Springing into Singapore and Japan.

[GarrettM]

And then off for lunch. Don't seem to recall what it was, but it involved beer.

 

[GarrettM]

Bub had developed a genuine dislike of her pram by this stage, but luckily still seems happy enough to jump in after lunch and have a nap. So the next hour or so consisted of us walking around aimlessly to keep her asleep. So no photos of note I think. Or maybe we lost them. Who knows.

But we had to split up not long after because I had to get to Kyocera Dome in order to retrieve my pre-purchased baseball ticket.
Evidently the wife and child returned to Dotonbori, because why wouldn't you.

Here are some of their pics.
Dinner!

 

[GarrettM]

And I guess they missed me, because they were looking my way come sunset.



My baseball story will have to wait for tomorrow, as the pics are all on my tablet which is not on me.
Will also have a trip to Kyoto, and an encounter with fugu.

 

[GarrettM]

When we decided to go to Japan I knew I would do three things. Fukui Dinosaur Museum, at least one game of football, and attend at least one baseball game.
I was able to book a ticket to see the Orix Buffaloes at Osaka Dome a few weeks before we left Perth, and to say I was excited about this would be a bit of an understatement.

Baseball is massive here, and I knew I was in for a good time.

You've seen the venue already.


Here it is in closeup.


Exchanging my ticket voucher for the actual ticket was straight-forward. Went to a random counter and they pointed me to counter 13, and all done in about 60 seconds. Happy times.
With an hour or so to game time I figured a trip to the Buffaloes team store was in order.

It was ridiculously busy. Not sure if it's like this every game, but would not be surprised if so. Photos wouldn't do it justice, so here's a video, since I've figured out (I think) how to add videos now.

https://www.facebook.com/garrett.mundy.3/videos/10155389267886908/

I bought a couple of shirts and another tie. Will throw them into the final pics of our Japanese bounty at the end of this lengthening TR.

 

[GarrettM]

Having secured my loot it's time to find my seat. Thankfully the stewards are super helpful here, and I get help from FOUR of them to find my seat.

Third base line, sort of midfield. Good view, and with the chance of a foul ball my way. Love it.

 

[GarrettM]

Getting closer to game time, so I'd better make sure I have some refreshments. Back out on to the concourse, for some skewers, chips, and a beer.

 

[GarrettM]

And now, with three minutes to the opening pitch, a spanner in the works. A family has arrived, and the patriarch is demanding - in broken English - to see my ticket. Fine. I'll show you buddy.
See, this is me, right here, Block 20, Row 28, Seat 1. Take that....

Wait? What's that? This ticket is for the 1st base side? And I am on the 3rd base side? And the seating system is essentially a mirror?

Oh... had I known the Japanese translation of your more common English profanities I would have been using them freely about now.
How did four different stewards not pick up on this when looking at my ticket? I had no idea. I can't read kanji, but they could. Were they all too polite to say I was in the wrong place? Who knows.

Mostly I'm annoyed because I haven't had my food or beer and now I have to rush over where I need to be. Also I'm annoyed because this mob showed up with little time to spare, and now I have to stress.

I've got two minutes to get around to the other side of the stadium and find the EXACT SAME seat on the first base side.

But I got there. Didn't even spill a drop. Go me.

The new view...and I managed to capture the first pitch!



Not much chance of a foul ball here sadly.

 

[GarrettM]

The game itself was a bit of a dud for this new devoted Orix fan. The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters got on top early and never looked like losing. They have a former NY Yankee in their line-up by the name of Brandon Laird, who tonked a couple home runs and they were pretty comfortable from there.

If you can read the stats on the screen, the starting pitcher for the Buffaloes is up to 135 pitches thrown. You would never see that in the majors. Very surprising.


Nevertheless the atmosphere in the crowd was fantastic, with the "active support" of the Buffaloes in the outfield on the 1st base side, and the Ham Fighters noisy mob on the opposite. The drums and trumpets and chanting went all night, although it was all very respectful. And colourful.

 

[GarrettM]

Baseball fans would know about the 7th inning stretch, but in Japan is seems to be a bit different.
In the top of the seventh I started hearing all this hissing, and assumed it was people in the crowd. I wasn't really paying that much attention, but then I started to see all these weird balloons in the crowd.



I had no idea what was going to happen, but I decided to film it just in case.

[video=facebook_share;10155325193001908]https://www.facebook.com/garrett.mundy.3/videos/10155325193001908/[/video]

Good fun. But given the result was only going one way and it was getting late, I skipped the 9th inning and headed back for a much needed sleep, ahead of our Saturday day trip to Kyoto.

 

[GarrettM]

Saturday May 6. Our first of two day trips to Kyoto.
We knew we weren't going to be able to see a great number of things in a single day, so I picked two attractions I was very keen on. Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera.
And since we were going to come back on Monday, we decided to make that day about the Fushimi Inari Shrine, and the bamboo grove at Arashiyama.

To get to Kyoto we hopped on the Midosuji Line to Shin-Osaka, and simply booked tickets on the next JR Thunderbird. Easy as.
And we had some time to grab a bento box to scoff on the 15 minute journey.



And once off the train and on the way to the Kanazawa Loop Bus, why not pick up some candied sweet potato.

 

[GarrettM]

The Loop Bus offers audio guides, but the commentary is just a computer voice translated from Japanese and doesn't really convey the nuance you might like when describing what we're seeing. Aside from that there's plenty of value here I think. Something like 2300Y for the day pass, and three different buses you can get to get to different attractions. Decent.

We got off at Kinkaku-ji. Even in the overcast it is pretty!

 

[love_the_life]

You were brave visiting Kiyomizu. Wall to wall people if you are not there very early or late. :shock: Are the renovations still happening?

I actually prefer Nara to Kyoto I think.

 

[GarrettM]

You were brave visiting Kiyomizu. Wall to wall people if you are not there very early or late. :shock: Are the renovations still happening?

I actually prefer Nara to Kyoto I think.

You want spoilers?!?!

 

[GarrettM]

 

[GarrettM]

Some of the other structures on the grounds.


And some ducks!

 

[GarrettM]

This kid. Refusing to walk anywhere, and won't go in her pram. But never misses a chance to climb some steps.


Money making idea... Build a temple, add "wishing well" challenge to encourage people to try their skills at hitting the tin. If only Australia still used 1 and 2c coins!


There's no escaping Hello Kitty!

 

[GarrettM]

After the temple we had a quick rest in a pretty drab little eatery-cough-tie shop. And then looked in a couple touristy type shops without purchasing anything.\
And then back on the bus of Kiyomizu.


And the wife found something that tickled her funny bone.

 

[GarrettM]

You were brave visiting Kiyomizu. Wall to wall people...

You don't say.

 

[GarrettM]

Are the renovations still happening?

Yep!


But we're here and determined to make the most of it.

 

[GarrettM]