The first three days were at the New Koyo hostel at the Minami Senju station, which is cheap, clean and rents bikes at 2.5$ a day and has wifi and a laundry machine. The guy that runs the place is great and knows everything around the area and is always ready to help.
I ended up biking to the Sky Tree (tallest broadcasting tower in the world) to meet my japanese friend there. I didnt go up because it would have cost like 40$, and there was a huge waiting line.. What i DID do was go up to the 31st floor of the building right next to it for free.
After getting another bike, we ended up going to Ueno Park to see the Sakura blooming. when we made it, it was night, but the whole place was lit up and it was pretty. we ended up sitting down and talking to a couple of japanese guys, and eventually with a couple of japanese girls that were sitting behind us. One of the girls was totally a hottie and was smart, had studied Chinese and had worked there a few months and had a interest in the world and politics and we ended up talking 3 hours. She also had a boyfriend, I learned then. Figures.
The next day I went to meet my friend in the Yokohama Chinatown, it took longer than planned because I couldnt get a wifi. I even checked at a Starbucks, but to be able to use the wifi there, you need to register. Online. Yeah.
The staff, whom I am sure ALL had their smartphones somewhere near by were less than helpful suggesting i find a hotel or something with free wifi to register. I guess it would have been too much to ask that one proposes to register me online with their smartphone. I ended up having to leave Chinartown to find a 7-11 convinience store, which all have free wifi. Is there something 7-11 DONT have in Japan?
After an all-you-can-eat Chinese food buffet, I went to meet Jeremy and we went out for Karaoke. The next day we had to check out at the New Koyo, as it had been full for saturday night and ended up staying at the Koyo (The OLD Koyo) hostel. The owner was polite enough, but the place was pretty bad... People smoked in the rooms and hallway, the shower was closed from 11pm to 9am, and the checkout was at 9am, the rooms smelt of cigarette and were very shabby... I should have forked the extra 10$ to get a regular cheap hostel, if only not to have to wake up at 7am in a room stinking of cigarette because my nextdoor neighbour was smoking, and being able to take a shower before checking out...
Anyhoo, before having to check into that crumby hostel, Jeremy and me met up with his parents, who happened to be in Japan visiting him, and we went around Shibuya. I eventually met up with Yves, and we went out with some friends. I got a bunch of cheesecake at this trendy place in Shibuya and it was good.
The last day, I said goodbye to jeremy and his parents and went to the Oedo Monogatari Onsen in Odaiba. I had already been there a few times before, but I noticed a sign this time around saying clearly that people with tattoos were not permitted to enter.. I resisted the urge to Gaijin Smash my way in, and asked the guy at the door if it was OK if I just covered it or something. No go. So after an hour of train, dirty me could not even go to the Onsen. At least I had an interesting talk with the manager, though we obviously had a different conception as to the definition of the word "discrimination".
So, having been unable to get a shower at Crumby Hostel, and being refused the right to bathe, and running out of time, I went to the airport and flew to Korea.
Korea is pretty similar, yet very different from Japan. People sort of look the same, the art and graphics of signs and posters are very similar, but the language and alphabet are completely different. When people talk, I sometimes can understand a small part of what they are saying because some words are similar with Japanese words, but just when I think I can understand, it becomes totally alien... Also, there must be an infrastructure with the sewage system, because most parts of town smell like shit. Literally. Like, from the sewers. I dont know how the sewage works, but in many districts, every block or so, I'd pass a sewage grating, and would get a whiff of old mud puppy. I still cant decide if its better or worse than cigarette smoke.
Anyhoo, There is a lot less english on the signs and I cant read a word of korean, so the trip to the hostel wasa bit more challenging. In a good way. I eventually arrived, and while the room is small, theres a laundry room, free rice/kimchi/instant ramen, and the rooms are clean. Theres no wifi, but theres a computer with internet, which I am using right now. Its also like 15$ a night.
The owner talks good english, and he even lent me his bike, so I went to the Gangam area and wandered around Seoul a bit. Food prices are always a surprise. 80 cents for a jumeok bap (korean onigiri), 10$ for a feast or korean BBQ... But then 10$ is also what it costs for a few pastries and a coffee at a local non-high-class place. I dont know if the price of wheat skyrocketed and meat plumetted, but anyways.
Tomorow I will go around Seoul a bit more and I have to check in at the hostel where the group of students will be staying. The real study trip starts tomorrow at 2:00pm.
