So as Joe said we went to Himeji Castle. It was absolutely bucketing down with rain, and we had to buy some awesome umbrellas as we had failed to bring our own, but even so the views and castle were just amazing. Lots of photos (see the new album) which pretty much speak for themselves. My favourite part - overhearing a women describe this weird little alcove off the side of the castle that we'd gone into only to find there was no exit. Apparently that is the idea - in a battle, your enemy runs down into it looking for a way out, and you proceed to shoot them through the holes in the wall.. neato!
After Himeji we had a quiet night at home with Becky and some of her Jet friends. Watched The Castle and laughed at Australians.
Wednesday - Hiroshima! We got on the Shinkansen (super comfortable, awesomely fast) and got there pretty late in the day. Got to J Hoppers (hostel) around 7ish, got comfy, and then walked out in the Peace park in the dark. It was very beautiful, I think more so than in the day time. Photos of course to come.
Looking for food brought us to the Hondori area, a big old street full of shops and food. I have no idea the name of the place we ate dinner at, cos it was all Japanese characters but it was delicious and the waitresses were very patient with our terrible communication :) Had the best dessert - rice dumplings with vanilla ice cream, soy bean jam, some kind of sweet powder, and cornflakes. Yes I know, odd, but it was so so yum!
Thursday took us out to Miyajima Island, which was utterly awesome. Half hour walk, half hour train, and ten minute ferry from our hostel. It is one of Japan's three best views apparently. The shrine I mean. We rented bikes and rode all around the island, around the shrine and various temples, saw awesome treasures (and replicas thereof) and rode up and over the hill along a nature walk. Dad you'd be so proud, we even took a wrong turn, realised we were going much higher than needed and kept going! The bikes were just rubbish too, totally not built for uphill travel, and the rear brake on mine was NOT designed for safe downhill descent. Oh and did I mention the random deer all over the island? We got some ice cream and went to sit on the waterfront to eat it, and were promptly accosted by not less than four hungry and persistent deer. Some businessmen (why were there businessmen on a tourist island!) laughed at my dancing about but oh well :)
After getting back to our hostel, we headed out for some okonomi-yaki - japanese pancakes with cabbage and pork and stuff, pretty tasty! Had them cooked for us by some cute ladies at their pink themed eatery, yum yum.
Today took us to the Peace Museum, which was breathtaking, heartbreaking, and sadly got a bit repetitive. Incredibly interesting to read about the lead up - America deciding who to bomb, Japan refusing to surrender and the Emperor announcing that he preferred 100 million honourable deaths on the mainland.. But then horrific to look at the photos of burned bodies and destroyed city. It was also packed - like wall to wall - with school kids all visiting the museum with their school books and filling in worksheets.
Came back to Kobe and Becky's place this evening and we're having a relaxed chill out, playing with photos and having an early night. Joe has been loving the vending machines and taking photos of all his canned coffees, and I managed to cook us a meal at the flat with bags that we correctly guessed to contain rice and stir fry veges :) I had hoped to indulge in some Kobe beef but apparently it costs like a hundred bucks a meal. I don't think the steak could be a hundred bucks good.
Don't miss us too much, we're having heaps of fun :)
1 comment:
Just love all the photos - a really great record of where you've been and I feel as if I am along for the ride. Keep it up guys. Good one.
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