Update from Toba

Night one of sleeping on the floor - Ow, my shoulder....

Haha no I'm only partly kidding, it isn't so bad, it's kinda cool actually. I don't know that I could do it for another week (which is how long I think it would take me to get used to it) but for a few days, the hot springs help melt some of the tension away and I am so beyond tired that I had an amazing sleep on the bus en route to Ise Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine), Japan's holiest Shinto shrine. And seemingly also one of the most expensive. Custom dictate that they rebuild the Naiku and Geku shrine buildings and the bridge every 29 years. The next one will take place next year, and they have already began preparations for it. The estimated cost for this rebuild is about ¥5 billion or about $60,000,000CDN.

Didn't make it to Mikimoto island on account of the weather, but we did visit the Azuchi Momoyama Bunka Mura ninja & samurai theme park. That's right, a ninja theme park. It was pissing pissing rain all day so the place was deserted..... Or was it?! Maybe the ninjas were just invisible to the untrained eye. Muahahaha. I think it was really just that miserable out. We didn't have much time to spend there so we watched one of the live shows, which was entirely in Japanese but still hilarious (and impressive!). The main character reminded me so much of Chris in his mannerisms and the funny imitations he did. They both did a hilarious old school deep Japanese accent, he had the whole theatre howling by the end. He looked just like Daniel (but with eyeliner on), so I had a pit in the bottom of my stomach for most of the show. We learned tonight at dinner that Chris, Dan and Michelle came here to Ise with Chako-san's kids to visit Chako's dad and they went to that very same park many years ago. He said that the boys just loved it, and I can just picture those Kano brothers and all the mischief they got into. It was just another reminder of how much I miss Chrissy, because he of all people would've been so excited to hear about my adventures.

I have so much more to say but it is getting late here and our wifi connection is hit and miss. Tomorrow we head to Suwa to meet up with Tomo, will be there until Monday then back to Tokyo overnight and home on Tues! Seems like we just got here, and yet it feels like we've been here for weeks. I don't want to come home but I won't lie, I am really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again. The long commutes are killing me, I have never consumed so much Gravol in such a short period of time. This is also the only country I've ever visited that doesn't really have carbonated beverages, only coca cola. I would kill for a ginger ale right about now lol. But I have discovered that Pocari Sweat tastes a little bit like fresca without the carbonation, but is more like Gatorade I think. Helps with the dehydration.

I hope I remember all of this by the time I get home, I try to jot down stuff so I'll remember but my iPad is such a pain in the arse to type on, most of the time I just want to give up and do a video diary instead. Next time maybe.

Lots of love from Toba!
Kris xox