern idea of a christian church: organ, choir, painted windows, rows of church benches in a lay-out that most westerners would call a church. Missed only the christian cross and of course the priest :).
The vows were exchanged in simplicity while the rings were channelled forward on a small cord. And the pact was sealed with a charming kiss.. on the cheek of the bride. I was moved especially by the excellent choir (4 persons including a true tenor).
Followed a brief drink in front of a pretty garden soaked in heavy rain from the ongoing typhoon since yesterday (the same one that kept us one extra night in Oshima island).
The lunch was a very well run event too both form hte guest interventions and from the menu and service both excellent (western style: fresh foie gras delicately accommodated, Lobster consome with small papillotte, etc. - no cheeses :)
Michie's friends (bride) made a sweet interpretation of the melody "Some day my prince will come" performed with what looked like porcelain bells.
Yoshiro's friends (groom) made a remarked comedy and song performance, finished with the gang's traditional wedding dance featuring number one guest Yoshiro himself.
The bride and groom made heartfelt declarations to their parents on this occasion of parting and brought forward a crafted bundle of flowerrs as a thanking gift to the ones who took such good care of them since birth.
As the Groom's father, our host Kazuo san had the daunting resonsibility of the closing speech, which he conducted in good spirit with support from the attendance and emotional and humorous comments from the bride's father, who remained deeply moved by the parting.
I am so grateful for being invited in this great event by my friends and near family Yoshiro and Michie. I will remember especially the talented performance of the choir, the emotion of the parting ceremony (even without words), and more importantly the beautful appearance of Akiko in her ceremony kimono. I hope to collect some pictures to add in another post a bit later.
Today is already over, tomorrow we meet again in Osaka, city of haggling merchants, thrifty businessmen and apetising nightlife!
Thanks Thierry for the coverage of this wonderful ceremony.
ReplyDeleteNow we are very impatient to see the pictures !
Bonne continuation de voyage !
Bisous.
Mum
Hello !
ReplyDeleteWinter Time arrived that night in UE...
The time difference was 7 hours in Summer Time and 8 hours now...
As I'm writing this :
In France = Sunday 05:45 PM October 31,
In Japan = Monday 01:45 AM November 1st.
http://www.monde-du-voyage.com/japon/decalage-horaire.php
Bisous
Mum
Hello all!
ReplyDeleteMagnus and I have arrived in Tokyo yesterday! What a city!! We have been exploring shibuku and shibuha, not sure if the spelling is right... Shopping, shopping, shopping and lots of people.
Olaf and Marlies, I can really recommend to go to the huge crossing at Shibuha at have a drink at starbucks. What you will see there is just amazing! And to have a really nice view on tokyo you should go to the governemental buidling at Shibuku. Its a huge skyscraper with a observation deck at 200m. Really nice! We did not make it to the park with the temple/shrine, it was closed at 17.00 hours.
Have to catch a flight now!
Cheers,
Joop