group photo in yukatas
Random Observation/Comment #66: The larger selection and waterfall massages at Spa World clouded the fact that everything was artificial.Can you feel the difference?Nothing matters when I put that cloth over my eyes and breathe the hot steam clearly through my nose.I could feel every section of my lungs filling with the essentials of life.Dai ski dai yo.
The onsen we went to was the most famous one in Matsuyama (the name escapes me at the moment).It’s so famous that it has its own town of souvenirs and traditional sweets surrounding the highly praised pool of water.They are very proud that the emperor visited this onsen 4 times.You could tell because they offer a tour as a historical overview of where the emperor took his royal dump, and where his holy-ness soaked his nude body (which would apparently blind all who looked at him – no, just kidding I made that up).
I found this tourist attraction onsen overpriced with large groups.Normally you would fit 3 people into a private room (which costs the most money), but since we were a bunch of gai-jin tourists, we fit eight and sat together in a squished circle.The water itself was fine, but I wound up spending more time taking a shower than actually staying in the steaming bath.I found it amusing that when Sebastian and I entered the bath, the Japanese people scattered.It reminded me of that high school science trick where you put detergent on your fingertip and stick it into the middle of a bowl of water sprinkled with pepper.Try it and you’ll know what I mean.
For many of the people on the tour, this was their first time at an onsen.Their reactions were positive, but every single one of them was blushing like peaches.Most of them only stayed in the hot baths for 10 minutes and spend the rest of the time sitting on the cool tatami mats and resting their eyes.We’re all on vacation here so there’s no need to force yourself into any uncomfortable customs.Although, I think everyone should keep an open-mind to what other cultures deem a cleansing of the spirit.
Not to mention that, if you don’t try this once, you won’t be able to experience trying to sit in such a way that everyone doesn’t get too quickly acquainted with you before you buy them a drink.Luckily, or unluckily (depending to who you talk to), the robes were not see-through.
All in all, it was a beautiful night and I thoroughly enjoyed it.Dinner was a poor excuse for Italian style, but it’s pretty difficult to mess up an omelet filled with rice and drenched with gravy.The spaghetti , on the other hand, tasted like it was cooked (processed) by the famous Chef Boyardee.There must have been some weird canned tomato paste they added for the tomato sauce.Yum.
Money on this vacation was just spent on all sorts of experiences.I’m on vacation – I can spend a little extra on a few pints of beers.And, oh boy, did I choose the right tour guide to fulfill this wish.Yuka is amazing for giving me such effortless victories in convincing her to go out for a drink.In fact, it was more like “Can we order some beer tonight?”“Can we? Why wouldn’t we?Kanpai!”
~See Lemons Feel like royalty
Yuka likes her beer
