hiH March Trip 2002

The Voyage Continues

Pictures Forthcoming

March 8 - 18 2002
Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima

Our intrepid Travelers...

Cheryl* age:22 * occupation:typist * preoccupation: "where's my camera?"
Likes: Strawberry Crunkie, heated toilet seats, Engrish signs, Hello Kitty *
Dislikes: most every aspect of flying except flying itself, London Boots (the red-haired guy), Japanese-style toilets, eggs, sashimi, natto (although she would not try it), and being with Lisa for long spans *
Dropped her camera: five times *
Had her butt photographed by aging man

Lisa* age:21 * occupation: claims filer (or something...?) * preoccupation: "Did Cheryl lose her camera?!"
Likes: the Gatsby Mohawk commercial, Pinapple Qoo, anything in miniature (well not anything) *
Dislikes: being seated next to fat men who bulge over into her seat on the airplane, watching fat men eat on planes, tripping over nothing, and being with Cheryl for long spans
Heather* age:21 occupation:still a, er, a student * preoccupation: "is this the right train??"
Likes: Postcards, tacoyaki***, temakizushi, miyazaki films, billiards at Kembys *
Dislikes: Being with sisters who argue constantly, Japanese milk, uni, men who say they like you but refuse to see you.

Cheryl and I had a "countdown to Japan" posted on our door since January, and the impending trip was the giddiness in my step. The absolutely fabulous airfare price I secured from Orbitz.com was so sweet. The loan that I had to beg from my parents in order to finance this trip was a pulsating boil, but a teeny boil. I'll pay it back eventually.

The scratchiness in my throat did not bode well for the voyage however. When I became feverish, there was no alternative but to see the doctor. Mono? Strep Throat? Only the throat cultures, blood tests, and time would tell for sure. I did not have time though. By the time I got in to see the doctor two days before departure, I felt constantly in a state of half-consciousness in the throes of chills and sweats of fever, and I was downing water almost constantly. I could barely climb a flight of stairs without getting out of breath, how could I hike up the hilltop temples in Kyoto or through the sidestreets of Hiroshima?

Not go to my other home? Not see my friends? Leave the Lee sisters to negotiate their way from Osaka to Kyoto to Hiroshima with marginal language skills? Lets not kid ourselves. I had paid the plane fare, was nothing stopping me from getting on the plane save airport security. I chugged aqua, downed tylenols like candy, and hoped for the best.

"Raise your arms please, ma'am"

The lines we encountered at the airports were no worse than I'm accustomed to. The security checks, I admit, were more plentiful and thorough, but I for one am glad of them. Despite the irritation, it's better to be safe in my opinion. I had planned ahead, complete with easily removable shoes for the security checkpoints, and my pockets cleared of all keys and loose change. The Lees and I arrived in Detroit at around 5AM I think (I dont really remember), so we had the bulk of the United Airlines passengers behind us. Cheryl and Lisa took great fun in my being searched at Detroit Metro. Apparently I look "shifty." There was no greater fear, however, than when I saw one of the security personnel fitting themself with a rubber glove. I mean, if it were you, what would you have thought? So I'm thinking the worst, but was fortunately only asked to remove my coat and shoes and they rifled through my belongings. I was wanded and patted down. The plane was grounded in detroit for an hour and a half before we were allowed to leave for Chicago. Of course, by the time we got there, we missed our flight.

Cheryl was very upset by this. She has had her luggage get on a plane without her before, and went for half a week without clothes on her last trip to Japan. So she assumes the worst every time she flies. Every time she gets on a plane she will say (at least once) "I hope our suitcases get there" or similar. We got rerouted after a large wait. But instead of Osaka, we were sent to Narita. ....

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Cheryl* age:22 * occupation:typist * preoccupation: "where's my camera?" Likes: Strawberry Crunkie, heated toilet seats, Engrish signs, Hello Kitty * Dislikes: most every aspect of flying except flying itself, London Boots (the red-haired guy), Japanese-style toilets, eggs, sashimi, natto (although she would not try it), and being with Lisa for long spans * Dropped her camera: five times * Had her butt photographed by aging man
Lisa* age:21 * occupation: claims filer (or something...?) * preoccupation: "Did Cheryl lose her camera?!" Likes: the Gatsby Mohawk commercial, Pinapple Qoo, anything in miniature (well not anything) * Dislikes: being seated next to fat men who bulge over into her seat on the airplane, watching fat men eat on planes, tripping over nothing, and being with Cheryl for long spans
Heather* age:21 occupation:still a, er, a student * preoccupation: "is this the right train??" Likes: Postcards, tacoyaki**, temakizushi, miyazaki films, billiards at Kembys Dislikes: Being with sisters who argue constantly, Japanese milk, uni, men who say they like you but refuse to see you.