This is a strange day for los Pilgrims. The most part of the group leaves Japan tomorrow.
In Tokyo we received two new Pilgrims: Mike (Riz`s brother) and Clay (Riz`s husband).
So, we are now happily united to Kueneke`s family representatives. We also had the great company of Yoshi and Shimo.
Is a strange thing to keep the jackpot (Tokyo, the big city) for the last days of the trip.
It makes you live the big city different than if it was the first impression that you have from a country.
I mean, when we arrived to Tokyo, we were not impressed by being surrounded of Japanese people, neither by their ways and manners, their food, their timetables, their way to talk and to laugh. We were not impressed by talking with gestures, neither by seeing only ink doodles where they can see words. We had almost experiment (a little, you know, in a month margin) the umbrellas rotation, their generous dedication to foreigners, their sensibility for craftwork and their flamboyant entertainments.
We are happy to feel this city with all it`s japanese characteristics, like if it was winking an eye to us remembering the times we passed In Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama, Shikoku, Nagoya and now this final Tokyo.
Here, people continues to get the car out of the garage to accompany you when you get lost, people continues asking you where are you from, they help you even you don`t ask anything and they are still genuine japanese even if their image approaches them more to occidental ways.
These days, we have been "karaoking", sushi "breakfasting", kabuki (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqzYgUBAOZw&feature=related) watching and doing a big shopping and living marathon in this amazing metropolis.
Today, we will say our last Kampais with some birus, we will try to improve our pronunciation of the Japanese words we know and we will full our bodies with sushi and noodles.
And, of course, we will put the foot that is still here with the other that is now almost at home!
see you soon estimados!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
News from the bottom of the udon bowl
Konichiwa a todos!
Geographic location
We are now in Nagoya.
After 12 days in Shikoku, we are in our way to Tokyo, and stopped in this central city to visit Asami for the last time.
I`m going to do a little `cronica` of our last weeks:
- After Kyoto, we went down the country and had a japanese baths (onsen) and japanese food festival with Asami`s family. We met her parents and sisters, and had a little pijama party at her house, where her mother offered us all the sweets that we needded to `speak about boys`.
- The day after, we entered in Shikoku island singing some opera. It received us with some non-japanese speaking citizens. There we did a roadtrip during the last 12 days,
having some daily udon eating, we did some mystic temple visiting
and especially, getting ourselves used to a NON-OCCIDENTAL-PEOPLE experiencie.
Anecdotes
- Manolo is 57! we had some shabu-shabu dinner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabu-shabu and sake on the rocks.
- In Shikoku we also experienced `settai`. When shikoku citizens meet you as a pilgrim, they give you a present. In exchange, you give them a `fuda`, a type of spiritual identification paper.
- Liz had some toilet-water shower yesterday in the last Camping. Beautiful end for a windy barbacue!
- Shikoku national dancing is eel dancing. It is called Awa Odori. Just imagine some japanese people in a line and moving their bodies as if they were some eels. To some of us it was incredibly funny. You can`t miss it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtOG-fsncvQ
Language barriers
- We already speak some japanese. For example, Craudia says `how much is it?` to say `excuse me`, and Juan-Paburo says arigatou to say hello. Magnifico!
- Japanese people simply don`t say no. They put on a face as if they had just eaten a lemon, and they cross their arms. Another curiosity is that they even speak more after you tell them that you don`t understand. We don`t know how to express our exhaustion.
More, more, more
After some sushing tonight and sleeping in hostel Ann (where Liz or me are going to sleep on the floor of the hostel`s dining room because they only have one vacancy), we are beginning tomorrow our glorious route to Tokyo, our final stage.
Farewell
For everyone out there,
our best japanese bows
Author`s note
I ask for public forgiveness for my almost monumental spelling errors.
Geographic location
We are now in Nagoya.
After 12 days in Shikoku, we are in our way to Tokyo, and stopped in this central city to visit Asami for the last time.
I`m going to do a little `cronica` of our last weeks:
- After Kyoto, we went down the country and had a japanese baths (onsen) and japanese food festival with Asami`s family. We met her parents and sisters, and had a little pijama party at her house, where her mother offered us all the sweets that we needded to `speak about boys`.
- The day after, we entered in Shikoku island singing some opera. It received us with some non-japanese speaking citizens. There we did a roadtrip during the last 12 days,
having some daily udon eating, we did some mystic temple visiting
and especially, getting ourselves used to a NON-OCCIDENTAL-PEOPLE experiencie.
Anecdotes
- Manolo is 57! we had some shabu-shabu dinner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabu-shabu and sake on the rocks.
- In Shikoku we also experienced `settai`. When shikoku citizens meet you as a pilgrim, they give you a present. In exchange, you give them a `fuda`, a type of spiritual identification paper.
- Liz had some toilet-water shower yesterday in the last Camping. Beautiful end for a windy barbacue!
- Shikoku national dancing is eel dancing. It is called Awa Odori. Just imagine some japanese people in a line and moving their bodies as if they were some eels. To some of us it was incredibly funny. You can`t miss it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtOG-fsncvQ
Language barriers
- We already speak some japanese. For example, Craudia says `how much is it?` to say `excuse me`, and Juan-Paburo says arigatou to say hello. Magnifico!
- Japanese people simply don`t say no. They put on a face as if they had just eaten a lemon, and they cross their arms. Another curiosity is that they even speak more after you tell them that you don`t understand. We don`t know how to express our exhaustion.
More, more, more
After some sushing tonight and sleeping in hostel Ann (where Liz or me are going to sleep on the floor of the hostel`s dining room because they only have one vacancy), we are beginning tomorrow our glorious route to Tokyo, our final stage.
Farewell
For everyone out there,
our best japanese bows
Author`s note
I ask for public forgiveness for my almost monumental spelling errors.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Osaka & Kyoto
Konichiwa everybody!
I`m happy to introduce you the new pilgrim personalities:
Juan-Paburo
Craudia
Paburo
Karurota
The pilgrims are now seeing fall their stay in Kyoto。
We have been giving war here during 4 days in this beautiful city, after the first 4 days in the coastal Osaka.
In Osaka we had the first contact with gothic lolitas, we established our maximum meal price for 500 yens (more or less 4 euros - we are succeeding almost all the days!), we started our ultra-carbohydrates diet with almost all of sushi and noodles, we improved some Karaoke festival and we had a fantastic meal at Ikuko, Yoshimura and Naotaka`s house, some Karurota`s friend.
In Kyoto we have been beering (from beer, you know) in the riverside, we have been doing some maniac persecution of imaginarian geishas, and we have been bicing during two ENTIRE days around places like this
Looking for some temples (yes, we know Shikoku`s sacred way is almost about temples also, but...).
We can affirm that we are prepared and purified for the sacred way in Shikoku.
Today we are going to spend a night in Okayama, in Craudia`s friend Asami, who has a special surprise prepared for os for the next morning. UUUhhhh!
We are not scared, we are prepared for almost everything after being impacted of the japanese particularities.
After one week in wild side of Japan, here are our first impressions, our dialy images:
A street
The two typical toilets (the one on the right has a little mecanism which sprays water into your ass - BE CAREFULL it may contain some caca)
People always accompany you to the place you ask for (cuando preguntas donde esta un sitio cierran la tienda y te acompanyan!)
Inside train view
Our daily meals for 500 yens
(4 euros)
Here, people is obsessed by not getting their skin dark, so they are dressing umbrellas, large gloves and long pants in this crazy 40 degrees!
our windows to japanese reality...
More photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/lotaoto/LosPilgrimsInJapanOsakaKyoto#
We hope you are having a fantastic start of summer, and also to hear from you. Love!
Sayonara!
I`m happy to introduce you the new pilgrim personalities:
Riz 
Manoro-san
Manoro-san
Juan-Paburo
Craudia
Paburo
Karurota
The pilgrims are now seeing fall their stay in Kyoto。
We have been giving war here during 4 days in this beautiful city, after the first 4 days in the coastal Osaka.
In Osaka we had the first contact with gothic lolitas, we established our maximum meal price for 500 yens (more or less 4 euros - we are succeeding almost all the days!), we started our ultra-carbohydrates diet with almost all of sushi and noodles, we improved some Karaoke festival and we had a fantastic meal at Ikuko, Yoshimura and Naotaka`s house, some Karurota`s friend.
In Kyoto we have been beering (from beer, you know) in the riverside, we have been doing some maniac persecution of imaginarian geishas, and we have been bicing during two ENTIRE days around places like this
Looking for some temples (yes, we know Shikoku`s sacred way is almost about temples also, but...).
We can affirm that we are prepared and purified for the sacred way in Shikoku.
Today we are going to spend a night in Okayama, in Craudia`s friend Asami, who has a special surprise prepared for os for the next morning. UUUhhhh!
We are not scared, we are prepared for almost everything after being impacted of the japanese particularities.
After one week in wild side of Japan, here are our first impressions, our dialy images:
A street
The two typical toilets (the one on the right has a little mecanism which sprays water into your ass - BE CAREFULL it may contain some caca)
People always accompany you to the place you ask for (cuando preguntas donde esta un sitio cierran la tienda y te acompanyan!)
Inside train view
Our daily meals for 500 yens
(4 euros)
Here, people is obsessed by not getting their skin dark, so they are dressing umbrellas, large gloves and long pants in this crazy 40 degrees!
our windows to japanese reality...
More photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/lotaoto/LosPilgrimsInJapanOsakaKyoto#
We hope you are having a fantastic start of summer, and also to hear from you. Love!
Sayonara!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Japan 2009 - Count down
Hey valued Readers,
In less than 2 weeks, the Pilgrims will start a new ONE MONTH sacred way (in our particular meaning) in JAPAN.
We will cross the principal island (Honsu), and will do a little car/walking tour in another island of the country: *Shikoku.
There, they have one 88 Buddhist monasteries pilgrimage, that we are meant to cover.
This is the route:
I'm glad to present the new Pilgrim's team:
Trrrrr.....
On the first instance....
The new signings!
- Juan Pablo. A candidate to be called Juanpe, JP, JpRails, Japóng... and a big etcétera that you will notice. Very kind. Loves sugar.
- Clàudia (pay attention to the accent): that will support the german translation that the group could need. Very festive. Loves Radiohead.
- Mike. That will be craftily introduced in Tokyo, on the last week. I don't think it's necessary to specify it... Mike loves... you know... he loves jerky!
On the other side, we have the forjed pilgrims, that you may be bored of:
- Manolo (he!)
- Liz (he!)
- Pablo (he!)
- Clay (he!)
- Jad's soul (he!)
- Carlota (he!)
You'll hear our news, hope that we also get yours!
(*Please, note that when you read Shikoku, you have to clap twice to the sky over your head, and then open your arms as if you were in peace with the world)
In less than 2 weeks, the Pilgrims will start a new ONE MONTH sacred way (in our particular meaning) in JAPAN.
We will cross the principal island (Honsu), and will do a little car/walking tour in another island of the country: *Shikoku.
There, they have one 88 Buddhist monasteries pilgrimage, that we are meant to cover.
This is the route:
I'm glad to present the new Pilgrim's team:
Trrrrr.....
On the first instance....
The new signings!
- Juan Pablo. A candidate to be called Juanpe, JP, JpRails, Japóng... and a big etcétera that you will notice. Very kind. Loves sugar.
- Clàudia (pay attention to the accent): that will support the german translation that the group could need. Very festive. Loves Radiohead.
- Mike. That will be craftily introduced in Tokyo, on the last week. I don't think it's necessary to specify it... Mike loves... you know... he loves jerky!
On the other side, we have the forjed pilgrims, that you may be bored of:
- Manolo (he!)
- Liz (he!)
- Pablo (he!)
- Clay (he!)
- Jad's soul (he!)
- Carlota (he!)
You'll hear our news, hope that we also get yours!
(*Please, note that when you read Shikoku, you have to clap twice to the sky over your head, and then open your arms as if you were in peace with the world)
Friday, August 22, 2008
Próximamente...
LOS PILGRIMS in 
August 2009
August 2009Preparations start.
With the collaboration of;
http://aulex.ohui.net/es-ja/
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Ode to the Hosts
Thanks to all the people that let us stay in their houses, that showed us their citys, that prepared us their best recipes, and that joined us in the trip.
Thank you, Summer, Nathan, Mike, Erica, Jen, L.B, Brady, Kristen, Janie, Bob, Husky, Alice, Mary, Joe, John.B, Cory, Johnny, Sharon, John, Wictor, Spike, Shannon, Becky, Phil, Cris, Kara, Jad, Jess, Dave, Michel, Emily, Andrew, Anne, Tom, Luis, Carlos, Maria Luisa, Dave, Ellie, Mike, Scott, Lelia, Shana, Beth, Jeannette (...)
Thank you, Summer, Nathan, Mike, Erica, Jen, L.B, Brady, Kristen, Janie, Bob, Husky, Alice, Mary, Joe, John.B, Cory, Johnny, Sharon, John, Wictor, Spike, Shannon, Becky, Phil, Cris, Kara, Jad, Jess, Dave, Michel, Emily, Andrew, Anne, Tom, Luis, Carlos, Maria Luisa, Dave, Ellie, Mike, Scott, Lelia, Shana, Beth, Jeannette (...)
Roadtrip IV
A lot of victorys and shortages had the Pilgrims during all of this time of silence.
First of all, they had a short time in LA, talking as if they were acting in Casablanca, walking through Beckam's neighbourhood and meeting Bib Bob from the hand of Ally and Dave.
Mike was waiting for us in san Diego, were we had great surfing walkings, beer pong matches and were we improved our rockin' pilgrim side.
Mike joined us as a new peregrino!
The Pilgrims + Mike crossed the desert overcoming the ultra-urban behaviour of the most part of the group, and joining almost all the time Manolo's and Liz's hyperactivity.
After Yosemite (bears and sequoias), Grand Canyon (you know...), Arches (luky luke's desert) and Mesa Verde (native indian pueblos in the rocks) National Parks, they decided to have a little break in a JAPANESE SPA in Santa Fe, a little ciudad with the magic mixture of cowboys, native americans and mexican immigrants.
There they met Lelia, and improved in Karaoke and sushi festivals, while digressing of immortality.
The Pilgrim's Camino started to slow down since today, after where in Alburquerque for a few days, at Shanna's and Bean's (also knowed as Frijol - freehole) house, who received us with a big barbacue to celebrate Shanna's birthday.
Im glad to inform you that we are right now in the Chicago airport, and we are in the way back to Spain (after this night in Beth's house in Washington), thinking melancholicaly of our roadtrip, and all the people that we joined in their daily lifes (and that joined us) in every place the Pilgrims stayed.
More?
of course!
The only questions are when and where.
But let us take a break, please.
First of all, they had a short time in LA, talking as if they were acting in Casablanca, walking through Beckam's neighbourhood and meeting Bib Bob from the hand of Ally and Dave.
Mike was waiting for us in san Diego, were we had great surfing walkings, beer pong matches and were we improved our rockin' pilgrim side.
Mike joined us as a new peregrino!
The Pilgrims + Mike crossed the desert overcoming the ultra-urban behaviour of the most part of the group, and joining almost all the time Manolo's and Liz's hyperactivity.
After Yosemite (bears and sequoias), Grand Canyon (you know...), Arches (luky luke's desert) and Mesa Verde (native indian pueblos in the rocks) National Parks, they decided to have a little break in a JAPANESE SPA in Santa Fe, a little ciudad with the magic mixture of cowboys, native americans and mexican immigrants.
There they met Lelia, and improved in Karaoke and sushi festivals, while digressing of immortality.
The Pilgrim's Camino started to slow down since today, after where in Alburquerque for a few days, at Shanna's and Bean's (also knowed as Frijol - freehole) house, who received us with a big barbacue to celebrate Shanna's birthday.
Im glad to inform you that we are right now in the Chicago airport, and we are in the way back to Spain (after this night in Beth's house in Washington), thinking melancholicaly of our roadtrip, and all the people that we joined in their daily lifes (and that joined us) in every place the Pilgrims stayed.
More?
of course!
The only questions are when and where.
But let us take a break, please.
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