Sep 2005

Friday, 26 August, 2005
Day 7 – Okayama to Osaka, Umeda Sky Tower (Osaka Day 1)

The waitress from dinner was there the next morning for breakfast. Up she came and said hello while I was loading up on brekkie treats.
Conference in morning and early arv for Cam. I wandered through the malls that I found earlier. Bit of shopping, some lunch. Home to pack and back to JR Okayama for the trip to Osaka. Got our Shinkansen tickets from a very helpful travel agent on the way to the station.

I have always wanted to see Osaka for some reason.

After bumbling our way out of Shin-Osaka station to JR Osaka, we found the information desk at Osaka – English again!! Lots more English understanders and bit speakers in Osaka. Were aided out of the station only to stand on the street and stare aimlessly thinking, which way now? Got in cab – hotel 500 meters away (if that!!). Taxi driver very understanding (about aud7.50 to get in a taxi, mind you). Great room, head hit roof in shower though and had to bend a lot to just get wet. Cool plasma TV thing and bilingual button again. Even had two cold beers waiting in the fridge.

Freshen up and then off to the 300mtr underpass that went straight to Umeda Sky Building (floating garden observation deck held up by two highrises). This is something that defies my logic in an earthquake-prone area.
Went to 35th floor in a glass elevator, then up a 4 floor suspended escalator, suspended between the 2 high-rise buildings, to the observation deck (video – note me already at the top when Mark is still filming – I found this very un-nerving as all but the escalator was made of glass!!.
Internal and external (open air) viewing platforms – did both – all of this is only held up by 2 high rises (one at the south end, one at the north)..have I said this yet.. and it all felt very unnatural. Then had to go down escalator again to get down – another quick trip. Still takes my breath away, a week later.

In a garden below, complete with winding stream and bridges, we met a lovely woman with her two beloved dogs. Did tricks and everything.
Across the courtyard to very cool tropical garden area with waterfalls and ducks and goldfish.

Off to the train station for dinner. Two helpful waitresses (who couldn’t speak English) came with us while pointed at the window display. This works a treat as dinner was again yummy. A dinner Bento and a tray arrived, beers again.