This blogpost covers the day of April 6th, 2023 while in Osaka & Nara.
Today was the day I had to leave Osaka. Before that, I went to a nearby Conbini to eat my breakfast from there. I refused to eat at that hotel-Cafe collaboration area after feeling unwanted, and having to deal with a weird misunderstanding. After my delicious conbini morning meal I had to send stuff off via Japan Post spending a fair bit of time over there. Once the postal service was dealt with (tracking numbers sent) I then went to swiftly visit Osaka Castle prior to having to pick my luggage back up to head to Osaka’s World Expo grounds, and then to Nara. It was a busy day traveling from place-to-place-to-place. I had fun.
It would be an interesting day of travel.
Related Blog Posting (Japan Travel):
[Day 1] – [Day 2] – [Day 3] – [Day 4] – [Day 5] – [Day 6] – [Day 7] – [Day 8] – [Day 9] – [Day 10] – [Day 11] – [Day 12] – [Day 13] – [Day 14] – [Day 15] – [Day 16]
Postal Intermission:
Tried to find the Post Office in relation to Google Maps, it failed to give me the precise location. I basically went around the block (AGAIN!) just trying to find this Japan Postal office. I eventually made it in, was greeted, even telling them my situation via a translator (both Google Translate & DeepL) of who to send to, what my redirected address was, and how to sign up. I signed up with Japan Post, filled things in (with assistance), even spending as much time with me to get things sorted as possible. That’s the one thing I admire about Japan, they’re overly formal and overly helpful, maybe unless you deal with an abused retailed worker in japan (like anywhere else in the world) who shall give you a 50/50 experience.
I filled in my address, my friend’s address, my coworker’s address, and my roommates. All totaling up to $1000. Screw it, I don’t want to lug around my cursed goodwill presents. It’s for the best, also for future happenings of requiring Peach Air flights to Sapporo at a later date.
Everything took a long while thanks to rules, regulations, paperwork, and a whole lot of guessing and translation issues. It was an interesting experience.
Heading off to Osaka Castle.
Finally realized I should have been taking more Busou Shinki images. Let’s do it! I still have “some” time, let’s grab some amongst the Cherry Blossoms. Nice! I’ve also taken many pictures and angles attempting to have at least a handful of good ones to share, and to pride over.
Of course this place has a road train. Of course it would! Found it amusing, even recalling ones in downtown Ottawa.
I was genuinely considering placing my Busou Shinki figure (Arnval) on this bridge, deciding against it for various reason. Too many people, risk of falling into the moat, and a hassle. I had another person’s image in mind, yet decided against it.
The booth on the bottom right (above image) is a COVID testing booth. Testing your temperature and your health. I was fine, though some European mother allegedly tried talking to me, or at least between her and another women. I assumed they were talking to me at one point to which they ignored my response. Go to hell then… Hold your conversations more directly instead of having them open-ended assuming I’m invited into your conversation.
They were noting how high and low the temperatures were ranging.
While waiting in line I even understood some Slavic folks behind me, and what they were saying. How they bunked up, how they didn’t like the shower (or how they took a shower), noting shampoo, and what their plan was. I didn’t make note of everything, I however understood what they were talking about. It was about. Maybe one even felt a little under the weather relating to food, who knows. They were noting their trip in a Slavic tongue.
The inside of the castle was fairly cramped, if still spacious enough for a class to visit. The lower you are the more room you had, though the higher you are the less you had to wiggle about. Hence, the line up.
The older stairways were one person wide, though the displays and everything was spacious enough for a school group to visit. It was nice. There however were areas you were unable to take pictures, yet other tourists still took pictures. I refrained from taking pictures, yet they took them. I told them they’re not allowed. If I’m not allowed, then nobody is allowed to take a picture. We’re guests in Japan.
Don’t abuse the Japanese’s trusts. They’re already wary of foreigners, and if we keep doing stupid things we’ll no longer be allowed in Japan.
I happily obtained my Osaka Castle stamp! I stamped it so hard into my stamp book a few people looked at what I was doing. I wanted to make sure the ink actually stuck onto the page properly.
And with that, it’s time to go! I sadly have to leave this area, and Osaka for the next area. I mean, it’s a great thing I’m exploring, yet the time’s up for Osaka.
I’m aware I may be hypocritical at times, seeing garbage laying on the ground in Japan annoys me. We’re guests, we’re supposed to treat the Japanese with respect for allowing us into their country. Yet no, the Chinese, Koreans, or whomever (maybe even Americans) threw trash on the ground disrespecting Japan. Then people wonder why they’re allegedly “xenophobic”. THIS is why.
I made sure NOT to crumple paper money. I made sure to follow every known etiquette and rules. I made sure to be as up to date as possible regarding Japan. I may not be perfect, and I’ve screwed up at times myself. I crossed a tram rail at Hiroshima Station causing me to be yelled at by the staff there. I learned my lesson. I was scolded (or embarrassed) by a KanColle buddy for not “Cheering” with beer (Kanpai!~). I forgot. I try to learn from my mistakes.
I however have one more stupid mistake I’ll regret, it relates to the festival stalls I’ll interact with further below in the blog post. I dropped and egg failing to pick it up. They must hate me for that. I hated myself for dropping an egg.
The stall folks welcomed me, then asked me where I was from. Told them Canada causing them to ask me in a stereotypical Canadian manner. Yellowknife? Yukon, and similar type Canadian references.
Ottawa, Canada. Sorry for being monotoned and boring, I’m tired and a little stressed out.
I even had a stupid thought of – “Oh, a Seagull will eat the egg”.
I was even wondering how to clean it, never did. They may now potentially view me as an idiot. I’ll admit I’m a sleepy idiot who never picked up a dropped Japanese egg. I’m upset at myself.
Few moments later……
Grabbed my luggage, and off we go…. I sadly forgot my Milk Tea I bought from the conbini. RIP! I genuinely enjoy that drink, first drank in Vancouver. I was self-introduced to that drink. I love it now. I was also accidentally locked out of my hotel needing help to regain my card. I had to call the service counter, to which they swiftly helped. They made sure I didn’t screw up again.
Time to visit a nearby shrine prior to my train ride to Osaka’s World Expo landmark, as suggested by my KanColle buddy.
[Travel Blogging note: * KanColle Chat]
I allegedly chatted with someone regarding KanColle. May have been my good buddy, Tori, or someone else.
I even was able to witness the destruction of a traditional Japanese house in this area, or so I recall. Interesting perspective.
I allegedly took the wrong train, correcting my mistake swiftly after.
Bampakukinenkoen Station
My dad used to work for Laidlow on Moodie Dr. I used to play in the school bus parking lot with my Star Wars toys going between buses, and around it. I would fly my X-Wing toy, or play Gameboy, or whatever, while my dad drove the bus, or when my parents would clean the buses. It’s honest work, and someone has to do it.
One day I even imitated how my dad would start a bus. I took the keys, put the bus in gear, backed it up, and drove it to where my dad desired to clean the buses. I scared the living daylights out of him. He questioned who was in the yard that day, and it was just silly young me driving a bus perfectly from one parking area to the next. No higher ups saw this, yet I drove a school bus as a kid, better than those people desiring to run me over on a weekly basis in Ottawa with their car.
I was also amusingly asked as to why I took a picture with Colonel Sanders in Japan. I straight up told him we don’t have him in Ottawa, and we’re not allowed to have fun in that city. Japan knows how to have fun, and I respect that.
A Japanese young girl (a kid) came up to me to stare at me, or maybe even behind me. She got a decent 5-10 second stare before leaving the area. Maybe it was me (being a foreigner), or maybe it was even someone behind me. A kid in the play area behind me.
I ate my food, even chasing down my food waste to throw out elsewhere.
I jokingly toured the Japanese section of the World Expo. It’s a nicely size area to have fun at, and fun people were having here.
Made a video in this location about how I tried learning my left from my right (Hidari, Midari; Hime). Basically tried making note of what I heard in JR Trains of what side the door would open from. I also noted how I could understand basic Japanese, yet failed to speak it when people desired to talk. I wanted to converse with them in Japanese, yet was unable.
My command of the Japanese language still sucks, and it shows. I have to rely on Google Translate and DeepL. Sorry, Japan! I genuinely desire to converse with you in Japanese, I however have to sadly rely on translator tools. I saw how disappointed and upset various folks were. My mind can also only hold so much before second-guessing itself into confusion, or short-circuiting from too much studying. I have to take things in small bite and pieces. That’s sadly not going to save me.
I couldn’t help think of the few people who befriended a Japanese female national allowing them to visit various flower parks. It made me sad, yet I had to keep my own experience true to myself. I made my own memories, yet saddened by the fact I wasn’t with a female partner of my own.
I’m simply used to getting the short end of the stick in life, and who knows for how much longer.
Thinking about these flower gardens is indeed special, and I respect them for that. I’m however saddened by the fact other people are allowed to be happy, yet I’m still without a special partner of my own. It hurt. I had to make note of this place and leave. I’m simply used to, and expecting to people to always blame me for not having a female partner, and how I’m not “proactive”, etc.
Thing is, if a women/girl/female desires to be with you they’ll make every possible effort to be with you. They’ll jump over hoops, they’ll swim the ocean, and etc…. Basically, as shown in Romance Anime, manga, isekai, etc. Sure, they won’t be passive enough to be slutty, they however shall make effort to be with you, if they desire you. Things simply haven’t worked out for me. Whether it be Canada, Slovakia, or Japan I’m simply not special enough for someone. Always given the cold shoulder by the opposite gender, for the most part. When they do care they’re already taken, and as coworkers.
We’ll see what the future holds. I’ll continue being a loner until a Canadian God or Japanese God deems it proper for me to finally have a significant other. We shall see when that is allowed, I guess. Noting this in a blog someone may discover my situation, even taking advantage. I’m aware of that risk, yet noting things for blogging purposes. That’s how I felt at the time relating to other people and my own experiences on flower visits (Japanese Twitter posts).
I digress……
[Side-note: I’m left with an impression someone may have scolded me for something in this area, or attempted to say something to me. I didn’t catch what they said, IF they had said anything. It was most likely in Japanese. They said “something”, I’m however uncertain as to what was mentioned.]
Returned to the station, retrieved my luggage, and took the first monorail to the first JR train back to Osaka.
Off to Nara:
After having arrived at various stations in Osaka I had to jump onto an Nara-loop line.
I waited in line, was processed and checked in, then instructed as to where to go. I went to my room which was up an elevator and down a 5 minute walk to my room. Truthfully, I thought I was on an older ocean liner with how far I had to travel to simply reach my hotel room. It was a fair distance away.
I dropped my stuff off, proceeding to venture out. I wanted to eat out, but not at a coin shop, nor a indoors. I wanted to eat out at a park.
After purchasing what I desired, I ventured around seeking a place to eat. I attempted to eat at the entrance of the hotel…. Was confused. I however stumbled across this guy performing Mario themes, among other themes. It had me confused prior to all this shopping, yet finally figured the “noise” out after.
The question caught me off guard. I assumed he was talking to someone else, I eventually chimed in with what felt like 20-30 seconds, not 5 seconds.
“Where are you from?”
Canada, Ottawa.
I couldn’t eat indoors, nor desired to eat at a further away coin restaurant. I simply desired a park with lights on, yet ate at a poorly lit park. It was awkward, yet I ate. I ate my sushi, among other meals. Someone else was even resting at the park. Maybe a homeless person, or a street person. Who knows.
Ending my night to a rainy Nara.