The Merchant City
You see...whereas Tokyo and Kyoto were the centers of power, Osaka was a center of trade. It was a city of merchants....and keeping with merchant mentality, one has no time to look down on foreigners or travelers, or even feel down about life. No, you travel the world, leave the safety of home behind in search for fortune. No time for being shy. Every newcomer, perhaps a new business partner or customer, or a traveling friend. This is one of the main reasons why Osaka, unlike the other cities, has such a jolly outgoing upbeat feel to it. Most may not travel in search of fortune anymore, but they have all certainly kept their ancestors' mentality, that's for sure!
Shinsabashi
This is where the party is at. I am alone tonight...Bree is back at her place and I try the town out solo.
Feasting
I begin with Tacoyaki, wonderful little ball messes of octopus and breading covered in mayo and a thick sauce. Beware....they are scorching hot.
Then, a cafè for some cappuccino and tiramisù. Not done. Pizza margherita now with a nice Peroni beer (rutto libero). Then, ice cream. Finish it all off with one more set of Takoyaki balls....dinner Osaka-style!
Bad Company
I go to a bar called 500. Not really in the mood to drink....but, I go anyways. I meet a Welshman and a Scot. Good fellows....but then their South African friends arrive. I buy them some drinks to break the ice a bit....never really got me back for that....but alright, not the first time this happens. But things turn south when we go from one bar to the next. I finally realize where the stupid gaijin (foreigner) idea comea from. These guys!
Drunk and together, they scream, litter and act like total bafoons in front of the locals. I have been in Japan long enough, or really anywhere long enough to know such behavior is not culturally acceptable. I am as ashamed as a thief caught red handed for associating myself with these guys. Imagine typical group of fools. Theres the slightly goodlooking guy who fancies himself the leader, proud of having figured out how to catch a couple of trains while here in Japan. Aye capn'! There's the fairly drunk idiot of the group, running like an ape (literally like an ape) amock unto the streets during red lights just to prove a point no one but himself really understands. Facepalm. There are the two marines who, having being cooped up on a base for so long feel it is reasonable to let loose by dropping every piece of garbage they can hold in their pockets. Salute! Then there are the two girls. These are the worst of the pack. Extremely insecure about themselves, the situation, not to say the strange newcomer and his wild stories, they hide their lack of fortitude in search of approval from the others, proving their, I guess call it, qualities/strengths by acting as if they are so above me and the world that surrounds them that we'd have to take an elevator, no, a shuttle perhaps, just to reach them from the peak of greatness they watch us mortals from.
......ppffeww..... sorry. That was a mouthful, I know. Had to get it out of my system. Anyways, the group gets split and I find myself with the girls only. Usually, this would be a positive situation, but I quickly decide to ditch them. I tell them I am going upstairs to the bathroom and, using some kind of reverse psychology, I tell them "please don't ditch me", with a bit of weakness in my tone. Now, good people, having been listening to your stories, having drunk your drinks, and having realized that you pose no threat but offer only a good time, good people would wait up. But I know this kind of MTV-loving cool-stricken insecure folk and so I don't even look back when I hear their heels clanking down the stairs, giggling as if they one-upped me. But, the bathroom is not upstairs. No worries....I was heading to a club on the sixth floor. Good riddance.
Better Company
Inside a place called Sam and Daves, the music is blasting. I am at this point on my 10th shot of Tequila or something near that number. Gotta go hard when in Osaka. Do as the Romans do as they say. I meet the bartender, a big skinny guy from Cali, the bouncer from DC and a couple of funny Japanese guys. I have myself a blast here dancing. One of my new friends warns me of something. This area of town is full of transexuals! So be careful who you end up with tonight! Lol. I am quite inhibriated, but still sober enough to heed his warning. Holy crap, now I notice the transexuals! Yeesh. Thanks bud.
Best Company
Ah. It is the early morning at this point. I leave the club and head home. A blast of a night! Alone once again. I do love to make all these random friends....but there is always time for alone-time and fully appreciate my solitude. Me and my thoughts. I stumble through the streets. The sun peeks over the horizon and the city begins to wake up. I have never ever drunk this much before. Fortunately, although wild, this is still a safe city.
So-Much-Pee
Never had I drunk this much in my life and never did I ever ever have to hold in the two and a half gallons worth of pee like I do right now. No public restrooms. Cities have always been a problem for me and relieving myself. It's not like you can just do it anywhere either like in the country. There's always someone around the corner. I walk briskly all the way to the northern part of town to Bree's place. I run inside, go in her bathroom and unleash the Niagra falls. Sweet lordy lord! Wow. A photo-finish! Clap... clap... clap. Goodnight.
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