My friend and I just went to Hokkaido on our own. Glad my friend managed the trip by researching from Youtube and others and using ChatGPT and Google Maps all the way ka.
As always, there are many things to observe and learn ka. Here are a few to share, which to me, have become what I think as 'strange', 'touched', and 'worried'.
1. Strange but don't get to know 'why'!
- I've never seen that many crows in my life.....big and plump mak! They had signs for us to be careful of the crows too....this city should be called, 'Hokกาdo!
- After some meals in different types of Japanese food restaurants, my friend and I found it unusual to find that most put on Western music or songs in the '80s.....what I could sing along to be curious why the restaurants chose them ka.....didn't get any chance to ask any about it yet.
- Sapporo and Hakodate are tourist cities but it caught my eyes to see many go with their luggage, large and small. I also think that only some were tourists....again, not clear about it ka. We only met some Chinese and Koreans....a few Thais too.
- Taxis were everywhere.......felt it must be quite popular and normal to take one!....and we saw one female cab driver kaaa!
2. Touched!
- While we were trying to find a restaurant chosen, our unsure faces must have shown clearly! One lady in her 30's approached to offer her help. She then led us to the elevator and the right floor even when we told her we should be able to do on our own.....out of our feeling grengjai.
To some of you, nothing is new as it seems to be a Japanese way of kindness But for me and my friend, this meant a lot for our social media era where people can be so very independent by using apps available. Out there, there's always someone who is observant and spots those who may need help. They go out of their way to ask, offer advice, and lead the way. Being a younger person made us hopeful for our society to have more caring too. That lunch was filled with great food and smiles kaa.
- When we decided not to strain our back and shoulders using a train to the airport, we learned that the taxi fare was at 11,000 yen+ highway fee. Our cab driver had his meter on to show that it went like 16,000 yen. In the cab, there was a sign saying that' the flat rate is 11,000'. But my friend said if we were charged as metered, we could do nothing but pay as asked!
Know how much we ended up paying? Exactly the same as guided earlier ka!
My friend and I discussed what could happen in Thailand as we've heard so much how dishonest our Thai cab drivers have been....none in Japan ka....how I wish we could nurture this type of integrity from Japan jing jing.
3. Worried
- A few small kids I met were given an ipad/phone to play while traveling or waiting for the food......only a few....unlike Thailand as it seems to be much more common.
- Many Japanese elders live and manage lives by themselves. Thais have to learn how to be more independent ....before then, more effort to stay very healthy and to learn what they like to take up when getting much older....working as volunteers, going out to enjoy different events, or learning something new?!?
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