Japan 1-6 Oct 2014 Day 3

Day 3

The Overnight Bus is supposed to take 11.5 hours from Tokyo to Okayama, but due to a traffic jam, the trip took 12.5 hours instead. Honestly I can hardly remember this extra hour because I am sleeping soundly almost the whole way. Keeping me Company is another Otaku Girl (JK again?!) who is constantly scrolling through her Twitter and retweeting stuff. Mostly 2D stuff anyway, kind of reminds me of my sister. Yeah not only do I eavesdrop, I also peek at other people's phones. I am a badass

We do like 4-5 rest stops along the way and I wake up for each and every one. Don't ask me how I do this, but I feel pretty refreshed the next day.

This is actually my 2nd time in Okayama. I had originally planned to visit a public bath to freshen myself up for the day, but when I arrived at the supposed location of the Public Bath, I find that it is under Construction (just my luck). I ask a nearby Obasan and she directs me to another Public Bath nearby (which doesn't open till 3pm)

As I resign my fate of being a smelly poo for the remainder of the day, I find a secluded but clean toilet to satisfy my basic sanitary needs.

I now troop over to the tourist spots which are convinently located nearby the Okayama Train Station. Namely, Okayama Castle and Okayama Korakuen. By now you must be wondering, where are the G*d*m Pictures? I have a very good reason for this. At this point in time, I realise that my camera refuses to turn on. (Same camera which worked perfectly the day before) This is a big blow to me... I love my camera dearly and It has accompanied me on my numerous trips Overseas.

 Pictures from my previous trip to Korakuen

Instead I use my Phone's Camera to take pictures now. And.... you guessed it. Subsequently my Phone's SD card became corrupted and I am now unable to retrieve all of my photos. Karma?

I guess I will just have to verbally entertain you now.

Or just skip over the parts which have no pictures.

Sad.

Anyhow, I make a quick round Okayama Castle (Don't bother to go inside. Most Castle Interiors are the same anyway unless you are a history buff) And Korakuen. The sky is overcast with grey clouds so the photos weren't excellent.

Now I head over to the nearby Shoutengai to eat and kill time. I see an Animate and pop in to have a look. BEHOLD I SEE THE JK whom I sat next to the entire 12.5 hours bus journey here. We pretty much ignore each other the whole time.

Evening and its concert time! As expected, there are still door tickets, however, the serial number is 400+. There is a girls only area, but the live house is too packed for me to squeeze to the front. I settle for the last few rows. For the entire concert, I can only see Heads (More noticeably Yurina) If I shuffle around I can see most of the members though. In front of me is a tall youngish Salary Man (Risako Oshi) waving a Berryz lightstick. He doesn't move much but seems to be very familiar with all of Berryz Songs.

Weapon of choice for Salary Man Berryz Wota

Berryz's singing and dancing may not be as good as C-ute, but their MC is outstanding. They engage the audience well and react to the audiences Comebacks. Even Yurina who is known for her Air-headness speaks very comfortably to the wota. This is something I wish Maimi chan would improve in. 

They sing many of their Singles (lucky for me since I don't listen to Berryz Album songs), including oldies like "Darling I love you" and "Munasawagi Scarlet". Of course not forgetting the fan favorites, "Special Generation" and "Cha Cha Sing" . Personally I love "Ai ha Itsumo Kimi no naka", because Miya is so awesome in it. Before we go into the Live House, there are signs which warn us "DO NOT JUMP". This doesn't make for a very high concert. There were no oshi jumpers. Even during Cha Cha Sing  and Junjou Oh Seishun everyone just bobbed up and down.  I can kind of understand why banned jumping, the ceiling was pretty low. I could totally foresee some overly excited  wota accidentally knocking himself out. Lol.

At the end there is a high-touch session with all members. There is no time to say anything. I don't have much to say to Berryz anyway so I was sort of relieved. This might be my last time seeing them until they disband. Once again, this was an OK live for me because of my bad positioning and Miya's questionable hair style.

I go back to Okayama station, pick up my luggage from a locker (My 3rd consecutive day of having to use lockers) to catch a Shinkansen to Osaka (45mins). I would have liked to take the highway bus instead but the last one had already left. 

The Japan Traveler's best friend

It is quite late (10pm-ish?) by the time I get to my Hotel. And this is when the fun begins.

Incident 1

Once I have dumped my stuff into my room, I go out to a nearby Conbini to grab some snacks and drinks (Ice Lemon Tea) for my supper. Just as I am paying up at the cashier, 2 Policeman walk in

Policeman: Who  called the police  

MY Cashier: I did. There was a guy punching up another guy. But they are gone now 

Policeman: Ok, let us know if you see them again

At this point I think my jaw has just dropped. This is definitely something you don't see in Singapore. I think the cashier has noticed my jaw hanging and gives me his FRIENDLIEST ありがとうございました

My first time seeing Japanese Police up close. Their mode of transport was by Bicycle

Incident 2

I am still shaken from Incident 1. As I walk back to the hotel, I am looking over my shoulder and trying to get a good grasp of my surroundings. Its not that late so there are still quite a few people walking around.

Which was why I was completely taken by surprise when this Guy (early 30s?) just walk up next to me pushing his bicycle. Then its the usual nampa lines "Where you going?" "Just finished work?". I pretend he is not there but he keeps following me!

This part is kinda comedic now but at that time I was just scared

Me: Mumbles  

Him: What did you say? 

Me: I don't speak Japanese 

Him: You just did! 

Me: ...

In the end he gives up. Yeah Finally

I may have developed a phobia of guys who push their bicycles

Incident 3

I am back in my room, just as I am getting ready to take a bath (Shared Bathroom), I hear knocks on my door.  There is no Peephole

Me: Who is there?  

Person: Please let me in 

Me: Who is it!? 

Person: Just Let me in! 

The conversation just goes on like this. WHO THE HELL WILL OPEN THE DAMN DOOR. I might be stupid, but not that stupid...

I am now prepared to hole myself up in my room till morning (The room has no phone).

But that person keeps at it for like 15 mins. I am scared stiff now.

Luckily I have my sister's Japanese handphone with me, so I dial up the Reception of the Hotel. I tell the guy that somebody has been knocking on my door for the past 20 mins. He says, Ok wait there, Im going up now.

I make sure I speak very loudly to the Reception so the guy outside my door quietens down.

Then I hear 3 knocks. I say "Who is there". "Its the Front" (Sounds stupid when I write it in english) he says.

Im not quite buying it so I ask him "Whats my name?" And he answers correctly so I open the door for him.

The Front guy says the guy who was pestering me was drunk and thought that my room was his, which was why he was so insistent on getting in. Fine, I say. The front guy then reassures me that there are security cameras along my corridor so they can see what is happening, and that if anything else happens to call him immediately. Yeah, I say Ok Thanks.

What an exciting Night