55th Birthday at Kobe

Officially, I am 55 years old — a milestone I am not particularly happy to have met. Nevertheless, I can now supposedly start the retirement process, according to emails I have received from UK pension companies. Obviously, 55 is just a number, and because I have reached this grand old age, it doesn't mean I am going to stop working anytime soon. I have a mortgage to pay and another 12 years at least before I can start to receive my state pension.

I want to thank all of you for the good wishes, cards, messages, and emails I have received. With my life firmly based in Australia now, it is good to hear from friends and family living all over the World at this time. Thankfully, with social media, just a short click away, I am able to keep in contact with loved ones wherever I am. A short, one-line birthday wish means more today than it ever has.

Kobe was my birthday destination this year, just a brief 10-minute ride away on the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka, and it has been the highlight of my trip so far. In many respects, heading to this city was a bit of an afterthought. Osaka and Kyoto were the main cities we wanted to visit, and Kobe was just there as an add-on to fill another day. Having been to Kyoto several days ago, I decided we should visit a small part of Kobe, as a taster of a city that is becoming an important stopover for tourists like me.

Darrell wanted to take the Shinkansen from Osaka, rather than the local train. The Shinkansen, or bullet train, takes 10 minutes to travel to Kobe, whereas the commuter train would have taken at least 40 minutes. It was, however, an expensive ride; $60 was rather excessive. But this is Japan, and I am aware things aren't cheap. Having said that, Darrell remarked yesterday that it hasn't been as expensive as he thought, and I happen to agree. Probably because we live in Australia, costs are much the same here anyway.

We used the self-serve kiosk to print off the tickets, and in typical Japanese fashion, I soon had a handful of paper in my hand. Confused, I had no idea what they were all for or what was supposed to happen next. A Japanese ticket attendant must have recognised the confusion on my face, and she walked over, explaining what all the tickets were for. There were two tickets for each leg of the journey. They had to be inserted into the barrier together, giving access to the platform. The other tickets were receipts for the payment. Japanese efficiency is remarkable at so many levels, but the level of bureaucracy, even at a train station, is something else, something I have never experienced before.

Darrell and I have travelled on a similar train before when we stayed in Taiwan. There was a slight difference in design; they weren't quite as fast, but offered more or less the same level of comfort and speed. Travelling on the Shinkansen, is, however, the ultimate experience and one everyone should attempt when travelling to Japan. Since we are not venturing outside this region, this would be the only ride on the bullet train for us, and one that made the day extra special.

Shin-Kobe

After ten ear-popping moments, we arrived in Kobe. This brief ride was as exciting as all the others we have been on whenever we travel on a high-speed train. Coming from the UK or indeed Perth, journeys on commuter trains are very different. It isn't until you travel to countries like Japan that you realise what real high-speed travel is all about. Japan, like China and, of course, Taiwan, invests heavily in infrastructure in a way we can only dream of in the UK or Australia.

On arrival in Kobe, I was able to keep my tickets as a souvenir. After a brief chat with one of the staff in the concourse area, they popped a small commemorative stamp on the stubs and dutifully handed them back. Nothing seems to be too much trouble for the Japanese, and wherever we have travelled here, they have always gone out of their way to help.

Kitano-cho: Europrean Quarter.

We came to Kobe to see Kitano-Cho, or the European quarter, just a short 20-minute walk from the railway station. Originally, this area was populated by prosperous European merchants and diplomats who lived in the enclave. The houses are distinctly European in style. As I made my way down the main thoroughfare, it felt like I was walking along a typical British high street in the UK, albeit a little more grand.

We bought a passport to visit 7 uniquely themed houses in this small community. The little book was stamped by attendants as we made our way around the area. We also embossed the books ourselves as a memento of our journey. This is actually a big deal in Japan. Whenever a Japanese traveller visits somewhere of interest, they insert a commemorative cypher into their personal 'passport'. Shops, restaurants, and even train and metro stations have their own marks and logos, which you can place into your book. It is a quaint custom that is actually endearing to someone like me, experiencing it for the first time.

Each house we visited was designed differently. There was a Sherlock Holmes-themed residence, a house full of stuffed animals, and an observatory all furnished in European style. Each one was slightly different, but offered a glimpse into a past that no longer exists. It reminded me very much of the 1987 film, 'Empire of the Sun'. A young boy who lived in a similar community becomes detached from his parents after the Japanese invasion of Shanghai during World War II. Mock Tudor, neoclassical, Edwardian, and Victorian style mansions all blend neatly into a pastiche of British and European life, set within a mountainous backdrop, high above the city of Kobe. It was a strange and eerie experience at times, viewing these relics of the past. The smells, creaking floorboards, and glorious decoration were a reminder of my past living in the UK, and it was rather emotional walking between each home on the estate.

There were plenty of opportunities for photographs along our three-hour walk as we headed deeper into the small community. Japan does feel like Britain in many respects, especially the weather. With the sun beaming down one minute and the clouds rolling in the next, you could be forgiven for thinking you were back home in Britain. It did make me chuckle at times. Walking into small souvenir shops, buying mementos of London or a tea towel from the UK, but it all adds to the charm of this place. It even has its own Kobe tartan — that's how western Kitano-Cho is. — a truly fascinating place to visit!

Cable Car to The Herb Garden

At the end of our visit to Kitano-Cho, we made our way back down the hill towards the train station, where we took the cable car to the Herb Garden. Now, I have never been on a cable car in my life. With an irrational fear of heights, it isn't something I would have ever done in the past, but, as this was a milestone Birthday, I thought I would put all my fears to one side and go for it.

As we waited to board the pods, the menacing sound of these cars meandering along the metal wires was quite scary to hear — almost ghostly in nature. The noise was loud and intimidating, but it failed to put me off, and for once, I didn't run away. This time it didn't appear to phase me, which was rather strange considering my phobia. Jumping into the moving car, we almost flew off the side of the station and into the air — and I loved it. Darrell was rather nervous, whereas I took it all in my stride and enjoyed every moment.

The views were wonderful, the movement of the car from side to side thrilling, and it was an experience I will never forget. I am so glad I finally overcame my irrational fear and just did it. I am proud of myself, of course, but likewise, I am aware that it is something I am highly unlikely to do again. For that reason, it has made my holiday unforgettable!

At the top of the mountain, we were greeted by yet another mélange of European life. A Bavarian castle serving German beer isn't what you expect. The flower and fauna surrounding this destination were outstanding, stunningly beautiful, well cared for, and deeply awe-inspiring. The views from the top were breathtaking and genuinely took my breath away. The air was clean and free from pollution, and I genuinely felt relaxed and hassle-free for the first time on this holiday. Once again, it was rather strange to sit in a Bavarian resort, drinking beer, listening to classical music. Not what one would imagine in Japan, but somehow it works.

We walked halfway down towards the Cable Car midway station, taking in the sights and sounds of this natural oasis overlooking the busy city of Kobe. Personally, I couldn't wait to get on the cable car and ride back down; it really was a thrilling experience, as was the Shinkansen, as we made our way back to Osaka after another tiring day.

This was the perfect Birthday in a country that grows on me more and more. Japan is full of surprises, and I hope to return one day. Yes, this is the trip of a lifetime, but it is more than that-it is a destination of dreams and a country jam-packed with surprises — the perfect place to reach 55 years old!