SNAFU

I wanted to go to Kyoto again to find some omiyage for people back in Hiroshima as well as in Hawaii. I originally planned to spend the first part of the day there, and the remainder back in Osaka. Unfortunately, this plan didnt really happen. Mostly because I have forgotten the layout of the main shopping area in Kyoto since my last visit, and also because I didnt realise how far away Kyoto is from Osaka. However, I bought the things I needed, and have enjoyed my last day in the Kansai area. I just finished packing, and even though I'm yawning like crazy, I want to write my last blog post for this trip before going to bed.

The Teramachi area of Kyoto is simply a wonderful place to find omiyage. Whether you need a distinctly Japanese item, or if you're looking for things on the cheap, I suggest you check there first. In addition to omiyage, I wanted to check Chicago, a used clothing store for some kimono things. I'm sure there are places like this in Osaka, but I dont know them, and I like Kyoto, so after leaving my hotel, I headed to the Hankyu Umeda Station. I was not expecting the train ride to be as long as it was. The way people talk, it sounds like getting through the Keihanshin area is fast and easy. However, I should have realised that the opposite is true, considering it took about forty five minutes to get to Kobe, from Osaka. To get to Kyoto, it took me about an hour. And when I got there, I promptly got lost. I thought I had remembered the area around Shijo, but I think that was wishful thinking. It took me about another hour to figure out which exit to take, and from there, which direction to get to Teramachi. Even more frustrating was the fact that I later discovered the exit that leads from the station directly to the beginning of the market.

In any case, shopping in the Teramachi/Nishiki Market area was just as wonderful as it was the last time I was there. One of the men in Tsukikage asked me to buy him a turquoise obi for him, and since Chicago is the only used kimono store I know of, I made it a top priority. When I got there, they indeed had a turqoise obi, but I ended up not buying it. Compared to the other obi, it was a bit skinny, and that made me wonder if it was appropriate for an adult man to wear it. And because it was a bit expensive (about thirty dollars, ten dollars more expensive than the others), I didnt want to buy a mistake. I didnt know who I could ask for help, so I regretfully left it behind. I will have to ask around about that, but if it was indeed useable, I feel bad.

A store nearby Chicago was Octopus Army, and it specializes in mens clothes. I was enticed by the mannequin outside of the shop. What caught my eye was its shoes, a pair of beautiful black boots, with blue laces. Boots are very common here in Japan, and I have come to admire them. I really wanted to buy them, but it was about a hundred and fifty dollars, which is way more than I ever plan to spend for shoes. I eventually succumbed in buying from the store. I bought one of the polo shirts they were selling. It is rather plain, with the main body simply being black with a small writing on the left chest area. But the collar is an interesting black and grey check pattern, and I really like it. When they let me try it on, with my white long sleeve underneath, it looked really good. However, it was fifty dollars, which would make it the most expensive shirt I've ever bought. I really agonized about it, and I probably drove the store clerks crazy with my hesitation. What didnt help was it had competition. The shirt I bought beat out a t-shirt with a panda that said "Money doesnt buy happiness" (IRONIC RIGHT), and a white and blue polo. Also, it came only in medium, that actually fit me, but was also a bit tight. It looks fine when I was standing up, but I worry for what it looks like when I sit down. In any case, I bought it, and rationalized that it is my Boy's Day gift to me (a day late). Since it was so expensive, I need to wear it on days that I need to look amazing on. Watch for it, ね!

By the time I finished everything that I needed to do in Kyoto, I headed back to Osaka. By this time, it was about five, and not only had I spent a fair amount of money, but my legs were very sore (yup, still not fully recovered). At this time, I realised that even though I came to Osaka, I spent more time and money in Kobe and Kyoto. Isnt that a bit ironic? After thinking it over, I decided to walk around the Umeda area, and try to support Osaka businesses. With that in mind, I headed to the HEP Five building thing, which I heard was a big shopping mall. And it certainly was! There were ten floors, and so many shops. Naturally, there were a lot of clothes stores, with some really nice stuff for sale, but it was way too expensive for me. There was a piercing shop that caught my eye, but unfortunately, the ones I liked were too big for my holes. I did enjoy the music store in there, and picked up a mixed CD. It's certainly different from most of the other music I listen to, but if I ever need a party mix, I found it.

This concludes my trip to Kansai for Golden Week. Tomorrow morning, I have to wake up early to check out of the hotel and catch my shinkansen back to Hiroshima. It has been a lesson in wasting time and making mistakes. I missed the MBLAQ fan meet on Wednesday, and today I got lost in Kyoto. There are so many things I would change if I could turn back the clock. But you know what? Even though I cant replace lost time, or undo my mistakes, this trip has not been a complete failure. I got a lot of great presents for my nephews for Boy's Day, my mom for Mother's Day, and my father for his retirement. And also I got a lot of omiyage for my friends. Even though things went wrong, I guess I should keep my success at the forefront of my mind. With that, I bid you good night.