April 2 Gma's Birthday! Takayoshi and Kimikosan took me for a road trip up to Mt. Aso volcano on Kyushu. The area is of course famed for its hotsprings as one can imagine. Takayoshi took a 'scenic route' up the side of one mountain on a one lane road that pretty much did switch backs and loop-di-loops. Only to realize we were going the wrong way. But we made it finally to our lunch spot and I got to try Dengaku, in photos its the pictures of food over the charcoal with it all on sticks...so delicious. Then it was down that hill and up another before reaching the top of Mt Aso. The weather was so lovely and clear, its not all the time that you are lucky enough to see the top. We were lucky enough to drive right up to the summit. From there at first we were blocked from going to the edge so we went to the high viewing point. Then as we were leaving they opened it up and everyone rushed up to the front to see the turquiose-milky lake below.
April 3 was kimono magic day, as you all hopefully saw my pictures of my transformation I do not need to recall my day. Only that the hair and dressing took two hours. And I also visited with some of my Great Grandmother's family on this day. Oh and we got to go to the Yamaga Onsen again so I could wash all the hairspray out and relax from wearing my obi.
April 4 was a busy day, in the morning Kimikosan took me to her friends house who teaches the tea ceremony. First I watched her do a session and then she showed me the steps of making and serving the tea. I can imagine that learning takes a long time. It is a very beautiful and serene thing to watch but so specific and its all in the small details. My legs totally fell asleep after and I could not even stand up...apparently I need some practice being a good Japanese girl!!
Next we met up with Takayoshi and Chiemisan, and went for ramen and gyoza! Then we went into Yamaga to visit the old theatre and the lantern/paper museum. So impressive. They make replicas of all the important structures of Japan out of paper only its insane.
After dinner, Takayoshi, Kimiko and I went to their Beach Ball Volley...its hard to describe because its kind of in the same fashion as volleyball, but its definitely a variation and would take too long to explain, anyways everyone was impressed that for my first time I was so good and could spike the ball so well...Yes I told them I played volleyball in highschool.
April 5, There is a huge community spirit and culture alive in Yamaga. For instance today their whole neighbourhood gathered in their local junior high gym and got into teams and did races, remember in elementary school when you had sports day and you played those random games like spinning your head on a baseball bat, or ring toss, or some sort of obstacle course?? Its pretty much just like that. Its so hilarious, and they even made me play some games! There were some good Japanese games too like trying to transfer beans from one bowl to another using your chopsticks and making a rope out of traditional methods from rice stalks. Our team only came in third but it was all in good fun! Afterwards it was lunch time so we headed to the temple nearby and sat under the Cherry Blossom trees which were losing their petals so it was as if it was snowing petals...ridiculously beautiful. The women of the group had gotten up super early to cook us all lunch of these massive plates of food and there were cases of beer and numerous bottles and cartons of Sake and Shochu. So basically all the men...and me of course sat there and got hammered. By three I was done, so Kimiko and I came home for a nap only to be woken up an hour later by Takayoshi and his friends.
April 6 Takayoshi and Kimikosan took me into Kumamoto to visit the Suienji Jojuen Garden, one of the 53 stops on the Tokaido Road...Its a beautiful garden. The spring that feeds the pond is straight from Mt. Aso and also the waters in the shrine. Its supposed to give you longevity and a healthy life. There were lots of koi fish and ducks and turtles and we saw a heron snatch a fish. Our next stop was Tatsuda Shido, a nicely tucked away garden at the base of the mountain where there are a lot of haka.
April 7 We started early and picked up Elias for a trip to Kagoshima, where my grandfather was born. We stopped at an old Samurai Village, the Chiran Gardens for a lovely stroll. Then we hit up Lake Ikeda, where there are some massive eel and beautiful flowers. We got to eat lunch at a somen (cold noodles) restaurant that has a central current pool in the middle of your table, you put the noodles in to keep them cold. So much fun! Then it was a drive to Nagasaki Point, one of the ends to Kyushu Island. It was so nice to see the Pacific Ocean again!! It was so beautiful and super warm and humid. I am thinking in the mid 20s. I cannot imagine what it is like in the summer. I also cannot imagine that my Great Grandma Mori gave birth to my Grandfather almost 80 years ago in the sameish area in the middle of August!! Now that would be brutal! I think its partly why older Japanese women are so strong. Then we went to visit Iso-tenein Garden which is on the bayside and has a wonderful view of Sakurajima volcano. Which by the way, again I am Miss Daikichi, because its top blew ash all over the city and made it impossible to see anything only 2 days after we were there!
Ok thats all for now I promise, enjoy the photos!
Drinking matcha tea at a temple for lunch where everything was vegetables, its what the priests eat.
At Nagasaki Point, enjoying seeing the Pacific Ocean again, behind me is Mt. Kaimon
Gardens in Kumamoto City, one of the 53 Stops along the Tokaido Road for all of you Asian Art History class people.
Food Plate at Hanami Festival under the Cherry Blossom trees, there were probably 20 of these plates and lots of beer, sake and shochu too.
Probably in one of my top cutest kids awards Takayoshi's Nephew's Son Sora almost 1. But he was very sick and in hospital for over a week only a couple of weeks ago.
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