Harimaya-bashi

Yesterday I did a lot of trekking around. In the afternoon, I took the tram to where I'll be meeting people for the Yosakoi practice. Yosakoi is the giant dance festival that happens every year in August. I was told that the international team was looking for more members, so I was eager to sign up. I took the tram downtown, then transferred to another tram line. It went pretty smoothly, and I was especially proud of myself when I managed to ask a local where the ticket machine was. I even mostly understood his answer!

I got to the correct stop and found the spot where I'll be meeting up with someone. It turned out to be in an area where our supervisor had taken us the previous day. I wandered around to see if I could find the right building on my own, but I didn't find it, so I'm glad someone will be meeting me near the station and taking me the rest of the way. After that, I turned around and went back to Harimaya-bashi. Harimaya-bashi is a famous (though small) bridge. It's featured in a story about a monk who fell in love with a lady. He bought her a comb, and I think he was put to death for it.

I wandered down the shopping gallery which runs parallel to the tram line. It was fairly long. I saw lots of interesting shops, including a few that sold yukata (and maybe kimono as well). I'd like to buy one at some point. I didn't have any coins left, so I decided to walk back home rather than trying to take the tram. It turned out to be further than I expected. In the past I've mostly gone by bike or tram, so it didn't seem so far. It was a very long walk, but I got some strawberry shortcake on the way home, so I didn't mind so much.

When I got back, I ran into Elizabeth. She suggested doing some shopping. She led Nelson and I by bike to Uniqlo and a drug store, and then we had sushi for dinner. She's really helping us figure out where things are in our area.

I'm still a little wobbly on my bike and it makes me nervous to ride near pedestrians or other bikers. It's amazing how the students ride close together in packs like bike racers. It looks like their handlebars are nearly touching. I'm glad it's okay to ride on the sidewalk, though, because there aren't really any bike lanes and the drivers here are not great. Also, along some of the roads are deep, narrow ditches that you can fall into. All the same, these expeditions are making me feel less nervous about traveling by bike. It's one of the fastest and cheapest ways to get around Kochi.

Tonight will be my first Yosakoi practice! I'm very excited, and hoping I can learn the dance quickly. I woke up earlier than I intended to, so I'm not sure what I'll do with the day. Perhaps I will find the Sunday market. I don't really need anything, but I'd enjoy seeing it.