Arigatou Gozaimasu

Magazine, Osaka Metro and Osaka Castle

3 May 2022travelingpersecond

A quarter of an hour to nine….I left Kaga Hotel in Nishinari City District after leaving my backpack in reception area. I rushed to Dobutsuen-mae Station. But first, I had to stuff something into my stomach before arriving at station. Since midnight last night, when I arrived in Osaka, I haven’t eaten a bite.

I decided to look for the nearest convenience store. On the way to station, I found a FamilyMart on the edge of Saka-suji Avenue. I won’t be munching on onigiri again for breakfast. I’ve been bored since two days ago routinely chewing that food. Finally I chose a cup noodle and immediately took the queue in front of cashier. Waiting my turn, one by one, FamilyMart customers completed their payment. I only reflexively followed forward when the queue in front also advanced, but actually my eyes never looked ahead.

Cashier : “Hello”

I still didn’t budge.

Cashier: “Hello”

I still thought thar it was the turn of someone who queueing in front of me

Cashier: “Helloooo….Sir. You…..Sir”.

Me: “Oh it’s my turn, sorry” The cashier just smiled when he saw my face was red with embarrassment. Damn….She and the queue behind me were grinning in unison because they caught me staring at a corner of a shelf with many adult magazines neatly arranged. Luckily the cashier didn’t offer me to buy the magazine….I was embarrassed.

This kind of thing is common in Japan…..

After paying, I headed to a dispenser. Pour hot water into cup noodles and took a corner of that convenience store to eat it.

Cashier: “Helloooo Sir, eat outside, please!”

Ohhh….I was embarrassed, expelled out again, even though I was avoiding cold air outside. In the end, I still ate my cup noodles while standing in front of minimarket while chilling happily….My fate.

Moments later, I were eaten all my noodles until there was no gravy left. I continued to the north. Arriving at the intersection of Abiko-suji Avenue, I immediately headed underground through one of gates belonging to Dobutsuen-mae Station which is on the south bank of main road.

Me: “Hello, How can I get a One Day Pass, Sir”. I made sure not to buy it too long like what happened two days ago in Tokyo.

Security Officer: “Doko e ikitai desu ka?”, apparently this man couldn’t speak English.

Me: “Osaka Castle, Sir”.

Security Officer: “Hooooohhhh….”. He didn’t even know

Me: “Osakajo”.

That security officer then smiled nodding and ushered me through a corridor and then he pointed to an automatic vending machine.

“Arigatou Gozaimasu”, I told him. Even though if you are looking for a machine like this, I can too. Is the One Day Pass sold separately from the machine, that’s what I meant…..Hmmh.

Never mind, I started hitting that automatic vending machine button. I could smile with relief because this machine was not as complicated as the one in Tokyo. I put in a 1,000 Yen sheet, pressed the “ENGLISH” button, continued to the “CARD” button and finally I found the “ONE DAY PASS” button for 600 Yen.

That night was the first overseas New Year’s Eve for me. I purposely bought an One Day Pass because I was going home after midnight, after New Year’s Eve Countdown of course.

Now I was getting ready to take Osaka Metro. It was also my first time experiencing subways in Japan after having only tasted surface trains nine times in a row since my arrival in Tokyo.

I started at Midosuji Line and then changed to Tanimhaci Line at Tennoji Station. Drove north for five kilometers and within fifteen minutes, I finally arrived at Tanimachi 4-chome Station in Chuo City District.

I immediately exited through the exit gate where Osaka Museum of History building and the historical landmark Hoenzaka Iseki are located. From there, I continued along Uemachi-suji Avenue towards Osaka Castle which was only one kilometer away.

Hoenzaka iseki, 5th Century warehouse building in Japan.

I arrived at Otemon gate of Osaka Castle

Let’s exploring Osakajo…..

Losing a wallet at Nakano Station

19 April 202218 April 2022travelingpersecond

Some meshiya around Yadoya Guesthouse … remain of hunting dinner last night.

Mattress at Yadoya Guesthouse’s bunk bed also seemed to like an ice beam, even when early hours have already gone. That morning, I deliberately slowed myself to wake up, I looked like a coward who hid behind the thickness of dormitory blanket. I revenged for my eyes, after almost forty hours didn’t so perfectly closed. The last felt asleep was the day before yesterday, in Taiwan, precisely.

At ten in the morning I just really woke up, due to whispering sound of two lovebirds behind a blanket on other bunk bed which made me uncomfortable. They sleep with intimate and ignoring around. I decided to watering my body under the shower. This time I managed to find the heating button so there wasn’t need to take a shower of super cold water again liked last night.

Afterwards, I was neatly packed all my travel equipments into 45 litre backpack and I prepared to check-out. That afternoon I would fly to Osaka with Peach Aviation. While the remaining time, I would spend to visiting a temple in the middle of city.

I went down in the lobby and poured warm water from a dispenser. Apparently Janessa was preparing it from early morning.

“Good morning, Donny. How were your days in Tokyo? “

“I’m frozen in this town, Janessa. But all are well “.

“Are you going to Osaka tonight? You visited Tokyo very quick “

“My holidays aren’t much, Janessa”

“I hope you will enjoy Osaka, Donny”

“Thanks Janessa. Nice to meet you “.

I said goodbye to Janessa and turned the body to left Yadoya Guesthouse. My steps were automatically head to a FamilyMart in north of Dormitory. I have to have breakfast before heading to the temple.

Still abled to swallow onigiri. Breakfast for 298 Yen.

I brought Onigiri on a circular bench near northern gate of Nakano Station. Not alone, many local residents had breakfast with me on the bench. Some young men stood in courtyard to enjoying hot coffee. I sat under warmth of morning sun and was accompanied by a group of busy pigeons.

Breakfast was over, it was time to leave … …

Today I won’t buy Tokunai Pass again because I would just spend time in Meiji Jingū. Afterwards, I would go to Narita International Airport.

I was a little troubled to queue in ticketing vending machine, with a backpack on my back. And a map, gloves and a compass in my left hand then I took out my wallet with right hand. While continuing to step forward to front of queue.

Until my turn to pressed various buttons at Ticketing Vending Machine. Not so difficult, because I had conquered that machine hassle on yesterday afternoon at Tokyo Station. I exchanged 170 Yen for a one way ticket to Harajuku Station located in Shibuya district.

As soon as I got a ticket, I resigned from the queue, inserting a map and compass in its place, put on gloves again then went to the platform. I continued to entering automatic fare collection gates and following the instructions to Chūō Line train towards Harajuku Station.

Once finished stepping on top stairs …

“Helloooo …..helloooo” …

I looked back. A middle-aged man was waving and asked me to wait for him. So until above …

“This …”, he smiled and handed over a wallet to me.

Gosh, why can my wallet fall?

“Arigatou Gozaimasu …”, I said many times while bowing half of him. And the good man smiled.

“Ohayōgozaimasu …Titterashai”, he bowing and went back down the stairs.

I saw my wallet’s contents for a moment after he left, none of them were reduced. Oh, God … you just keep sending good people to me.

I couldn’t imagine if my wallet was really disappeared. I would definitely walk towards Indonesia’s embassy and asked to be deportation from Japan.

Thank you for a middle-aged man who was kind and thank you God, my adventure was still continuing.

Majalah Dewasa, Osaka Metro dan Osaka Castle

4 January 20218 May 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah sebelumnya

Seperempat jam menuju pukul sembilan….Aku meninggalkan Hotel Kaga di Distrik Kota Nishinari setelah menitipkan backpack di ruang resepsionis. Aku bergegas menuju Stasiun Dobutsuen-mae. Tetapi terlebih dahulu, aku harus menjejalkan sesuatu ke perut sebelum tiba di stasiun itu. Sedari tengah malam tadi, ketika aku tiba di Osaka, belum sesuap pun aku makan.

Aku memutuskan mencari minimarket terdekat. Dalam langkah menuju stasiun, kutemukan sebuah FamilyMart di tepian Saka-suji Avenue. Aku tak akan mengunyah onigiri lagi sebagai sarapan. Aku sudah bosan sejak dua hari lalu rutin mengunyah makanan itu. Akhirnya aku memilih sebuah cup noodle dan segera mengambil antrian di depan kasir. Menunggu giliran, satu persatu pelanggan FamilyMart itu menyelesaikan kewajiban. Aku hanya reflek ikut maju ketika antrian di depan juga maju, tetapi sesungguhnya mataku tak pernah menatap ke depan.

Kasir : “Hello”

Aku masih tak bergeming.

Kasir: “Helloo”

Aku masih berfikir itu giliran pengantri di depanku

Kasir: “Helloooo….Sir. You…..Sir”.

Aku: “Oh it’s my turn, sorry”

Kasir itu hanya senyam-senyum saja melihat mukaku yang memerah karena malu. Sial….Dia dan pengantri di belakangku kompak nyengar-nyengir karena memergoki aku memandangi sebuah sudut rak dengan banyak majalah dewasa yang tersusun rapi. Untung si kasir tidak menawariku untuk membeli majalah itu….Kan malu.

Yang beginian sudah biasa di Jepang….Duhhhh….

Selepas membayar, aku menuju ke sebuah dispenser. Menuang air panas ke cup noodles dan mengambil sebuah pojok minimarket untuk menyantapnya.

Kasir: “Helloooo Sir eat outside, please!”

Duhhhh….Sudah malu, kena usir lagi,. Padahal aku sedang menghindari hawa dingin di luar sana. Ujung-ujungnya, aku tetap saja menyantap cup noodles sambil berdiri di depan minimarket sembari berdingin ria….Nasibbb.

Sewaktu kemudian, cup noodles itu ludes hingga kuahnya pun tak bersisa. Aku melanjutkan langkah ke utara. Tiba di perempatan Abiko-suji Avenue, aku segera menuju bawah tanah melalui salah satu gate milik Stasiun Dobutsuen-mae yang berada di tepi selatan jalan besar itu.

Aku: “Hello, How can I get a One Day Pass, Sir”. Aku memastikan supaya tak kelamaan membelinya seperti kejadian dua hari lalu di Tokyo.

Petugas Keamanan: “Doko e ikitai desu ka?”, rupanya bapak ini tidak bisa berbahasa Inggris.

Aku: “Osaka Castle, Sir”.

Petugas Keamanan: “Hoooohhhhh….”. Dia belum ngerti juga

Aku: “Osakajo”.

Petugas itu lantas tersenyum mengangguk-angguk dan mengantarkanku melalui sebuah koridor lalu menunjuk ke automatic vending machine.

“Arigatou Gozaimasu”, ucapku padanya. Padahal kalau mencari mesin beginian, aku juga bisa. Apakah One Day Pass dijual terpisah dari mesin, itu yang kumaksudkan…..Hmmh.

Sudahlah, aku mulai memencat-mencet tombol automatic vending machine itu. Aku bisa tersenyum lega karena mesin ini tak serumit seperti yang di Tokyo. Aku memasukkan selembar 1.000 Yen, memencet “ENGLISH” button, berlanjut ke “CARD” button dan akhirnya kutemukan “ONE DAY PASS” button seharga 600 Yen (Rp. 82.000).

Malam itu adalah malam tahun baru di luar negeri yang pertama buatku. Aku sengaja membeli One Day Pass karena akan pulang selepas tengah malam, setelah New Year’s Eve Countdown tentunya.

Kini aku bersiap menaiki Osaka Metro. Ini juga pertama kalinya aku merasakan kereta bawah tanah di Jepang setelah sembilan kali berturut-turut hanya mencicipi kereta permukaan semenjak ketibaanku di Tokyo.

Aku mulai menyusuri Midosuji Line lalu berpindah ke Tanimhaci Line di Stasiun Tennoji. Melaju ke utara sejauh lima kilomater dan dalam lima belas menit, aku akhirnya tiba di Stasiun Tanimachi 4-chome di Distrik Kota Chuo.

Aku segera keluar melalui exit gate dimana gedung Osaka Museum of History dan landmark bersejarah Hoenzaka iseki berada. Dari situ, aku terus menelusuri Uemachi-suji Avenue menuju Osaka Castle yang hanya berjarak satu kilometer.

Hoenzaka iseki, bangunan gudang dari Abad ke-5 di Jepang.

Mari kita eksplore Osakajo…..

Kisah Selanjutnya—->

Kehilangan Dompet di Stasiun Nakano

5 December 20205 January 2021travelingpersecond

<—-Kisah Sebelumnya

Beberapa Meshiya di sekitaran Yadoya Guesthouse….Sisa berburu *dinner* semalam.

Kasur di bunk bed milik Yadoya Guesthouse pun serasa balok es, bahkan ketika dini hari sudah undur diri. Pagi itu aku sengaja melambatkan bangun, aku mirip seorang pengecut yang bersembunyi di balik tebalnya selimut dormitory. Aku membalaskan dendam mata, setelah hampir empat puluh jam tak begitu sempurna terpejam. Terakhir terlelap adalah malam kemarin lusa, di Taiwan tepatnya.

Pukul sepuluh pagi aku baru benar-benar bangun, akibat suara bisik-bisik dua sejoli di balik selimut pada sebuah bunk bed yang berhasil membuatku risih. Begitu mesranya mereka tidur berpelukan tak mempedulikan sekitar. Untung aku punya guling dari semalam….Wadidaw. Kuputuskan menyiram tubuh di bawah shower. Kali ini aku berhasil menemukan tombol pemanasnya sehingga tak perlu mandi air es lagi seperti semalam.

Setelahnya, kukemas dengan rapi semua barang ke dalam backpack 45L dan aku bersiap check-out. Sore nanti aku akan terbang ke Osaka bersama Peach Aviation. Sementara sisa waktu, akan kuhabiskan mengunjungi sebuah kuil di tengah kota.

Aku turun di lobby dan menuang air putih hangat dari dispenser. Rupanya Janessa sudah bersiap dari tadi pagi.

“Good morning, Donny. How were your days in Tokyo?”

“I’m frozen in this town, Janessa. But all are well”.

“Are you going to Osaka tonight?. You visited Tokyo very quickly”

“My holidays aren’t much, Janessa”

“I hope you will enjoy Osaka, Donny”

“Thanks Janessa. Nice to meet you”.

Aku berpamitan pada Janessa dan balik badan meninggalkan Yadoya Guesthouse. Langkahku otomatis tertuju ke sebuah FamilyMart di utara dormitory. Aku harus sarapan dahulu sebelum menuju kuil.

Masih saja mampu menelan onigiri. Sarapan seharga 298 Yen (Rp. 40.000).

Kubawa onigiri itu disebuah bangku melingkar di dekat gerbang utara Stasiun Nakano. Tak sendiri, banyak warga lokal yang sarapan bersamaku di bangku itu. Beberapa pemuda berdiri di pelataran menikmati kopi panas. Aku terduduk di bawah hangatnya siraman matahari pagi dan ditemani sekumpulan merpati yang sibuk bersarapan juga.

Sarapan usai, saatnya berangkat…..

Hari ini aku tak akan membeli Tokunai Pass lagi karena aku hanya akan menghabiskan waktu di Meiji Jingū saja. Setelahnya, aku akan menuju ke Narita International Airport.

Aku sedikit kerepotan mengantri di Ticketing Vending Machine, dengan backpack di punggung, selembar peta dan sebuah kompas di tangan kiri, gloves kuapit di ketiak, lalu kukeluarkan dompet dengan tangan kanan. Sambil terus merangsek maju ke antrian depan.

Hingga giliranku memencet berbagai tombol di Ticketing Vending Machine. Tak begitu sulit, karena aku telah menaklukkan kerumitan mesin itu kemarin siang di Stasiun Tokyo. Aku menukar 170 Yen (Rp. 23.000) untuk sekali jalan menuju Stasiun Harajuku yang terletak di Distrik Shibuya.

Begitu mendapatkan tiket, aku mundur dari antrian dan berbenah, memasukkan peta dan kompas pada tempatnya, memakai kembali gloves lalu pergi menuju platform. Aku terus merangsek memasuki automatic fare collection gates dan mengikuti petunjuk menuju kereta Chūō Line menuju Stasiun Harajuku.

Begitu selesai menaiki anak tangga teratas….

“Helloooo….Hellooooo”….

Aku menoleh ke belakang. Seorang lelaki paruh baya berumur 50-an melambaikan tangan dan memintaku menunggunya. Begitu sampai diatas….

“This…..”, beliau tersenyum menyerahkan sebuah dompet kepadaku.

Astaga, kenapa dompet itu bisa jatuh.

“Arigatou Gozaimasu….”, kuucapkan berkali kali sambil membungkukkan separuh badan kepadanya. Dan lelaki baik itu tersenyum.

“Ohayōgozaimasu….Itterasshai“, beliau membungkuk lalu beranjak pergi kembali menuruni anak tangga.

Kulihat isi dompet sejenak setelah beliau pergi, tak ada satupun yang berkurang. Oh, Tuhan….Engkau terus saja mengirimkan orang baik kepadaku.

Tak bisa kubayangkan jika dompet itu benar-benar raib. Aku pasti akan berjalan kaki menuju Kedutaan dan meminta dipulangkan ke tanah air.

Terimakasih untuk Bapak paruh baya yang baik hati dan Terimakasih Tuhan, petualanganku masih terus berlanjut.

Kisah Selanjutnya—->