Travels 151: On the run to Himeji Castle

Journeys and Travels have been seeing the famous Himeji Castle on national TV in the Philippines about a segment sponsored by JICA. It is one famous winter castle of the Japanese Imperial family located in Himeji, in the Hyōgo Prefecture. Known as the “White Egret Castle”, it has 83 buildings with advanced defensive system. It is also called the “White Heron” Castle because its sheer architectural design resembles that of a bird on flight.

The Himeji Castle dates back to as far back as 1333. It is considered to be the most visited castle in all of Japan and in 1993, it was registered as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Their experience while going there was hilariously unexpected. They arrived at the train station in Himeji and while looking at their watches, it was 3.45pm. Journeys and Travels asked the cab driver if the one they are seeing from afar is the Himeji Castle, he said yes and responded that it closes at 4pm. Even with so much anticipation and restraint on their part because they decided at first not to take a cab in Japan, they took it and the driver took them to the castle exterior gates in time but they have to run to get to the ticket booths for them to buy their entrance fee.

Journeys and Travels along with his Swiss friends Diego and Cornel, took fancy at the grand architectural design of the castle. Diego, being an Architect in Switzerland was more fascinated in the structure and the designs of the castle. He told us about one famous Japanese architect he presently adored, Tadao Ando.

While at the castle grounds, they took no time to waste and started climbing the first landing only to be reprimanded by the old lady that they must remove our shoes. They were given white plastic bags for their shoes and then toured the Himeji Castle until they reach the shrine on top of the castle.

On their way down the castle, they come across a dear friend from the Philippines, 16 year old UP Diliman Summan Cum Laude for Physics Mikaela Irene Fudolig. A day before their Himeji Castle sightseeing, Journeys and Travels was the Chair of the Academic Session where Irene Fudoli presented her paper before attendees of the Asian Conference on Education.

Journeys and Travels and his Swiss friends’ trip to Himeji Castle is one full of warm experiences. The only thing is that they had been handicapped with time. After their tour of the castle, they went back to Osaka on a funny experience yet again for they are lost. They took the wrong train going home!

Travels 150: Romancing Osaka, the Ramada Hotel Osaka

Having been invited to be the Chair of the Academic Session of the Asian Conference on Education in 2009, Journeys and Travels went to Osaka, Japan with an excited heart and ebullient spirit for this is his third solo trip overseas and what made it more exciting is the fact that Journeys and Travels is going to Japan. One thing Journeys and Travels loved about Japan is its very orderly and systematic subway and railway systems.

Journeys and Travels had been told by his friend Tatei Nobuhito that he will take the subway train from my Hotel TaiYo to go to Ramada Hotel Osaka. It took him very briefly to reach the venue of the conference. Upon walking up the stairs from the subway station, he came across the famous Ramada Hotel Osaka.

He noticed that Japanese are so orderly with their zoning and other traffic regulations. Even pedestrians follow where they should go when crossing and walking past alleyways.

Upon arriving at the Ramada Hotel Osaka, Journeys and Travels came across a pretty university student who wore a Kimono. Not to be edged out of the opportunity to get a photo with her, Journeys and Travels politely asked her for a photo op which she graciously approved of. He felt great after talking to her and knowing that she wore it to a wedding of her classmate. Even the Chinese ladies who are attending the conference had a handful of her Kimono.

Journeys and Travels’ experience in Osaka, Japan is one great way to introduce the Japanese culture. It will forever be an experience truly enlightening and rewarding.

Travels 129: Night-out in Osaka

While in Osaka, I met my Swiss friend Coco and we decided to get dinner and sightsee the city by night. Night-out in Osaka is one filled with bursting colors and one that I will never ever forget. I have seen the gargantuan food God and Goddesses there, replete with their viands in wide array of display for those who want to see what is on the menu in each restaurant.

It’s a chilly and windy night-out in Osaka and we went to this district to get some dinner and beers. It was after I and Coco had a warm and funny experience at the public bath in the hotel where we stayed.

The night-out was fun-filled. The beers were hugely popular and we took Kirin Beer after dinner. The most famous beer in Japan is considerably, the Kirin brand.

A night before that, I went solo night-outing in Osaka and I was casually on my walking Benetton shorts and sleepers as I planned to only take dinner by myself and then back to the hotel to prepare my presentation. Since it was my first night-out in Osaka, I want to sightsee it myself. As I was looking around, to my horror, I was the only one dining in walking shorts and everybody were on their suits and in the best dresses. To my chagrin, I hurriedly took my dinner and went off my way home.