We slept on our new mattress last night! It was delivered on Friday, and then spent all afternoon, and all day Saturday “inflating”. It was packed real tight in the box, and needs a minimum of 10 hours to air out, preferrably with “massaging” to inflate it with air, so it comes out thicker. It is the same type, and we’re still on the floor, but last night was definitely not as uncomfortable as the last 10 nights have been…
We did a bunch of laundry after breakfast this morning, hung it out on the line. A new line for the back balcony is on the shopping list for today, so we may be able to double our laundry capacity soon! The wash is super quick, 35-40 minutes, so the only thing keeping us from getting to the bottom of the laundry hamper is really just drying space.
I had found an international festival in one of the “Foreigner in Osaka” Facebook groups, and today was festival day! We decided to walk the 30 minutes to get there instead of walking 10 minutes, bussing 10 minutes, and then walking another 5. It was nice and cool when we set out, but still hot in the sun. We walked new and undiscovered roads, and came upon vending machine after vending machine. Just as we were getting thirsty and about to buy water, we rounded the side of a vending machine only to find… meat. Meat? MEAT! A Wagyu beef vending machine, on a random street corner, along the river. It was an area that truly felt still and abandoned, but also one with modern and different architecture. Still, every entrance is that of a standalone home, even though the neighbour’s house is built practically touching. So no water was purchased at the meat vending machine, and we kept on walking.
We found a “regular” vending machine soon thereafter, and water, cold tea and orange juice was purchased. That spurred us on, and a few blocks later, we found the entrance to the market. This was another covered alley lined with stores, restaurants and all sorts of services. The market was advertised as starting at 10am, but it felt like most stalls and most stores were still closed. We got there at 10.45am, so it is possible more opened at 11am, but it felt very … not ready for business. We stopped at the mochi store and bought some sweet potato filled, deep fried mochi. I don’t think I’ve ever had deep fried mochi, it was delicious! Also, sweet potato is my new addiction, so I guess there’s that too. Needless to say, I loved it!
There were a few vendors along the alley, and a guy selling Detroit style pizza! (No, he had never had Windsor pizza, I asked!) Suddenly Maylin says “I have to go pee!” – there are no fancy washrooms in this covered alleyway, and with such few businesses actually open, this was a challenge. So we pop into the hair salon and ask if he can cut Maylin’s hair. Yes of course, please sit down and wait. Oh, but can she use the washroom first? Yes of course, go ahead. While Maylin is happily testing the facilities, Mr. Hairdresser and I try to communicate details, and it turns out a haircut would be a 50 minute wait for Maylin. Ugh. Not today then. After so much back and forth (thank you thank you Google Translate!!), we agree to come back not Monday (closed) but Tuesday morning. No appointments, just wait. So at least now we know which hair dresser to go to, but will it turn out ok with that big a language barrier?
At the end of the alley, we were all hot and hungry, and we decided to hop on a bus to our favourite close mall. On the 4th floor, amidst all the different restaurants, we ended up at a Korean one today. Joe and I both ordered a Beef Bibimbap, which came with soup and unlimited sides from a little buffet. I tried to order one fried chicken and deep fried cheese balls set for the kids, but the waiter misunderstood, and they were given one portion each. The sides were kimchi, sprout salad, cabbage, seaweed and vegetable pancake, and even the kids tried some. All the food was delicious, except the cheese balls were covered in a sweet-ish cheesy powder, so Joe had to eat most of those. But both him and I got to enjoy a bit of fried chicken after our rice bowls.
Immediately after leaving the restaurant, the girls wanted to go run around on a fake grass playground in a courtyard outside the restaurant, luckily Joe and I could stand and watch, we were way too full. We went browsing a few shops and found some more interesting vending machines on our way!
We also found a whole lot more cuteness along the way! Téa of course steered right towards “the bear store” aka Rilakkuma, where there’s bears everywhere. Maylin only got a few minutes browse in the entertainment department this time around, and did not even spend any of her own money playing clawmachines or buying gachapons.
We also came across a pop up jewelry market in the basement of the mall! Tables upon tables of handmade earrings, necklaces, rings etc, and of course Téa and I had a good browse while Joe and Maylin rolled eyes and were bored beyond belief. We got talking to one of the sales ladies, who had spent an exchange year in Washington State, so of course we had to talk about Pacific NorthWest weather, and what we were doing in Japan. It is actually shockingly rare to find Japanese people who speak English, most have a word or two, but we are always pleasantly surprised when we’re able to hold a conversation without translation apps.
We were also on the hunt for a queen duvet cover (unsuccessful hunt), fast charging plug and cables (successful), clothes line/rope (successful) and even found “phone cord” bracelets against bug bites (bonus find)! Over the last few days, I have been absolutely attacked by whatever bug, and I have bites all over my feet, ankles and up to my knees. Terribly painful, terribly itchy, but other than that, no troublesome swelling or abnormal reactions. I wore my new skirt from yesterday today, so every step (of today’s 13,500 steps) was a beautiful breezy hem tickling my itchy ankles. Don’t get me started on even just my shoes rubbing on the bites, one of them is even on the sole of my foot! No body else in the family has similar bites, thank goodness. We have some remedies with us from home, but there’s only so much they can do. I think I might find myself a pharmacy tomorrow… Tried the “bracelets” but on my ankles, so hopefully at least no new bites overnight.
Our shopping trip needed an after lunch snack, so we sat down for a bubble tea. Maylin with chocolate milk, Téa an orange mixed fruit juice, Joe got the Bull Pulu Bubble Tea Special, and I had to try the Purple Sweet Potato Bubble Tea. All delicious, and all family members happy with our choices!
The only thing that remained was a quick shopping trip to get some cereal and more bread for tomorrow’s breakfast. I will say though, it’s my third time to this mall, and I don’t like Sundays here. WAY too busy, but also more entertaining, lots of young adults fully dressed up as if they were on their way to a ComiCon? The grocery store was supposed to be more exploration than shopping, but it was just people everywhere, so we grabbed our few items, and found a bus home.
Joe made a great tofu curry over rice for a late dinner, the girls talked to their cousin in England, and all of a sudden, the weekend had come to an end. Tomorrow is Monday and back to school, so off to bed it is!