Japan Trip 2003

Go to Japanese Version

Foreword:

This would be my fourth time to go home since after I came to Wichita in March 1996. I am about one semester away from graduation, and don't know what I will be doing after that. So I just thought it would be nice to go home and relax a bit, away from the school work, and meet with my family members and friends. Upcoming fall semester would be the toughest, so I have to be prepared for it. (So why not having a good vacation before everything goes crazy, huh?)

Dates: (click to jump)

Before 2003/05/22

4/1 Called the travel agency I usually use (IACE Travel, cheap tickets to Japan). The price to Nagoya, Japan was $790

4/7 Second Contact with the travel agency, the price just went down to $674 (Due to the war against Iraq)

4/11 Called the agency for the last time to place order.

4/18 Tickets issued.

5/13 Got sign on I-20. I can come back here.

5/19 Reconfirming the flight. I have got flight to Nagoya. No need to take bullet train from Tokyo to Nagoya.

5/21 It was such a busy day, I went to Belle Plain to give flowers to a good friend of mine who dies 4 years ago. I won't be there for memorial day, had meetings twice with my professor, got lunch from the Subway, went to the ARC office to do paper work, also at the First Gear to buy two pairs of shoes. In the evening, I had a dinner with my friend Kang, and went to Mountain High to get a new backpack (My old one has been serving for about four years and it's good time to let it go). I get picked up by Angie since she is helping me to go to the airport on the 22nd

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2003/05/22 (and 23) Going Home

From To Carrier, Number Departure Arrival Duration Notes
             
Wichita, KS Dallas Ft. Worth American Airlines 1582 0836(CDT) 0955(CDT)    
Dallas Ft. Worth Narita, Japan American Airlines 0061 1200(CDT) 1500(JST, 5/23)   B777
Narita Airport Nagoya Airport Japan Airlines 0053 1815(JST) 1925(JST)   B747
Nagoya Airport Home Nagoya Taxi 2000(JST) 2030(JST)    

05/22 To the airport

I woke up at 5:00am in my friends house which is in west side of Wichita. It takes only ten minutes to the airport so it is always very convenient (I don't have to drive up form campus, which takes about 30 minutes), and this is the second time my friend's doing it for me. I ate my breakfast and stretched my body. I know it is going to be a very long day. I have arrived at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport around 6:40am, check in my baggage, grabbed some newspapers. The new procedure is to not to lock the check-in baggage. Besides the name tag you can use, there is a pile of red nylon tie-ups at the checking counter. You might want to use those if you want to travel some place next time. The last time I traveled to Japan, they put my bag on a table, took out and checked everything in front of the public. But since they are doing the same thing for everybody else now, the don't have to embarrass me anymore. The new procedure also require us to have the ticket and the boarding pass together. If you don't have both, you cannot get on the plane. So I guess that's something I can say about.

I have found some sculptures of airplanes at the airport. I know there should be about 20 of them in Wichita. I have seen one of them at the Bank of America building in downtown too. Well, here are the pictures.

Flying Extravaganza

Taxi

Then I moved to the security check. I had to took out my laptop computer out of the bag, but I did not have to take off my shoes. I think people in running shoes are mostly fine but people in leather shoes, I guess that's the case. I proceed to the gate 6. I have met a girl who graduated from WSU last December with communication degree, going to Okinawa, Japan for a year. She will be working for AEON which is one of very common English conversation school in Japan. Other places such as ECC and NOVA Since we don't get much opportunities to talk English in our country, that it one way of learning those by paying some money and get a chance with talking to real Americans and stuff.

American Airlines Flight1582 Fokker100

Well, it's time to board, so I'd better get in. The wind was coming from the South so the plane took the runway 19R, the plane got off the ground about 4,000ft away from the end of runway so it must have been almost no wind. Then it depart straight to the south. The person who sat next to me sells toys and going back to Portland. The flight was smooth, and I get to see things on the ground including the power plant right south of the airport and a town named Belle Plain. After 30 minutes in the flight, it reached to FL310, and shifted to cruise. The sky was clear but after arriving to the north end of Oklahoma City, low clouds started to cover up the whole thing all the way to Texas, so I was able to see the highway a bit then nothing. We got to the airport few minutes early and was a good landing.

We have arrived to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport under cloudy sky, 66F. The plane stopped at Gate C6, our next flight was at Gate A23 so I took TRAAIN system.

Waited for a while (about 2 hours) then on board. My sea was 23E, which was right at middle of row and met two other folks from Texas. One of a girl is from Gunma, and other person was from Austin. The plane did not take too long to take off and the 12 hours flight begins. Same as the last time, the plane goes up North to Alaska, then following the string of islands, it will reach to Narita International airport.

05/22 To Japan

AA0061 at DFW

The American Airlines flight 0061 departs at 12:00pm so I spent time with the girl I met in Wichita, tried to refresh her Japanese skills, but well, the thing is that I could not. Her digital camera got a problem so I had to try fixing it but could not. The time has come and we shook hands each other and wished good luck. In the airplane, I have met with two other folks. They are both from Texas but one is an American, going to Hokkaido to visit her friend who is teaching English there, and other person if going back to Gumma to stay over the summer. I wish I could stay that long but for me school is more important than spending time in Japan.

After take off, we are served with snacks and drink. Soon, the airplane reached to FL380. We flew over Colorado Springs, Vancouver  Then around 1:00pm, they served the lunch. Here is the menu

The fun thing is that I can ask them for chopsticks.

Around 5:00pm, we get to serve afternoon snack, there was a small sub (the menu says it was ham and Swiss cheese, but I think I did not see the cheese), a Milky Way, and a small box of raison, we are at Pacific Ocean, just south of Bering Glacier, Alaska.

05/23 Crossing the International Date Line

At 10:30am in Japanese time (8:30pm in the CDT), we have crossed the International Date Line. We are not in 5/22 anymore

Light Supper (1:00am-)

At 1:00pm in Japanese Time, about 1.5 hours before reaching to Tokyo, another meal was served. The noodle did not taste anything like Udon noodle. I will need to eat “Real” one after get back to home.

After painful 12 hours of flight, the plane is finally approaching to the Narita Airport. I think I was too tired so I did not watch any movie this time.

 

05/24 At Narita airport, to Nagoya

The airplane was approaching smoothly but they suddenly moved up NW of the airport then landed.

Arriving to Narita. The American Airlines use Terminal one, but I had to move to terminal 2 so I took a shuttle bus at the airport. There are some people going to Manila and Taiwan, so

I have arrived to the Gate 61 but it was only 4:30 so I decided to walk around the places to find what kind of stuff around here.

I found a place where I can use internet for free. You just need to show your passport. They will ask you for a permission to scan your passport for security purpose, you know, they don't want to see anyone hack into computer and cause troubles. They have IBM Think Pad laptop computers. The only problem is that the keyboard is in Japanese so you will have hard time finding certain keys. For example, you will find "@" on "2" button in English keyboard, but in Japanese keyboard, it right next to "P" key. I have seen some people activated Japanese input mode by mistake and started to type in Japanese so they had to get help of employees there.

Internet café (nothing to be served but a rental on laptop computer). You cannot use your own computer, what they do is to scan your passport and give you a key which goes into the USB port. After you plug in, you can use the computer. The only problem is that the computer is Japanese computer so if you press a wrong button, the computer start typing Japanese in stead of plain English. I have seen so many people asked for help when it happed. I think they need to do something about it.

 

3:00pm, arrived at the terminal. Moving to Terminal #2 from #1 where the plane arrived. I catch the flight to Nagoya. I had a chance to stop by many places in the airport, duty free shop, free internet site, insurance vending machine, and of course, I get to see outside.

An automated oversea insurance machine

Duty free stores

One of restaurant.

Menu

 

Japan Alps (Kiso Mountains and Hida Mountains)

Right after passing the mountain range, the air gets a bit turbulent. So, I had to stay in my seat until the landing.

JAL 0053 arrived in Nagoya.

The funny thing is that people at the immigration does not believe, or rather surprised to hear that I have been away from Japan for more than a year. That is a regular thing for the poor student like me, but I was the one who got really surprise to hear that kind of comments.

05/24 Arriving at home

I took a cab to go home. There's been lots of changes since the last time so I enjoyed those changes. My grandpa was so excited and ended up crying.

I paid 6590Yen to a taxi from the airport to my home. I got home around 8:30pm

Had dinner

Slept

 

Hey Kosuke, what about SARS?

 I knew there are widespread of SARS (Severe Acute? Respiratory Syndrome) in surrounding regions of Japan, such as China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. I have seen just few people wearing masks in the flight from Dallas to Narita, but I have seen some of airport employees are wearing the masks, especially people at ticketing counter, security guards at Narita Airport. There are also other group of people who wear them, they are business people in particular, and also folks looked like from those countries. I think older people usually wear them, but people in my age don't. In the flight from Narita to Nagoya, I have seen some people wearing them, and at the Nagoya Airport, about half of immigration officers wear them.

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2003/05/24

Woke up around 4:50am. It's pretty shiny here by that time.

I had my breakfast with my family. Steamed rice, Miso soup, you know, all the traditional stuffs.

I went to Hoshigaoka to reactivate my cell phone. I walked over there and saw many changes in my part of city. My mom told me there are more so I have to find out by myself

The one change was the

Directory.

West side half

East Side Half

 

I had my lunch at home. Somen noodles

I also get hair cut Which was 1,800Yen

 

From 7:30pm, I will be seeing my friends from junior high at Tengu Restaurant. I have met with about 8 people form the junior high. It's a kind of a school reunion.

My friends from choir club in junior high

Me and the friends (oh, I think I took a similar picture before)

Back in 2001... I still remember.

Went to Karaoke from 11:00pm - 3:00am. Since I have spent only few weeks in Japan in past 7 years, I could only sing foreign songs. Fortunately that they have plenty of those so I sang Again, Learn to Fly, Stairway to Heaven, Crawling,

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2003/05/25

I woke up around 6:30am in the morning. I went to bed around 3:00am so I slept only 3 hours. I was not in a bad shape since I drunk only two medium bottles.

Ate another usual breakfast here. 

After 10:00am, went outside to run. I ran about 4 miles today

We had spaghetti for the lunch. Since I ran I ate a lot. After the lunch I walked to Hoshigaoka to meet my dad at Chikusa Sports Center. He wanted to learn how to do a flip turn. I stayed in the water for about 2 and half hours He did not quite get the skill yet but he tried hard.

Giving my dad advices on his new shoes. I think he made up his mind. We went to the basement of the department where you can buy many kinds of cooked food. I tried to take pictures but I think I forgot to put a memory card so I need to try it later. I will put up some pictures in later days if I have an opportunity.

I had a Sushi dinner with my family.

Sushi Sampler from left - (Top Row) Ikura, Uni, Toro, Anago (eel), Ebi (shrimp), (then bottom row) Kazunoko, Kani, Buri, Maguro,

Also some shrimp, shells

Anago and Chao Tzu (Round ones got a whole garlic inside, and regular looking ones are just normal.)

I have decided to go to Nagasaki from Tuesday night. I found that a round trip tickets to be 22,020 Yen if I use an over night bus. I cannot afford paying 44,000Yen to use bullet train which takes about only 5, 6 hours.

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2003/05/26

Today started from rain. I am planning to go see my grandma. Go buy tickets for the trip.

At the travel agency, I bought an overnight bus ticket. I got the one for Nagoya-Nagasaki, but they said the bus for Nagasaki-Nagoya is full. So I decided to take a sleeper train(?). It costs a bit more, but I had no other choice. If I stay at a hotel or ryokan in Nagasaki, I cannot afford the trip.

Overnight Bus ticket from Nagoya to Nagasaki

Train tickets (Boarding ticket from Nagasaki to Nagoya, upper left, Shinkansen (bullet Train) ticket from Kyoto to Nagoya, upper right, and Sleeper Train ticket on the bottom.)

This is a typical garbage truck in Japan. It is not that large as in the U.S.

Koban, a product of unique Japanese Police system, and their police cruiser is Toyota Echo. (The four Chinese characters in black says "Aichi Police", and the sticker on the rear door says "Eliminate Drunken Drive".)

Yurica. It's prepaid card for Nagoya Transit Authority. There are three kinds, 1000Yen, 3000Yen and 5000Yen. 3000Yen one get 200Yen more, and 600Yen for the 5000Yen ones.

Typical local train type 5700, debuit 1986

This is called Panorama Car, type 7000. This type of train debuit in 1961 and was the first train which has big frontal windows in Japan with maximum speed of 110km/h. There are also Panorama DX (Type 8800), debuit 1982 and Panorama Super (Type 1000), debuit in 1988.  I will try to get more pictures soon.

So, here is my plan for the trip.

My grandma gave me a 30,000Yen. Cool.

I also went to Takashimaya

Sports Drink Comparisons:

Here are some Japanese sports drinks which you can find in most convenient stores. I listed some of ingredients

 

Picture:
Name: Amino-Shiki Amino Supli Aquarius Pocari Sweat
Company Suntory Kirin Coca Cola Otsuka
Price purchased: (Yen) 118 140 118 140
Quantity: (ml) 500 500 500 500
Calories 95 120 105 135
Protein 1.0g 1.0g 0.0g 0.0g
Fat 0.0g 0.0g 0.0g 0.0g
Carbon Hydrate 23.0g 30.0g 25.0g 33.5g
Na 140mg 220mg 125mg 245mg
K 130mg 25mg 95mg 100mg
Ca 35mg 10mg 0.0mg 10mg
Mg 10mg 2.0mg 0.0mg 3.0mg
Vitamin B6 1.5mg 0.0mg 1.0mg 0.0mg
Amino Acid 1000mg 1000mg 0.0mg ?

I still don't know which one has the best taste. I used to drink Pocari Sweat and Aquarius. I will try each of them later.

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2003/05/27 Cloudy

Going to Seiyu Department Store to get some foods

The road nearby was newly developed, and expected to make lots of noise due to heavy traffic so Japanese came up with a way to deal with.

They have surrounded the entire sides of the roads with clear plastic boards to contain the noise. The elevated portion is also another highway. This kind of noise reduction wall was not placed last time when I came home.

On the way to the Department Store, I found a Eunos Roadstar (a.k.a Mazda MX-5 in the U.S.) which's been wrecked. However, I think there must be something extra too.

Can a car wreck let all wheels go at the same time?

I also find a Ford car which you will never see in the U.S. since it was sold in the Europian market only.

I personally think this is a cousin of Mazda Familia or Ford Escort.

At the store, I found a small Coca Cola and a Pepsi Twist in Japanese, the Pepsi can is made out of aluminum, and resealable too. How is this possible? (Look at the following picture for the answer)

Pepsi Twist (500ml) vs. Coca-Cola (160ml). Right now, you can get Beckham related goods from drawings if you purchase Pepsi stuffs. (David Beckham, a very famous soccer player in England, many kids and girls like him SOOOOO much! He is the leader of the team during the game so kids respect him, and married with a girl from the Spicegirls, so he is considered as very attractive, that's why girls love him) So, I can say that guys won't drink Pepsi since they are jealous. By the way, the Japanese writing on the Pepsi Twist reads...

New delicious taste from the combination of lemon and Coke
 <Pepsi Twist>
 A coke blended with squeezed (Twisted) lemon
a brand new taste
 That's the Pepsi Twist
Smooth, refreshing taste even after the sips
the born of new generation coke.

...um, so, do you want to try this one now?

This is the bottom potion of the can. They made this bottle from three pieces. Cap, body and bottom. Most of regular cans use a cup like shaped container to fill the drink, then they seal with a cap. This one puts the cap and body first then fill the drink, and seal the bottom. Just they came up with a unique way to make one but it has an advantage. You can reseal it, no other regular container can do this kind of trick. Cool, huh?

There is a daycare center right by my house and sometimes it's noisy too. I think some kids must have been playing Pokemon stuffs. I hear someone imitating Pikachu...

Have diner at 5:30pm, leaving my home around 6:00pm

going to Nagasaki

MATORIKKUSU-RIROUDEDDO! (the Matrix Reloaded is coming to Japanese theaters on 6/7, but special preview on 5/31) I personally like the third one from the left, which shows a bunch of Agent Smith 2.0.

Highway Bus "Glover", takes me to Nagasaki in about 12 hours. At station #6 in the terminal. Departing 19:35, arriving Nagasaki around 7:30.

The but left the Meitetsu Bus Center on time, heading west to get on the highway. The Mei-Han highway started to going through a nightly work on the road from this night, so it did not go that smooth. The bus was late by 1:30 hours by the time when we took the first break. We had only 8 people on the bus, which was very nice. We could pick any seat we wanted.

The first break we took was at unknown place, I do not know but we stopped there around 10:00pm

The bus departed at 7:30pm, on time.

 

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2003/05/28

Still Going to Nagasaki...

5:30 Fukuoka

5:40 Dazaifu

5:47 Saga

6:45 Omura-Wan Taking Break at a Rest Area

I need to recall where it was, but I could see an ocean from here. I will post the picture later on. I think I could see the Nagasaki Airport too.

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Arriving to Nagasaki

Well, we finally arrived to the bus station in Nagasaki. The bus was late only by 15 minutes, so I must assume that the driver did a very good job

The first thing I had to do was to buy a one day pass for the street cars. I could only buy it at hotels or souvenir shops, but since it was 7:30 in the morning, I had to look for a hotel. The place I went was a Holiday Inn. I did not know they had a branch here but I was able to purchase one (8:45am, so I wasted about 30 minutes).

Holiday Inn in Nagasaki

I found a Seattle's Best Coffee shop right next to the Holiday Inn.

Walking down the street of Maruyama

Maruyama used to be an area of night time joys, there are places you meet with Geisha, have party and stuff.

This is an old fashioned police station, still being used today.

Maruyama in modern days...

Taking Street Cars

I already had a ride in a street car before, so I know how it feels like and look like.

Walking toward the Tenshu Do and Glover En

I took a street car from Shiwakubashi to Tsuki-Machi, then I had to switch the car for the other line. After a while, I got to Oura Tenshudo-Shita station. Since Nagasaki is right by the sea, there are many canals in the city, and smells a bit like ocean.

This palace is called Shi-Kai-Roh, where claims they have started Chan-Pong in Japan. It's a restaurant.

Tenshu Do

According to the guide book I used, the real name is Oura Catholic Church. Tenshu in Japanese means "the God" and Do means a hall. It is kind of a funny thing to see old churches here is Nagasaki, but just to let you know that this place is one of the very first place in Japan where Christianity is taught, and once we had about 700,000 Christians in Japan during the federalism period.

Going up to the Church

There are also several building surrounding area. 300Yen for admission. Inside of building has pretty stuffs related to the Christianity. I have seen pictures of hell and heaven which pretty much replaced European looking folks with Japanese... I bet Jesus can speak Japanese too, right?

Glover En

Glover En represents a group of old houses which have been built for foreign people who were staying Japan long time ago. There used to be an area designated for them and it is where this museum is located today. Some of the building have been brought from other places because of its cultural values. It is very cool to see those mixture of European and Japanese way of designing and construction. There is a recommended route to go around this place so I put everything in that order... The admission is 600Yen.

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View From the deck

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I'm in Nagasaki!

Nagsaki Kunchi is a traditional dance performed by Chinese people in Japan. They have this Dragon Dance which the dragon chases the moon (the golden ball leading the dragon). Asian Dragon is more like snake so you need to understand the difference.

Dragon got curious about the golden ball...

Started to chase

still chasing...

It was pretty cool performance. You will get to see it about four times a day. They sometimes stops, so you need to call out "Mottekoi" meaning "I want to see more!" but I think it more like "Bring it on!" from direct interpolation.

 

Glover is a British trader long time back. Have met with bunch of Shishi (A group of folks created movement to Tokugawa government to give up their feudalism)

His house has so many rooms

This must been the entrance.

Glover En, view from observation deck.

Walking back to the station

There was a store selling license plates in the U.S., They charge 1,500Yen (about $13) for it. If you have old ones, maybe you can sell them when you come to Japan? (By the way, where is KANSAS plate? It's a discrimination if I don't see it!)

On the way going back to the train station, you can see the port as you going down the hill.

Okay, this building used to be "Hongkong-Shanghai Bank Nagasaki branch" Now it's museum, I think.

They also claims that Nagasaki is the first place where the bowling was taught in Japan.

Deshima / Nagasaki Port

The first steel bridge in Japan, the bridge was made by Americans.

Dejima was created in order to contain the spread of Christianity under feudalism in my country. During the Tokugawa period, Shogun has the absolute power and there are disciplines, so having the idea of all people are equal must not be taught. I think this one was built for Portuguese, who did not agree on stop spreading the religion.

a street in Dejima

Museum

Club House, not the place where you throw a crazy party but you could do pool (billiard)

A miniature of Deshima

Deshima Dharf overview

Northern Half

Southern Half

Taberna Restaurant (sounds exactly like "do not eat" in Japanese...)

Nice and calm...

a jerryfish!

One beautiful day...

AEGES cruiser being built.

Sapphire Princess (was Diamond Princess but, the name got switched after a freak accident)

China Town (11:30am)

You must check out "Nagasaki Chan-Pong" if you visit there. Chan-Pong is a soup noodle came from main land China long time ago while we had some of those folks to learn technologies. In a heart of Nagasaki city, there is also a China Town. It is not that big, but you can see a bunch of fun stuffs.

Nagasaki Chan-Pong!

Well, I just did not go there to eat. Here are some other pictures.

Northern Gate

Peace Park and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

After leaving the China Town, I took a street car to Matsuyama-Cho to check out another famous historical site, the Peace park.

The world's second atomic bomb used in combat was dropped in this city, Nagasaki, in August 9, 1945, 11:02am.

a park at hypocenter of the A-bomb

Stairway to Nagasaki Peace Park

Prayers' Fountain. Made for people who were dying after the bombing wanted to drink water.

This place used to be a jail compound, but got wiped out by the bomb so only the foundations you can see today.

Me at the park

Some people just don't realize how the nuclear weapon is such a bad stuff. I found numbers from the brochure so you might want to refer these.

The population of Wichita is about 300,000 so it is pretty much the same. So, think this way. 1/3 of Wichitans dies, another 1/3 of Wichitans will be injured. Many cases, radiation related injury are not treated easily.

Museum entrance

Some debris recovered, usually some shadows are casted from the intense ray of light. Sometimes it's a human, tree... I did not realize that they are not allowing taking pictures so I did not take anymore.

Urakami Tenshu Do

 

I am back at Matsuyama Station around 14:45. Heading to Nagasaki Station.

Kazagashira Park

I paid 160 Yen to get there by a city bus.

Statue of Ryoma Sakamoto

This is what he used to watch everyday...

Click here for bigger picture

Ryoma Street looking down)

Ryoma street (looking up)

Walking Back to Nagasaki Station

Megane Bashi

Nagasaki Station / Dinner

A view at the station looking SW

looking South

looking North

Nagasaki Station Complex

Who are these two guys?

Famous enough to cause this much crowd...

Nagasaki Sara-Udon! (5:00pm) I ate this at Kou Iyou Kou (the Chinese characters saying like King of the Kings, I think)

Trains in Nagasaki

Kamome express

 

What is the famous "Castella"?

The Castella is a cake like snack came from Holland. I guess Japanese liked the taste and learned how to make one. There are many different houses saying that they are the original Castella manufactures in Japan, but no one knows the truth.

Their cars have special "Castella" painting!

 

           

 

This place has very expensive snacks. The castella I was talking about starting from 4500Yen, about 5 to 7 times more expensive than others!

Street Cars

My favorite, Chicken Ramen version!

Public Bus

You can go to places for only 100Yen!

coming back from Nagasaki

Akatsuki at Nagasaki Station

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2003/05/29

arriving Kyoto

Okayama Station

Suisei-Akatsuki at Kyoto. The two sleeper trains; Suisei (shooting star) and Akatsuki, joined at certain station, I like this locomotives much better than the red one.

the building complex in front of Kyoto station

Hikari 212 (40minutes from Kyoto to Nagoya!)

arriving Nagoya

Well, after the trip, I am usually happy but not this time. I was so stressed out near the end of semester, then went out to drink with my friends and Karaoke stuff after that. So my throat got so sore and started to cough very hard. (O-oh, Did I get a SARS?). When I came back from this hard trip, my stamina is completely exhausted. I went to see a doctor and was told not to speak too much and drink lots of water. At least I am not a holder of the SARS, but I just don't want to be coughing at the immigration at the time I am coming back to the U.S.   

 

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2003/05/30

Went to Seiyu Department Store again to buy stuffs I forgot to buy last time. I also wanted to buy some book but I think they must have stopped to have one while I was gone.

I found some American cars...

Chrysler PT Cruiser (The steering wheel is located in the right hand side)

A bit old Camaro

Pretty much new Camaro

Chevy Blazer

I took a day off again, updating my web page...

Typhoon #4 is approaching and may go across Japan tonight.

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2003/05/31

I still don't feel good enough, so I slept whole day today. I need to hang out with my friend from high school tomorrow so I need to be ready.

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2003/06/01

I went to Nagoya Station to buy some book this morning. It was a bit rainy but not too much. Since after the typhoon, I have seen some debris on streets, but I think they will be taken care by tomorrow. I bought three books, and got phone call from my high school friend. I was hoping to meet with two of them but only one of them were available.

I found Kimono store, a simple set costs you about 300,000Yen (about $2,700)

I went to Hard Rock Cafe in my city. I bought some pins for my friends.

Nagoya Hilton Hotel, the Hard Rock Cafe is located right next of it.

I met wit my friend at Osu, where we used to hang out all the time. Osu is the place where you can buy computers and other electronics stuff for cheap price. We went to Sugakiya, a common cheap restaurant where you can eat noodles.

Good Will, now this one is the biggest computer store in this area. There weren't any when I started to go to Osu

I found a IS300, just like the one my friend drives...

Ford Probe

Look at the emblem at the front. This one has the traditional Japanese marking. If you think the Lexus mark is the right one, sorry. This car is traditionally called Soarer, and has symbol of a lion with wings.

This is Osu Kannon.

I found a Levi's store

For the dinner, we went to a fairly good restaurant. This meal is called Hitsumabushi. It's seasoned eel.

So, how the 2,300 Yen food looks like?

This crab model moves, at crab meat restaurant. My friend also told me that there is a shrimp version somewhere.

Abusing the Power of Plastic!?

I checked my balance on my credit card since I bought many stuffs in Osu today. I was surprised to find out that they suspended mine account! The Bank of America has never done it but I think the MBNA bank is not happy at all. I wanted buy more stuff but I guess I have to give up some of them. Oh, man...

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2003/06/02

The last day in Nagoya this time. I have reconfirmed my flights and they are all good to go. I went to a bank to send money to my account. Went to a book store to buy a book about SR-71, and Yamada (a famous electronic appliances franchise store in Tokyo) to get some CD-R and carrying cases for my laptop computer(s).

On the way I was going to Hoshigaoka, I have seen Mitsubishi T-2 jet plane heading to the Nagoya airport.

The first thing I did was to send Japanese seasonings I bought to Wichita. The postage is based on the weight, so I picked all dried ones.

I had so many problems sending money to the U.S. Japanese uses "Inkan" (a seal or stamp you can say...) for many business deals including transactions on banking account. So I can take my father's check register and the stamp to withdraw his money. (I can use it anyway as long as he doesn't know... right?) I just need to show my identification such as a passport so they will believe who I am. They weren't sure why my passport has its picture bind, not printed onto the paper (I renew my passport at Kansas City so they did not have the equipment), and why a guy like my age needs money from parents (all of my friends have job now...) so I looked very suspicious. Anyway, without too much trouble, I send money to my account in Wichita. Phew.

The next stop was the book store within Mitsukoshi Department store. I also wanted to check out some CDs but I did not know which one to pick so I gave up.

 

I checked schedule on the buses and trains which I am using to go to the airport. There are two ways I can go to the airport.

  1. By Taxi: Pros - fast, most reliable, sometimes they will comply your request when you are in hurry. Cons - EXPENSIVE, about 6000Yen
  2. By Public transportation: Pros - cheap, fairly fast Cons - You have to plan carefully, no way getting it moving fast.

 

 

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2003/06/03 Coming Back to the United State

From To: By Departure Arrival Duration Note
Home Bus Station Walking 6:10 6:20    
Bus Station Hoshigaoka Subway Station   6:20 6:35   200yen
Hoshigaoka Subway Station Fujigaoka   Subway Station   6:43 6:55   230yen
Fujigaoka   Subway Station Nagoya Airport   7:00 7:35   900yen
Nagoya Narita Airport Japan Airlines 0054 0900(JST) 1005(JST)    
Narita Airport Dallas Ft. Worth American Airlines 0060 1815(JST) 1540(CDT)    
Dallas Ft. Worth Wichita American Airlines 3909 1651(CDT) 1802(CDT)    

Going to the Airport

I woke up at 5:30am in the morning. Today is the day I am going back to the U.S. to continue studying at Wichita State.

The plan has set yesterday and only thing I just need to do is not to get behind of the schedule.

The all the thing went well.

I was surprised to see the Fujigaoka station has been under going some renovation works. I heard they are preparing for the World Expo in 2005. They should have a station for HSST (some kind of linear motor driven trains). I did not buy stuff since there are much thing I was interested in.

JAL plane at Nagoya Airport

Mount Fuji

Wasting time at Narita Airport

Spending time at Narita Airport was so tough. I called two of my friend who I missed to meet this time. I wish I had more time. That's what I think sometimes but I also cannot afford the time.

I had my lunch at Narita Airport. I wanted to eat something decent but the food at the airport but there aren't any GOOD foods,

Lunch (800Yen)

AA60 Waiting at Narita Airport

I have met with folks from Australia. They arrived at Narita Airport at 7:40am,

The connecting counter opened at 1:15pm. I was first talked in English. Oh well, I guess I do not look like a Japanese.

Shopping Tips at Narita Airport

If you need to buy stuffs at gift shops in the airport, you need to watch for the prices. For example, I was buying a bottle of water at a store nearby the Gate A11 for 140Yen, but when I was walking toward the other part of the terminal, I have seen some places put their prices as much as 180Yen (so there is 40Yen difference). I guess it's nice to walk around to waste time...

In order buy stuffs without paying the sales tax, you need to show your ticket to prove that you are departing from the airport to other country. Arriving airport will charge you sales tax even it says duty free. (and they are good at checking it, too)

 

Arriving Dallas

Before Sunset

I watched Tasogare Seibei (Twilight Samurai) on the

Usually over the ocean in the night,

above Montana

Rocky Mountains

 

I was pretty tired by the time I get to Dallas. I did not make mistakes on my paper works but there's been some problems. The inspection on immigration, custom and agriculture have been much strict than before. I guess that's the way it supposed to be.

 

Arriving Wichita

I checked in my baggage around 4:00pm

Regional Jet Arrving at DFW with 30 minutes late. Our boarding was so quick! (We left the gate about with only 15 minutes delay)

It is always not a good sign if you start seeing cloud like this...

I was at the Terminal A but the airplane to Wichita leaves from terminal B so I took moving walkway there.

I found out that one of wheels on my bag almost came off. It must be decommissioned. I bought it back in 1996 so it served well.

The first thing I did after arriving in Wichita was to call my friend. It was right passed 6:00pm so I thought I should offer him to have dinner with me (so I don't have to pay Taxi)

I had dinner with Kang and Danny.

After coming home,

Good Night

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After the trip

 

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Last Updated on 2003/06/02