Hiroshima and Miyajima

I am quite literally petrified when it comes to finding the correct train track to board the correct train heading in the correct direction.

And yesterday I had to do it all by myself as Aimee went back to school for the first day of term (yep Japan started Day 1 of a new school year yesterday). So in order to get to Hiroshima, I had to take a shinkansen (bullet train) which meant that I needed to get to the shinkansen station. Let me try to explain it.

There are many different lines over here. The subway, the JR lines, the privately owned lines, the shinkansen lines among others. They all link but only at certain points or stations. The busiest station is Shinjuku but you'd rather avoid any of them when it's rush hour. The subway is the cheapest with most rides coming up to a max of $2.70 around the Osaka area while most rides in the Tokyo area were $1.70 on avearage. Thus, travelling around is rather efficient and definitely cheaper than driving around the city.

Anyway, my route from home was to walk 5 minutes to the Moriguchishi station which is a station on the Keihan JR line (it's a privately owned line by Keihan, your equivalent of Myer). 3 stops later, I'm at Kyobashi, a busy transferring station looking out for the Osaka Loop Line that will bring me to Osaka station. Then transfer again to get to Shinosaka station (it's actually Shin-Osaka which means new Osaka and was built after the original osaka station) where the Shinkansens Lines run.

I was running from train to train yesterday- I'm used to waiting for the train to arrive but each time I "found" my platform, the train was already there and almost about to leave. I remember feeling confused and lost at Osaka station and trying to stop ppl to ask for directions. Most thought i was trying to sell something so i stopped these two guys who looked like they were high school kids. Both stared at me blankly as I yelled Shinosaka and did the "where" hands and shrug motion. They turned and within 10 seconds, i had 7 kids surrounding me looking at me trying to figure out what I was saying. I repeated my question and finally after about 30 seconds, one of the boys looks directly at me, bows and says, "Platform 7 & 8."

The other kids gave him hass but I was so grateful to him. I have probably never felt so much relief in a go but I knew i had to run so I yelled my thanks and ran. Sure enough the train was already there so I jumped on.

Hiroshima is really peaceful. Lotsa signs in Japanese but none that really explained how to pay on the streetcar. Yes they have streetcars or what is known to us as trams (ala Melbourne style). Fantastic way to travel but my main worry was how to pay and whether i had enough money. Unbeknownst to me, you had to give the right change (150Y) but there were machines on the tram which gave you smaller denominations should you be lacking in 50 or 100 Yen pieces. Luckily, the tram driver realised shortly after I stood staring at the machine and pleadingly mentioned that I needed some help please.

That is one thing I have to say about the Japs. When they realise that you're a "gaijin" or foreigner, they do ALL that is possible to help you out. Generally, if you're caucasian or non Jap looking, you immediately have all their attention and they are extremely helpful and at your service. But for special gaijins like me, it is only after they realise that Im rather sped in my Jap cos I'm "Uz-TRA-leean" that they help me out. It's always a funny moment cos I'm sure they're all thinking, "dude she's one pretty stupid Jap kid" but then they realise and they become quite forgiving and extremely helpful.

It's really hard taking photos of landmarks and yourself when you are travelling solo. But I have learnt a few handy methods that work and many ways which don't. Still waiting for it to upload =)