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TUE 18 MAY 00 The Udon is Greener on the Other Side of the Bowl
I’m up! I’m here again! Ya’ can’t keep a good floater down!
Even before my first trip out, I learned how to beat jet lag – I stay awake during the entire flight, and (most important) I keep the window shade up. That is, up at least enough to read by sunlight when it’s out there. Keeping the shade up helps in staying awake because of having to fight off the flight attendants and other passengers who misguidedly want to sleep. Whatsamadda wid’ ‘em, haven’t they found the blindfold in their freebie flight packet?
The point is, that when I got into the Big Udon last night, I was wiped, gulped down a quick dinner, and then hit the hay. But before I did, I set the alarm for 6:20 a.m. And here I am, congratulating myself for accurately resetting my bio-clock – ‘cause I have woken up six minutes before the alarm.
Unfortunately, closer inspection reveals that it is not 6:14 am, but 12:14 just past midnight. Ah, well, I need to take a trot anyhow. See ya’ in the mornin’!
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Q: “What are you doing here? – I thought you were gone!” A: “Abble-gabble gabble gab, and gabbledy gobbledy gook.” Q: “So, how long are you out here for?” Or, Q: “Welcome back! – It’s good to see you again!”. A: “Yadda ‘n dadda and iddledy diddledy squat.” Q: “So, how long are you out here for?” Or, Q: “Iki kageiki kinishi-spa, get it? Mas?” A: “?” Q: “?”
The last was a philosophical discourse I had with the gentleman ladling out the pasta Bolognese at the cafeteria. That was my lunch. The others were what took place during most of the rest of my day. Roman and biblical epics are back now. In Universal’s depiction of Dante’s “The Inferno,” Schatzie approaches the gates and reads: “Abandon all hope ye who enter here – you’ll be back.”
I’m not knocking it. It is good to be back. It’s just that I was supposed to have left three times already. Should I have given those farewell gifts back each time? How many times does the wolf come around unseen by others before they start thinking that I’m paranoid? Can those emotional farewells be pushed back into the bottle a few more times and still come out tasting as strongly as before?
The answer, though, is with the Irish. There is little wonder that their favorite color is green. If I want to remain nourished, I’ll take my Udon green (thank you) and I’ll have it in O’Saka.
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I wrap up the day, head back to the hotel. Bus. Train. Train. Routine. Routine. Routine. Crowds. Mobs. Hordes.
I need to push myself to keep from being oblivious to my environs. This morning I noted that several others had “gone native” and adopted the local garb: mini-walkmen. Tune in to tune out. It becomes increasingly harder, but it’s so much more pleasant to see things with the eyes of a tourist. It’s like a good marriage – you have to keep working at it.
And there it is – on the north side of the Fukushima station: a bar on the 4th floor that promises “Shot & Rest”. It must be a walk-up.
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It’s getting to be summer, and the beer gardens are open. I go scout around the Umeda area to see what’s new or different from last year. These all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffets run about ¥3000. [about $30.00 American] What I like, is that this means eating outdoors – something that is preciously rare in this here crowded bowl of noodles.
Among the candidates I find:
Kirin World 2000 – Mongolian self-help grilling at your own table. This is located in the Ekimae Number 4 building just south of the Hanshin Department Store.
The Hanshin Department Store has “Get Together 2000,” which I gather is sports related because the circular mentions Sky PerfecTV and depicts the Hanshin Tigers emblem. For access, go to the elevator lobby on the west side of the store – the one closest to the Hilton.
An Italian-influenced buffet is located atop the Fukoku Seimei building, which is just east of the Hankyu Department Store. This one’s got elaborate automated beer decanting machines that pour a perfect mug every time.
Lastly, I find one at the Hankyu Station. At street level enter the station heading towards the Kinokuniya Book Store. When you enter the high space, go to the middle of it and turn to face south (with your back to the bookstore) and you will see the elevator lobby.
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I stop at the Kinukuniya and pick up a copy of Kansai Time Out. [English language expat magazine] I head back out to stalk dinner. There in the high space of the Hankyu Station is a temporary belly-up bar. It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s thirsty time and the Kirin is lookin’ mighty purty. A man approaches and strikes up a conversation.
“So, how long are you out here for?”
No, really, I’m kidding. He didn’t say that.
At first.
J says he’s originally from the Caribbean (he’s got the accent) but that he’s been in Osaka since the mid eighties. He’s in the household moving business. He’s also into giving the business. While we talk, he tries to hit up on two different young ladies. I don’t understand what’s being said, since the exchanges are in Japanese. But, he manages to engage them for at least five minutes each.
I have read that many Japanese women (not unlike many others) imagine that they would like someone that is like themselves – someone that is emotional. I think that J can string them along as well as he does because of his moving lines.
And then along comes the pink thing.
This pink thing was dressed entirely in pink. Not just any pink, but loud and shiny pink. A pink hat with a gawky angular face sticking out below it. A pink-lipsticked face with teeth in misaligned rows and an afternoon’s stubble on its chin. A pink blouse with angular and hairy arms sticking out. A pink mini-skirt with hairy, knobby-kneed legs attached. And let’s not forget the pink shoes.
He/she/it walks by, sees J, and the two of them greet each other, crack a line or two, then wish each other well in parting.
It just goes to show that there is something to be said for the sedentary tourist. Rather than running around in search of the unusual, just stand still long enough and eventually everything unusual will roll around to you.
Or over you. |