So my time had come to an end in Japan and again time went so quickly I never managed to find the moments to write. Too busy enjoying myself once the overall thrill of being back had subsided. It's exciting how a place makes you feel like that and with the second time round its even better. You know what to expect and so you get all that out the way and down to the best bits. Again I met some incredible people. The variety of fascination they have really does attract the best… of some people.
I rocked up to a leaving party of a guy I met briefly last year, unfortunatly the conversation with my Japanese friends had run out quickly. It was one of those evenings when hanging solo once again, it was important to not look too bothered about it. I chatted away to other foreigners; some knowing that if I didn't shut up soon their girlfriends would start getting suspicious. But it was a fun evening, ending up in a downtown bar. Let's call it, supposedly 'illegal bar' at 6am. Where we sat in candle lit darkness and the Dj played his tunes and somewhere the pot was smoking out the window directly on looking to the police grounds… Has to be noted, when this happens in the likes of Japan.
I worked and I spent my days exploring again. When B & C went to Hong Kong. We had a wonderful time at Universal Studios getting into the Christmas spirit. But for the rest of the week I ended up with 2 sick children, a doctor’s visit and that was let's say the rest of the week. Man actually that was pretty damn stressful. So when it came to my well-deserved week off, don’t ya think?? Pretty exhausted from the week, but still totally wired. I couldn't face the thought of staying in bed knowing that the day would just disappear like that. I was up sharp... ish and I took the Shinkansen down south to Hiroshima where the first ever first atomic bomb was dropped in 1945, killing and devastating the city for years after from the radiation.
I contemplated on the way what I fancied for the day, a sacred tranquille island called Miyajima or a day of reality, that ashamedly I had no idea about until this trip back. I also tried to be constructive and do some French homework, but I was also craving some adult chat which I had been lacking somewhat in the past week.
Now you all may guess that of all people and even now. Randomly starting conversation with complete strangers I still find so hard to do and I have actually never really off the cuff started randomly chatting to someone where there is no other intention behind it.
But after I kinda quickly lost interest in my homework, across the aisle I start chatting to a Dutch guy, turns out he was also on his little holiday after just finishing an internship in Tokyo, get this building robots! We then ended up hanging out for 2 days.
Before this turned out to be, I had decided to go to the island as the sun was out and the snow was falling back home… and you all got stranded! Anyway, so I then happen to share a lift to the ferry with an English guy, who was preparing his art gallery on this sacred island. (www.matthewphinn.com, his website). Instantly found this fascinating, obviously. So he filled me in with the facts of the island and by the time Tim… the Dutch joined me, I was full of interesting facts to impress him! Apparently it is forbidden for anyone to be born or die on the island!
I know, he definitely was the only geek between the 2 of us, damn it. I forget how ridiculously far in advance this country is and we spent a lot of time discussing how in no time robots will be taking over the world! Yet we were on this island where they still stood by these random traditions… The next morning he persuaded me to go with him to the Mazda factory… but only just persuaded me… there it definitely helped me to understand his fascination into robots. I, Robot filmmakers and fans you have been warned!
We did manage to also to make it to the Peace Park in Hiroshima and learn the devastating affects us bloody English and the Americans did to this city.
I made it home that evening, rushing in and promptly leaving with everyone for a 60th birthday dinner for Mikiko… Christophe’s agent.
I got sick then typically, but importantly made it to Disneyland and hung out with the likes of fascinating people. One that I must take as a compliment, that they enjoyed the likes of my company and I’m very happy to have met.
Although 4 years in a row not home for Christmas is one too many. I hope you all had a wonderful time! Mine is yet to begin, we are back in France now… but I am home in 3 days! My sister is to get married in Austria on the slopes! Then I come back to France briefly before I join B, C and the kids in Dubai. Oh it’s a hard life I know. What will I do with myself by the time its finished in April?? I'll think about that whilst I spend 2 months basking by the pool. :P
