Buffoon in a Typhoon
Trip Start
Aug 25, 2010
1
32
36
Trip End
Nov 23, 2010
Ise, Kinki, Japan
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Once I had healed myself with a little antisocial behavior, I decided to go straight to Ise. Here I stayed at a ryokan - a traditional japanese inn with tatami flooring, futons and no heat and it was chilly willy - a typhoon dumped a lot of water on the area while I was there. No matter, it was the first authentic place I found in Japan. Maybe its the seafaring genes I have in me from both sides of my family but I felt very connected here. I felt like it had some character. I spent a few hours walking around the "Kawasaki" area which still retained the buildings from 100 years ago. I didnt spend too much time, maybe three hours out there, because honestly it was pouring rain and cold. I was bundled up, bought a hat to keep me warm, even wore big bird the huge yellow rain poncho but still the rawness got into my bones.
So I went back to the inn, drank a ton of green tea and ate this amazing meal freshly prepared for me. These people were so accommodating - I told them I was allergic to soy (which I am not but the smell of soy sauce by that time made me nauseous - seriously - just walking into a 7/11 or by a restaurant was all it took). So I tell these people I cant eat it and they were like - you cant eat Japanese food then. I told them I had been living off peanuts, bananas and rice for 5 days and I could continue with that. Well, they made me these dishes without the typical smell to them and they were AMAZING - tempura shrimp and salmon, shark (I ate shark) rice with little tiny fish on it (that made me a little ill to look at but I just closed my eyes because really they were just salty) etc etc. All of it good tasting and good for my soul. Between the food and all the green tea I was like a new woman.
The next day it wasnt raining so I ventured out to the Ise shrines where I saw more amazing trees. I then took a train ride to Toba where the first pearls were cultivated. I walked around the Mikimoto Pearl Museum and watched the ama demonstration (women divers). It was excellent.
Then I went to the aquarium. ANyone who knows me knwos I have a thing for wildlife and sea creatures in particular - I am just fascinated by animal behavior. Favorite animals at the aquarium: walrus (one with tusks one without and they were fantastic), cuttle fish (dont get me started about their fabulousness - the men can morph themselves to look like women cuttlefish to sneak past the bickering men to have his way with the girl cuttle fish - the female cuttlefish has sex with like 10 different guys and saves all the sperm for a later decision on which one to choose - the most likely candidate is the one that morphed into the girl shape - shes smart too!), the finless porpoises (there was a girl standing next to me who had her face close to the glass and the porpoise kept stopping and smiling at her - it was amazing) and of course the sea otters which are just so freaking cute one cannot neglect to mention them.
Most importantly, I held an octopus. Yes, there was a hands on exhibit. When I saw there were octopus I rolled up my sleeve. I thrust my hand in and waited for one of the three little guys to attach itself to me. I had my hand in for maybe 20 seconds when 5 arms came out of no where and grabbed me. I nearly fell over - there was another octopus hidden from my view in a little pipe which decide it liked me. It really had a hold too - sucking and gooshy, but strong. That lasted for about 1.5 seconds because I shook it off - I was a little freaked. But I held the octopus, I might have not held the panda, but I promised myself I would not make that mistake again. Brilliant.
