Osaka was the perfect large modern city in which to end our stay in Japan. We spent a few relaxing hours at the large aquarium watching a variety of aquatic morsels glide around their tanks. We then went back to the centre of town where we could watch similar beasts glide around on conveyor-belts and play our part in the food chain.
We felt like a bit of "ancient" again so squeezed in a day trip walking around Nara seeing more temples, shrines and the unusual sight of deer harassing people for food. I remember visiting one of the shrines in Nara years ago with I and B during the summer festivals. It was evening and after a BBQ on a nearby hill we walked through the wood where lanterns lit a path towards the shrine. In broad daylight on an ordinary day not during a festival the effect is less enchanting but Nara still oozes charm.
Our last moments were spent at the Sky Tower looking at superb views over Osaka's brightly lit buildings. We said our goodbyes to heated space-age loo seats; immaculate shared bathrooms; overly friendly people in every corner of the service industry; bucket loads of high quality sushi; sumptuous delicatessens; sensible rules; sensible populace; working vending machines; the list goes on.
The Shanghai ferry was supremely comfortable with a perfect mix of politeness and rudeness kindly thrown together by the Chinese staff to ensure we were adequately prepared for what lay ahead.
Love the last paragraph here.
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