My legs are so numb from walking toooo much.....

ello mates. this post will be revamped. but today was such a long day, and my legs are pooped. the day started off real early with jan going to the bank to set up a bank account. Then jan running home because she forgot her Hanko (japanese kanji name stamp), then jan running back to the bank with her Hanko. The to Mcdonalds to meet shiv and pete.
Together, team cool went to meet Mai, a realtor, and saw an apartment. The apt was a 1DK. 1 bedroom, dining room and kitchen apt. Shiv and I are looking for a 1LDK (1bdrm, living room, dining room and kitchen). Pete, our friend from work liked the apt, and i think he will take it.

After apt hunting with Mai, we went off to Osaka jo (osaka castle). and we hiked up all the stairs and looked at all the samarai equipment. Looking at all the exhibits reminded me of this funny phrase Ush said to me and shiv about his temple veiwing time in japan. "1000 slightly differnt temples". each floor was slightly different, but not really. the best part of the castle was the hike to the castle and the top veiwing tower. It was full of hyper japanese junior high kids and the veiw from the top (over the city ) was so impressive.

After osaka jo, we walked to the subway. the past few days shiv and i have gotten out of our namba shell and taken the train and rail to outter lying areas of osaka. and boy is it grand. we went to Umeda last night and bentencho today. the train systen here works like clock work. It is crazy. i will not even attempt to expalin it because it will give me a headache.

it seems thought that there is a network of gaijin houses. or apts that cater to foreigners. they have no key money and allow month to month rent. many of them come furnished too. we found an apt. and its real nice. i will post some pics of it. many of the gaijin houses he have been to are all managed by aussie guys that know each other. well whatever.

also, we passes thorugh this amazing public park on the way to the subway station from osaka jo koen, and if you look through the trees, you see the strangest thing. a settlement of park dwelling homeless people. they are tucked far into the park, beheind thick dense trees, but you can see their bright blue tarps. its a whole community of homeless people living hidden away in the trees. you dont see many if any home less people on the streets, but they are hidden... weirdest thing i have seen in a long time.
the best part of my day though, was getting our caricature done. a guy in osaka jo koen did our portraits and i love it. we look like manga characters. and i love the bad japanese "keep a smile" title. i cant wait to frame it. ps, i like how we are both cross eyed.


came home, made dinner. pooped..
luv jan