Weekend Excursions

Time is ticking and my stay in this wonderful country is unfortunately coming to an end. I'm trying to see all that I can; I will really miss it here.

KOCHI
Yesterday, I went with my Japanese teacher, her husband, and another couple down to southern Shikoku for a day of eating, sightseeing, and relaxation (sort of). The famous morning market had more strange vegetables and fruit than I'd ever seen and we walked on the seaside where it was fun to see Pacific Ocean waves rather than the stagnant Inland Sea where I live.


We also went to a fancy onsen where we were buried in really hot sand for thirty minutes in order to sweat and release some toxins. After about three and a half minutes, I got a little tired of the soft instrumental Christmas music and the man who sat awkwardly next to my head and mopped up the sweat as it rolled down my face. I watched the clock for each uncomfortable minute and although it was nice to try, I won't be doing that one again.

This area is known for a special fish, katsuo (or bonnito in English), and we went for a huge dinner which was definitely in the running for the best meal that I've had in Japan. This is just my personal set meal and in addition, we had about three fishes worth of katsuo sashimi for appetizers (it has the same look and texture as beef). Onaka ipai! I'm still full.


SHIMANAMI-KAIDO
Six of us spent two days biking from Shikoku to the main island, Honshu, over a series of bridges and islands. It was beautiful and fun to rent bikes and ride with more than three gears. When we got onto the beach where we were renting tents for the night, we found out that the Hiroshima JETs were having their beach party in the spot. They were friendly and inviting and we hung out and shared their s'more making materials. The biking was great, we saw everything from vineyards to big cliffs and the only downfall of the weekend was the bitter cold night. We weren't biking with anything except toothbrushes, cameras, and money and unbeknownst to me beforehand, we weren't given sleeping bags along with our tents. So, as we huddled together unable to sleep in the middle of the night, one friend went out scavenging for "warmth." I was finally half asleep when she busted in and instructed us to literally put on the plastic bags and tarps that she found from an open tool shed. Although not ideal, the gardening supplies did get us through the night.








SHIRAISHI-JIMA
The weekend before, eight of us rented a beach house on a fisherman's island of 700 people. The weekend consisted of cooking some extravagant non-Japanese meals, sea kayaking, frisbee, volleyball and several yoga sessions on the beach. We also had a man come by several times to give us females hand and foot massages until his wife from the house nearby would summon him back home.
Volleyball with the locals

We had lunch on the beach after watching the fisherman catch these scary looking fish.


KURAISHIKI
My Japanese teacher and a different friend also took me to this beautiful city with a European style canal and some really nice museums with mostly Western style art. It was one of my favorite little trips and I always learn a lot and have really good conversations with my teacher about Japanese culture and just about anything else.


These were my travel mates and our guide for the day; I think that more umbrellas come out when it's sunny than when it's pouring down rain.


Plastic food in touristy places makes for easier ordering.

MATSUYAMA TRIP
Some of us put photos in an exhibit which featured pictures from a foreigner's perspective and so I went with friends from my city to the gallery in the big city where we made a day of it...
...and we visited our favorite French restaurant.
new styles meet traditional

SOUTHERN EHIME, UWAJIMA