Getting out of work at 7:30 a.m. is both good and bad. Most often, it's great to come home and eat breakfast for dinner. However, it also makes it very difficult to go out, as stores and resturants don't open until somewhere between 10 and 12. That said, I had a few hours to kill yesterday morning while I waited to meet Karen and Rebecca for a tasty chinese buffet dinner at noon, so I decided to head off to Osaka Castle.
It was quite peaceful, as mist was covering the park, the crowds hadn't yet filled the area, and the Grey Album gave me a surprisingly fitting soundtrack. I didn't go inside the castle, but enjoyed walking around outside for about an hour or so. Of course I took some pictures, but, as always, it was much cooler being there. Check 'em out!
Osaka Castle: it never occured to me the castle would have a moat. I was even more surprised to find out it had two!
Cheers!
Posted by jed at February 10, 2005 02:31 AMHey that's beautiful. Do you know what those twisty trees are called? Speaking of questions... I have a whole bunch now that I'm reading the Dave Barry Does Japan book... 2 that jump out are "is it really polite to fart (sorry mom) in public?" and "Do Japanese think you Americans smell bad?" Actually, seeing those questions together... that's kind of ironic, isn't it?
Posted by: your sistah at February 10, 2005 06:02 AMHmmm, very interesting questions. so interesting, in fact, that i had never heard of either of those claims. yet, i will attempt an answer anyway.
as for farting in public, i have never actually heard it happen. however, they snort and clear their throats in the most disgusting display of grossness i have ever heard, and in all honesty i would prefer a fart. (i also have to add that i believe karen thinks it's polite, since she does it all the time)
The 'smell bad' theory is an interesting one, because i think most of them smell bad. I can only assume that if they think we smell bad, it's because we actually smell good. deoderant is impossible to find here, and in all honesty i have yet to see it. luckily, i had it sent from home (thanks mom), and stocked up over xmas, so it hasn't been an issue. But, it's my guess that they like the smell of body odor, and dislike the smell of deoderant, therefore it's quite possible they don't like the way we smell, simply because we smell clean.
karen had an interesting point, too... they never sit near us on the train. i always thought it was because we were foreigners, but maybe it's just because we smell nice? only they will know, i guess.
Posted by: jed at February 10, 2005 11:26 AMmaybe my "politeness" is the reason they don't sit next to us.
in which case, we do smell.
or i smell.
Posted by: Karen at February 10, 2005 01:05 PMA conversation about public farting cannot exclude me.
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Posted by: Sakari at August 16, 2009 10:39 PM