Wow, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I woke up in my little room on Hanamachi Street, the sun was shining, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I had a tea ceremony planned. You know, the whole zen vibe? But then, my kimono got stuck in the door. Like, really? I’m a geisha, not a contortionist! I finally wriggled free, but my hair? Total disaster. I looked like a raccoon on a bad hair day. Ugh!
So, I rushed to the tea house on Shijo Street. It’s this cute little spot, super traditional. But guess what? The tea master was late! I mean, c’mon, dude! I’m trying to impress some tourists here. They were all like, “Is this part of the show?” I wanted to scream, “No, it’s just my life!”
Finally, he shows up, all calm and collected. I’m over here sweating bullets. The ceremony starts, and I’m trying to focus, but my stomach’s growling like a bear. I hadn’t eaten breakfast. So embarrassing! I’m pouring tea, and all I can think about is food.
After that, I dashed over to Gion Corner. It’s this fab place where you can catch traditional performances. I was super excited, but then I tripped on the steps. Like, classic me, right? I fell right in front of a group of tourists. They gasped like I just performed a magic trick. I laughed it off, but inside, I was dying.
The show was amazing, though! The dancers were so graceful, like swans or something. I was totally vibing until I noticed my ex in the audience. Ugh, why is he here? I thought I’d left him in the past, like a bad haircut. He caught my eye, and I swear, my heart did a flip. Not the good kind.
After the show, I needed a drink. So, I hit up this little bar on Pontocho Alley. It’s super cozy, and the sake is top-notch. I ordered a glass, and the bartender was like, “You look like you need this.” I was like, “You have no idea!”
But then, the craziest thing happened. I bumped into an old friend from my geisha training days. We hadn’t seen each other in ages! We started reminiscing about our training, the crazy stuff we did. Like that time we tried to sneak out for ramen and got caught by our sensei. Good times!
But then, outta nowhere, my phone buzzed. It was a message from my mom. She was like, “When are you getting married?” I almost choked on my sake. Like, chill, Mom! I’m just trying to survive in this city!
By the time I left the bar, it was dark. The streets of Ski (no) were lit up, and it was beautiful. I walked along the Kamo River, feeling a mix of emotions. Happy, sad, confused. It’s like this city has a way of pulling you in, you know?
I finally made it back to my room, exhausted. I flopped onto my futon, thinking about the day. It was wild, emotional, and totally unexpected. But that’s life, right? Just a rollercoaster of feelings.
So, yeah, Ski (no) is a trip. I love it, I hate it, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!