Monday, April 28, 2008

More

There is no way I can catch up, so instead Ill give you a quick recap.

April 22nd: Yifei and I went around Kyoto and saw the golden temple, the one you see in all the pictures of Japan, and a zen rock garden. We then ate ice cream. Instead of going back Yifei cancelled a meeting and stayed an extra day. We went out and bought a couple bottles of mango alcohol and proceeded to get drunk on the streets of Kyoto. We found an awesome bar and had it all to ourselves. Then we ended up at McDonalds at the end of the night. She missed the last train, so we headed back to the youth hostel and stayed there for the night.

April 23rd: Yifei had never stayed in a Youth Hostel before, so it was HILARIOUS to see her reaction in the morning. She is very polite and having a half naked german man with a hairy chest interrogate you in a common space was WAY to much for her timid upbringing. We tried to go to a place where they shoot a lot of Japanese samurai shows, but when we arrived it was a tourist trap for kids. Instead we got back on the bus and started walking to the bamboo forest, (the picture on the top of this blog) but got sidetracked when we met up with a couple youths who we asked to drive us on their motorcycles to where we wanted to go. Let me tell you, riding on the back of a scooter was the best feeling of the day, the guy who was driving was dodging in and out of traffic and took us right through the bamboo forest into a clearing next to a river. In my opinion, it was the most beautiful place in Kyoto. We then had spicy chinese for dinner, and then Yifei convinced me to come back to Nagoya with her for a day. My plan was to go to Nara, but plans change. We arrived in Nagoya , went out for great food and promptly fell asleep.

April 24th: Woke up late, lazed around. Tried to leave, was once again convinced to stay. Yifeis roomate Lee was leaving. Lee is a very angry guy. He refused to pay a water bill that hadnt arrived yet and expected Yifei to pay for the things he was leaving. Yifei, being the nice person she is, wanted to help Lee by buying all his stuff even though she had no use for it. She really didnt want to, so when she confronted Lee he went into a fit and started calling her some very nasty names. After around the second time he called her a slut, I stepped out and said, `its none of my business, but just dont use that language when talking to someone.` Then he asked me if I was getting in his face and pushed me. He was bigger than me had his shirt off and was ready to fight, so I had to out think him instead of fighting back. I fixated on a spot between his eyes, and showed him with body language, that I wasnt intimidated but that I wasnt going to fight back either. I looked at him as if he were a child throwing a tantrum. He shouted some more, demanded that I leave, and called me all the names in the book, but I just stood my ground until he shut the door. Then, like golem in his cave, he yelled obscinites into the phone to one of his friends until even that was quieted. When he came out again I tried to calmly explain the situation, and he freaked out on me again, so I didnt say anything and turned my back to him, again showing him that I wasnt intimiadated. He went back into his room, and a few more grumbles emminated from the shoji screen door. Yifeis other roommate wanted to call the police, and I was just looking around for something to bash him over the head with if it came to that. Then when he emerged for the third time I just turned my back to him and then, the most expected thing in the world occured, he apologized. He apologized for his behavior, for using foul language, for telling me off, and for losing his temper. I patted him on the back and said I understand, and then left with Yifei for dinner. After that I was on a high. It felt as if I had slayed a dragon with my words and wit alone. After dinner I went to bed satisfied.

April 25th: Yifei took me to a great Indian place for some nan and curry. Then we bid eachother farewell until June, when we have a plan to meet up in Hokkaido for two weeks. Then I turned my attention to Nara. Found a ryokan, ordered the breakfast for the morning. I went out, got blisteringly drunk with an 85 year old woman, her young 30 year old friend, and an 87 year old ex-kamikaze pilot, so that was fun. Wondered home and fell into bed.

April 26th: Went around Nara. Saw some temples, deer, vistas, gardens, the largest wooden buddha in the world, todai-ji, monks, stone lanterns, and Hide. It was a great day, and made me fall in love with Nara. If I come back to one place it will be there.

April 27th: Met a sad old man drinking sake and hating his retirement, big castle, a girl named Misty, Hiroshima.

April 28th:
Hiroshima:Atomic bomb
Museam:Sad
Bike:Freedom
Lunch:Good
Drinking:Bad
Dude:Philosophy
Night:Night

Now im going to Shikoku for some repelling and white water rafting. If this is the last time you hear from me I love you all. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Yah well. Will and I are already rolling dice for your clothes.

Mitch(Dad II) said...

Wonderful stories, great images!
LOved your defense of Yifei.

StarMom said...

I am so proud you stood up to that bully! Yifei is just lovely. Loved seeing the geisha's.
PS: I know it is BLOG you little poop...take care, love you

Will said...

Haha! Jerry you can have the clothes. I've got my eyes set on the memory foam queen sized bed...

Great story. Nice work taming the beast, my friend. I'm sure Yifei rewarded you handsomely.