It's finally here! It's a few days before my Winter Vacation and I've compiled a list of things I want to do. So now I ask--What would you do in these locations?
So close...
Itinerary:
December 21, Kokura-Osaka
December 22, Osaka-Manila
December 27, Manila-Boracay
December 30, Boracay-Manila
January 2, Manila-Macau
January 3, Macau-Hong Kong
January 8, Hong Kong-Seoul
January 9, Seoul-Fukuoka
Things to do:
Show off my Japanese to my friend in Osaka
Eat lechon
Go to at least 2 restaurants as seen on No Reservations (Travel Channel)
Scuba Dive in Boracay (2 dives)
Surf in Boracay (waves permitting)
Get a cheap massage on the beach
Find the smiling horse on a Red Horse
Order food in Tagalog
Gamble at the largest casino in the world, The Venetian, Macau
So here's a game for all you here in Japan. Bored and broke? Try the Kokura Konbini Challenge! As long as the weather's fair and you have 1000 yen, you can play this drinking game anywhere there are コンビ二. All it it requires a bit of skill and a bit of luck. Home-field advantage helps a lot too.
The Rules:
In turn, each player takes turns acting as a guide to a konbini. After you lead the group to one konbini, it's the next player's turn to lead the group.
You must buy a drink (12 oz./330mL) at each konbini you visit.
You must finish your drink before the next konbini.
If the guide has finished his/her drink and no other player has finished their drink, and the group has arrived at the next konbini, the guide gets a free pass (i.e. doesn't have to drink the next round)
If the guide hasn't finished his/her drink and at least one other player has finished their drink, and the group has arrived at the next konbini, the guide must drink double (tall can 500mL)
You must go into the next konbini you pass whether intentionally lead there or not.
If the konbini is within eyesight and on the same side of the street, it counts as passing by it.
No two same konbini types in a row. No same exact konbini in a night. (ex. You can't go into any 2 Lawsons in a row, but going to a Lawson, 7-11, and then a different Lawson is ok.)
If the guide breaks either rule, he/she must buy the next round for all players.
Bonus rule: No buying the exact same drink in a night. (Same kind of drink is ok.)
Let me know how it goes. If you remember, that is...
Sounds easy?
As a reference, there are 2 inside the station, 1 behind, and another two blocks in front... and that's just for Family Mart.
Notes:
Oldest player starts first.
The game is over at the last train/bus. Or someone gets sick. Whichever comes first.
Drinks must be 5% or better, but while Tsingtao isn't 5% and neither is any light/calorie-off happoshu, that doesn't mean play this game with Strong Zero (8%)
Well, it all started when my good friend mentioned that she wanted to visit Yakushima, a small island south of Kyushu. It may not be know to westerners by name, but if you've heard of the movie, Princess Mononoke, by famed director Hayao Miyazaki, you at least know of this island--it served as the inspiration for the main island in the film.
Princess Mononoke Trail... With a convenient picture spot
So that sounded cool, but that still doesn't explain Tanegashima. Well, she just so happened to mention that she wanted to visit a nearby island, Tanegashima. I was a bit hesitant at first. What's there? It was an expensive addition of another Jetfoil on the way to Yakushima. Besides, no one we know has even heard of it. And then she mentioned that it's a Japanese surfer's mecca.
Sold.
While trying to book an accommodation, each hotel was sold out. For a place that's supposedly not touristy, it made no sense. When I pressed for a reason, the receptionist would talk about the "rocket," and how that was why they had no rooms available. I was confused. How did the Jetfoil cause a shortage of rooms (appropriately named, ロケット)?
Well, it turned out, they were talking about an actual rocket. Tanegashima has its own space center and also has the distinct honor of having one of two launch pads in Japan. For the entire month of September (and part of August), the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Association, JAXA, had been trying to send a shuttle into space. However, due to the typhoons that kept tearing through Japan, it had been postponed several weeks in a row.
The next rescheduled launch date: our last day in Tanegashima.
When we arrived, the weather was terrible... I mean, just look at this.
Who am I kidding, the weather was amazing.
By terrible, I mean terrible for surfing. Just missing Typhoon Roke, there was no wind or waves. But while such calm weather makes for terrible surfing, it meant perfect weather for a rocket launch.
And to be honest, I was giddy like a school child. I had never seen a rocket launch live before, and now that it seems that NASA has discontinued the shuttle program, I figured I'd never see one. (Note: I was ignorant as to which other countries launch space ships other than the US and Russia, and I didn't realize at the time that NASA will still send satellites into space, just not people.)
3km away from the launch site
The next day, we worked our way to the viewing area in the south of the island by bus, a bit of walking, and eventually taking up an offer for a ride by a stranger. By the time we got there, everyone was already seated and waiting. The announcer called off the countdown from 30 minutes. Then 20. Then 10. As if the anticipation wasn't killing me enough, at around 3 minutes, she started to countdown seconds. And then finally, we heard 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
Pardon the strong language... it was pretty exciting...
And that was it. All that work and hype for that one minute.
