May 27

So remember that time when Nikki was in Japan, and she did all this cool stuff?

I do. My calves are still remembering it. But I will explain later.

First:Classes end at noon on fridays so there I was, still feeling iffy from my previous day of sickness, and Norman asked me if I wanted to go to Waseda and have lunch with some U of T students who were doing a year long study there. So we hopped the subway next to campus (my first time on the subway) and headed over. Of course, Steven was our navigator and things can never go wrong with him, right? Sure. So it was pouring rain with me, Ping, Norman, Steven, and Iye walking in the rain trying to find this restaurant that was supposedly 3mins from the station.

20 mins later we stopped at a police box to ask directions and were told that the one we were seeking was 1km in the other direction. Steven suggested we cab it, but damn it we are poor and walked it instead. So we arrive at the restaurant about 40mins late, but arrive we did, me with puddles in my non waterproof shoes. We had a great time and enjoyed some yummy italian food. I splurged and got tirimasu for dessert too. It was a lot of fun to talk to other exchange students from TO. When someone said "Bloor and Spadina" we all got quiet for a moment and realized how weird it sounded for someone to talk about something back home. For the Waseda kids they haven't been home since last september, and I have only been here 1 1/2 weeks, but it feels like so long ago... And then someone mentioned Futures and we all got nostalgic about TO hot spots.

After we finished out late lunch, it was still raining. However, Ping, me, and Norman would rather walk anywhere than pay for the train so we walked from Waseda to Shinjuku where we could catch a train home from a station covered under our train pass. Said walk took an hour or so but hey, we saved 2$ or so...

We walked in the mall underground Shinjuku and once I have decided I have curbed my spending, I will definitely be making a trip back...

And the second part of this story entails what I did all day Saturday:I climbed a mountain.

Yes, you could even say I made a pilgrimmage of sorts to a temple near the summit, all the while complaining and whining, with me and Marguerite threatning to throw Ping off the mountain.

We set off around noon and took the train west for an hour, leaving the city behind until all that was left were trees and small houses. We get off at the last stop on the line and arrive in Takanosanguchi.

The little village at the base of the mountain was charming, full of people and stores selling cheap souvenirs. But I will admit I was sorely tempted to buy some- apparently THE place to buy souvenirs is in Akasuza. The mountain train had a lot of people on it and didn't look too steep. I thought that I, in my limited physical ability, would be able to do it. But I am not exxagerating when I say that 10mins in I was huffing and puffing. The trail was steep and very rarely evened out so you never really got a chance to rest. It was hot and humid so I was sporting a bandanna to keep the hair out of my face and off my neck and a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes since my sunglasses broke. Attractive? Not really. Once we arrived at the 1/3 mark I knew it would be worth all the effort and pain. But still, Marguerite and I kept a running dialogue as we detailed how we would kill Ping, hide his body, and noone would ever find him again. Ping and Chang were in the army for a couple of years as it is mandatory in their countries (Singapore and Korea, respectively) so they had no problems. Hyden was in the navy, but he and Norman work out everyday so they were fine. We joked that we should have brought Richard Simmons along for inspiration, him and his spandex glittery shorts and big hair.

Several points along the way Hyden set up his tripod and took group photos. The temple was really cool- I got to purify myself and had my fortune done (which indicated bad luck- i shouldn't travel, enter a competition, or lose something- screwed!). Once we got to the summit we (meaning me, Marguerite, and a little bit of Ping) struck Rocky poses, sung Eye of the Tiger, and shouted "ADRIAN". I think we may have scared some people.

After we completed the 4km ascent we headed down, got back the train, and then went to Kichijoji to meet Norman and Marguerite's friend for dinner at a revolving sushi restaurant. Me,not being a big sushi eater, ate the cheapest meal I have had since being in Japan 430yen. YAY! We walked around for a bit before someone said we should go to a nearby park. i really didn't want to go, instead wanting to go shopping or walk around the entertainment district. I mean really, a park has trees. So did the mountain. How many freaking trees can a person look at in one day?!

Then again I had been hiking all morning, was sweaty, and wearing a shirt and shorts and carrying a large backpack, quite different from all the extremely well dressed and groomed Japanese out on the town that night. So maybe going to a park, away from people, was a good idea...

But it turns out only half the park is wilderness- the other half has street musicians, peole having picnics at night, hanging out in large groups. On a day when I didn't smell so nasty, I would love to just sit in that park and listen to the musicians. We walked pass a very humourous rendition of "Stand By Me" and Marguerite and I joined in.More walking and then back to the station where we cheated the gates at our end to get home cheaper followed by grocery shopping, and then into bed at 2am this morning. I slept in until noon. It was beautiful.

But my quads still ache a bit, but that pain is very small sacrifice for how much fun I had this weekend. Today being Sunday, I slept, did the laundry, and made a really good dinner of BBQ chicken, rice, and fried egg.

Now, I should do some homework...