5 November 2016
Cheesey
The dining options of Kokubuncho in Sendai
After getting back from the ravine view day on the late train, I was starving. As soon as the photos were uploaded and I had typed some nonsense it was time to hit the road again in search of a meal.
My right knee is quite sore from sliding and slipping on it today, photo evidence below, hopefully its ok tomorrow for the mountain climb.
This evenings route took me into the station to find dinner as quickly as possible, having only eaten calorie mate during the day, then I did a big loop around the shopping area of the city, which is dense but compact, and ended up in the real red light district.
In Sendai this is called Kokubuncho, but it is referred to as bunbun on all the 'establishments' and therefore all the girls are bunnies.
The average evening in Sendai involves schoolgirls changing into half naked bunny costumes and making men buy them $20 glasses of water whilst buying themselves $20 glasses of Vodka / Sake / Highball (whatever the hell that is) whilst the girl wiggles her bunny tail at you after you pay $100 for the hour.
To entice you into these establishments, boys too young to go inside are instead provided weird looking suits, perms for their blonde hair and pointy shoes to stand in the street and look tough handing out flyers.
Then once you are drunk enough, the African guys with diplomatic immunity will suddenly appear, and explain to you how much the bill is, and produce a wireless credit card machine for you to settle the 'exit fee'. Unlike nearly all other credit card reading machines in Japan, the African mafia ones take every card, no problem.
I think the last bit of that involving the Africans only happens to white guys, they leave the Japanese alone.
Anyway, my vice was a coke zero and taking photos of the street and wearing the same camo pants that I slid down a muddy hill in earlier.
Immediate dinner required. The place I selected had a sign out the front with a nice looking grilled chicken breast salad. So I ordered that. They have run out...apparently. Instead I was told to select the combo super awesome special deal.
This occurred only after I was seated and had drunk the free water. So I tried to select healthy things in the combo deal, 1/2 serve pasta and 1/2 serve gratin was on offer. What came out was a cheesey (there it is, the title reference!) and oily mess.
I guess it was quite delicious, but I wanted healthy!
You notice in Japan that no matter where you are, they have these blind person tiles everywhere. They have them inside some shops even. I am still waiting to find one to follow up a mountain. I can never find the path even though I am not blind.
Anyway, I like to walk on them, its a free foot massage, and whilst doing so I jumped out of the way of a blind person. Then I wondered, what happens when two blind people meet?
When their canes smack together do they stop and discuss blind people interests? Or is it a fierce rivalry to prove you are the superior blind person?
There once was a ridiculous movie involving a blind guy doing kung fu.
Now I have selected my dinner for tomorrow night. The bottom thing, which I am sure is mapo tofu.
The reason I want it - on the window they have a huge matrix chart where you can choose how much numbing Sichuan Pepper and how much spicy Chilli you want. Bottom right quadrant of the matrix for me.
Red light district main street.
Sign explaining the bunbun bunnyness of the area.
Heading back to the hotel after my long loop around the city.
Heres my knee. The sore part is not where the skin is missing, its on the side. Must have bruised it except I dont bruise. It does not hurt when walking anyway. Thats enough about my injuries.
Tonights dessert, green tea flavoured fake cream in a cup. I love anything green tea flavoured. It tastes just a little bit like dirt, mixed with grass.