Chapter 94：The Japan Trip (6)

Perhaps it was the night or perhaps it was the alcohol running in her system, Xiu Ling accepted what Joann said without filter. Furthermore, she did feel her best friend have a point there. They did deserve more alone time to themselves, as all mothers did and still do.

She raised her flute of champagne for a toast. "To us."

"To us. Cheers."

The silvery tingle as the glasses clinked together melted into the two ladies' sound of laughter which then floated up into the night sky.

…

The next morning, Xiu Ling found herself waking up earlier than Joann. She stood at the balcony as the morning breeze caressed her face. She knew it was a mere psychological effect but even the wind smelled different to her in a foreign country.

When Xiu Ling heard stirring coming from Joann's bedroom, she returned to the hotel room.

Feeling like experiencing the authentic local lifestyle, Xiu Ling called the room service to send up two sets of traditional Japanese breakfast.

The time Joann exited her room coincided perfectly with the time the food was served. Xiu Ling greeted her best friend good morning as she walked over to the door to get their breakfasts.

The breakfasts served were plain rice topped with natto, accompanied by sides of poached egg and seaweed. The natto is a fermented bean that is ubiquitous in the Japanese diet. However, the food had a polarizing reception among foreigners who weren't used to the smell and taste since they were young. The food was as polarizing as the Chinese Stinky Tofu.

Case in point, Xiu Ling and Joann. The former found the food acceptable if not delicious but Joann had a hard time getting over the consistency and taste of natto. She also disliked how big of a mess that food made with bean's sticky paste adhering themselves to everything, from the utensils to the roof of her mouth.

Even when Xiu Ling had finished her breakfast, Joann was still picking out natto from her rice. Even so it was an interesting experience, one that Joann was glad to share with Xiu Ling.

After breakfast, Xiu Ling and Joann retired to their rooms to prepare for their outing in the afternoon. The two women dressed comfortably and lightly because they were going on a shrine tour and a lot climbing would be involved.

Their first stop was Kiyomizu Temple, which was one of the oldest historical sites in Kyoto. The shrine was built in the year 778 and the wooden temple seemed to rise out of the verdant nature that it was surrounded by. After that, their next destination was Ryoanji Temple. It was a Zen temple that was famous for its rock garden design. There were still many interesting places to be visited but their last destination of choice was Heian Shrine. Heian Shrine was a shrine dedicated to the former Imperial family. Unfortunately, they did not travel in spring or else the cherry blossom trees near the temple would have provided a stunning and unforgettable view.

When they were at the shrines, Xiu Ling and Joann bought Omamori or lucky talismans that one could buy from Japanese temples or shrines. Joann bought one for good health and another one for good fortune in business for Xu Jing. She also noticed Xiu Ling purchase an Omamori for romance and love. Joann found this to be quite interesting and she made a mental note of it.

On the way back to the hotel, Xiu Ling and Joann stopped at a dessert shop to search for a Japanese pastry that had recently taken over the world by storm, the castella or Kasutera in the Japanese vernacular.

Even though the cake was brought to Japan by Portuguese merchants in the sixteenth century, it had become a Japanese specialty.

The traditional Japanese treat was an old-fashioned sponge cake that was made using only 4 ingredients, eggs, sugar, flour and honey. Xiu Ling and Joann bought some to accompany their dinner that night. It would be their dessert.

However, when the ladies arrived at their hotel that night, they were worn and beat. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful kind of tired, not dissimilar to how one would feel after a long and hard rewarding day of work.

They shared a hasty dinner, put their purchases away and returned to their bedrooms to rest.

…

Morning came soon after. Xiu Ling and Joann skipped breakfast because they had a full day ahead, their schedule was packed.

Like how travelers visiting European countries would pay a special visit to the wineries, Xiu Ling and Joann decided to go on a trip to have a better understanding of the nation's most iconic beverage, tea.

The hotel provided them with the transport to the nearest tea plantation and they had a packed breakfast inside the car.

Away from the city, the air at the plantation smelled fresher and it carried with it a hint of tea, not the one that was roasted but the smell of tea leaves that were fresh.

Rows and rows of tea bushes lined the hill and the uniformity of the green lines was a spectacle to behold. Morning dew that were still stuck to the leaves reflected the ray of the rising sun and it felt like they were standing amidst a shimmering green sea.

Xiu Ling saw there were women among the rows of tea bushes harvesting leaves and she asked the guide whether they could give that experience a try. Their guide was glad to oblige.

Even though Joann was not really in the mood for manual labor, she went along with it. She also believed they would not be overworked in a try-it-for-yourself experience.

Xiu Ling and Joann followed the guide to the changing room and they were handed each a pair of tea picker's outfit.