As if my sleep couldn't have been worse than the night before, last night I had the introduction ad the fire alarm going off. Must have been about 4, I lie there for a while to see if it gets turned off, it doesn't. So I'm up looking out the window to see if there is any commotion or fire. Nothing to be seen. I look out the hallway and over the balcony. Nothing! So I go back to my room. It goes on for 20 minutes before it is finally shut off. Brilliant. I can't wait to get out of here this morning. My ear is sore from my rice pillow after 2 nights. The pillow is literally a rock. Imagine if you buy 1kg bag of rice. It normally filled pretty full, now imagine you added in another 200g to the bag. That's what my pillow is like, I'd probably be more comfortable if I used my shoe as a pillow!
-----
I doze right up until its time to leave. Check out time is 11, which is conveniently the same time as my check in round the corner. I pack my stuff and leave, never been so happy to leave somewhere! I get round the corner and the atmosphere is much better. I get checked in and head up to my room, I'm given a bag with my bed clothes, yukata, slippers, toothbrush and tooth paste. Compared with what I got in the last place, nothing! Head in to the room, good size, sleeps 4. I am overjoyed to see a real pillow. I lie on the bed and pass out for a couple of hours. I needed that!
-----
I head out in to Osaka tonight to see what's happening. I head down Dotombori, a neon clad metropolis of shops, restaurants and people. Lots and lots of people. Rammed! Unlike my part of the neighbourhood, this is the Japan I remember. Lots of young people all dressed very meticulously, some of the boys have clearly put in as much effort as the girls. Like walking through a manga movie. Then again it is Saturday night that I have taken myself out on. Probably likely to be the most eccentric! I have come out tonight with no bag, no camera and just a small map. I must say it is quite the different experience not having to lug all that stuff round with me. Just a wallet and phone, any photos will be coming from the iPhone. I stop off in Starbucks as its been a while since I've had a good coffee, and to use the wifi to see if I can pull up a map of where I am. Of course, this Starbucks doesn't have wifi, unbelievable. Just have to rely on my map reading skills. Ha ha ha. I'm sure I'll be ok. There is a river running through the centre with a nice walkway either side, nice cool breeze coming off it and the reflections of all the neon lights. I toy with the idea of just heading in to a pub on my own and seeing where that might lead, I decide against it though. Time for home.
-----
When I get home I'm sitting on my bed an I notice another rucksack in the dorm. I had seen it earlier, I have a wee peak at a book in one of the side pockets, German. Hopefully if this person comes back relatively soon I would suggest heading out for a few drinks. Almost the moment I think it the door opens and in comes Timo, huge fella drinking a beer. We talk for a couple of minutes and then he offers me a beer. My kinda guy! After we finish our beers we head back out to Dotombori and dander along the river, I hadn't eaten yet so we stopped off at a wee stall and I got myself some yakatori, which is squid in a ball, it was delicious!