What?!

I set off on my grand adventure yesterday. Walked out of the comfort that was Tokyo, turned in my rail pass, and hopped on a shinkansen to Nagoya. The shinkansen was everything people said it would be, on time, fast, and relaxing. I watched as the landscape streaked past. I was amazed at the amount of urbran sprawl, there was nothing differentiating one city from the next. After the train ride I got off in Nagoya and immediatly became lost. Fortunetly with my backpack and guide book out I attracted attention like a rooster in a hen house. I was litterly surrounded by helpful women, two of which walked me all the way to the youth hostel I was staying at.

After checking in I dropped my bag in the room and set out for a tiny ramen stand that my guide book told me was the best in town. I only made it about 20 feet before I decided to eat at a soba shop that specialized in lemon shrimp. They brought me a hot towel to wipe my hands and face and tea to quench my parched throat. While listening to the soft tones of a single flute I inhaled my noodles and sat back satified. Then it was off to find a bar, the supposed best in town, called Heavens Door.

I walked for about half an hour trying to find the place and when I finally did, it had gone out of business. Down, but now out, I decided on a favorite ex pat bar called the elephants nest where I met an Aussie named Derrick. He was kind enough to buy me a drink and offer his place if I needed it. I met another of his friends and followed them to a bar called the Red Rock where I proceeded to hit on a cute girl named Megan all night. As she and her friends left I followed them because I was tired, my youth hostel had closed its doors about and hour ago, and Derrick lived in the same building. Megan was kind enough to pay my toll for the last train, so there I was with three cute girls Megan, Willow, and Yifey (pronounced: You-fay) and one seriously drunk english man named Lee. When I mentioned that I didnt really have a place to stay Yifey immediatly offered her room. Ill tell you a little bit about Yifey. She started in fashion as a Model and quickly decided that she didnt like the work so she became a fashion consultant, now she travels between Shanghi, London, the US, and everywhere else for work. Did I mention shes only 19? I see in her the drive to accomplish almost anything she sets her mind to. Ive been staying here for the last couple days because of rain, and Yifey has been a gracious hostess.

Today, I got temporarily kicked out because her roomate Lee, (a man who said he trusted me with his life, albeit while he was drunk) decided I could not be left alone in the apartment, so at around 10am I was locked out and was forced to have a great time on the streets of downtown Nagoya. I looked for the Robot museam for a long time, but to no avail. Instead I spent my afternoon lounging around a huge art museam. Lazy days in Nagoya. Next stop Kyoto.

A couple observations:

1) On esclators one is supposed to stay on the left, the right is for passing. The same applies on the street.　I get confused by this one all the time.
2) Everyone here has a GREAT fashion sense.
3) If someone is in uniform they will be the most helpful person　you have ever met.