I am Johnny Fedora

This is a quick update, no new old ladies, but some good pictures from my field trip to Kyoto. First we went to the Byoudouin, or Phoenix Hall (named for the golden phoenixes that once adorned the top), a famous Shingon Sect Buddhist temple. We then went to Touji, another Shingon temple complex. I managed to get some decent shots of the art, but maybe 75% of the pictures didn't turn out. Some of the pictures might have been taken in restricted areas, but I don't know any better, I'm a foreigner...

I recommend clicking the slide show button. It makes the pictures bigger. Just be sure to navigate with the arrow keys or else the pictures change every 3 seconds.

Also: Yakisoba, okonomiyaki, and takoyaki in one meal. Bliss.

And: Mildly spicy noodle soup, bamboo shoots, salmon onigiri (rice balls with filling), pickle onigiri, seaweed salad with ponzu shoyu, and cake.

Camel Rides and Pear Museums.

New updates. This week was spring break and I went on a couple of trips during my free time. The first destination was Tottori city in Tottori prefecture. We rode camels in the morning and climbed a mountain in the afternoon. At the top were some castle ruins and Japanese Keanu Reeves. The next day was a total bust. Our intended destination took 3 hours to reach, so we decided to change the plans. We first stopped at the pear museum (the only one in Japan), which turned out to be closed. Then we went to a see a temple on the side of a cliff, a national treasure, which turned out to be closed. Then we wanted to go to a hot spring, but it turned out to be right next to the highway and full of naked dudes and radon. The Japanese style hotel was awesome though. Amazing Japanese breakfast. Pictures.

Also: 7 for 33.

And: Several types of sashimi, rice, boiled tofu, lotus root salad with citrus, shoyumame (basically big edamame, shelled, roasted, and soaked in sweet sauce), mirin boshi (sweet pomfret jerky lightly fried with sesame seeds), and sake.

And: Spicy ramen with egg and pork belly topping, a fried rice ball with dried seaweed, kimchi pickles, and rooibos tea.

And: Soba noodles with wasabi tsuyu dipping sauce and green onion, a fried pork cutlet bowl with sweet red miso sauce and cabbage, and green tea.

Cheesecake with breakfast, Smash Bros., and Japanese girls. I love this damn country.

My Monday schedule sucks. I have 4 hours to kill after lunch. As it turns out, you eat when you're bored. You eat a lot. Like half a box of wafer chocolates, obanyaki, a stick of HiChew fruit chews, and 2 donuts. So, a friend and I set off in a random direction to see what would happen. Here are some pictures of what we found. Oh, and a cleaning lady at the gym walked in on me in the shower.

Moral: When someone asks "is anyone in there?" don't worry about responding in the same language.

Also: 4 for 29.

And: Beef ramen with baked cheese onigiri and a salad with pickled cherry blossoms.

And: Fried rice topped with an omelet, miso soup with mushrooms, and a side of fruit.

And: Creamy pork stew with rice and Texas toast.

And: Steamed broccoli is amazing with mayonnaise and soy sauce. What the hell, Japan?

Nara 2: Return of Nara Returns

On Saturday I took a field trip to Nara. This time no deer bites. I wanted to keep this post short, but I couldn't take pictures in maybe 80% of the places we visited, so I have to say a few things. In short, awesome sculptures. Also, the Imperial residence thing next to Chuguji temple is, if I understood correctly, only open to the public for a few months around the time of restorations. We got there 1 minute before it closed. The tour guide said the next time it will be open to the public will be in 2210. Adorable Japanese men sleeping on a train on the jump.

Also: 4 for 27.

And: Crab and oyster nabe, kanimiso, chicken and vegetables, sweet and spicy slaw, and "Japanese risotto" (the remaining broth from the finished nabe is boiled with rice and egg to finish the meal).

And: Yakisoba with pepper and ponzu, and egg soup.

It's a symbol of what?

Today I got to go to Asuka, an area south of Nara, to view some burial mounds, temples, demon toilets, and phalli. 20 or so of us took the train from Tambabashi to Asuka and then rented bicycles to white up the Japanese country side. Great scenery, yakisoba, and dirty looks from old people. As usual, every one declined to be photographed. Pictures.

Also: Soba, udon, 3 types of tempura, tsuyu with daikon and green onion, and salad.

And: Burger patties with a sweet mushroom and pepper sauce, egg soup, tako salad with sweet mustard and ponzu shoyu, slaw, rice, toasted rice tea, and melon bread. I'm starting to gain weight here.

And: 4 for 23 on old lady pictures.

I have never before wanted to punch a doe in the head.

On Tuesday I went to Nara with two adorable Japanese guides (the best way to travel, even outside Japan). We went to see the big Buddha, got bit by a bunch of deer, went to a famous mochi place, and an excellent udon restaurant. Pictures right here (kind of a big album, sorry).

Also: Deer are assholes. They will bite you, tear at your clothes, chase little kids, and stink up a national treasure out of spite. In Chinese folklore, deer were servants of the devil, joyfully spreading famine and misfortune by day, and eating children in front of their parents by night. I read that in a textbook.

And: Yakisoba, creamy potato soup, homegrown veggies, and English tea. Once again, in your faces.

And: Yesterday I was awakened a bit early by my very first earthquake. I promptly went back to sleep.

Konnichiwa, bitches.

Original, right? I thought of it myself.

More stuff from Sunday. After sushi, we tromped around Nanba and saw all the shops. The whole area is like a giant outdoor mall. It's insane. After a few hours, we went to a Mexican restaurant. You know, just to say we did. Despite having spaghetti sauce on it, my burrito was excellent. To make it even sweeter, there was a Thai man playing songs who perfectly (no joke) imitated 3 Doors Down, James Taylor, and several other American artists. After that, I was presented with a birthday cake on which I broke a tooth. Fun, fun, fun. Linky.

Also: The Japanese say Mekeeshko for Mexico. Mexicans? Mekeeshko-people, of course.

Moral: If an item is advertised as edible, it's barely edible.

美味しそう！

Sunday was my birthday and I went to what we were told was the largest aquarium in all of Japan. It was a very impressive place. The highlight, perhaps, was all of the Japanese people saying, "That looks delicious" in front of the various tanks. Naturally, we went out for sushi afterward. Pics.

Also: Kaitenzushi is dangerous.

Osaka Trip

Went to Osaka yesterday. It was pretty incredible. I guess the city is about 2 or 3 million, but it surges to 4 million during the day. Most people wanted to shop, but a group of a few finally split off to go sight seeing. We went to a giant Ferris wheel on top of a building and Osakajo park. There's a restored or rebuilt Japanese castle there as well as a European style castle built in the 1930s. Unfortunately, everything was closed, but I think I got some decent pictures anyway.

Also: Every old person I talked to declined to be in a picture. Looks like this won't work. I'm a very sad little guy.

Kyoto Trip

There was a school organized trip to Kyoto yesterday. We went to a temple built in the 1300s. It was pretty amazing, but I think my pictures failed to capture the size of it. Just imagine it being very large. Later we went to an extremely expensive buffet and a giant ass mall. Pictures mixed in with the arrival shots.

Also: Japanese fortunes are never good.

And: Old people seem to greatly dislike foreigners.