Jun 2006

We stepped off the train somewhere in Kyoto's surrounding neighbourhoods.
Wandering through the winding streets, the mountain range got closer and closer until we were staring up at its lush and leafy coat. A quick stop into Family Mart and we were armed with lemon Chu-hi (an alcoholic Solo) and ice cream.

The days focus was Monkey Park, an area where wild Japan monkeys roamed freely around the hills, scratching themselves, staring at people and occasionally stealing shiney and usually expensive cameras. We weaved up the steep pathway, panting from the hot dry air and lighthead from the drinks.

A soft sounds above us prompted a quick stop perched in the tree bearly a meter away was a Monkey.

Monkey and the Tree

The futher we continued, the more of our animal cousins we saw. A small plateu off to the side offered the opportunity to see family interactions. Babies being nurtured, siblings frollicking, partners grooming.

Baby J wandered towards a smaller female for a special Kodak moment. I hear a branch break and saw a male charge towards him. He turned towards the sound and as he made eye contact with the monkey, his face drained and he stumbled backwards. Somehow, somewhere I managed to offer a "look out" through the fits of laughter. I could feel the tears running down my face and despite having my video phone on him at the time, the footage quickly turned Blair Witch as I cluchted at my sides through the glee.

Confused Monkey

The view was spectaular and refreshing ...

View from Arashiyama

View from Arashiyama 2

Monkey and the Mountain

Mental Note: Ensure Mobile Phone isnt set to Macro when trying to take pictures

Reality started to fade at 1am.

I had just watched "The Jacket", a story of time and circumstance along the lines of Donnie Darko and Twelve Monkies. My brain tumbled with possibilities of time echoes, past and future, colliding with now.

The house was empty. Both my flatmates and their partners disappeared into the dense concrete jungle of Tokyo for the weekend. I was alone for the first time in months.

I had a coffee, its 3am, best rest my head.

I set my alarm for 8:45.

I was floating down a river, leading towards the ocean and beyond when an alarm dragged me back to consciousness. The tired routine of shower/shave/suit danced before me and after a quick coffee and bowl of cornflakes, I ventured out.

Off to Juso station, I pocketed 2 packets of tissue and a 10% discount of facials along the way. I met 1/2 the gang at east gate and we headed off for class. This time I was on the otherside. The community centre had free lessons and I would spend the next 1 1/2 counting people, pencils and chairs in Japanese. The teacher had become the student.

Somewhere across the line of April and May lies Golden Week. A period of 3 National holidays within the space of 7 days. With the addition of the weekend, the majority of the week is now rest days and most business and people simply take a much needed vaction. It is a period of travelling abroad or returning to your home town. A time for relaxing. Of quiet contemplation or social catchup.

I was still playing catchup with my pay. Monthly deposits are a challenge to manage but when the last packet included mostly training rate (50% less then standard rate), I was acting catious. I was, however, talked into 2 trips.

Kobe. A port city. A miracle city. Last time I visited Kobe was almost 10 years ago. In the early '90s, Kobe bore the brunt of a devastating earthquake which flatten most of its countryside. I remember staring at its scarred landscape, and seeing the beginnings of life slowly creeping and stretching back up towards the sky. This time I found a bustling harbour town full of life, growth and energy. We arrived at Sannomiya, a central station and wandered towards the mountain. A distant memory told me the Ropeway car to the top was at the side of the JR station. For 550yen, we took the one way trip. The car rocked nervously in the wind, this was never meant for 4 forigners with their McBellies. The view over the city was refreshing and expansive. After a short peek into the 'perfume museum', the gang oogled a strange hairy insect for 25 minutes, pocking and proding it with the amusement of a young child. Our 1 way fair had been chosen to encourage us to walk down the mountain side, and eventually we found the narrow path off into the wilderness. We stumbled down the track for the next hour and 1/2, stopping many times to either jump out from behind trees to scare one another, or wander back and forth in a desperate bid to find the track again. We eventually emerged at the bottom, hot sweaty and covered in twigs, leaves and undergrowth. After hiking, we headed for food and eventually found a nice turkish resturant in downtown Kobe.

Part II coming soon ...