cosamuh

Hot Spring capital of Japan – largely cheesy, being the home of Monkey Mountain (Mt. Takasaki), Suginoi Palace (insane hotel/pool/onsen/amusement park), and close to Harmony Land (haven’t been there yet). I just love walking around the city and smelling that rotten egg odor that wafts from the sulphurous sewers that line the side of the dangerously narrow roads.

Last time I was there was in 1998 – the fad of dyed hair had reached its sticky little fingers to Beppu – went with a then girlfriend which was not the best idea in the world, because I wasn’t very accomodating and my relatives (my grandmother and uncle) were basically assholes to her. had some interesting experiences though, especially since she was vegetarian (imagine me, barely native speaker attempting to mime no meat, just vegetables when – in most cases – they though I was saying just add more vegetable to the meat dish). Had that flat pancake omlette deal that’s supposedly native to Hiroshima. Visited Mt. Koya via the trackback cable car and had to make a last minute scramble to stay in one of the temples before dark. Went to the Meguro Parasitical Museum and the Ramen Museum. Must go again.

of course it was a different time, crossing Rock Creek Park in the morning while listening to the Smiths first album repetitively (even though I was all Fugazi and shit – yes, I’m aware there’s a connection), making my way to Georgetown where I worked in the back of Olssons either packing, sorting or dropping little magnetic strips in between the pages. seeing Lisa Suckdog at DC/AC after an acquaintance whined that his wife wouldn’t let him. that amazing 24-hour bookstore with Peter Greenaway shorts playing in the middle rotunda – a perfect place to stop after seeing a show at 9:30 and making my way to Mt. Pleasant. the incredible proliferation of Ethiopian restaurants, eating Kit Fo for the first and only time (it has to do with raw hamburger, ok) and being able to pick up miniature Blueberry sweet potato pies at the 7-11 around the corner. Fucking miss it. I will go back someday.