The Curious Case of the Lost Bag or how we Ended up in Nara

 

Making Osaka a base for explorations of the surrounding towns, one has options: Nara for the park, Kyoto for the protocol and Kobe for the beef. The idea was to Kyoto, cos culture. The Shinkansen too short a trip to enjoy, the local train it was. Alight in Kyoto, change to the subway line, 4 stations northwards and there is the Imperial Palace. A must see, just like the Nishiki Market and the Manga Museum.

This one time. A first, I put the backpack onto the rack above the seats. I have never done that in a train. The backpack stays with me like a loyal dog. After 4 stations, I noticed we go SOUTH! So, just as the doors are closing, we get off. Sans backpack. 

With the bag, containing passports (Yeah, we have that along in Japan ALL the time, cos Duty Free!) headed to the terminal at the end of the line, we approach the station master. The are kinda used to dazed and confused tourists and after a half hour wait, the polite, patient and competent conductor has news for us that a bag, looking similar like the one described has been found and is available for collection in Nara. The most amazing thing is the translation device used to communicate. Train dude speaks into it in Japan and out comes perfect German!

Back onto the train with changed plans: might as well explore Nara. With half the staff at the terminal station already knowing my name (not many Germans about I guess...), the bag is retrieved and the adventure continues. 

Gotta hand it to the Japanese: although a stressor, the incident was handled with utmost professionalism, calm and collect (pun!). In most other places one would have had to start thinking about a replacement passport. 

Still have to see the Imperial Palace, after my fourth visit to Osaka. However, we found that the Nara Craft Beer Fesitval was in full swing, which was an bag of fun for all of us after the scare. 
 

Eating that?

In German, "Popo" is a cute word to describe one's behind. I might not want to put this into my mouth. Or maybe I will. Cos Muruku is rather yummy. 

If it Sucks Like that, it is a Keeper!

 

Istabul Airport has Disappointed Me

 This is a development gone wrong. The old airport was maybe a little bit more crowded, but I would take that over this now one.

- Luggage carts in the terminal: need deposit. Why? It is not like I could take them into the plane. Besides, nowhere near the gates, so you have to schlepp your stuff to the main concourse first - 1 hour free Wifi???? A joke and then 6,50 EURO for something that about every airport offers unlimited FOC - Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong ways. I mean really long. If you have to go through the passport control between flights, better make sure to have enough time - Woah! Expensive. Look, ALL the Duty Free shops are empty, shop keepers bored. Wonder why. - Maybe it is the high prices and the lack of customers: EVERY staff we interacted with was grumpy. No, you don't owe me, but I like to feel welcome when I spend money. Look at this menu! I rather starve myself for a few hours. - Seemingly not much to do to pass time. Lucky are those with lounge access. - Cleanliness could be improved in the toilets. Still ok, but starting to get smelly. Overall, this airport should have a look at other new developments.

The Cosplayer in Me

There is a photo booth in Osaka castle. A mere 500 Yen allows you to pick an outfit, complete with a helmet matching your personality or Chinese Zodiac. The green screen then allows for a lot of different backgrounds to be used for a printed photo. Cool idea. Makes you feel like the second last Samurai. 

Kinda easy to understand why people get involved in Cos play and medieval roleplay gatherings. I just don't think I am cut for the kind of "play" that is going on in Akihabara. 

That is a New One for Hotels!

Stayed in a 3-Star hotel. Booked breakfast with it as I had a long day ahead and didn't want to go hunt for food first thing. The restaurant had this sign on display. I am sure that they have their good reason. It was not for the place being not presentable. On the contrary. It was a nice space, well lit, nicely placed tables and all. Would have made for some good backdrop for the Gram (well, if you know me, you know that this sign did nothing to deter me). 

Asked. Three people from the hotel. Neither could tell me what the reason for this sign is. A mystery. Which made me wonder: don't the staff walk past this, thinking "Yeah, actually why?" I can't be the only one to have ever asked. Or are people just ignoring it / following instructions without asking?

Extra: Interesting

Had the opportunity to be an extra in a TV commercial. I will be somewhere in the back of a group of people, so don't go and watch TV all day. Filling the background essentially. The most interesting aspect of this might be what a "Studio" looks like. Spoiler alert: boring. 

A "Studio", as I have also seen it in Hong Kong interviewing the owners of a fabled one that was chosen for a Batman movie, is essentially a big empty space. One of the characteristics I found them to have in common is that they seem to be deliberately in remote-ish areas. Must have to do with the idea that one needs "quiet on set". 

When you have sat through a movie, reading the credits of a film, one can't help to wonder how many people it takes to produce one. Indeed, even for a TV commercial, there were about 50 people (incl us extras) on set.