And Home

There was very heavy rain forecast for Osaka on Tuesday, ahead of the typhoon. And it was raining when we got up, although steadily rather than heavily.

It wasn't really raining when we left the hotel at 11:00, which was checkout time. We made our way to the train and went to the Osaka station. Actually, we went to a station one stop before the main station but by the time we had wandered all around the station complex, we were at the main station.

We could not find the Donki Lindsey wanted to go to. We could see where it was on the map but our electronic maps were hugely confused by the station. They didn't work properly when we were inside and wanted us to go back inside if we went outside. We couldn't read the station maps, which in any case didn't have Don Quijote helpfully marked on it.

We did find an Eki Donki (Station Donki) and went into that. We expected it to be very small. It was bigger than that. Obviously not as big as a Mega Donki but big enough for station needs

We gave up on the Mega Donki and wandered around the shopping complex by the station.. We found a Yodobashi store which is a multi-storey electronics, hobby, fun and toy store. We found a Daiso, a 3 Coins and a Nitori. We found a food area where we had grilled steak with unlimited rice, broth and curry sauce  and a drink for around $15 each. We had iced chocolate in a Tully's. From time to time we could see the Mega Donki not far away but by then had decided we had enough fun things to do without going searching again. We headed back to the hotel, by which time it was raining again. Although not as heavily as had been forecast.

We had fun getting to the airport. The hotel staff directed us to a nearby station rather than us going back to Osaka station and taking the express train. The taxi took us to the wrong bit of the rather large station complex. We were heading down a long escalator to find a ticket office when one of Lindsey's suitcases made a bid for freedom and cascaded down the escalator, fortunately missing the woman further down (who had looked around when the noise started and seemed ready to get out the way if need be). The man at the ticket office gave us directions to a different ticket office a bit of a walk away. We asked a woman at an information booth (We speak English here, it said) and she said we could go from where we were with a change at Tennoji station, just cross the platform and get on the airport train. So we did - although we nearly got on the wrong end of the train, which divides in half at one of the stations. Fortunately some nice Japanese people who spoke English saw our suitcases and asked if we were going to the airport. Then we needed to head to the front of the train. Which we did, at speed because the train was due right then.

Japanese people are enormously helpful. Someone stopped and held her umbrella over Lindsey when she was unfurling her umbrella in the rain. An older gentleman came and walked alongside me with his umbrella over me until I turned down a different street.  (I don't have an umbrella; I use a hat instead.) People often came and asked if we needed help. 

Anyway. We finally made it to the airport (memo to self: insist on taking the rapid express from Osaka station next time; it might be more expensive but there is no need to change trains, you are guaranteed a seat and there is no need to be running around station complexes with lots of luggage having no idea where you are supposed to go).

It was relatively painless checking in and boarding the plane. We had time for some wine and a bite to eat before boarding. We left on time. However, the flight took about 10 minutes longer than expected because instead of taking off and heading immediately south, we took off and headed north over Kyoto and Nagoya before turning east and then finally heading south. We were avoiding the typhoon, which seems wise.

It took a while to get through customs in Cairns, partly because Lindsey's renegade suitcase decided that, not content with trying to escape in Osaka, it was going to turn up on a different luggage carousel to all the rest of our cases. (Other cases from our flight were also on that carousel but we had assumed that all ours would be together, having been checked in together). And then I had declared the curry cubes that I had bought at Coco Ichi, because I wasn't sure if they could be legally brought into Australia. Answer: yes, even though they contain meat. Japanese beef is OK because Japan is free from foot and mouth disease (FYI Thailand and Vietnam are not). Pork or chicken would have been more problematic. I was told to declare them again next time. Better to declare something, be told that you can't bring it in and everyone goes on about their business, than not declaring it and getting into Big Trouble.

We weren't worried about time. There was lots of time before our onward flight to Melbourne. Time even for some breakfast after we had gone back airside.

The flight to Melbourne was delayed a bit because, just as they were about to close the door, a member of airport staff came rushing up to say that a passenger who had flown up from Melbourne had left their suitcase in an overhead locker. No suitcase could be found. The crew had, in any case, checked the lockers when everyone had got off. Everything had to be checked again and then we were cleared to close the door and go on our way.

It was windy, wet and cold when we got to Melbourne. Lindsey called us an uber and took me back to her place before heading on to hers.

And then, Just Like That - I was back at home

Osaka

We made a final trip to a shopping mall with Austin after breakfast yesterday and then bought GoGo Curry for lunch. GoGo Curry is almost a competitor with CoCo Ichi Curry although it has a different spice mix and I'm told it's cheaper. I quite enjoyed it.

Then Austin took us back to the station and we boarded the Shinkansen for Osaka. We had a great time with Austin, Kaori and Tatsuki. Sad that it has to come to an end. However, what with a pre-breakfast snack, breakfast, lunch, a pre-dinner snack, dinner, an after dinner sweet and a pre-bed sweet - my trousers are probably glad that I am moving on. 

(For the avoidance of doubt: None of us eats that amount in the normal course of events)

When I booked this hotel I was looking for somewhere nice to celebrate our time in Japan. I booked this place and selected a room with a river view and lounge access. I didn't know what the lounge access meant and wasn't particularly curious. I wanted the river view. I also, accidentally, booked a double bed rather than two singles.

This is what we got:

Our room with a view:

View from the bed

The chaise longue by the window was the length of a single bed, although not quite as wide. Lindsey slept on it last night. We didn't have an extra blanket but we did have towels and it was quite a warm night. Lindsey said it was very comfortable but she was a bit cold as the night went on - until she got something to cover her feet.

We went to investigate what the lounge was that we had access to. It turns out that I had booked us into a room on the Premium level and the lounge is more or less like an airport lounge with comfortable seats and tables, snacks, pastries, tea, coffee and (after 6pm) wine and beer. We had wine with us and really didn't need snacks but it seemed a bit rude not to make use of the facilities since they were available.

Having said that, we did not avail ourselves of the onsen that was also available to us. We felt that Japan is probably not ready for the sight of us lolling about in the water completely naked.

There is a typhoon making its way towards us. I think it's off the coast of Okinawa at the moment. The forecast for Osaka for today is for heavy rain. It has been raining this morning although I don't think it is at the moment. We don't have ambitious plans for today. Checkout is at 11 then we will go and explore around the station area where there is a Donki and I assume somewhere for lunch. We don't need to be at the airport until 18:45, when checkin opens but I think we'll probably get there a bit earlier and find somewhere to have something to eat before boarding.

Always supposing, of course, that the typhoon doesn't get here earlier than expected and disrupt our travel plans.

It would be financially reckless, wouldn't it - to sell my flat and to buy a small freestanding house so I could replace the roof with blue ceramic Japanese roof tiles. Yes. I thought so. Pity. I do like the blue ceramic roof tiles

Gifu

Yesterday we went to the Gifu Castle park. Both the museum and the castle are closed for renovations but that didn't particularly bother us. There are lots of other things to see and do.

I am particularly enjoying the gentle but vibrant greens of the early summer leaves on the trees. Austin particularly enjoys the gradations of the colours of the mountains that surround the Gifu area. I do too but the gentle colours of late spring and early summer are a real pleasure.

I was nabbed by a lady from the Gifu City Council while I was wandering around the park. They are conducting surveys with international visitors. There are not a huge lot of international visitors in the Gifu Castle park. Or anywhere in Gifu, come to that. She was very surprised when I ticked the box that indicated that I have been to Gifu more than 5 times. I must surely have friends in Gifu? Ah. Family. Yes.

You can just see the castle
on the top of the hill

I was not expecting to find a pay phone
in the park

We had lunch in a nearby shopping mall and a wander around the shops.

Then we went to look at a shopping complex which had opened near Austin and Kori's place just before I was here last time. A bit like the Costco in Ardeer, it was so popular when it first opened that it was impossible to get into. But it's now been open for 3 months and the initial excitement has died down a bit.

We had dinner in Big Boy. It was Lindsey's first visit. I think she enjoyed it.

And thus ended our last full day in Gifu. We're here until this afternoon and then we're heading back to Osaka to start out journey home tomorrow evening.

Nagoya

Austin hired a car with five seat belts so we could all go out together. His car in fact has space for five people to sit but there are only four seatbelts so it is not lawful to take five people.

The hired car with five seatbelts is narrower than Austin's car!

Anyway. We all got in and Austin drove us to Nagoya where we met Kaori's father and brother in a Chinese restaurant. I didn't see Michinao when I was here in March. We didn't see Kazuma, Kaori's brother when we saw Michinao in 2024, so it had been quite a while since we had seen him. He usually works on Saturdays but had taken the day off so he could meet up. It was good to catch up.

Michinao has properly retired now. He plays the guitar (very well) and has joined a Seniors' guitar group. He seems fit and well.

Perhaps I should buy a new recorder and learn to play again. Jim bought me a recorder when we first got together, to replace one I left in Australia. But I didn't often play it and latterly had never played it. I don't have it any more.

(These are Austin's photos)

Kaori came back on the train. Her back was playing up and wasn't enjoying the hire car. I have some sympathy with her. My back is also sometimes grumpy and it's not fun.

We went to a tempura restaurant not far from their house for dinner. It was very delicious. But I fear I am going to have to go on a very strict diet when I get home. So Much Food! (Although my trousers still fit so maybe only a moderately strict diet will be required)

(These are also Austin's photos)

This is not an egg.
It's custard with a bitter caramel sauce

Sunset outside Austin's house

Supper back at home
So Much Food!

Today is our last full day with Austin, Kaori and Tatsuki. We have, of course, fortified ourselves with a Proper Breakfast, ready for the day ahead.

(PS - having complained about the number of steps I got on Friday, having walked all around Costco and Plant 6 - yesterday I didn't even crack 2000 steps. Must do better today!)

Crispy Bacon

Lindsey finally got her crispy bacon. Austin bought some and crisped it to within an inch of its life. We had it for breakfast yesterday. He also bought a carton of corn soup. We had that too

Crispy bacon and spinach

Thus fortified Austin, Lindsey and I ventured out to Costco. Kaori was at work. Tatsuki was at school. No leisure shopping for them. 

We had lunch at a Coco Ichi Curry House. I bought some boxes of their curry cubes. I think  I can take them back into Australia but I will definitely let the customs people make that decision.

We went to Plant 6 for a big supermarket shop.

We went to the fancy, fancy cake shop for supplies of fancy, fancy cakes.

We came home.

It was disappointing that after walking ALL around Costco and ALL around Plant 6 (which is not a small enterprise) I got less than 6000 steps and only 25 minutes of exercise all day. Lindsey did better, but she went for a morning walk before the shopping and then a late afternoon walk before dinner.  I did not.

Mostly Travelling

The station in Kurashiki is a mere 750 metres along a flat road from the hotel.  

So we walked. And took the train from there to Okayama, where we had tea and cake to fortify us for the rest of the journey.

We met Anpanman at the Okayama station

I had booked reserved Shinkansen tickets online on Wednesday and we had QR codes for the train. We had to get seat tickets from the gates, though. We also had to change trains in Kyoto and had separate QR codes for the two legs of the journey. The lady in the information centre at Okayama said we had to go out the gates in Kyoto and then come straight back in for the train to Gifu-Hashima.

In retrospect, we should have ignored this advice. The train left from the same platform. We had a 13 minute turn around. I sent Lindsey to go through and back while I watched the bags, then I was going to run through as well.

Lindsey completely vanished!!!!!

I got a message to say that it was very complicated. I couldn't quite see why. In the meantime, she was now on the other side of the gates and couldn't get back in. And I had all the bags.

Somehow, very slowly and with brute determination I managed to get all the bags to the platform gates. I swiped my QR code. On the second attempt it let me out.

I manoeuvred the bags through.

I could not find Lindsey. Lindsey could not find me.

Eventually we managed to reunite. I was at the gate where we had gone through on Tuesday. Lindsey had ended up at a completely different entrance. I'm not sure what had happened with her QR codes, except that her phone wanted to use her Suica card and not her QR code. The helpful station staff seemed to make matters worse.

We had comprehensively missed our train.

We booked new tickets for the next available train and contacted Austin who was planning to pick us up. We got on our train with no further problem. We were only an hour later than planned, which wasn't bad considering all the drama. And Austin was waiting for us, having spent the time in Plant 6 while we moved from Kyoto to Gifu.

I might not buy the tickets online in the future. We had plenty of time at the Okayama station and could have bought through tickets.

We went to the sushi place for dinner, with Kaori and Tatsuki. Much less traumatic.

Our friendly server

Kurashiki - Bikan

We had a lovely wander around the historic Bikan centre yesterday morning. We checked out the tourist shops and the local craft shops. We wandered the laneways and pottered around. We found a tourist Lawson (which is an omnipresent convenience store with a blue logo and does not usually contain local souvenirs). We had curry for lunch and then returned to the hotel to offload our purchases and to have a bit of a rest.

We ignored the rain, though we couldn't have a canal boat trip because they had been cancelled for the day because of "bad weather"

In the afternoon it had more or less stopped raining and  we visited Ohara House and the Honeiji Temple.

Then Lindsey went running up a hill to look at a shrine. 

I had no wish to be running up hills or steep stairs so I stayed at canal level and went for a mooch around.

When we were having dinner in the restaurant on Tuesday evening, we noticed gardens and buildings through the window. I went to see what they were, and found a lovely little Zen garden next to the Art Museum

I sat there of a while, in a small shelter, and enjoyed the peace and the water - and the fact that I was undercover from the rain, which had returned.

I notice that I have been particularly interested in the trees and water and gardens this visit. Perhaps my gardening mojo is belatedly making a reappearance.

I had better start getting organised. Today we are moving from Kurashiki to Austin's place. and we need to be out of here in 25 minutes!

Lindsey finally found some bacon that
hadn't been stewed.
And I had some corn soup.
Happiness all round