it's my birthday

[Zech Marquis]

I turned 32 today, so I got the day off from work (after 13 days straight), and I'll go and have a good lunch out :bounce:
BUT..my real present will be in about 60 days, when I go back to japan to vsit after 13 years :bounce: Anyone who's ttravelled t Osaka recently, please feel free to pas along any info on fighting jet lag, where to get okonomiyaki, cool sights in Kyoto, or just to say hi to me.

[XNASA]

1. You say it's your Birthday?

Well, Happy Birthday to you.

[soleft]

2. Happy Birthday to you

:party:

[qnr]

3. Happy birthday!

[tjdee]

4. Happy Birthday!

Many more, and all that.
Are you going to Japan to see family, or just to hang out?

[Zech Marquis]

8. you could say family

as in, potential mother in llaw :evilgrin:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. O-tanjoubi omedetou!

1. Fighting jet lag: Just stay awake until what would be a reasonable bedtime Osaka time--at least 9 o'clock. That's the equivalent of pulling an all-nighter. Sleep for eight hours, and you'll be largely on Japan time. For me, the return trip is always harder. It takes me about a day for each hour of time change to get fully back on track.

2. Where to get okonomiyaki: Just about any department store in Osaka will have a couple of floors of restaurants, and there's sure to be one specializing in okonomiyaki. Can't think of any specifics, but it is especially good in Osaka.

3. Things to see in Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera and the neighborhood on the hill leading up to it, the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) and the Silver Pavilion (Ginkakuji), Pontocho at night (the geisha area--you may see geisha and maiko on their way to assignments), Nijo Castle, and a host of other things. Take a bus trip out to the lovely village of Ohara and stay in a country ryokan. Ride the cable car to Hieizan (mountaintop temple complex) and take the bus back, driving along a ridge road that gives you a panoramic view of Lake Biwa. Take a daytrip to Nara, the capital of Japan in the eighth century, and to Horyuji, the oldest wooden buildings in the world. Take another day trip to Himeji and see the fantastic "white egret" castle--a UNESCO world heritage site.

Lonely Planet has a good guidebook devoted entirely to Kyoto, listing not only tourist sites but a lot of practicalities. I strongly recommend buying it.

[Zech Marquis]

11. let's see

chances are I'll be leaving from the east coast around 6 something the morning of. Actual departure from the US (Chicago or Detroit) around 11 or so. once we get airborne I'll take a nap until the meal, back to sleep. I'll ask the flight attendant to wake me up at 1pm Osaka time, wake around and drnk plently of water.

There was something on the Travel Channel about eating in Osaka :p or was that Iron Chef again? LOL

I really want to ee where the Shinsengumi lived and fought at in Kyoto! So Kyoto, nara, Himeji are on my to se list too!

Lonely Planet: Kyoto? I'll do a search at Aamazon and BN...

[amandae]

6. Happy Birthday!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Rick Myers]

7. Happy Birthday!!!

Sounds like a GREAT trip!!!

Best wishes!!! :toast:

[PittPoliSci]

9. happy birthday!

[donheld]

10. happy birthday

:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

[Zech Marquis]

12. hey enough of that

:evilgrin:

[UrbScotty]

13. Your excitement regarding going to Japan makes me wonder...

Do you hate 'Murka?

[flamingyouth]

14. Happy Birthday!

:party:

[bigwillq]

15. Happy Birthday!

Hope you're having a good day!