10/07/09 - Kobe time
Woke well. And woke whenever anyone else left the room, or moved in the room. But otherwise good. Went off to have a bath. Nope it's till 8am. Checked my notes and they changed the time till 9am. So ignoring the signs I was the only one there again. Until I had finished again... like signs... still went back to the room, a quick change and now waiting for Karen to arrive. To which I am sweating enough to totally nullify the bath I've just had... Bah
So we head out. To the train station and on to Shin-Kobe (outer Kobe - the bullet stop), where we then take a link via subway (our first in Japan) to the central station. So first stop was to be the museum, seemed easy enough and the tourist information were nice and easy to speak to. Bags in lockers and away we go. Subway was easy to navigate, though paying is a slight issue till you know what the prices and numbers all mean.
However, it seemed soemthing was up, as the directions we took and the place we ended up wasn't entirely in line. To the point we were walking away from the intended location, mainly as I didn't want to cross the tracks, as that was the wrong way, though it happened we had come out the wrong way and so under the tracks was indeed the right way. At least we saw another shrine!
Then it started pissing it down. Monsoon season, at least rainy season and so very wet. Still I had a fanta orange jelly on teh way in and after knowing to shake it up (even a fizzy drink as it is) it was much easier and still odder to drink! - Recommended! The museum was alright, but not quite what we were after, not as much art and more grandma's glassware!? Still I was glad to get in the dry after walking around and getting totally soaked whilst reading maps and all sorts. Let alone some conflicting directions from people to get there (though can't blame them much seeing we can't understand them!)
Food was next, but the place we headed to wasn't open. Even after finding the hidden spoon - not knowing what else to do I remembered the prices of the Kobe steak, and as it was an extra 5000 yen (33 quid), the 200 yen (1.33 quid) subway return journey seemed a bargain. I am glad we did go. Another interesting backpacking experience. We arrived at the stationa nd tried to find a way or directions to the place, none. So were walking around and asked someone who didn't know it. Walking around a bit more it was found, just as the guy we asked came running up and pointing it to us! :)
The place was recommended and we looked at it as a 5 star hotel type place. Looked pricey, then again we were expecting to spend about 5000 yen for a steak (33 quid) It turned out it would cost more, but that was due to our choice. Going in we looked at the menu as we sit in a trendy wine bar feel with people eating lovely looking food and a private chef at eat table cooking it skillfully infront of them. One chef for two parties, a table of three already there and us two.
Looking at the menu, Karen was up for spending some money on some world class steak. "I want that one" she says, "mmm looks good" I say, "yeah that one" she repeats, "80 pounds?" I reply, "hmmm maybe that other one does look better". Repeat. In the end there were two cuts: sirloin and tenderloin. So my idea was to go for one of each and have half-half. Everyone seemed up for that, so the lunch special sirloin was 5000 yen (33 quid), the tenderloin cheapest (all done on weight) was 8500 yen (55 quid). But these were for the meals (didn't seem to have just the meat) and so we went for it.
Smoked salmon and onion starter.
A lovely corn soup? (tasted like rice pudding)
A salad bowl each
Then the main dish, introduced to the steak as the LP says, the steak.
It was then cut up expertly by the chef as he dealt with different cuts of the meat differently and made a variety of dishes. Each of our servings came with two pieces of meat.
The first eaten with your choice of the sea salt of lovely cracked black pepper.
The second dippied in the soy sauce with mustard mix (you mix yourself to determine the heat)
I tried it with and without these, but they definately helped. Oh and all served with a variety of vegetables.
With a glass of GOD wine (or GOD speed - depending on where you read it on the menu) it was lovely. Took some photos but otherwise have a very nice meal. Of course the bill came to 16,709 yen (111 pounds) making it roughly a 55 quid meal, but we had just tried some extraordinary beef (still a lover of the Argentinian myself, but this was nice too - totally different styles and tastes)
Full from the gorging, we headed back, thinking that a tasting sake and brewery factory would be nice but, running out of time and with alot to see in Kyoto. After all, most places seem to suggest 5 days minimum to see the city and we only have a day and a dribble. The hostel was a littel effort to find, but it was found and it's a nice cosy little place. Karen will now see what a more normal hostel looks like. A lot smaller than I was expecting, but cosy and so we settled in, I sorted out my washing (to no longer be the smelly gaijin on the trains, well for a day or two) and met Marcel from Switzerland.
We chatted for a bit as he's been in Hiroshima for the past 3 days and we're heading there soon. Gave us a hostel and we passed on a bit of info ourselves. Then as the night approached one last place could be seen (glad we didn't try for Nara) so we headed off for the Manga Museum International. Hmm. Not so much as a museum, as a giant library. Okay arriving late meant a few of the things were closed, like seeing an artist work (from what I understood?) but it's a shame they can't tell you there is nothing to see BEFORE you pay to get in? So much manga, including various in various languages. Some I have. A lot I don't... yet.
And I bought a little flag for my house!
Still, that done, it was food time, so we headed back. Marcel wanted to go get food and then a convience store for beer. Seemed a plan so we went and had a quick meal and then drinks. I got some beef jerky (emergency rations), BIG THUNDER (tastes like wheetos, I was expecting a dime bar) and some green chocolate (I assume matcha flavour) as well as drinks. At the hostel I gave the receptionist guy a beer as he'd changed the machines to wash and dry my clothes! Well worth it! So now chilling on slightly cheaper internet (2 quid an hour) and to be drinking. Still got some of the earlier days to do, but there is always tommorrow!
