of stories and stories : November 18 2024

that sky just looks incredible, like some drama or horror is lurking behind the clouds.
then probably, some alien ship shows up when the clouds clear up, or even some huge asteroid blazes ready to strike the earth.
i get those fiction stuff in my head all the time, probably mixing fiction from reality makes life a little colorful.
reality can sometimes get boring, reminders of needing to save money is always alarming in the corner.
it does not hurt to dive into fiction sometimes.
and so tonight, i will dive into those thoughts.

i have always been fascinated by small streets filled with shops on both sides.
it is the influence of old japanese drama for sure, people get out from one small shop, talk loudly and laugh a lot.
walk a little on a small alley, then decide to enter another shop just because they want to spend more time together.
japan has this culture of having 2nd meetings immediately after the initial gathering, 二次会 (nijikai).
as an outsider looking in, the first meeting is a bit stiff, everyone is still sober at this point.
they begin drinking and get to know the people they are with, until they finally relax.
the 2nd shop is there to have more intimate talks, or more intimate fun.
it is in the 2nd shop where the mask they wore is broken and everyone show their true self.
and not all goes to this 2nd meeting, you only show your true self to a selected few, that is.
that is how i see it, so when you gather outside the initial shop and some people are thinking of going into a 2nd one, stay silent and observe.
if someone you are interested decides to stay for a 2nd shop, you better put your ass out there and stay as well.
if no one is of interest, better go home and find "fun" somewhere else, you will only be stuck in boredom.

in this nightwalk, the hero decided to just continue with the walk, although i see more of myself as a villain; villains get the best costumes after all.
it was painstakingly cold and the wind did not help at all.
as if hoping for some enlightenment, the feet was drawn in to nezu shrine.

i have seen a tiktok before regarding which coin to offer at a shrine or a temple.
this will probably be interesting in japan only because shrines and temples are everywhere.
shrines are where the gods are housed in so you offer 5 yen, because 5 yen or goen with a different kanji also means connection; you would want to be connected with the gods.
but you don't do this in a temple, because your dead ancestors are housed in temples; you do not want to be connected to your dead ancestors, don't you?

now, i have also seen past videos of a shrine priest who said that they accept all coins for your offerings, does not need to be 5 yen.
if i were they, i would prefer that you offer paper money instead of coins.
that would mean more earnings for the shrine's maintenance and less time dedicated for counting all those 5 yen coins.

by the way, i really love this picture of nezu shrine's gate.
great that it was well lit that both the structure and the sky could clearly be seen.

and on and on this nightwalker walked, offered no coin at the shrine before, the gods will probably haunt me for not doing so.
knowing that possibility, i decided to check which path to go via google maps and found this interesting staircase.
marked as a tourist attraction in google maps, おばけ階段 (obake kaidan) or "ghost stairs" seems not a good place to go.
quite telling of what could happen, i still went and took some snaps.
well the story is not that out of ordinary, i really thought that some ghost appears on the stairs; thus, the name came to be.
but it was not the case, the number of steps going up does not match of those going down as if some steps are gone like a ghost.
yeah, it was not thrilling at all, i know.
people going up and down these steps must either be drunk or was not really paying much attention.
it has around 40 steps, quite enough for the brain to need a breather in between; thus, the possible counting mishap.
it was too absurd for me, so i didn't bother to climb up.

either that, or i also got scared to have a wrong count.

at least now i was heading to the ueno park, where i saw lots of joggers, signs of life.
these people are not ghosts, right?
or are they?
enough of this ghost stories, the ginko trees have turned yellow and started to fall, i can finally feel autumn in the air.

and this leads to some nijikai place.
this area ahead is so well lighted, i wonder what time of butterflies or moths they attract?
i really don't recommend using these roads, just here to show the red light area of ueno.
i once walked down those streets, and i never felt more single in my life.

oh well, this nightwalking trip got me thinking, and got me hungry.
these two shops could be good options for a nijikai honestly.
chicken on the left and pork on the right!
just choose whichever you feel like it.

as always, AMPING KANUNAY!

_{all content is by yours truly unless otherwise specified}

^{all photos are taken with a galaxy s23 ultra}

This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io

18/11/2024

14047

Daily Activity, Photowalking, Walking

Height 168.0 cm		Weight 71.4 kg		Body Fat 20.3 %
Waist cm		Thighs cm		Chest cm