Monday, 31. December 2007
I don´t understand Japan
carschti, 15:00h
29.12.2007 Beppu
"Beppu" for Yasmin this is the new word if something stinks. I read somewhere that if I would understand Beppu, I would understand Japan. I don´t understand Beppu. Imagine a city or part of country which pumps out of the earth millions of hot water every day, where hot water runs down the streets and on nearly every place there´s some kind of hot spring and you still heat your not isolated house with an electrical heating system.
Imagine a ryokan which lives from their tourists which does not show you the room nor make your futon in the evening.
Imagine a hot spring and an elephant, a hippo, a python and some other animals introduced to the tourists with the words: "...because of the hot springs some exotic animals live near the water."
Well, near is relative and I´m sure that neither the hippo, nor the elephant or the python are there because they choose this place for living.
27.12.2007 Nagasaki
To make it short. Nagasaki is worth to see and the view from Mt. Inasa is great.
The Ryokan we stayed is great as well. A very friendly and warm welcome are normal and the also helped with the baggage in the morning, when we had to go the station at 7°° in the morning.
Unfortunately we had only one rainy day there but ut was worth to see.
Personally I prefer Hiroshima, when comparing the two A-bombed cities.
25.12.2007 Hagi
Travel to Hagi from Tsuwano is a special experience. From Tsuwano to Masudo the train goes through the mountains and from there to Hagi a single car train goes along the coastline to Hagi. The train is more or less a tram.
The city is not that great, but the scenery around is really worth to see. White sand, blue ocean, birds, trees, a perfect world.
BUT, I can´t recommend, no I warn all people in the world to go to the restaurant opposite to the youth hostel.
24.12.2007 Tsuwano
Yesterday we arrived in Tsuwano very early around 10°°. No problem for us, but the check in time was around 15:30. So we left our luggage in the Hotel and started for a round tour in Tsuwano. Well, the city is not that big so it was more or less a hard fight to wait 5 1/2 hours. After visiting the great sights before lunch and having a really great sushi we had 2 icecream and went through all the shops in town and bought the last christmas present for Yasmin. A small wooden train with two cars.
After check in we spent 1 hour in the onsen and went for dinner. The dinner was preordered (I did it with Omi-san). A short storxyregarding this one:
About 1 month ago I was reserving the hotel with Omi-san via internet. After the reservation was made there was a form displayed, where we could choose from different meals, what to have for dinner.
At this time we both were not sure if this dinner menu would be additional or the only one. So I ordered 2x tempura (seafood and vegies).
We received the surprise the dinner table. A 12 way menu with the most delicious japanese food I ever ate. 2 ways were the ordered tempura.
Next morning, still not even close to hungry, we had a 8 way japanese style breakfast. So I was very excited about the dinner in the evening, since I ordered something special, because it´s christmas. For the evening meal we were not able to count how much we ate, but we did some photos.
Before dinner we went to the private onsen bath of the hotel owner. This item I ordered via internet, which was simply called "family time". But when we went to the onsen for the family time, it was still open. So we went down to reception to ask for advise. They told us we should follow. So we went across the street, all dressed in our Kimonos to go to the private bath. This one was located inside a japanese style garden. A own hot spring in the middle of japan in an japanese garden with the moon above us. GREAT!!
We had this bath only 30 minutes but it still was a great experience.
"Beppu" for Yasmin this is the new word if something stinks. I read somewhere that if I would understand Beppu, I would understand Japan. I don´t understand Beppu. Imagine a city or part of country which pumps out of the earth millions of hot water every day, where hot water runs down the streets and on nearly every place there´s some kind of hot spring and you still heat your not isolated house with an electrical heating system.
Imagine a ryokan which lives from their tourists which does not show you the room nor make your futon in the evening.
Imagine a hot spring and an elephant, a hippo, a python and some other animals introduced to the tourists with the words: "...because of the hot springs some exotic animals live near the water."
Well, near is relative and I´m sure that neither the hippo, nor the elephant or the python are there because they choose this place for living.
27.12.2007 Nagasaki
To make it short. Nagasaki is worth to see and the view from Mt. Inasa is great.
The Ryokan we stayed is great as well. A very friendly and warm welcome are normal and the also helped with the baggage in the morning, when we had to go the station at 7°° in the morning.
Unfortunately we had only one rainy day there but ut was worth to see.
Personally I prefer Hiroshima, when comparing the two A-bombed cities.
25.12.2007 Hagi
Travel to Hagi from Tsuwano is a special experience. From Tsuwano to Masudo the train goes through the mountains and from there to Hagi a single car train goes along the coastline to Hagi. The train is more or less a tram.
The city is not that great, but the scenery around is really worth to see. White sand, blue ocean, birds, trees, a perfect world.
BUT, I can´t recommend, no I warn all people in the world to go to the restaurant opposite to the youth hostel.
24.12.2007 Tsuwano
Yesterday we arrived in Tsuwano very early around 10°°. No problem for us, but the check in time was around 15:30. So we left our luggage in the Hotel and started for a round tour in Tsuwano. Well, the city is not that big so it was more or less a hard fight to wait 5 1/2 hours. After visiting the great sights before lunch and having a really great sushi we had 2 icecream and went through all the shops in town and bought the last christmas present for Yasmin. A small wooden train with two cars.
After check in we spent 1 hour in the onsen and went for dinner. The dinner was preordered (I did it with Omi-san). A short storxyregarding this one:
About 1 month ago I was reserving the hotel with Omi-san via internet. After the reservation was made there was a form displayed, where we could choose from different meals, what to have for dinner.
At this time we both were not sure if this dinner menu would be additional or the only one. So I ordered 2x tempura (seafood and vegies).
We received the surprise the dinner table. A 12 way menu with the most delicious japanese food I ever ate. 2 ways were the ordered tempura.
Next morning, still not even close to hungry, we had a 8 way japanese style breakfast. So I was very excited about the dinner in the evening, since I ordered something special, because it´s christmas. For the evening meal we were not able to count how much we ate, but we did some photos.
Before dinner we went to the private onsen bath of the hotel owner. This item I ordered via internet, which was simply called "family time". But when we went to the onsen for the family time, it was still open. So we went down to reception to ask for advise. They told us we should follow. So we went across the street, all dressed in our Kimonos to go to the private bath. This one was located inside a japanese style garden. A own hot spring in the middle of japan in an japanese garden with the moon above us. GREAT!!
We had this bath only 30 minutes but it still was a great experience.
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