JAPAN: EXTRA RESPECTFUL PEOPLE. KONICHIWA, ARIGATO!!
So, this is obviously not your weekend getaway destination. Its far away. The flights back to Europe totaled 16.5 hours plus a 6 hour layover in China. You might not think that any destination is worth that many hours in a plane but, believe us, it was.
Japan falls into our top 3 destinations thus far and, we were only there 6 days. We split up those days between Kyoto and Tokyo. Kyoto seemed to be a traditional yet modern city. Shops, restaurants, people dressed-up, make-up perfect, hair perfect (including the guys with their highlights and modern hairstyles. For those of you that know, just like the Manga comics.) On the more traditional side, there were temples everywhere and we also passed through the area of Gion with pedestrian streets and Geishas walking among the tourists. One night, just outside the city, we visited a bamboo park illuminated with beautiful handmade paper lamps. To top it off, they gave us free tea!
As I said, the first days were spent in Kyoto and then we took a night bus to Tokyo. This city is the definition of MODERN. People dressed to the T, outrageous shops were those people buy the clothes to dress themselves to the T, everything perfectly clean and the biggest fish market in the world. Here, 2,500 tons 23 million dollars go through it every day!
Here we have a list of a few things about Japan as to why it makes it one of our top destinations:
1) Again, the people. They are extremely respectful, helpful and kind. Many people approached us asking if we needed help without knowing any English. A couple examples of this is a woman guiding us through the metro to show us where the nearest ATM was or a man that accompanied us out of the metro and down the street to show us where we needed to go.
2) The food. I know all you Sushi lovers probably want to kill us right now but, we didn’t try the sushi! First of all, because I don’t really go for raw meats of any kind and second because who knows how the Japanese Anasakis can affect you! We did however try real Ramen noodles. Very good. Also, something called Sukiyaki. It was like the Hot Pot we had in china. A pot of salsas cooking at your table and you add your own meat and veggies to cook inside. When it is done cooking, you dip it in a raw egg just before eating. Surprisingly better with the raw egg.
3) Everyone there greets each other bowing. No handshakes, no kisses. It is a bow after a bow after a bow. Now, I am sure there are rules for how low, who bows first, or who stays down longest but, in 6 days, we didn’t get into all that. It was funny though because it is something you find yourself doing once there. If someone bows to you, it is automatic that you do the same. I hope we did it right! In a park we saw a little boy about 4 years old with his parents. He was running around and being a cute little boy and we were smiling at him. Pretty soon his father told him something and he ran over in our direction, stops a few feet in front of us and while saying “konichiwa” (hello en Japanese) gives us the cutest little bow. Then he turns around and runs off to play. CUTE!
4) Say no to shoes! In any temple, hotels, some restaurants, homes and even some public restrooms, we had to remove our shoes before entering. At first it seemed like a pain but we soon got used to it.
5) The toilets. I had no idea that toilets could do so many things. It can be warm there, spray something here, wash something there and it even has the option of SOUNDING like you are flushing the toilet even if you’re not. I guess so you wont bother anyone with your intimate sounds?
6) Everything is extremely clean and organized. Here are some examples:
· They vaccinate their trees
· We saw an impecable cement truck. It was not new but it was PERFECTLY clean.
· The taxis wait for you with the motor running and the door open. When you get in, the driver presses a button and closes the door for you. You are not bothered to do anything
· It is illegal to smoke outside downtown except for in designated areas. The designated areas are painted boxes on the sidewalks and you didn’t see anyone smoking out of those areas.
7) The language has to be impossible! We were told that there are over 50,000 characters and some of them with multiple meanings. Seems incredible but I guess it works for them!
As we have said many times, the people in the country are what can really make or break your stay. For us, there is no doubt that the people have made our very short stay very meaningful. We are both looking forward to an opportunity to go back. Maybe this time via California??
With these photos of Japan we have finished PART I of Spanglish Extravaganza. It was hard to say goodbye to Japan and even harder to believe that 3 months had passed since we stepped off the plane in Milan. It is so true that times flies when you are having fun! We hope you stay tuned as we head south and begin Part II.
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JAPON: GENTE EXTRA-RESPETUOSA. KONICHIWA, ARIGATO!!
Lo primero que me gustaria decir de Japon, es que esta muy lejos. Para volver a Madrid, nos metimos un vuelo de 4 horas mas otro de 12.5 horas. O sea, aunque nos gusto mucho, no lo recomendariamos para un fin de semana, ni siquiera aprovechando algun puente... Eso si, si teneis algun dia mas, muy muy recomendable.
Este es uno de nuestros tres destinos favoritos, hasta ahora. Y eso que solo estuvimos seis dias. Los repartimos entre Kyoto y Tokyo. Kyoto es una ciudad a la vez tradicional y moderna. Tiendas, restaurantes, gente bien vestida, muy arreglada, muy maquillada, muy peinada (chicos tambien, con sus mechas y eso, como en los comics “manga”). Y luego Templos por todas partes. La zona mas tradicional de Gion, con calles peatonales llenas de tiendas, sus Gheishas paseando por las calles y varios templos alrededor. Visitamos un parque de bambu, de noche, iluminado con lamparas artesanales. Muy bonito. Y nos dieron un par de tes calientes gratis.
Y luego fuimos a Tokyo. Esta si que es moderna! Tiendas, centros comerciales, gente... y mucho pescado. El ultimo dia fuimos a ver el mercado de pescado, la lonja, vamos. Es el mas grande del mundo: 2.500 toneladas cada dia, unos 23 millones de dolares!!
Para terminar, algunas cosas curiosas que vimos en Japon y que han hecho que sea uno de nuestros destinos favoritos.
- Lo primero, como siempre, la gente. Son extremadamente respetuosos y serviciales. Se nos acerco mucha gente ofreciendo ayuda, aunque la mayoria no hablara ingles. Cosas como una senora mayor con problemas para andar que nos acompano por el metro un rato para indicarnos donde estaba un cajero, o uno con traje y maletin que salio del metro a la calle para indicarnos donde estaba nuestra parada del metro...
- La comida. No probamos lo mas conocido de Japon, el sushi y el sashimi, o sea, pescado crudo. Entre que a Laura no le hace mucha gracia y que uno no sabe como ataca el “Anisakis” japones, pues lo dejamos para mejor ocasion. Sin embargo, probamos otras cositas muy ricas, como el Ramen (Sopa de espaguetti) y sobre todo el Sukiyaki, que es como el “Hot Pot” de China, o sea, un pote con una mezcla de salsa de soja y agua hirviendo, donde metes tu carne de ternera, verduras, tofu, setas... para cocinarlo. Una vez cocinado, lo sumerjes en huevo batido crudo y para adentro. Muy bueno.
- Se saludan con una reverencia. Y esto a todas horas, entre ellos tambien. No es una cosa con la que agasajen a los turistas. Es curioso ver como un trabajador del metro saluda a una madre y a su nino con una reverencia a cada uno. O como un nino de unos 4 anos nos saludaba, tambien con reverencia, mientras decia “konichiwa” (hola, en japones).
- Tienes que descalzarte en casi todos los sitios cerrados: templos, casas, algunos banos publicos.
- La tecnologia. En muchos sitios vimos hasta los inodoros “robotizados”. Con calentamiento incorporado, chorros varios y hasta el sonido de simulacion de la descarga de agua, por si alguien se encuentra con gases o ha tenido una digestion complicada y no quiere molestar el oido de los que esten cerca. Eso es respeto, oiga!
- Todo esta escrupulosamente limpio y cuidado. Botones de muestra:
- Les ponen inyecciones a los arboles.
- Vi una hormigonera, con la pintura ya desgastada, que estaba limpia como un coche para una boda.
- Los taxis esperan junto a las aceras con el motor en marcha y la puerta trasera abierta. Una vez subes al taxi, el conductor, desde su asiento, se encarga de cerrar la puerta trasera.
- Esta prohibido fumar en la calle, excepto en las areas especialmente indicadas a tal efecto, que parece un parking, pero donde solo hay gente fumando. Y fuera de alli, nadie lo hace, claro.
- El idioma. Parece ser que tienen unos 50.000 caracteres distintos, algunos de ellos con unos 4 significados distintos. Y sin embargo, parece que se entienden bien.
En resumen, que Japon, sobre todo su gente, nos sorprendio mucho y muy gratamente. Es una pena que pille tan lejos, pero seguro que buscaremos el tiempo para volver alguna vez. La proxima, quiza desde California, que pilla mas cerca.
Con estas fotos de nuestros dias en Japon, terminamos la Primera Parte de Spanglish Extravaganza. Nos costo un poco parar, aunque ayudo el que fuera para ir a pasar las Navidades a Espana y ver a familia y amigos. Y luego lo mismo en USA. Parece mentira que hayan pasado solo tres meses desde que caimos por Milan...
En fin, que esperamos que sigais conectados para seguirnos por la Segunda Parte de nuestro viaje.
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Very large temple
Un templo mu grande |
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A night stroll through a bamboo forest with a free cup of green tea
Un paseo nocturno a traves de un bosque de bambu con una taza de te verde gratis
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Our first Japanese meal. Noodles and stuff.
Nuestra primera comida japonesa. Espaguetti y otras cosas. |
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Entrance to another temple.
La entrada de otro templo. |
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Peace and quiet inside the temple grounds.
Paz y silencio en los patios y jardines del templo. |
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There were such vibrant colors in Japan. Really beautiful.
Encontramos colores muy vivos en Japon. Realmente bonito. |
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Your guess is as good as mine!
Tu suposicion es tan buena como la mia. |
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What we called, "the Orange Temple".
Lo que vinimos a llamar "El Templo Naranja" |
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Orangish Red Temple, maybe?
Templo rojo anaranjado, quiza? |
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Aren't our kids so respectful?
Son o no son respetuosos nuestros ninos? |
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I guess they learn from their father. :)
Supongo que aprenden de su padre. :) |
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Golden Pagoda. Really Pretty.
Pabellon Dorado. Realmente bonito. |
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The kids liked it too.
A los ninos tambien les gusto. |
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"Take 6 injections and call me in the morning."
"Se ponga usted seis inyecciones y me llama por la manana, a ver que tal" |
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Zen Rock Garden. A place for silence and inner reflection. He does it well, huh?
Jardin de Rocas Zen. Un lugar para el silencio y la reflexion interior. Lo hago bien, eh? |
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Its all about the Buddha Belly!
A que es simpatico el Buddha? |
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What a jolly fellow! Almost like Santa.
A los ninos tambien les cayo bien! |
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You are supposed to touch the steer where you had a pain and it would go away. I guess Tono's beard is getting a little out of control by now. hahaha
Se supone que debes tocar al buey en la misma zona que tienes un dolor y este desaparecera. La barba se me estaba empezando a ir de las manos. |
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Pagoda in Kyoto.
Pagoda en Kyoto. |
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Japanese Ramen. Not exactly what you see in Wal-Mart for 25cents, right?
Ramen Japones. Es como una sopa con cosas diversas, desde espaguetti a tofu de soja, verduras, setas... |
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We couldn't resist.
No nos pudimos aguantar. |
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Maurice is SUCH a flirt!
El Mauricio, que esta hecho un Don Juan! |
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We have no idea who this is or what she sings but it was a free expo at the Sony Building in Tokyo. You know you would go too.
Las cosas que uno hace, madre!!! Ni idea de quien es la moza esta o lo que canta, pero habia una exposicion en el edificio Sony de Tokyo. Reconoced que tambien hubierais ido. |
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Sukiyaki. Japanese wonderful (and wonderfully expensive) food. It was the farewell dinner. :(
Sukiyaki. Comida japonesa maravillosa (y maravillosamente cara). Fue la cena de despedida de Japon. :( |
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Fish and Laura and the Fish market (it's about 6:30a.m.)
Pescados varios y Laura en el mercado de pescado (son las 6:30 a.m., vaya ganas!) |
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Immense place with boxes and boxes of everything that lives under, over and around the sea.
Una zona inmensa con cajas y mas cajas y todo lo que vive bajo, sobre y alrededor del mar. |
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When I say everything, I mean everything!
Cuando digo todo, quiero decir todo! |
