Through the Eyes of a Wombat

Anywhere that isn't Sendai is warmer than Sendai.
I've been 'down south' for a few days now, and still have no clear idea of when I will return to Sendai. To anyone contemplating taking an overnight bus anywhere; Don't! It wouldnt be that bad if I could sleep, but ten hours on a bus getting stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway for an hour... over midnight nonetheless.. (only in Japan, eh) not being able to sleep much, and have an old guy in the seat in front snoring the whole time... plus not being able to get a shower, well, there are more comfortable ways to travel.
On the positive side, the seat reclined ALL the way, and if my legs were more standard Japanese length I would have been very comfortable.
There is some formula for calculating the optimum height for steps and stairs, which somehow uses the average length of a human leg ... I've noticed these last few days that the stairs over here are just a fraction shorter than what I'm used to... every step feels like it should be higher than it actually is. This is most pronounced when climbing steps in the subway station while carrying a fifteen kilogram bag (the wheels dont like steps either). The difference is even more pronounced on old buildings (does this mean that the Japanese leg is becoming longer?) as I noticed today when Izumi and I climbed a mountain just out of Kyoto to visit some old temple. Very wide steps everywhere, but the stone path had such shallow steps that each one barely made a difference. I walked on the ramp at the side.

Hopefully soon I can figure out how to put photos up on this site too - Ive got some good ones to go up, like the vending machine selling beer with the very polite sign asking people under 20 to kindly refrain from purchasing any, the slightly odd Engrish appearing from place to place, and the Nagoya subway sign listing among the items prohibited to carry on board the train; corpses. I really worry thinking about the court case that resulted in that sign even being necessary...

Off again for a few more days, going visiting old host family back in Okazaki. Got an email from Shimada in Saitama the other day - moving in to Saitama has been pushed back until the 19th, so I'm officially homeless for a few extra days. Not to worry... I'll be all right :)

Thats all til I get near a computer again,

Bye!

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