When reality and dream switch rolls
by chris, January 24, 2006
When we make plans, and have hopes, eventually our dreams become reality.
And when we let ourselves live without expectation, eventualy reality takes the form of a dream.
So it was with New Years...
For a year, since I had to defer going to nasu in order to meet with a friend coming in from the states, I was finally able to set of for Kita Onsen. A winter wonderland, with all the potential of a marvelous experience. Even though I had been hoping to go there all year, I did not make reservations until November, and I was only able to reserve a spot for the night of the 30th.
So, being who I am, I felt it was in our best interest to go anyways, and maybe see if there was a cancellation for the 31st.
Imagine, a New Years under the stars in a sweet smelling onsen hidden in the snow covered mountains of Northern Japan. Contingency plan number one, if the hopeful cancellation did not happen, was to camp out. Yes, I did pack a tent in the car and had no qualms about sleeping in the snow if it meant an early morning bath in such a beautiful spot.
Of course, when we got to the Onsen the stting was amazing. A true winter wonderland, with snow capped mountains, steam coming from the nature hot springs, and a large snow covered Japanese Edo period house nestled tightly in its little nook.
Ahhh, dreams. So often richer from a distance. The insde was another matter. Fairly cold (I felt wrmer in my flip flops walking in the snow), with a dark atmoshpere. Okay. Still, there is the hot spring.
ahh, the beauty of getting naked and standing there with ice all around, gusts of wind blowing powder through the air. Test the water with a toe, and, OUCH. Scalding, scalding hot.
Well, the alternative is to stand there naked and freezing, or sink into the water and scorch my body. So, I stood there, then jumped in, and out, and in, and out, and finally was able to settle in for about a 2 minutes (maybe less). Any movement of course meant pain.
So, back out, onto the frozen wooden slats, a quick dry with a towel the size of a face cloth, and yukata (traditional japanese robes) back on.
Well, there is always the famed Ryokan food. (Ryokan is a traditional Japanese in, sometimes with onsen and noted for its great meals).
So, dinner comes along. Visually, as most people I am sure are aware, Japanese tend to be more concerned with presentation and taste than with the size of the portion. Here, we had an exception, at least in terms of the presentation and taste.
One would imagine a nice hot meal in such a cold climate. But no, not our hosts. I don't know if you have ever eaten cold sweet and sour chicken, but it doesn't get much worse than when served in a cold room, and I mean atmosphere more than temperature here.
To give you an idea. Many guests did not finish their meals, and the topic of conversation when we met tended towards how disappointing the food was.
At least the sake was warm.
Ah. Dreams. So often much richer from afar.
In the mornig, after a bath in the large outdoor pool, which had finally been filled, we gathered our things to leave. Perhaps sleeping in the tent wouldn't be such a bad idea, and far less expensive.
Up the hill, start the car. Car stalls. Try again. Battery goes poof. "Sumimasen (excuse me), jumpa keiburu arimasu ka". (You can guess, can't you.)
Okay. RAV4 is going and we're off down the hill. Just one slide into the snowbank on a steep turn, but other than that driving is okay. Except that we ran out of washer fluid and the windshield was gathering road spray. Uhg.
Maybe lunch in town would be good. Down tourist lane. Back up tourist lane. back down tourist lane. Back up turist lane..... and finally, its settled. A little restaurant next to the driving range offering beef stew. (we seriously thought about hitting a bucket of balls befoer eating).
I we walk. And, I feel like I am walking into someone's grandmothers house in 1980 somewhere in New Bedford. Wow. Shock!!
Sit down and order. The atmoshpere is quaint, but somehow quieter than a library. Odd feeling for a restaurant I must say.
Okay, beef stew. ERRR. Beef with packaged stew mix poured on top. 50% fat and far from mouthwatering. But, at least it was expensive. Ah, tourist lane.
Well, so much for planning and a dream New Years. Where shall we go then. "Lets go to Nikko"....
.... to be continued....
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