Fond memories Aso and the nightlife

Pretty much nothing about Japan left a bitter taste in my mouth, with the exception of the pointiness and hardness of their nightstand's. Long story. Well actually short embarrassing story. And the way that their high speed tram come out of nowhere to swallow a football and then jump back not giving it back until someone makes an illegal climb at two AM.

Essentially I got to see Japan through rose colored glasses. The people that I met all actually wanted to meet me. I was not sleeping on the floor, I was sleeping on a mattress on the floor. It was hot and muggy which reminded me of Georgia. The rice fields were beautiful, the way that they reflected the landscape off of their shining surface. The love hotels at first somewhat misunderstood now seem somewhat quaint, like a car in the nineteen fifties. A place to go with that special someone where no parents can hear the noise.

Aso was really cool. Although at first I didn't hear the name correctly since Maurice said it with a smile, making me think that he was calling me something else, it has an extra s and ends with hole. I just stayed quiet for a bit listening to them talk about airsoft guns and laughing a little bit on the inside at how much like me these ambassadors to Japan's children were, they just want to shoot someone. Then I saw a raccoon dog with church bell sized danglies, and I was told that it was a Tanookie. Those large danglies apparently have magical powers. The car ride up to Aso (now I had confirmed the name since I saw it on a sign) was pretty. With sweeping valleys, and grand vistas, there was a few stops where there was some fun to be had. At one Maurice got beat by the queen of the balancing on the parking spot raised up thing, Lisa, but of course so did everyone else that stepped up to try and take her crown. I having learned that it is not wise to take crowns from women, politely declined the challenge. I would say that Karen would get points for being closest to knocking her off of her throne, there being a few times where both of them fell and Karen just barely making it to the ground first. Then we get up to this nice look out spot where you can see the town below and the volcano above. I figured that I would be taking everyone's picture being that I am not one of the select ALT group, but this time I actually was a part of the group. It was pretty cool. Being that I have been on the outside of a lot of the groups that I was involved in, usually because of how I worked out. But that didn't matter, I was just one of the group, I could really tell when Tan played a little trick on me by telling me that this green stuff was apple juice. As it turned out it was apple vinegar juice. Which tasted horrible. But me not wanting to waste food chugged it all down with a burning sensation left in my throat. Probably should say something about the mountain before I move on. Well there were bunkers, a green pool, and a field of black, with some sulfur smelling air. Oh and me suprising Karen by pulling her up on one of the bunkers one handed. There is nothing like seeing normal stoic Maurice running like an idiot and jumping over a bench, just to see if he can prove that he is a man, I once again declined to play in the reindeer games, thought about it but decided that I would save my self defacing act for when it is that they will never expect it. Anyway the volcano was awesome, unfortunately I ain't good wit de words so put that little description into your imagination and make it into something great. Ok back to the restaurant that I was drinking apple vinegar juice in. All of us were hungry, and we were running up and down this mall trying to find some place where we could eat, until we ended up at the entrance that we started at. Only this time we went up stairs. Good food, and it was kinda funny to see the women go gaga over the sinfully delicious dark cake that the restaurant had made available. Finally we were all stuffed and decided to go to the city where we would be spending the night.

hilarity ensued when we could not find the hotel. Luckily we had the wonderfully good humored Japanese tour guide Rumi with us that got us close enough for her to ask directions. Then more hilarity when Maurice and I saw the bed and the room that we would be sharing. If Maurice stood up straight when he was walking through the door he would hit his head at about eyebrow level. Ah the price of being tall, women are more attracted to you, but you cannot fit into a Japanese shower. Which was funny because I had to duck to get my head under the shower in that place. And the bathroom was like that of an airplane bathroom only with a bathtub attached to it, oh and the toilet had a built in rinse cycle if you know what I mean, you just have to be careful of which button you push or you might get water incoming instead of water outgoing. Once Maurice and I had showered up and were looking spiffy, well he was looking spiffy I was just looking like I always do. Waiting in one of the ALT's room for everyone else to show up, while they were making drinks. Once everyone was there plus Tan's friend Kyle we went to a a bar run by a former ALT. This was while we were waiting for a Mexican restaurant to free up some space, we were just in there having some fun, taking pictures, having interesting conversations. Then it was time to go questions got asked that regarded the movie preference, Eric being the brave one, or maybe just the one that wanted it the most asked the bartender which he was politely told no. Off to Mexican. The women not wanting to get their stylish coffiures wet I offered them my jacket allowing me to walk through the rain. Something that I love to do. Maurice and I lost the group and passed the restaurant because of some interesting photo opportunities. Also we found all three reasons to be out that night before we hit the restaurant. And then some. Good times. The restaurant was a mix of darts, fajitias, and tequila sunrises, off to kereokie, more fun clear things, loud singing, bonus to the women for the impressiveness of their vocals. Then off to a club, got handed a jar of bad smelling bad tasting, essentially bad rice juice. Just couldn't do it. Made it to the club and there it was moving like an idiot with glimpses at a rather attractive girl standing over yonder dancing seemingly by herself. Slug of tequila and a slug of whisky, some deep talking with my brother, and the night is being cut short. Go back and talk nonsense for another hour and fall asleep waking up five hours later stinking to high heaven and dragging badly. The next day was good although it was a blur, between restaurant which was good but suffered the problem that most Japanese restaurants have, portions not big enough, then a book store, then a castle with some ninjas that I got a pictures of. And then it was a long drive home. Those people over there were good folk. It was kind of funny trying to convince Lisa and Karen that I didn't want my Jacket that I really did enjoy walking in the rain, (Which I do, one of my favorite things, like raindrops on roses...). It was a good time to be had with some really nice people.