Awesome Onsen

I have just been to the onsen (hot spring) at Nishi Otsu, 10 minutes from Kyoto by train.

The indoor spring area was 7m x 2.5m.

The outdoor spring area was about two-thirds of the size of the inner spring. Both had a lakeside view. I found both areas pleasantly warm but the inner area was very humid and it was difficult to breathe after more than 15 minutes. So, I retreated to the outer edges of the outer spring.




Afterwards, I had a fantastic meal experience during dinner. The dining room was warm and pleasant. It had wood-panelled walls and was complemented by the muted western classical CD soundtrack.

Being the only guests, my companion and I had excellent service and the 6 course menu comprised:

• Fish - raw
• Fish and a Prawn - raw
• Fish & a Prawn - battered
• Corn - in a soup
• Beef - Teppanyaki (this was cooked to perfection as I had to cook it myself on the table-top frying pan)
• Double Chocolate Mousse - dark chocolate as the base and light and fluffy milk chocolate above it

Each course was modest in size but was immaculately presented and had distinct flavours.


The onsen building itself was decorated with thick carpets and wood - panelled walls as well as an indoor, illuminated water feature. It conveyed a very relaxed atmosphere. Interestingly, the men wore western suits but the women wore eastern kimonos.

Terrific Tea

I was treated to a tea ceremony in H's home, in her tea room. She then instructed her daughter to perform the ceremony.

Finally,Ⅰ had a go skipping tricky parts.

H also teaches people how to wear kimonos.

I think it is great she keeps the traditions of the tea ceremony and kimono-wearing going in the 21st century and passes on her knowledge to others.

Outrageous Osaka

I've just been to Osaka Castle - the only one with a lift in the middle. Alas, only the outer shell remains, as the inner decor has been modernised to accommodate a museum. It features the story of the castle and also that of its creator Toyotomi Hideyoshi who ordered work be started on it in 1583.

There are some fine models and a detailed 2-part folding screen showing the battle for the Castle between one of Hideyoshi's sons and the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The latter was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan which ruled from 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

The "steroscopic" pictures just gave me a headache.

In the evening, I went to the West of Osaka, to the Bayside to go up the WTC Tower, which has 52 floors and is a quarter of a kilometre high. There were spectacular views of the city, the sea and traffic crossing bridges as well as the nearby, illuminated, Ferris wheel.

I was due to meet H at my Kyoto hotel at 8pm but due to train problems which meant no trains circulated on the Osaka loop for over half an hour, forcing me to take a detour using 2 metro lines, I did not arrive until 9:30pm. OK, so I was running half an hour late due to my tower ascent but 1 hour of my tardiness was not down to me. I did try to ring H but left a message, which she did not get. However, I did manage to speak to her a 9pm.

We went to a karaoke bar, where a Singaporean friend of hers works. She sang Chinese, Japanese and Carpenters' songs beautifully whilst I stunned the audience with my butchering of Robbie Williams' "Feel" and the Chilli's "Californication".

As I had told H I spoke French, she asked me to sing French songs. The only ones I could find were Vanessa Paradis' "Joe le Taxi" and a couple from the Yves Montand oeuvre. I swear my singing French was more melodious than my English.

Japanese journey

I'm typing this from the FREE net kiosk near gates 56-63 (T1 international terminal) and waiting for my Osaka plane. I plan to check out the castle but I'll be staying in Kyoto and hope to go to an onsen with my karaoke - bar - owning friend.





Kansai Airport is unusual in being sited on an island. It is connected by the mainland by a bridge and a tunnel.

It has replaced Osaka Airport for most international flights.

Brisbane: Kangaroos & Koalas

I've chilled out for a few days in Brisbane but did cuddle a koala (ahhhhh) and feed kangaroos who were well-spoilt as they had been fed so much food they could afford to turn down further offers.

The Top End of Australia

I went in a 4WD through the Daintree Rainforest, flooded creekbeds and mountains and ended up at Cooktown which has a few frontier-style buildings left (250 km North of Cairns).