Tacchan
Trip Start
Jan 12, 2000
1
37
57
Trip End
Jan 12, 2001
Kashima, Japan
Sunday, October 29, 2000
least an hour and thirty minutes. On the way to my hometown here - Kashima.. I
convinced a friend to come with me... and I forgot my map but once again
thankgod for Tatsu. I remembered which train he told me to catch and then when
we got to the first change we found a map and now we are on the way.
I asked Tatsu to spend the day with me the other day and he did. We
contemplated Disneyland but the weather was bad so we went to Ummm nantoka
(something) Onsen. An Onsen is like a public bath.. this town had like 50
onsens. First of all we got off the train and Tacchan headed for the restroom.
I stood looking at a timetable until this gorgeous man came over and asked if he
could speak to me for a little bito azu hei wazu studiyingu Englishu hehe I said
Sure why don't we have lunch and coz your so gorgeous I'll pay for your ticket..
Hehehe Tacchan and I are always playing the we are complete strangers game and
laughing at the things we come out with.. If u only knew hehehe.
So we went outside and he got excited as there was a winery which we could walk
thru and free wine tasting hehehe.. There were so many old Japanese ppl there
and U could see they were all having a great time.. I doubted the sobriety of a
few tho hehe. Tatsu tried every wine they had on offer.
Then I said lets get lost he let me think we were on the right track of doing so
but he knew EXACTLY where the station was. We walked past a cemetary on either
side of a narrow road and then we found a really interesting park. One of the
things there was a round stage made of stone so Tatsu climbed up and I said
"Sing for me baby" so he did.. He sang part of 'our' song - A whole new world
and then as he looked in my eyes he sang "Wind beneath my wings." LOL I felt
like I was at a concert hehe.. and my favourite star was singing to me - only
me. And he was.
The BIGGEST shock was seeing a group of gaijin in the park.. I was shocked but
they walked off b4 we got near them. After the park we wandered by the river
and sat down on steps and just chatted for a few minutes and Tatsu -as always-
was adorably cute. He picked a pussy willow and treated it as if it were a pet
talking to it gently and patting it. Then when he told it it was time to go
swimming it literally ran up his sleeve LOL.. it took him a great effort to get
it out again. But he did put it in the river and we watched it float away.
Then he said "Vamouse" (however it's spelled) and I just sat there staring at
the stream so he reached over and ruffled my hair.. pulled me out of my reverie.
Then we walked on and saw 2 girls feeding the duckies, so Tatsu asked me for the
orange and cream (*shrug* this IS Japan) breadroll I was carrying and we fed the
ducks as well. It was great fun.. to stand there with someone who knows all
your secrets (well almost lol) and u
just trust them explicity.. someone u feel completely comfortable with and watch
your innerchildren come out is just an amazing feeling.
Then we went and had lunch.. I had Niku Udon and he had Tenpura Udon. Niku is
meat.. Tenpura is Tenpura.. then we played a game of air hockey. Tatsu bought
me dinner and I paid for the hockey. It was so much fun.. Then we set off to an
Onsen for him.. I explained about being gaijin out in the sticks getting naked
into a bath with 50 other ppl just didn't appeal to me - especially the stares I
would attract. So while he went and had his bath I sat in the foyer and he said
I'll be back within an hour.. so I answered some emails that I needed to and
before I was halfway thru the second one he was back. Not even 30 mins hehe
seems he got stared at coz he was the only one under 50.. hehe
Then we headed back home.. both managed to get out of our station very cheaply
*G* so we saved $20 between us hehehehehehehehe. I'm not going to tell u how
until I'm safely out of the country*G*. (Dec 17 2006) Sadly, I don't think it's even possible to do that anymore. I had my teiki (monthly rail pass) which I'd just use at the end of the journey back home to get out. Now they've caught onto that in most places and the ticket gate won't let you out. God, it was great while it lasted though. I'd just buy the cheapest ticket from whereever we were leaving... and then when I got home throw that away and use the teiki)
Then Tacchan walked around from the North exit to where I met him at the South
exit.. He walked up to where I was sitting and I said "Tatsu?" and we played our
game again.. hehe LOL "I know a great hotel in Nishihachioji" LOL LOL "Do u do
this often Tatsu?" "Oh at least once a week" "What's the most ppl you've taken
to this hotel at one time?" "6" LOL LOL!! I'm gonna miss that.. I told him that
when I pick him up from the airport I'll be like. "God you're handsome.. Wanna
come home with me??" Hehehehe.
Then we headed down to Kareoke and sang our guts out for 5 or so hours.. was
great fun. I'm gonna miss that.. I'm so glad I went that first night... It was
SO funny coz Tatsu found that u could use these effects to sound like a girl or
guy no matter who's singing. We just LOST it hehehe... Hearing Tatsu with a
high pitched girls voice and me with this deep guys voice. We caught the last
train home and parted ways until the next day.
Went out to Kichijoji for dinner with David (my friend who I flew over with).
We found a really great Vietnamese restaurant and had a great dinner talking and
laughing.
LOL Anyways after getting lost a few times and having to backtrack once we are
finally on the right train for Kashimajingu!! Hehehe I blove the nice JR man
who directed us to the right train and even spoke English!! Hehehe just waiting
for the train to get a move on.. so I'm gonna sit here and talk to Cathy more
about Seasame St and The Muppets... Bring back the tweedles and the aliens.. Yep
Yep yep Cow Cow Yep yep Meeuuuggghhhh Bring bring Nope nope nope Phone yep yep
yep... Hehehehehehehehe I loved those aliens..
