So it's Billy... Just 2 words : Press sale!!! A Large Billy, Yodi purse and Hub Key ring... I am broke and happy!!!
See you!
I have decided what turn shoudl my blog take. From now on I'll let you know everything about a country girl (me) working in the Fashion Jungle in Paris.
See you soon...
It's been a while since my last post and I have to say I am wondering what is going to happen to this blog. Anaroundtheworld was supposed to be kind of a travel blog. Pictures and feelings from where I am around the world.
But here I am back in Paris, hopefully with a job I'll be able to keep for the next 3 years. What should I do? Ana in Paris? About what?
I wish I could do a food-blog about good recepies and good restaurants in Paris. But here I am back on a diet (not so much for cooking then) and still a bit poor (so much for testing restaurants).
I wish I could do a fashion-blog but then even if I could have the opportunity of seeing the new trends a little bit in advance thanks to my job, I certainly wouldn't be able to show you any pictures.
I could do a diary-blog but what can I say... Just not my style.

Well let's see how life goes for the next few weeks (I have been back in Paris just for a week now) and see what we can do with Ana...
Noooooooo, I am not at all angry at the French ambassy in Beijing... I can even give you their phone number : +86 10 85 32 80 80.
I can also give you their answer : "I'm sorry but there's nothing we can do". If you're lucky that might be "I'm sorry I am not sure but I think there's nothing we can do".

How come I know them so well?
Let's see, day by day, how you can totally mess up your so-well-planned trip...

Day 1 : Thursday
We arrived at Xi'an in the morning. I realise I don't have my passport. Oh I know!!! I think I left it in the drawer in our hotel in Shanghai... No problem! They'll find it and with UPS I can have it delivered in Beijing in 2 days...
Problem is after 5 phone calls and much ordering around... the hotel never found my passport anywhere.
1st call to the French ambassy : I have lost my passport, I will arrive on Saturday morning in Beijing... what do I do? Well they can have a new passport done in 30 minutes as I faxed them the copy of my old one. OOooooh even on Saturday? Oh gosh no I'm sorry not on Saturday. Come on Monday.
Well problem was the trans-mogolia leaves at 7AM on Monday. Not enough time....
Weel you can always come on Saturday as we have always somebody on call here for consulate matter. Maybe somebody can sign you passport but we can't garantee it. Just come as soon as you arrive. In the meantime go to the immigration office to declare your loss... and if you can jump on the next train today it would be better!!!

The Immigration never wanted to make that declaration because I was not sure I lost it in Xi'an. Whether go back to Shanghai or to Shenzhen, were you entered China....

No place in the train leaving today, can't take the plane without passport. I'll arrive in Beijing on Saturday. Nothing else I can do...

Day 2 : Friday
Lots of phone calls to get a plane, to be sure somebody can sign my passport but "we can be sure there will be somebody". So why is their Consulate on call officer??????

Day 3 : Saturday
I arrive in Beijing at 7AM... go to the immigration to report the loss of my passport... AGAIN. I wait a bit but still my story is about losing my passport at the train station at 7 and already being there at 9, it makes the lady police officer raise an eyebrow...
at 9:30 I got it and go to the Ambassy. No Miss, you are not an emergency.... come back on Monday.

Luckily, even if I can't take the train I got a plane at 3AM on Tuesday so I can still arrive even before Louis in the train.

Day 4 : Sunday
Nothing to do... enjoy Beijing

Day 5 : Monday
I run to the Ambassy, get my passport done, almost throw up looking at all these old creepy guys who speak English like a Spanish cow to an almost mute young Chinese girl tryning to get a marriage authorisation, a visa or whatever.

"Do you need a chinese visa?" asks the French girl at the Ambassy. "Oh nooooo. I leave tonight... I'll stay in China less than 24h" (you see I am from a country where we force people in planes so they get out of the country...) "Ah ok" she says....
I run to the Mongolian Ambassy. Get a rush visa.
At 5PM I got everything, as well as my plane ticket for tonight.
I go the airport and say bye to the guys.
Get to the airport, check-in, go to the boarder control... "why don't you have a visa?" "Because I lost my passport, this one was made this morning, here is the copy of my original visa..." "wait a minute" she says...

And here starts 2hours of talks and negotiation. The thing is, I guess, if they had a clear procedure and had told me straight away "we can't let you out, you need a new visa" I would have been less angry.
But there it seemed they were delibarating for hours and finally, looking at me, thought "ok you can't get through".
I call the ambassy... "Sorry there's nothing we can do..."

So after hours of negotiation and depression, I am not allowed in the plane, they give me my bag back. It's 4AM and I am at the airport, not even with an address because I left my travel guide at the Hostel, I thought I wouldn't need it anymore.

The Next week :
back to the immigration, I still have hope I can get a rush visa, be 1 day late. I would miss the Naadam Festival but I still have 2 weeks in Mongolia.
The officer tells me they don't do rush... A visa takes 1 week. Then the other one tells me "No no... ask him if you want quicker". I ask again and the guy starts screaming at me... Most pleasant!
So I call the Ambassy again, I had not gave up on them yet... I get the girl who did my passport and talks to me as if I was the last idiot on earth not to know I need a visa to get out (you could have told me before bitch, not as if you didn't know I was suppose to leave the same day). So anyway, do they have any leverage on the speed of the visa? Is there any case when they could speed that up? "Sorry, there's nothing we can do"

The immigration gives me my receipt for the next Tuesday. I haven't slept in 48h... evrything is cool!!!! I have to go and register at the police station next to my hotel.

So there I go; and they send me to another immigration sub-branch, who doen't know why I am coming to register. They don't do it.
So I call the ambassy again. They might know what a French citizen waiting for a visa has to do with the local authorities because there is no way the next Tuesday the immigration tells me I can't get my visa because I didn't do some stupid registering somewhere. "Sorry we don't know this kind of things, but we know Chinese officers are a pain in the ass..." Thanks for the help!!!

But if I have trouble the next Tuesday I can call them. I guess so they can tell me again there's nothing they can do...

I got my visa the next Tuesday, got on my plane for HK with 1h30 delay, almost missed the connection to Taipei. Lucky I got it otherwise the next plane was at 11PM instead of 5PM.
I am here in Taipei, and Louis just told me he forgot his camera in the Jeep, with all his picture of Mongolia...
I can access blogger in china, no censure, no problem... I just can't access my blog page... How surprising...
As I had to admit my blog is not the most read on the internet, so I decided that this story would be written in French so at least the few persons who check my blog could read... thanks Dad...

Ah j'en etait fiere de mon organisation. Les billets de train etaient prets et achetes. J'avais meme pense que nous arriverions a la gare de Shenzhen un dimanche et qu'il fallait donc s'organiser avec l'agence. J'avais le numero de portable du responsable du CITS (China International Travel Service, l'agence nationale pour les etrangers) qui devait nous retrouver a la gare pour nous donner des billets.

Nous arrivons donc a Shenzhen plein d'espoir, trouvons une cabine et appelons... mauvais numero. Nous esayons avec "0", sans "0", avec tous les indicatifs de pays, de regions et de quartiers possible et imaginables sans succes. Nous voila bloques a la gare avec notre train qui part dans une heure et pas de billets... et pas de place disponible dans aucun train qui part aujourd'hui sauf les plus cheres.

Mark va chercher de l'argent au ATM, je commence a parlementer avec les employer de chemin de fer pour avoir le roit de monter dans le train et d'acceder a nos places meme si nous n'avons pas nos billets. On appelle le monsieur de l'agence par les haut-parleurs de la gare sans succes.
Alors que nous attendions qu'il se montre mais sans grand espoir, Anneleen et Robbert entrent dans la gare. Et une fois de plus Anneleen nous sauve la vie (puisqu'elle parle chinois) et nous sommes autorises a monter dans le train. Nous pensions avoir nos couchettes mais en fait nous entrons et payons 4 nouveaux billets STANDING.

Standing cela veut dire que pendant 17h on est soit debout, soit assis par terre avec 50 personnes dans la meme situation. Nous ne sommes pas au top mais enfin au moins on est dans le train.
Je commence a avancer dans le wagon pour trouver un peu plus de place au milieu des sieges du milieu, je fais ma petite impression: une blache dans un wagon assis dur qui envisage de rester debout pendant 17h avec un enorme sac de 15kg sur le dos.

Et Louis m'appelle et me dit " Mark et Hugo sont descendus". Pourquoi? Nous sommes montes dans le train au dernier moment!
Hugo s'etait rendu compte qu'il n'avait plus son sac a dos et est donc sorti en courant le chercher, Mark l'a suivi et les portes du train se sont fermes aussitot.

Bon eh bien le train commence a bouger alors autant chercher ou nous allons nous installer! Bien sur l'employe de la compagnie nous a repere et s'empresse de faire enlever tous les sacs sur les compartiments superieur pour que Louis et moi puissions poser les notres.

Sur ce un autre employe arrive, parle avec le notre et nous dit de le suivre. IL A NOS 4 BILLETS COUCHETTES! La deuxieme employee parle un peu anglais et nous installe dans notre compartiment puis nous demande de la suivre dans le wagon restaurant ou nous rencontrons le chef de la securite, la caissiere/controleuse et quelques autres employes de passage qui se demandent comment nous avons pu faire: voici 2 etrangers avec 4 billets couchettes + 4 billets standing...

Elle nous explique qu'il faudra demander au CITS de rembourser les 2 couchettes et a la gare de Shanghai de rembourser les standings. Mais Louis et moi n'avons pas d'argent du tout alors nous y allons avec la corde sensible des chinois : nous n'avons pas d'argent pour manger, il nous faudrait un remboursement d'au moins quelques billets maintenant.

1h de parlementation et negociation plus tard avec en moyenne 7 agents de passage, on nous recommande de vendre en cachette nos billets couchette a des passagers puis de les retrouver a la prochaine gare pour revendre nos billets standing.
Nous choisissons 2 gentilles jeunes filles trop heureuses de nous acheter nos 2 billets pour 400Yuan... c'est toujours ca de pris!

A la gare suivante nous rejoignong notre amie qui parle anglais et les controleuses. Encore une fois nous faisons l'animation : 4 controleuses et 2 etrangers qui traversent toutes les voitures de 2nde classe en essayant de ne marcher sur personne.
Et une fois arrives au bout on repart "Controle des billets, qui n'a pas de billets' (en chinois of course). Nos billets avaient coute 238Yuan chacun mais comme nous etions a la gare suivante un standing pour Shanghai ne coutait plus que 205Yuan. Chaque passager sans billets voyait la controleuse demander aux 2 etranger si 203 suffisait car celui-ci s'arretait avant Shanghai, puis demander l'argent pour nous le donner en echange de nos billets.
Du racket par les touristes!

Finalement avec l'aide du personnel, Louis et moi nous retrouvions a la tete de 1269Yuan soit plus de 120EUR, alors la c'est sur nous n'allions pas mourir de faim! Les couchettes etaient tres confortables et nos 2 voisines tres silencieuses, Mark & Hugo quant a eux ont passe le nuit a Shenzhen et arrivent demain.
So we left at 5AM on Friday morning. Of course once again I forgot to set up my alarm clock so it is the taxi driver who woke me up at 4:50AM. Luckily my backpack was finished, after 3 days of trial-packing.
We took our plane at 8AM as planned and arrived in Macau and got directly to have our visas for China made.

Then we got to our great hotel. We started with a 3 stars Best Western. Let me introduce my fellow travellers:

Mark

Hugo & Louis

We went for a walk in the old Macau, it was raining if course but it's not as if it was anything new...

Then we went back to our hotel for a little nap to be ready for the dog race at 8PM. Well it was actually only one race but still funny.
Diner at a cantonese place on the Largo de Senado (the plaza with black & white pavement). And after that, of course: Black Jack. I like it really. We ewnt to the Wynn Casino, one of the most luxurious. I lost 15EUR... loser... but the guys won some money.
The next day was Hong-Kong day. We needed a little time getting started as Louis & I had forgotten our passports at the hotel so Hugo & Mark took the Jet ferry first and then we met in Hong-Kong.

Once again a little stroll in the city under the rain. A little beer in Lang Kuai Fang and then Indian diner in the wierdest place on Kowloon. A kind of Indian cover market with a little restaurant at the 7th floor in an aprtment written "members only". I guessed that you had to be member to find the place anyway.

After diner we went on the bank to watch the lighting of the buidings on the other side of the river on Hong-Kong Island. It is amazing, more than 10 buildings light up togetherfor the music & light show.

So here we are, the NCCU IMBA International Dragon Boat Team 2007!!!

How does this work when you are not Asian? You just have a guy (in our case James) who says one day : "who wants to enrole for the Dragon Boat Race?". And you think that this is going to be a nice experience. I had seen a Dragon Boat Race on some HK movies and I wanted to try. I just take one precaution : "James, I am not paddling, I want to be the drummer!". And then he says "Yes Honey no Problem!" And I believed him!!!!

So then 4 weeks before the race we start organizing practice in the morning. 7AM on weekdays!!!
And I paddled to all the practice sessions have been to (I actually missed one). What was practice for? Having the same and correct paddle movement. And efficient also... it helps! And being SYNCHRONIZED. If one guy in the front row messes up, all the rows behind have to follow his false pace because otherwise the paddles collide. That is why you usually put the strong and synchronized people in the front rows so they give the example.


Had we read Wikipedia before, we would have known that they were called the "pacers" and that there was a certain angle we should have had when puting our paddle in the water and a certain elbow movement etc. Well has we hadn't, we just had to come up with that all by ourselves.


As I was the drummer I was in charge of setting the pace. And for practice we actually didn't have any drum, so it implied a lot of screaming. We thought that to make it a little less booring, we could count in French (Un, deux) whenever we were going casually to the starting line, count in German for the fast paced start (Eins, Zwei), and then back to English for the middle part of the race.
Screaming has never been so much a problem for me. But screaming and rowing at the same time was really tiring.

Xindian is the best spot for the Dragon Boat race in Taipei. The water of the river is clear. You can actually swim in it. Our poor colleagues from the Dutch team were rowing in the middle of polluted water and dead fishes. It is also not so serious. No very strict rules about the life jackets and all. It's just family casual. Restaurant a little bit up from the shore. A stage with non-stop spectacles from Dragon Dance to old-ladies dance.


So we arrived at 8:30AM to register. Our 1st race was at 9:20AM. I was kind of stressed because I had messed up the start at the last practice. We get in the boat...
Usaually only 12 people max. showed at the same time for practice. But on race day our boat was full... and unbalanced. God!!! 21 Western people on a Dragon Boat, that brings it very close from the water!!!
So here we go to the starting line. We were put in the wrong category as the administration couldn't see by our western that we were a mixed team, they put us in the men teams category... Niiiice.

And then the gun goes off!!!! And we row!!!! And we are not the last ones. Only 3 boat are per race. We were 2nd, and happy! We had never been so synchronized and efficient.

Then comes lunch and a lot of beers and poker. Our next race was at 2:50PM.

We get there for our 2nd race, confident, we know the drill. Get in the boat in orderly fashion. More to impress the other teams than becasue we really have to. Paddlers, steerer, drummer and flag catcher on the boat. We row backward to get away from the shore:
"Wait, wait, you lost your head!!!!"


The Dragon Head of the Boat is actually removable because we don't need it for practice. Ours stayed on the shore as we left. Was that a bad sign? We come back to take our head. G was not so sure anymore if she wanted to climb on it to catch the flag. We lost this race, our last one, but from what I've heard we'd never been so fast.

Than go some more beers, and tomorrow the finals races and closing ceremony.
One from a team which looks very much like ours. International, young and casual. Well they actually did 6th place so not so casual


And another one from the crazy Taipai University in 2005. Still a legend. Disqualified this year because one of the paddler hadn't correctly attached his life jacket. This is Taiwan, the rules are the rules!!!!
A Dragon Boat is a really long boat used by team of paddler for the Dragon Boat Race in June. For the race the Dragon Boat are riggedwith Chinese decorative Dragon Head and tail and must carry a drum aboard.
The crew for our race, was composed of 21 people:
  • 18 paddlers
  • 1 steerer
  • 1 drummer facing the crew
  • 1 flag catcher (only in Taiwan)

The drummer is the heartbeat of the Dragon Boat (no showing off but that's me :-)). He has to indicate the timing of the paddle stroke and and exhorts the crew to perform at their best.


The paddlers are facing forward. The leading pair of paddler (first row) are called the "pacers" or "timers".

The steerer controls the boat with a steering oar as if a tiller. The steerer have the power to override the caller at any time in the race if the safety of the crew is at stake. As you can see the steerer can also paddle when we need power more than direction.


The Taiwanese Flag Catcher must catch a lane flag as the boat crosses the finish line.


For more info see Wiki
Lately I have been totally addicted to Bubble Tea, also called Pearl Tea.
The 1st time I tried I hated it because I like to eat... or drink, but certainly not both at the same time. With the pearl tea, as you try to swallow tea, some tapioca pearls come with... Here comes a moment of panic when you wonder "should I chew? Not chew? Should I spit? Not spit?"
But then you try again once, and suddenly you find interesting to be able to have a little thing to chew and eat as you're enjoying iced tea.
What is also important is how you like it. My favorite :
  • Milk Black Tea : ZhenZhu NaiCha
  • Medium
  • Ice : Bing De
  • Half Sugar : Ban Tang
  • "Pearls" and not "Boba" which are the biggest one you usually get (this one I don't know yet how to say in Chinese :-))
Try it but be careful!! ADDICTIVE CONTENT
Day 9 : Kamakura

As we were so found of Tokyo we decided to go to Kamakura on Sunday. We took a train, like half of the population of Tokyo it seemed. Then we asked a WONDERFUL lady at the Information desk what we should do and she directed towards the Daibutsu. Some good pictures but I have to say that after Myanmar, Buddha won't be any attraction to me anymore and for the next 20 years.

Then, we walk towards the Hase-Dera. On your way just before reaching the temple, have a look at the little shop selling 2nd hand Kimonos. All prices and all qualities and a lot of nice gifts to do.

Day 10 : Rest in Tokyo

Our last day strolling in Tokyo and in the parks such as the Imperial Palace one which one finally open.

We were just waiting for our bus we were taking at 11PM to Nagoya to take our plane the next morning.
Day 7 : Arriving in Tokyo...

Hating the bus... Bad day!

We 1st went to our hostel to leave our bags : Tokyo Backpackers. This might be the cheapest in Tokyo but we have to say this is a dodgy area. Curiously enough, more during the day than at night; But still being 5 girls we were not feeling THAT comfortable coming back at night.

So for our 1st day we just went to Ginza to see the luxury shops 'impressive if you're interested by the way). We also went to Shibuya, THE place we wre looking for, the one we see in movies.

Then quite diner and back to the hotel... So happy to sleep!!

Day 8 : Fish Market
Early morning : wake-up at 7 to be at the fish market before 8:30.

Actually it took us 45 minutes to stroll in the market. We had missed the Tuna auction unfortunately because it was even earlier. If you feel like getting up VERY early you definitly should go though, or so I heard.

Then still a little bit tired, we started queuing at what looked like the most famous sushi restaurant. It was the biggest queue in the street and the longest (1h30) but god knows why we stayed until the end, got our sushis, paid a fortune and still were so happy with it. So worth all that. I kept the name : Dai wa zu si.

Little walk then to the Imperial Palace : Closed. It is actually almost entirely closed to visitors, you can just see some gardens, which were exceptionally closed that day.

So lucky we went back to stroll the city, shopping etc. and had the Tea Ceremony in the Okura Hotel near the Dutch Ambassy. 1000Y for 1 hour, not impressive really but we were still happy to see it. I suppose there are some better ones elsewhere as everybody seems to be amazed by the tea ceremony. Nevertheless I kept seeing this Hotel recommended in different guide books.

Then at night some of us went out, and as Tokyoïtes do, they slept in a Mo's Burger as the taxis are so expensive. So they could wait until 5:30 AM or so that the subway starts again.

Day 5 : Hiroshima
8:40 AM : We take the bus from Kyoto to Hiroshima at Kyoto train Station (5500Y). Another one of these rides where we do a break every hours and were you really start to think you'll never get there.

We arrive in Hiroshima Station and start walking towards our hostel (well really we just started walking and didn't really if that was the direction for our hostel but anyway...). We got there (J-Hopers Backpackers Hostel, 2500Y for a dormitory room, very clean and nice) and just left our bags. The guy who welcomed us was actually French and it was a nice little break to be able to speak French there.

We then walked towards the peace park which is just a 10 minute walk. We visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Peace Memorial Park. It is I think THE thing to do in Hiroshima. This is unfortunately why this city is famous for and it really is an experience to be on its ground and try to understand and learn its history.

Then we had diner and wine in a very good Italian place west end of Hondori.

Day 6 : Miya-jima

We checked the tides (very important if you want to see some water under the Torii). Then you get in the #2 tram up until the end when you get to the ferry station and onto th island. We had a particularly awful weather that day. I have to say that from the beginning we were all wearing our ONLY sweater and all scarves we could get because April in Japan is definitly very different from April in Taipei.

We walked on the island trying not to notice the rain too much. We didn't visit the Itsukushima-Jinja because we found the entry fee a little bit expensive and we preferred walking on the island to see the 5-storied Pagoda and sight from up the hill. We arrived on the island around 9 AM which was a very good idea because the Japanese tourists arrived a little bit later.

The sky then opened on us!!!! Very heavy rain, run to the ferry. We had forgotten our dear guide book in a shop so we had to go back and suddenly... Blue sky and fantastic sun!!!!

We were off the island around 2PM.

Then we had to take our night bus Hiroshima - Tokyo (12000Y approx. for 12h) the worst ride ever!!! As we were 5 we had the 5 seats at the rear of the bus. On the engine, no A/C. My feet double vollume in 2 hours. Totally unbearable : TAKE THE TRAIN!



Day 3 : Daytrip to Nara

We took the train at Kyoto Main Station for our daytrip to Nara (Local train 70 min, 690Y) Trains leave regularly so no real need to check timetable.

When you arrive in Nara you can go straight to the Tourist Info Center on the right, were a lady will give you an English map and some advice that, according to her tone, you'd better follow :-). She was very nice and speaking very good English anyway.

Arriving in Nara you can just walk to the Park. On you way you'll find the Kofuko-Ji and it's Five-storied Pagoda. We didn't visit the other things like the Treasure Hall as there were entry fees and there were so many things to see that we tought it was not really worth it.

Then you take a walk in the park towards Kasuga Grand Shrine. The shrine is all new and we were lucky to arrive during a ceremny. But the walk to the shrine with the numerous stone lantern along the path is just as beautiful.


And again we wandered in the park were people were having a picnic, towards Nigatsu-Do and Sangatsu-Do.

Back down the hill, the Todai-Ji complex is a "must-see" with the monumental buddha. You'll find one of the pillar of the temple with a hole in it, which represent Buddha's nostril. If you can fit in the hole, then you're sure to reach enlightment.

We then walked back to the station through some old city streets. Finally we stayed in Nara from 11:00 to 16:00 which allowed us to come back to Kyoto for late afternoon drinks and diner
Day 4 : Kyoto

On our 3rd day in Kyoyo it was really time to start doing the "tourist" tour of Kyoto as we had avoided the biggest sights up until now.

We started with Nijo-Jo, the castle of Kyoto. Nice but not spectacular... Also a "must see" so... Then we went to the Imperial Palace but you need to apply for entrance in an outside office, which we hadn't done. We just took a walk in the gardens around then...

The philosophers' path was waiting for us. Bus stop at Ginkaku-Ji Mae. A very nice "promenade" along a little river, with cherry blossom all around. And also a lot of tourists but what can you do?

We had to leave without finishing the path as we had to be back at 15:00 to Gion for the Miyako-Odori dance (cherry-blossom dance). This dance is performed by the geishas and Maikos in April. You can reserve seats at the Koubu Kaburenjo Theatre by phone (+81 75 541 3391). The cheapest ones are 1900Y, you're seating on big spaces, not on chairs and you'd better start queuing 1/2 hour before the show. Appart from that the view is certainly just as good as the seats at 3800Y. You can check the pictures on my previous post on Miyako-Odori.


Than we hurried towards Kiyomizu-Dera which is really a fantastic temple. Even only your path to get there is one of the best street in Kyoto. It is tourist shops all along, but still nice. This is also the place where we saw a real geisha "live". Also a lot of legends and beliefs exist around this temple (the two love stones for example).
I have spent so much time looking up our destinations and sightseeing in Japan on the Internet that I feel it is my duty to help the next people who want to go there.
So here it comes : the Japan 10 days Package. I have to say we were very proud with our organization, we saw the most importants sights and city, didn't feel stressed or lacking time.
Here is our trip and tips, day by day.

Day 1 : From Taipei to Nagoya
It is much cheaper coming from Taipei to fligh to Nagoya rather than Tokyo. We decided to leave the dorm around 10:30AM, take our usual bus-MRT-bus to the airport and enjoy the Burger King there. Well the Whopper we enjoyed but the Passport control line we didn't. We were not travelling inside EU anymore and it tends to take a lot of time to get pass these numerous controls. Our plane was leaving in 3 minutes, we were still queuing. They might have been calling us but even the calls are discreet in Asia so we had no idea (and particularly no excuses to cut the queue, big no-no here). There has been a very long and fast run to the plane, a quick sorry smile to the stewardess at the embarkment gate, a sigh of relief once in our seats, and then an accute stomachache, thank you BG.

We arrived at Nagoya airport and were looking for a way to go to the city when a Japanese volunteer came and helped us. These people are just amazing. They are waiting for lost tourists just as we were, in order to help them get acquainted with the transportation or simply get where they need to.
So we took the Meitetsu train line to the city (800Y). Then we just walked to our hostel Aichiken Seinenkaikan (http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html 3000Y/night).

A little snack keeping near the Fushimi station area and finally a beer at a British pub (Elephant's nest), taking it light on our 1st day.

Day 2 : Nagoya - Kyoto
At 8:00 we get up, most unusual for us but we didn't know yet that it would be one of our longest sleep in 10 days.

We walk to Nagoya station to take the JR bus to Kyoto (3500Y, 2h30). It is our first encounter with Japanese punctuality : the bus was supposed to leave at 10:00, at 9:59 the driver started the engine, at 10:00, we left. We also then learnt about the "1 break every hour policy", we really tought we would never get there!

13:00 Kyoto Station, here we come!

When arriving, go straight to the Tourist Info Center on the 2nd Floor, and grab a Kyoto City Bus Sightseeing Map your new Bible. Also by a day-pass for 500Y, otherwise you have to pay 220Y for each ride. But not from your starting point to your destination, you also have to pay every time you transfer!!!

So we decided to leave our stuff at the hostel first. Very good and conviniently located place : Econo-Inn Kyoto (tel : 07.53.43.66.60)


We also decided to visit Kyoto area by area, starting with North East :

Kinkaku-Ji and the Golden Pavillion



Then a 15 minute walk to the Ryoan-Ji gardens :



Then back in Gion for dinner and drinks :


In the streets of Kyoto
Shopping... Going down the stairs.... not easy!
Serving us drinks at our favorite bar And they are at the Gion Koubu Kaburenjo Theatre in Gion for the Miyako Odori, which is the Cherry Blossom dance performed by Geishas and Maiko (the apprentice).
How lucky are we? Spring break is during Cherry Blossom this year... Have a look!
The philosophers's path, Kyoto
Cherry blossom and wishes all together








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