Day 12 – Nagasaki

7.19AM, Hiroshima Street Car – I’m just on the way to the station to catch my train to Nagasaki – the first one is a Shinkansen. The journey is just over 4 hours. I’ll grab a bento box for the journey.

9.58AM, Hakata – The more I ride the Japanese rail system the more it shows it’s excellence. It’s on time every time, it’s really easy to navigate, clean, smart staff, futuristic – it’s how public transport should be done. The UK is really an embarrassment when you compare it to Japan. I’ve got 15 minutes to wait before my limited express to Nagasaki.

The other thing worth mentioning is the mutual respect  - everyone queues patiently and because no-one pushes, you don’t. Respect breeds respect.

The Kamome train is just as comfortable as the Shinkansen. It’s a sleek black beast with plenty of leg room. It’s not busy in the unreserved sections. I love trains – I always feel sad getting off, especially those in Japan – it’s not a bad way to enter Kyushu. I’ve just noticed how the attendant bows to the entire carriage every time he enters or leaves.

10.59AM, Saga – Just had a bento box for an early lunch. Half the time I don’t know what’s in them – proof my aversity to various food is purely psychological – I did recognise a slab of fish, could be salmon, tasted nice.

This trip will have changed me a lot by the time I’m back. I reckon it’ll have given me a lot more self confidence – it’s important not to slope back into an old comfort zone of just going quietly by and only speaking to those who I need to. Food will be another area that I’ll want to capitalise on and continue just eating whatever’s on my plate.

It’ll be healthier – as will the amount of outside air I get. It’ll all pay off in the long run – you still won’t get me into an gym or drinking coffee – those two I despise and will continue to.

1.20PM, Nagasaki – I’ve arrived and it’s humid – it’s the most humid place I’ve been to since I’ve been in Japan. The hostel is really nice – the staff were very helpful in getting you settled, explaining what there is to do, how to get around, where the room was. It’s a shame Reino Inn in Hiroshima wasnt like that. Off to the Peace Park to see how it differs from Hiroshima’s. Only irritating thing is that there’s no hot showers before 8.00AM. Will have to do my epic Osaka journey after I’ve had a cold shower, fun times…

3.31PM, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum – Hiroshima museum was really busy and it removed the atmosphere. Nagasaki is really empty at the moment, and it’s a much more sombre feeling. It’s a depressing look at what horrific capability mankind has over ideology, imaginary lines and race – it’s hard to swallow and reminds us how short life really is.

There were a couple westerner lads on my cable car so I pounced on them as we got off at the same spot. Two JET, (one New Zealander, one Irish) guys and a French Canadian on holiday. We went to the catholic cathedral and then to the museum. We also saw a one legged Torri, a shrine gate, which is still standing. They’re staying at the same hostel, but I think they’re leaving tonight.

5.43PM, Akira Hostel – Pile of cats, Christian Crucifixation monument, random Japanese man claiming to be a god. What a random afternoon.

10.00PM, Akira Hostel – We went for dinner as a group, along with two Japanese guys we picked up on the way. We tried Champon, a noodle dish that was covered in seafood (prawns, octopus, oysters, fish cake). It was pretty tasty.

I sloped off to bed while the others went to Karoke (or at least planned to). I wanted to go, but I’d be no fun – I’m totally burned out.

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Tagged: Japan 2011, marco fiori, Nagasaki, travel diary