Shirahama

Playlist

Numb by Linkin Park

Superbly emotional and angsty song for someone so happy, but I felt that there was a need to revisit my old songs. Wanted to go sing karaoke with the gals from our floor but... Yeah some other people got there first. Really annoyed with some of the people from the programme. I know I sound mean and racist, but I cannot help but classify them according to their country? I bet they think that all Singaporeans are noisy and annoying too. Shall not blame them, but come on, I'm entitled to a bit of bitching for all the shit that I've had to bear with for the past 5 weeks. Call me two faced, but I try to maintain good relationships with people that I need to work with? Even if I hate your guts, I'd be nice until I really don't need you anymore? And your utility just expried along with the last presenatation? From now on you are nothing more than trash to me. Someone who gets in the way of me playing with the people I like at the places I like.

OH! I need to talk about Shirahama! Superbly hot. It was beautiful in this really natural way? Clean beaches, cliffs and various rock formations. And I find that soaking myself in the onsen seems to make my knee feel better? Perhaps the hot water numbs the pain; not too sure, but it has hurt less since I returned from soaking in 2 different onsens in Shirahama. Yeah, I must be crazy to head to a beach resort to soak in onsens in summer but hey, how often do you get an opportunity like this? The thing about Shirahama is that there is actually very little truly useful English information available on the Internet, so if you want to head there and need assisstance, do feel free to contact me? Always willing to help more people enjoy the place. 

Not many foreigners in Shirahama, although there are English signs once you get there. Its predominantly a Japanese tourist spot, so expect things to be expensive and English information to be scarce. There are buses that traverse the whole of Shirahama, and a pass is not too expensive if you are not inclined to track around in the blazing hot sun up and down slopes. An umbrella, plenty of water and sunblock are probably your best friends? Sunglasses help but if you don't want an uneven face tan, I would recommend a sun umbrella. Train ride, I took the local train, was rather long and we had to change trains 4 times. Not easy if you don't have access to the train schedules and can't read Japanese. Its times like this where I am glad I have a pretty decent command of kanji and a good sense of direction. Superbly easy to get lost along the way, or waste time by boarding the wrong train at the various stations.

Once you are at Shirahama, it is all sun, sand and sea. I would reccomend a more reputable hotel if you want awesome seafood for meals and an unrivalled view of the sea. Otherwise, a small minshoku would provide you with breakfast and a public bath on top of a super comfy Japanese tatami room with facilities. I chose the more economical route and had fun, so if you alright with hunting for your meals and walking a bit more to reach your hotel, its quite fun to pick a less popular hotel. Shops in Shirahama close pretty early as many people chose to eat in their hotels or go home (most are here only for a day trip as it really is a pretty small place), so nightlife is pretty much absent. Not much shopping either, so I think its prefect for a weekend getaway? Nothing more than that though.

Something surprising about Japan would be that the check in time is 3pm and the checkout time is usually 10am. Unlike the rest of the world that allows you to check in at 2pm and check out at 12pm, you really need to get up early even if you were up most of the night drinking. Otherwise, just follow most of the basic manners and you'll be fine even your Japanese is pathetic. The only thing that annoyed me was the banner. You know how ryokans will write down the names of the people who are staying over that night and hang it out at the front door? Because I booked with my gaijin name, I didnt get one of those. Which is superbly racist, but who am I to judge? After all I did not even give my credit card number, and there was no way they would have known if I would be a no show. Sigh. Nevertheless, it would have been nice if they had put it up. I would have recommended my place if they had, but because they did not... Well... I shall leave it to you guys to decide if you want discriminatory service.

Heading to Hiroshima tomorrow and I have no idea how I should pack. Thing is that I will also be going to Tokyo, leaving sometime around 7pm on Friday, so I am unsure of what I should bring along. Right now, Tokyo is a HUGE question mark. All I know is that I want to go to the Imperial Garden, head over to Ikebokuro to see if I can get some shopping done, see people in Harajuku and Shibuya and while my time away in quaint areas. Which might be a problem, because Osaka is known for the culture and stuff? It would be easier to while time away in Kyoto actually? Kind of regretting my decision to head to Tokyo now. It might have been fun to go to Kyoto once more and do more artsy stuff? Or look for Ura Umeda and do some more shopping. It is embarrassing, but I think I got caught up in all the hype and did not really think about what I would be doing and all that...

Sigh, we all do stupid things now and then. I really hope this would not be my stupidest thing? Because it would really be horrible if things do not work out. Shall I just hope for the best? Not much I can do now... Unless I manage to find someone who is willing to swap with me and take my place to Tokyo? Sighs.

Shall go pack my bag now. I sincerely hope that Hiroshima does not turn into a fabulous blazing disaster of epic proportions.

"You are the result of the choices you make."