Tasmanian Dudes!

Thursday was the last day I could use my crappy Kansai pass so I went to Nara and ate sesami icecream (obviously the highlight). When I went to the tourist office the awesome people gave me a free kimono patterned paddle that many Japanese people pointed at. Some random old man guided me to Todaji Temple and onward. Nearly died of dehydration so I bought a soft drink fearing it would have chunks in it. Luckily there was no unpleasant chunky-doom surprise hidden inside the can.

I returned to Universal Studios, planning to buy crepes for dinner but ended up talking to Hiro instead. He was very funny and good at impersonating characters because he played Goofy and Captain Hook in Disneyland. After talking about movie stars, old cartoons, and constantly dying in Tomb Raider I asked if I could buy a ticket to see the premier of Peter Pan, but it wasn’t possible. However, because Hiro worked at Disneysea he was able to get a discount the following evening if I could come. Ka koi!

By then too cold for eating icecream crepes so I headed for the train and met two cool Austrailian dudes from Tasmania! (Why didn't I get photos?!) BEN was glad for the English company while his brother GERARD was glad not to be lost on the train system. They were kind enough to buy me a tall green tea drink at Starbucks while we decided what to do next. With less than two hours to spare we decided to try Dotonburi but never made it because I had already missed my curfew by then. Plus the Para Para at Osaka Station distracted us for five invaluable minutes. Ben and Gerard walked me back to the youth hostel just in case I actually got locked out - which I totally did. Ben planned to let me borrow his JR Rail Pass and ride the trains all night long. A brilliant plan! But ... Luckily a police man let me in so Ben didn’t have to lend me his JR Rail Pass for the night!