oct 3 - arrived at kansai airport at 7 in the evening. from the airport, it took us almost 3 hours before we got to kyoto, our official city destination. after dinner, unpacked my stuff before calling it a day.
oct 4-7 - work days. i leave the apartment at 8:30 to catch the train scheduled at 8:37. usually leaves the office at past 9 or 10 (still does ot work here). we don't take the train anymore and just walks home.
oct 8 - left the office at 6 in the evening with a couple of our clients to head to this resto (which i forgot the name already). they have a new employee, thus the welcoming party. they just included me and my pl to welcome my first time in jp. dinner and beer came next. soon after that, i found myself kidding with the people trying to converse with them in japanese and english. their big boss was even joking of setting me up with some of their employees. one thing about them, they're all so accomodating. a couple even went out of their way to show us around the city even if it was raining that day. went home almost midnight.
oct 9 - woke up around 9 and met with my pl at 11. had lunch at another jap resto by the train station. checked out bookstores and their Isetan mall (the mall inside their train station. really cool). took the bus on our way to Kiyomizu temple, one of the temples that many tourists visit. Roamed around and then proceeded to check out the long line of shops. When i say long line, it's really one long line of stores. I enjoyed looking and shopping at the items they offered. It was already dark when we left the temple. Walked our way to our other destination, Teramachi. That's when I saw Maruzen, a 9-floor bookstore. Cool cool cool! Went to their foreign books floor and there i bought this really nice japanese grammar dictionary (won't find one in the phils, that's why). bought a banana yoshimoto novel as well and other school supplies for my sister. By the time we got to Teramachi, it was almost closing time already. Good thing I was able to drop by this store where i got to buy my chucks! woohoo! (it's tame colored and not high-cut though). Got it for only 3k yen (1500 in pesos). Had dinner at First Kitchen (finally i remember one resto) and then went to a Hyaku En store as well. (hyaku en stores are stores that offer a variety of stuff worth 100 yen only). Again indulged myself here. My pl says there are other hyaku en stores around but they're already closed. Vowed to check them out another day. Went home almost midnight once again. Did my laundry when i got home and slept at 2am (with my legs kinda aching already).
oct 10 - woke up at 4am. had to meet my pl by 5:45 to catch the train scheduled at 5:58. got to Osaka (another city) station and waited for jack (another one of us deployed in Kobe). took another train ride for our destination that day: Universal Studios Japan! woohoo! We arrived early (just what we wanted to do) but there were lots of people already by that time (it was bright and sunny day, buti na lang.. since it's been raining here). There were like almost 20 ticket booths there and each line had throngs of people lined up. Pictures, rides, gift shops, shows. Ah! Breathtaking. We went to the Spiderman last since they say that that's the highlight. Woohoo! Astig sobra yung effects! Bitin pero ok talaga! Only glitches: the rides were in nihongo and, i didn't bring enough moolah. Brought 15k yen but the entrance ticket costs 5,500yen already (plus the express pass which was 2,800yen) and so by the time i was buying stuff at the stores, i had to charge them all on card. Last stop was at Hard Rock Cafe before we left USJ. Stopped at Osaka station to have our late dinner before we bid jack bye. Got home almost midnight once again and did my laundry before sleeping.
oct 11 - a national holiday today. initial plan was for me and my pl to meet after lunch to visit another temple and go back to Gion. but, as much as i wanted to grab the opportunity to roam around, i couldn't anymore. when i got out of the bed, my legs were really troubling me from too much walking the previous days. and, i really lacked sleep already. sms'd my pl that we'll just have to cancel plans for the day and re-sched it for this sunday instead (we have to pay for today on saturday). slept the whole day (no breakfast and lunch anymore). when i woke up i again did my laundry and then left the apartment to go to the convenience store nearby. wasted time there, read manga and mags. i have only 1 free day to spend around the city(on sunday) and i hope i get to make the most out of it. super hirap pilitin na maikot lahat. kulang ang one day pero ok na i think i covered more than i could've and it's not like i'm here on vacation. LOL
tomorrow, work day once again.
