Yesterday I was feeling a little worse for wear. The previous night we went to a bar for New Years Eve. The last 15 minutes before the stroke of midnight the drink prices dropped to 100 yen-enough said. I woke to the site of my flatmate sleeping in the corridor. Judging from the groans he emitted I drew the conclusion that he was really suffering.

We went with Stu to his friends' place near the Kansai airport at 4.30. We ate traditional New Years Japanese food and watched Die Hard 4.0. The five of us slept in the same room, we got through the night without incident for which I was grateful. I caught a terrible cold but thankfully I slept well. Today we went to a the Rinku factory outlets, geez I was suffering. Got home, bought a ton of food, green tea and lemon drinks. I think I'll just sleep this weekend.

Fishing pics

Couch surfers, whale meat and cold weather

We had two couch surfers from America via Korea come stay with us. They were very nice girls. The first night we went to a bar in Namba, my flatmate acted as bartender because the real bartender was absent. The bar was therefore actually closed but we managed to get inside on condition that he pour the drinks. Yesterday I had a very boring day. At 5.30 I went for a run and it was very cold, very cold. Another couch surfer came stay with us. It was great, they cooked us a huge dinner. However, they bought whale! that's just not on- I stoutly refused to eat it. That's one thing Aussies can't do, you would be branded a traitor.
The two girls left to take the midnight bus to Tokyo and I was pretty sick so I just took it easy. In the morning the other couch surfer cooked us lunch, I recommend that people host couch surfers! Lots of free food. Giddy up!
I'm just relaxing today, bracing for New Year's eve partying tonight.

Party and fishing

Last night we went for Stew's international working holiday party. Unlimited drinks-can't complain. Very good atmosphere, everyone was mingling and having a good time. I managed to make the last train home. I had to get up early today. I met up with Natsuko at 9 am at Shin Imamiya. station. We took the Nankai line to Kawachinagano station, near the border between Osaka and Wakayama prefectures, in search of a trout lake. Apparently the water levels were low at the dam, so we looked on the local map and with a little help from an off duty busdriver we made it to the fishing area up in the mountains. Apparently the levels of trout were low, so the man who ran the trout farm put about 10 in our part of the river. Even so, it was pretty hard to catch them, I caught 1, Natsuko caught 1 and then we went back to the trout farm clubhouse. The obachan cooked them up for us and we had a couple of beers. By the time we were finished the owner of the farm had caught all our fish and put them in bags.
Afterwards we went for a walk in the beautiful area. Got home at about 5, we gutted all the fish and cooked them up. They tasted so good! All and all, a great day...
except for Tsutaya video store charging me 420 yen in late fees.

Christmas

My cousin, Alana came to visit on Wednesday, she came with her boyfriend. They stayed at my house last night. Good fun. We went out for all you can eat sushi, with a free beer it was only 1575 yen, bloody cheap. I ate 10 plates, Alana 9, Daniel had 30...
That was Christmas Eve although it really didn't feel like it. Today I had to work but it was fun, although the weather wasn't. We met up-me, them and Natsuko for some ramen, we walked around for 20 minutes in that maze of a Umeda station looking for their baggage. Eventually we found it, they set off for Kyoto, whilst me and Natsuko went to the ferris wheel in Umeda. It was my first time to ride on it and it didn't dissapoint for 500 yen.
Although quite different from a usual Christmas, all in all not a bad one.

Looong walk

Last night we had a house party and then went out to 'Rock Rock', damn that was loud. The night didn't get off to the best start-when asking for directions, two people turned their backs on me! Inside 'Rock Rock' some girls were waiting all night to get a glimpse of a Japanese band who were in the VIP room. I hope they got a picture. I walked home and was watching 'Back to the Future 2' but I fell asleep. Woke at 2 today and we ordered a pizza-pretty good, pretty greasy, feeling pretty sick. I had nothing to do today so i went on a lone 3 hour walk, pretty stuffed when I got back. Originally planned to go into the forest, but it was just too damn scary. Was crossing the big street near my house when a motorcycle gang decided to go through the red light. Absolute morons nearly hit me. It's not too hard-red means stop. Green means go. Although I'm not too sure about the other colour...

Insulted

Today, I was walking back from the station, minding my own business, when an old homeless man besieged me with a volley of colourful insults. I reckon those swear words were the only English he knew. Nonetheless, his mastery of them was quite impressive.
Today I watched 'Back to the Future 2" before heading to work. Teaching two little kids gave me a headache and I was glad it only lasted 50 minutes. After work I went for a walk in the forest. It was very dark, very cold and very spooky. I was absolutely stuffed when I got home at 10.30.