Day 4. Off to Kyoto and Osaka via Shinkansen

“Hoy gising nah!”

The earth shattering sound at 6 in the morning na galing sa bibig ni Nette. On my vacation. On days na ayaw mong bumangon ng maaga.

“Huh… hhh… bakit?” Habang kalahati pa ang diwa ko.

“La lang. Wala akong kasamang magising eh.”

Ged demet. Hinila ko pataas ang kumot at bumalik matulog.

“Sige na, para maka-breakfast tayo ng maaga at empake pa.” Sabi ulit nya.

Sure enough, bumangon na ako kasi I already knew that it would take at least 3 hours for her to get ready. I am being realistic this time. Went downstairs, packed our guts with the usual stuff, went back up and took a shower.

Now the struggle had begun kasi nga halos kalahati ng isang luggage namin ay free toiletries. May 3 days times 2 sets each/day of shower cap, toothbrush and toothpaste, bedroom slippers, wet towellete, q-tips, suklay, pang-ponytail, sewing kit, makeup remover.

Lentek, andami.

Nailabas na yata ni Nette ang lahat ng mga dinala naming damit at hindi niya alam ang susuotin. It took her several rounds of about 5 sets of clothing pairs. Top, bottom at accessories. Imagine the permutation possibilities. 3 hours nga. 3 hours.

We finally ended the struggle at around 10:30 am then headed downstairs to the lobby. We just dropped the hotel key cards in the designated ‘check-out’ bin if you have not incurred any expenses. Ganun na lang yun, honesty system na lang. They did not ask for our credit card number when we checked in.

Went straight to Sugamo station, took a 15 minute train to Tokyo station, then headed to the Shinkansen platform. Sabi 12pm ang schedule but we were already there at 11:30. Wait na lang muna. At 11:45, we went to the platform and lined up depending on the car number. Car 4, seats 12D and 12E.

“Bakit naman car number 4 and ibinigay sa atin…” Reklamo ni Nette.

“Eh kung mamalasin at na-derail yung tren, eh di lahat tayo patay, pati yung nasa car number 8 na feeling mo suwerte number.” Sabi ko naman. She always wants anything that has to do with 8. At dapat never 4.

11:50 na, dumating ang bullet train. Biglang pumila ang isang helera ng mga staff ng naka-suot ng pink, or peach yata. Not entirely sure about the colour. Sila yung maglilinis ng train sabi ng announcement sa paging system.

“In less than 10 minutes?!!!” Sabi ko.

“Aber…” We saw all of them from outside the train through the window na parang fast forward magtrabaho. Cue Lone Ranger music.

11:57. Isa-isang lumabas yung mga naglilinis. Done and over with in 7 minutes. Nag-announce nang puwedeng pumasok. Malumanay ng pumasok ang lahat ng pasahero and we immediately found our seats. Took our bags on the overhead compartment then sat comfortably.

12:00 sharp. The train left.

It did not go from zero to 300 kph right away kasi nga may iba pang station to pick up passengers maybe 4 local stations away. Right after the last stop, the train started accelerating until we just felt that we were being pulled away. The marquee monitor at the front of the car just flashed 298 kph. The expected time of arrival in Kyoto is 2:17pm. Will see.

15 minutes in, an employee started making rounds selling ekiben. ‘Eki’ means station and ‘Ben’ is short for bento. So ekiben means station bento. We decided to buy kasi nga daw eating ekiben while on a shinkansen completes the travel experience. So we did opt for the premium box – wow sosyal. Not really kasi nga share na lang kami ni Nette, eh di tipid pa din.

“Kore hitotsu to durinku hitotsu kudasai.” Itinuro ko yung picture ng order plus isang drink.

“Isang drink lang?” Sabi ni Nette. “Eh pano naman ako?”

“Mag-ipon ka na lang ng laway. $4 din yung isang bote.” Sabi ko naman. “Wag kang dudura, lunukin mo na lang.” Dagdag ko pa.

Of course, nabatukan ako.

We carefully opened the box. It was actually plastic sealed na parang ayaw mong kainin. We then proceeded to investigate each compartment kung anu-ano sila. Interesting. I have eaten some of them before but there were some na noon ko lang nakita, or maybe I have seen them but cooked differently. We both admired how it looked. Parang painting.

Naubos. Inilagay sa plastic bag which they also provided.

“Tsugi no eki wa Nagoya. Nagoya desu.” After 1.5 hours or so, Nagoya station na daw sabi ng announcement. Malapit na sa Kyoto. Nagbabaan ang ilang pasahero, sumara ang pinto at lumipad ulit ang tren. Hindi ko man lang nakita ang Mt. Fuji kasi maulan at cloudy.

At exactly 2:17pm, we arrived at Kyoto station. The precision was just incredible as they announced when we were still in Tokyo that our train will arrive in Kyoto at 2:17pm. Akala ko psychic lang yung driver at fortune teller yung conductor.

After we marvelled at how efficient and comfortable our train trip was, it was time to disembark. Kyoto station was huge with modern architecture. Dragged our bags across the walkway while trying to solve the maze on how we can get out of there among sea of people. As in andaming tao criss-crossing each others’ path. Parang ant colony sa likod ng elementary classroom na nung grade 4 ka eh gustong gusto mong sungkitin ng stick.

Tired, dazed and confused, I finally decided to break my ‘mahiyain reputation’ and ask one of the information guys on directions on how we can flee the mayhem. I am ok when it comes to directions but Kyoto’s is a bit confusing than Tokyo’s even if Tokyo’s, compared to Kyoto, train system has more than ten times of Kyoto’s. Confusing ba ang sinabi ko? Oo, parang ganun.

“Ano, deguchi wa dochira desuka?” Nagtanong ako kung saan papuntang exit.

“Massugu itte, hidari ni magarimasu.” Diretso, then left turn ang sabi nya. Actually yung lang ang naintindihan ko sa lahat ng sinabi nya but good enough, I know where to go.

Finally made our way out of Kyoto station. Turned the GPS on and started following Siri’s commands. Turn left, turn right, walk straight for 200 meters at kung anu-ano pa. Got to the hotel entrance in less than 10 minutes. Check in was a breeze. Went straight to out room. This version of the same APA hotel in Tokyo was waay smaller. As in waaaaay smaller.

“Single bed yata ang ibinigay sa atin?” Tanong ko.

“Wala ng daanan.” Sabi naman ni Nette.

“Baka naman eto na yung double, eh but since mag-asawa tayo, are they expecting na magkapatong tayo magdamag?” Sabi ko naman.

We parked one of the bags sa banyo, the other sa paanan with barely no room for itself. Well, this room was booked way before pa so no worries, we will take it. The hotel was also a bit rundown but liveable. One night lang naman kami dito. Nanette and I started unpacking but took just bare necessities kasi no room and we don’t want to pack it back again the next day.

Refreshed a bit, showered, cleaned up. Then it was my turn to freshen up.

“Nette, sira yata yung toilet kasi hindi umaandar yung bidet” Reklamo ko. But I tried to push several buttons to check if it was really working. It was just making some weird sounds but it did not do what it supposed to do – and that is squirt on your bum.

“Ulitin mo!” Sabi ni Nette. I did. Paulit-ulit na nga eh.

I did not do number 2. I just sat on the toilet to check the bidet. And to check if the spray squirt will actually hit the bulls eye. Or maybe I just wanted it, test it and feel it.

“Ayaw talaga.” I just finished freshening up.

Since we still had ample time to check out a tourist spot, we took an old fashioned train to Fushimi-Inari. Isang temple with thousands of red (more like vermillion) Torii gates stacked side by side each other creating a pathway of bright orange walkway. The scene was quite unique. The whole waking tour would take about 2 hours from the foot of the hill all the way to the top. At since we barely had enough energy to complete this journey, we just decided to stop at the first segment. Took tons of pictures and selfies while swimming in a sea of Chinese tourists, sprinkles of Koreans and a whiff of other nationalities. These are on top of local Japanese tourists from elementary schools and middle school.

10 minutes tops, done with tourist spot #1. Then we headed back to Kyoto station.

Went to Kyoto station to check out the area and what to see within the vicinity. Roamed around, went up and down, left and right, front and centre. Then we finally found the underground mall. There were some good offerings and selections.

Since Nette was still looking to find the perfect melon pan taste after devouring several from Family Mart and 7-11 in the last 4 days, we went to a bakeshop just within the mall. They sold a different version of melon pan. We bought one. Walked several steps and found this French bakeshop that sells it as well. Before we even tried to order it, we saw the label.

“Melon Pain” That was it said on the label.

Eh sa bobo kaming dalawa sa French at ang alam lang namin ay ‘bonjour’, nagtawanan na lang kami. Good thing the store clerks did not understand our conversation, a bit rude of us though. Sorry.

“Nette, bakit ganyan ang mukha mo? May masakit ba?”

“Oo. Melon pain. Dito ohh!”

We kept walking. Nette was looking for tights and leggings or anything in between. After some long walks, we chanced upon this stall that sells it exclusively. Great. One stop shop.

“Ay gusto ko to, ay gusto ko to, ay gusto ko dalawa neto.” I just rolled my eyes. I tried to help her find stuff kasi para makauwi na kami back to the hotel to rest.

“Eto oh, size L na jeggings.” Jeans na leggings ang ibinigay ko.

“Meron bang small niyan? Baka naman mukhang pajama yan sakin?” Reklamo niya.

“Excuse me?!” Sabi ko sabay tingin sa bilbil niya.

Nabatukan ulit ako.

Pinilit ko siyang magmadali para makauwi na sa hotel. Pagod na sa kaka-lakad sa temple.

After so much convincing (though I did not understand why I need to convince her), she gave in and bought several pairs. She kept muttering “small ako, small ako” while in the line up bago magbayad.

Crazy B with an itch.

B as in beach. Beeeaaach.

Abangan Episode 5: A Very Full Day in Kyoto