I'll add more to this blog later but Michelle, a haiku as requested.
Beers, karaoke
Make for a sore head next day
Goodbye Osaka
Universal Studios, Osaka
Mum, this blog is aimed at you. Saturday was Universal Studios day. A good fun day out. It was a mixture of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and it had all the usual attractions with the addition of a couple more, Snoopyland and the Land of Oz. Both aimed at kids. We started the day with Jurassic Park, almost exactly the same with wee differences from the Florida one - still had the big drop at the end! The photo was so funny that we ended up getting it.
The concept of single rider hasn't reached the Japanese people yet, but it was there and Jason and I made full use of it. We managed to avoid looong queues by nipping in single rider (sometimes twice) and every time, we got to ride in the same car together.
The scripts were all in Japanese but it didn't matter, we knew them all anyway. It was a great day out. And Jason got to see Back to the Future. He preferred The Simpsons though.
Haikus in Osaka
Osaka was a really pleasant city (to tell you the truth, Kyoto is much nicer) but the one annoying thing about it, is that the exits from Osaka station are just darntooting confusing. Exit signs appear and disappear. Seriously, you can't find them. And if you do, it's the wrong one.
Consequently, they shaped the direction of my haikus.
Where is the exit?
Hot Bunraku Theatre
Is sleep inducing.
Two whale sharks, 8 floors
Kiyukan Aquarium
is very restful.
Consequently, they shaped the direction of my haikus.
Where is the exit?
Hot Bunraku Theatre
Is sleep inducing.
Two whale sharks, 8 floors
Kiyukan Aquarium
is very restful.
Osaka was a whirlwind - Day One, Part Two
From slow moving theatre to slow moving animals. At Kaiyukan Aquarium. 8 floors high, you start at the top and work your way down. Loads of photos and a few wee videos.
It was a great way to spend the early evening and as we were going at that time, we almost had the place to ourselves.
Their big star attractions were their two whale sharks. They are gi-normous!
Osaka was a whirlwind - Day One, Part One
We arrived mid- morning and had tickets for the all day Bunraku Puppetry Theatre so we dumped our bags in the station and headed down to here
for a 4 and a half hour show. It was incredible. I've never seen anything like it. The puppets are half human size and are operated by three people; the main puppeteer operates the body and facial expressions and the other two operate the hands and feet respectively. The story is told by a narrator and musician. These two work together for life.
The play is made up of several parts. The first part is about 45 minutes long and comprises a couple of dances by special puppets. After this, there is a 30 minute break where everyone breaks out their lunch and either eats it in the foyer or munches it at their seat.
Then from 12 until 3.30 there is only one 5 minute break. It's a long afternoon. The puppetry is often very slow moving. More than once, Jason and I fell into a dream state, almost hallucinatory, the kind of sleep now known as Bunraku Hallucinations.
We hired English audio commentary which was a great investment as it explained the scripts and the movements of the puppets. Made for a 17th century audience, there were parts of it where it's easy to lose concentration and drift off. Especially in a warm theatre. Most people there, at some point, fell asleep.
It was a great experience and I'm so glad we did it.
There was a wee museum attached to the theatre where you got to try out a puppet. Here's a wee video of Jason wowing the Japanese audience.
After this, we left our bags at the station for now, as we were heading to the Aquarium.....
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