Going back after the Onsen (album)

May 3, 2008 Saturday
Nagasaki, Japan 

After we returned from Ioujima Island, our schedule was not really fixed since either one of Joy’s bosses may come over for dinner or there was a friend of his who wanted to meet him.

In the end, we did some grocery shopping at the store across the couple’s apartment, ate dinner cooked by Benjie, then left Joy behind to sleep as Benjie and I went off for a walk. I do not blame Joy as after wallowing in an onsen, the body feels deliciously relaxed, and I would be rolling in bed myself if not for my being curious about their neighborhood.

We dropped by a 24/7 store (can’t remember the name..was it “Family Store”?) where I hoped to get the “hentai” manga that an officemate of mine wanted to have as souvenir when he found out I would be going to Japan.

I was a bit self-conscious poking around the stands, but in the end, all I could find was a magazine, not the manga kind which I think he would have wanted. Oh well, I got it anyway, and since it was taped I really could not see what was inside but the cover was suggestive *grin*

While in the store, we bought a couple of onigiris (rice balls), pastries, breads, chocolates and drinks which we would be bringing along to the next day’s early trip to Huis Ten Bosch (posted a video preview in the Video section somewhere on this site).

We then dropped by a couple of pachinko (gambling game in Japan played on vertical pinball machines) places and posed. I thought they would not close but as 11 pm neared, we managed to catch the last dregs of the players.

Afterwards we walked back and it was the first time I could remember walking a street in the dead of the night and feeling safe. I didn’t even have to skirt along the edges of shadows. I couldn’t imagine myself doing this at some places in Manila (I’d probably walk in the middle of the road) but all along the street we had strolled you could see evidence that people here pretty much left things as is – from cute pots of gorgeous flowers, to umbrellas and other stuff outside which would probably be gone in a wink in other places *wink*

We strolled along until we reached their harbor near their apartment where Benjie and I talked about different topics and marveling on how funny it was…both of us never thought we would be strolling one night in Japan and doing all the things we have done – from dining on Japanese cuisine, strolling around parks and dropping Japanese phrases, to the latest activity of going bare as we dared visit an onsen. We had a good laugh over that one.

There was some reminiscing and updating, and even plans for their next trip as Joy was going to Vietnam. I hope they do spend their Christmas in Vietnam with their children and I hope in the future I could spend more visits abroad in the company of old friends and acquaintances like what I was doing at that time.

I felt a pang that time was so short and that I would be leaving Benjie’s delicious home-cooked meals to continue on my trip alone (I gained weight!), but it will be an adventure and more tales to share with friends later. I was sorry too that I could not buy food which I could bring back to the Philippines as my journey would continue for more than a week yet….

P.S. I think some pictures are still displayed on their sides..weirdly I cannot fix it even if I have rotated them already, they return to the original one. Oh well, I will try to repost later by using pics which are already aligned correctly…in the meantime have fun angling your head…

– May 28, ’08 11:17 PM

Neko-chan in Japan: Nagasaki -> Glover Garden 2/2 and Dejima Wharf (album)

After finishing all the emails at a manically rapid pace that made Benjie look at me questioningly, I managed to reduce the workload enough that all I needed was approval from the US and then the responses could be sent off to the client. However, since these would only be given to me around 10 pm upwards (meaning I had to come back before that time) I certainly wanted to make use of the gap and do my first round of sightseeing…and eating out 🙂

Around 4 pm and upwards off we went, with empty stomachs and a repeat visit for Benjie and Joy to Glover Garden.

Most of the pictures here will show me with my newly discovered boyfriend – Mr. Tri Pod. I definitely spent more than an hour here with all the posing and stopping…I don’t think I saw all the houses and exhibits, but if only for the sweeping view of the harbor, I definitely would recommend readers to visit this place.

After partaking of my first drink from the vending machine, I had the crazily whimsical idea of dropping in my 5 peso coin as it was mixed with the yen coins I had accumulated. I think the machine was shocked that somebody dared do it that it didn’t give a reaction, not even returning my coin at once….*grin* After some knob turning though, it did spit the coin out disdainfully.

As a souvenir, I bought a tiger’s eye bracelet from one of the shops. Although I did want to buy some more Nagasaki souvenirs, thinking of the higher prices here made me think twice. Consequently I wasn’t able to buy the usual t-shirt or articles with Nagasaki’s name or famous items on it.

In the evening we managed to squeeze into on an eat-all-you-can restaurant to combine lunch, afternoon merienda and dinner, and it was Joy’s treat so I must thank him for the first eating out experience as I was stuffed like a sushi roll afterwards.

Even with the short time given to us (*sigh* I had to go back for the rest of the work to be finished or followed-up plus I had the usual late night phone conference), I think we still managed to do justice to the meal, to have the restaurant’s attendants say that these “gaijin” are matakaw.

Photos are from my 2 cameras (Finepix and Kodak) and Benjie’s Canon. Domo arigato gozaimashita!

– May 19, ’08 1:17 PM

Neko-chan in Japan: Nagasaki -> Glover Garden 1/2 (album)

May 2, 2008. 

Splitting the album since 3 cameras are too many…so am just going to be putting the pics where I star…ehem…which I like..hehehe….long story.

GLOVER GARDEN:

Western-style houses built in the 19th century Meiji period are scattered here, overlooking Nagasaki and its harbor (meaning: great views of the city!). Not all houses here stand on their original site, some have been taken from somewhere else and reassembled. 

The oldest western-style building in Japan, “Glover Mansion” is the main attraction. It was built in 1863 by Thomas Glover, a Scot. It is romanticized as the home of Madame Butterfly (Puccini’s opera). 

Thomas Glover was an admirable man who not only financially backed and managed the ship repair yards in Nagasaki but was also involved in exporting tea, selling guns and ships etc. 

The shipbuilding company he founded was later to become the Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan. He also helped found the Japan Brewery Company, which later became the major Kirin Brewery Company, Ltd. 

In recognition of these achievements, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun (second class). His son with a Japanese woman, Kuraba Tomisaburo, also had numerous contributions for the betterment of Nagasaki but committed suicide about 2 weeks after Nagasaki’s bombing.

The “Ringer House” contains artifacts of Kiba Teiko – she is a Japanese opera singer who portrayed the role of Madame Butterfly. There are also houses here aside from what I have written.

“Nagasaki’s Traditional Performing Arts Museum” showcases dragons and floats used in the Nagasaki’s most famous festival, held in October – the Okunchi Festival. 

Opening hours: 8 am to 6 pm (extended to 9 pm during mid-July to mid-October).
Admission: 600 yen for adults.

Directions for getting there: 
Take Oura Tenshudoshita streetcar. Turn left after the Tokyu Hotel and walk uphill. You will pass by Oura Church on your way up so you can also stop there if it is your fancy.

 

– May 18, ’08 2:01 AM