Osaka

Hi　from Japan. After an awfully boring flight from Singapore to Shanghai I was dog tired as did not sleep on the basic plane but thank goodness no engine fires after take off from Changi. After clearing immigration and customs even while in transit, i snoozed in the lounge of the hotel til the next flight to Osaka. Arrived to dreary grey skies and rain. Alighted the city bound train for Namba and caught a subway to the hotel. Now the heavens decided to open and me and my luggage were out walking the streets, soggy map in hand, no shelter at all, grappling with finding my wee umbrella in my very full bag...and finally entered the lobby of the hotel leaving a river of water in my wake.

I stumbled into bed as had been travelling for 15 hours or more with no sleep and very little food in my belly. The plane food was kinda grey looking chicken on a bed of dry noodles so I politely declined. After a snooze, showered and headed outside where it was comparitively dry now. It is humid but not  as hot as Singers thankgoodness. I ventured down Dotombori street brightly lit and pedestrians all looking for food or slot machines. I headed to the nearest Okonomiyaki restaurant and indulged in a yummy seafood one cooked in front of me and a glass of plum wine on the rocks. After i ate my fill i ventured out into the night and explored the bustling alleyways and streets like a neon extravaganza. I was planning to find some green tea ice cream but failed in my quest. All TV in Japanese so hard to watch.

The following morning I awoke early and was out by 8.30am planning to head to the Kuromon Markets and walk til my legs stopped working. A great disappointment as by 9am not much had opened except a few fish and vegie stalls but most things were shut. So i walked into the shopping district, most things were still shut, nothing opens til 10am or 11am. So I walked the entire length of Ebisubashi street, one long under cover shopping mall that goes for kilometres.  I found a great Loft, cool department store and a store with a giant kit kat atop. I raced in to find my elusive green tea kit kat but still cannot find any. BooHoo! People cycle here on the footpaths and malls and there are bikes everywhere, my kinda town. Old ladies and kids alike peddle and park.

My legs needed a break to sushi train for lunch with the freshest sushi being made and plonked onto the conveyor belt. Now am going to rest as I meet my group at 6pm and then want to go on the giant ferris wheel which operates at nite just like everything else here. Tomorrow we leave for Kyoto early I am told, so my next report will be there. So tonite I hit the bright lights of Osaka for the last time. Over and out...