First Night in Kobe

みなさん!

Ive am ecstatic to announce that I have made it safely to Kobe, Japan.  After a grueling 12 hour plane ride from JFK to Tokyo..and then nearly missing a connecting flight over to Osaka...AND THEN another 40 min. bus ride to our final destination Shoin Women's University in Kobe.  

So the first plane was pretty snazzy tho.  It had personal touch screen entertainment systems for each passenger that had a slew of movies, music, and even games!  It also had a bunch of interactive maps that told u info about where u were in terms of the flight, the diff time zones nd a neat countdown system.  When you first start it up they even let u play this slots type game to see if could win a free gift..which turned out to be some sort of key chain.  But its all in good fun :)  This plane was also GIGANTIC. I dunno how to describe how big this thing was...but yea it was intense.  We were also served 2 meals.  Along with FREE complementary alcoholic beverages.  I tried this Japanese alcoholic soda. It tasted pretty much like alcoholic sprite. And let me warn you about drinking on planes...be CAREFUL. Theres something about drinking at the high altitudes that makes you feel the effects a lot more than normal.  I tell you not from my experience...which was fantastic, but from the poor kid sitting next to me who decided to down like 4 cans one rite after another.  Lets just say...he didnt feel so good afterwards. :O




After we arrived LATE in Tokyo we had to hurry thru customs at the tiny nd very humid Narita Airport.  Luckily the kindly ANA staff held the plane for us and we were able to make the flight despite being nearly 30mins late.  We arrived at Osaka around 6pm (Japan time...thats 5AM USA time btw) ..and immediately were in awe by the city.  There were people and cars everrrywhere.  so much so..that we didnt notice the crossing sign had changed from green to RED...yea nearly getting destroyed by a vast number of cars was surely a wake up call. We survived tho and we then took a bus down to Kobe.  Was i tired? yes...however a combination of gurgling in my stomach and adrenaline kept me going.


We ate at a traditional style ramen shop.  IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.  This is the first food of my goal to eat at least one new/ unfamiliar food everyday while im here in Japan.  

Chris and I then picked up a small amount of sake and stopped by the super market for some other items and walked around a bit more.  We learned that bikes and mopeds are verrry popular around here!  We also found this gigantic mall that not only has shops of all kinds but also a huuge food court, arcade, bowling alley, and karaoke! It was intense.  We'll have to return!

After we gotWe enjoyed our Nigori (cloudy dessert sake) and some red bean mochi.  It was def a good way to kick off our first night in Kobe!


However I must get some shut eye.  I have another amazing day ahead of me tomorrow!  

お休みなさい!