This is going to be a Confession Session: Confession no.1 - the picture on this blog entry is actually one of Hong Kong, but blimmin offexploring don't appear to factor the part of Asia I am in into the equation. And given that I've been having far too much fun/too many adventures to take photos (not to mention the fact that I can no way figure out how to upload photos onto this computer...), I have had to cheat. So I'm sorry about that. Confession no.2 - I've been a bit too lazy to write for the last couple of days. I was really diligent in Japan, mainly because I had 24/7 internet access in my homestay, and now that things aren't quite as easy I've relaxed a little more... Confession no. 3 - Having made a big old fuss of eating uni (sea urchin) at Tokyo's main fish market, I then had the minor relapse of deciding I hadn't given it a fair chance the first time, so (and this is where I neatly pick up from where I left off, rather hurriedly, in Hiroshima's youth hostel - nice, huh?) I decided that when I was out cracking into a delicious leaf-ful of sushi (no plates, banana leaves instead) and cracking my sides with hilarity at the initiation of the spanish lads into the joys of wasabi, pickled ginger and various unidentifiable bits of raw fish, that I would give uni a second shot. Now, I will admit that it was distinctly better when the awful blow is cushioned slightly better with a little loaf of nigiri rice, but even so - I believe the spanish boys filmed the utter horror and devastation on my face when uni and I met once again. So, I confess that sea urchin got the better of me. This time. Sushi experience behind us, we headed back to the hostel and spent a chilled evening hanging out with the international cluster of travelling yooves who were hanging out in the hostel's teensy common room. Futon beds once again, distinctly less swish than my ryokan experience, but without a shadow of a doubt about a thousand times less awkward! There is obviously a bohemian in me just dying to get out. 6 hours of Thursday were spent travelling back to Kyoto on the joy that is Japanese public train service, as I immersed myself in a piece of fluffy chicklit that I had exchanged at the YH for my distinctly more intellectual (and enjoyable actually) In Cold Blood that I had finished that morning. So the train ride passed without much drama. Although, I think at this stage it is worth mentioning my incredible fruit juice experience. Yes, seems uneventful, but, believe me, when a fruit bat (me) gets taken away from any decent form of fruit for over 2 weeks, it is almost worth the separation for the experience of joyful reunion. I refer, in this instance, to the raspberry juice that I had the brainwave to buy in my stopover at Osaka station. Never have I tasted such nectar from heaven, and I admit I actually closed my eyes to savour the delicious sweetness of real, fresh fruit juice as a rainbow burst into my mouth. Oh I could write an ode to the raspberry juice, but I shall spare you for now (note to self: future creative endeavour for long plane/train rides). Back once again in my Japanese homestay I showered and raced to get ready quicker than you can say 'sumo wrestler' and Yosuke, Yumi, little Mai and I headed out for the goodbye dinner they had arranged for me. I really appear to be milking the goodbye parties more than even Josh would believe! But it was amazing fun - they had booked a private room in a restaurant where we cooked our own food and 8 Japanese were there along with 2 babies, and 2 foreigners (me and Fiona). Confession no.4 - I always used to be a terribly organised traveller, arriving early for my flights, and serenely boarding with no fuss. I don't know quite what has happened to me, but various mishaps along my journey seem to have engendered wild races across multiple international airports...as for my flight to Korea I managed to alight from my underground tube at the wrong terminal. Clever Lex. Still, I made the flight with 5 minutes to spare, and thus confirmed my suitability once again for 007 status. I really think I could be the ultimate spy (save for the chronic technological competency of course - Q would never approve). The flight went off without event, and we arrived at Seoul international airport just before my film finished (gr) two hours later. Now at this stage, I thought the following two things: 1. wow, Seoul is SLICK (v fancy schmancy space age airport), and 2. WOW, I am getting well adept at this travel thing, as I slipped straight onto the bus headed, I thought, for the Jungno-gu area where my youth hostel was. Problem no.1 - there were no fewer than FIVE Jungno-gu areas. And, once I had hopped off the bus, it became quite clear that the same problem exists in Korea with addresses as does in Japan. i.e. noone has a single clue where any street/address is. However, I did at least discover that Koreans are extremely friendly and helpful. Just a shame that in spite of really trying to help me, three passers-by and two taxi rides/drivers later, and an unbelievable two hours of walking around in the scorching heat and sunshine with my rucksack which weighs almost as much as me, I was no closer to my hostel. Confession no.5 - I finally had myself a little cry in the middle of an unknown and unrecognisable Korean street. Confession no.6 - I did think to myself for about 20 minutes, what the flamin' heck am I do travelling on my own - Alexia, are you a lunatic? Why on earth did you choose to do this to yourself?!?! But, you'll be happy to hear that after about 10 minutes of feeling seriously sorry for myself, I mopped up my tears, gave myself a metaphorical kick up the behind, and trudged onwards. When I was waylaid by a Korean man asking me if I was looking for Hostel Korea. Yes, victory! Until I saw my hostel that is. It was absolutely disssguuuusting. I mean, I've done cockroach-infested places in South America and who-knows-what infested places in Amsterdam, but this was definitely no.3 on the list. I showered and got myself decent, and with their free internet (one saving grace!) I finally managed to track down my Korean friend Minah, who I have travelled here to see. Once we'd met life took a turn for the better, as she whisked me off to civilisation on the underground, to a bar and then club where we met up with her friends and boyfriend. What a rollercoaster 12-hour period! Confession no. 7 - I am no longer staying in said filthy hovel, I mean hostel, but instead the Kang family have put me up in a nice hotel in the middle of town. Under cover of darkness, at midnight on Friday night, Minah, Sin-Teh and I underwent a covert mission to rescue my things from the hostel, and deposit me here instead....! Oh dear, I really am not doing this slumming it very well. I feel stricken with guilt about it, but I also confess that I am rather enjoying the clean sheets (there were none in the Youth Hostel). So after a long sleep, Saturday was spent having a civilised lunch and girly gossip with Minah, followed, rather aptly, with watching Sex and the City film at the cinema! I promise promise promise I will do some sightseeing on Monday, but for now I am rather enjoying living the life of a normal Korean girl (sadly without the beautiful little dresses and high heels - the boys would love this place, the girls are stunning, and all of them float around like pretty butterflies dressed up to the nines. A completely different kettle of fish from Japan's crazy fashions. And I'm quite pleased to say that the boys ain't half bad either!) Dinner was spent being treated to a slap-up traditional Korean meal by Minah's parents, who last saw me 11 years ago when they were living in Russia and who, rather upsettingly, don't think I've changed a bit. Darnit. And I thought I was so grown up and sophisticated these days! Confessions over. Now I'm off to have some more fun! Food Fiend* *Chongchu (not sure if this is the right word) a boiled meat, noodle, veg stew dish which apparently Sumo wrestlers eat (not a selling point in my opinion but nevertheless delicious) * Jellied Icecream balls - yum! *Ondem - my first and last Japanese streetfood stall experience with Yumi and Yosuke. The stall owner took a liking to his foreign customers, got overexcited and started feeding us all sorts of things - sour plums, sweet fresh broad beans... * I ate jellyfish. It was a little bit like chewy chunky marmalade (mainly, I think, because it had been marinated in orange juice). So whichever friend it was I was debating whether or not you can eat jellyfish, the answer is indeed yes. * Many and various korean dishes of wonder - spiced pork, soy bean paste, sesame leaves, fish, kim chee (very spicy pickled cabbage), chinese pumpkin. Wonderful!