K-k-k-kansai!

Life is a series of challenges that we pass or conquer or glean some important life lessons or self-discoveries from. Some we look forward to like teenagers waiting for their driver's licenses and some we trip over like speed bumps in shopping centers ominously disguised as saftey precautions for which you were given no prior warning. The latter best describes my trip to the Kansai region. Mislead by the glorious weather in Tokyo on the day prior to my grand adventure I underpacked my borrowed backpack, proud that I was able to deftly defy all stereotypes about women and overpacking. In my thin green sweater and black bubble vest I ventured forth toward Osaka happy for the glorious return of Spring and giddy with excitement to finally do some traveling within Japan.

Then...
... it snowed.

Franctically, I searched my meticulously underpacked backpack, at the Kyoto bus depot, for some semblance of warmth. A hat, a scarf, a long sleeve tee perhaps???
I found Snoopy ankle socks and a tank top with turquoise sequence that I intended to wear on a night out on the town.
But my Grandmother always said "that when life serves you lemons...you go shopping."
(or something like that)
So I did what anyone would do when you find yourself in the middle of the most culturally historic and aesthetically rich most breathtaking city in all of Japan.

I went to the GAP.

As luck would have it. I did find a sweater but warm jackets were still elusive.
No matter though. I would be sightseeing and exploring the back allies of Gion, the breathtaking traditional Japanese Gardens of Ginkaku-ji and discovering the lively bustling streets of Kiyomizu-dera. I would be an urban trekker and my self-produced kinetic energy would be my warm blanket. I would be walking!

And walking...
And walking some more.
Where's that damned youth hostel!!!!

In Osaka I stayed with a dear friend Diane and had a blast rediscovering the everyday life of modern Japan. In Tokyo I'm so busy being a part of it that the observational aspect of being abroad has gotten lost. The lines of US vs THEM is so blurred in Tokyo whereas being in Osaka allowed me to revisit my amature urban anthropological self. Oh and the aquarium was cool too.