Long gone were the toasty days of India, I was now in Northern Japan and it turns out that Hokkaido is colder than a particularly
irritated bald kangaroo. Fortunately, my university housemate Mika’s house was especially warm.Mika’s family treated me like a king; in fact, they fed me like a Tudor. For starters (I guess by that merit the main course and dessert as well) every meal was like a three or four dish banquet. Breakfast would consist of a fruit bowl, a hot stew and something savoury; whilst, the rest of the day was made up of Japanese favourites with many side dishes:Okonomyaki, Tempura, Sashimi, Sushi, Ramen and Soba – which you are encouraged to sip, slurp and suck. Apparently it shows that you enjoyed the meal: I felt it showed a bit too much saliva and a tendency for spillage. It is also courteous to say ‘Itadakikass’ before and ‘Gotisosama’ after eating to show your appreciation for the food. After my choppy chop stick skills I think everyone was probably appreciative that I was able to finish at all. On a food theme, one of the first things I did in Sapporo was to make handmade Motchi (rice cakes). Feeling like a lumberjack but dressed as a milk maid I beat the cooked rice with a large wooden hammer. Between blows, another would fold and rotate the mixture – a daring pursuit with my aim. I'd say that by the end of it we'd become pretty smooth with the whole procedure; but, dressed in a pinafore, smooth probably isn't the word. Also, in Hokkaido I had the privilege of relaxing in an Onsen. Located amongst some of the giant hedgehog shaped mountains (with trees poking out at all angles) that cover Hokkaido’s landscape, the hot natural springs were perfectly tranquil – even whilst surrounded by an abundance of starker’s Japanese men. The strangest thing about the experience though was the concept of bathing outdoors in the snow; as, after an hour your body is as wrinkled as a champion gurner while your hair freezes like a teenager that's just applied a litre of asdas own brand hair gel. Quite the look! Once out, I fell to sleep like a wrinkled old baby. I have also seen many sights in and around Sapporo: from their TV Tower to their Clock Tower and from Historic central buildings such as Shiyokan and the former Hokkaido Governement Building to the Historical Villiage of Hokkaido. All the while, like throughout Japan cubed cars race around cubed houses making japan look like a giant game of Tetris. Throughout my time here I’ve learnt some basic Japanese but of the time I feel like a toddler learning his first words as I point at inanimate objects and exclaim "factory" or "sign". Just as well Mika and her family knew some English, otherwise I would have been clueless. Sam’s basic conversation made Japaneasy: Konnichiwa - Hello Sayonara/Jerne (casual) - Goodbye Arrigato godaimass/Arrigato (casual) - Thank You Oishi - Tasty Kirai – I don’t like Kirei - Beautiful Atatakai - Warm Samui – Cold Ipai - Full Hai - Yes Ne -No
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Samuel FryTraveller Archives
June 2011
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