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We'll travel anywhere to escape Brexit
Having enjoyed fabulous Teppenyaki of scallops and salmon cooked three ways, we find we are acclimatising to the food.
Although we have found Japan crowded, and at times quite taxing to get around; we are overwhelmed by the peoples eagerness to help and their friendly open nature - something that all the guidebooks seem to miss.
The alarm goes off at 6.30am and we slowly rise, check out and head for the train station to catch the Shinkansen for the three hour journey to Horishima.
For the worst of reasons, Horishima needs no introduction. We, like the other visitors, are drawn to the city where instant apocalyptic destruction brought worldwide infamy.
Heading off to the Peace Memorial Park after a pleasant tram ride to our hotel, we see lots of families enjoying Hanami picnics under the cherry blossom trees that line the river bank. It really is such a big affair in Japan.
Starting with the ghostly shell of the A bomb dome our encounter with the horror starts. The disbelief we felt standing under the hypocentre of the bomb is a reminder of the devastation that can be caused. Immediately following this we are uplifted by the positive vibe of the peace memorials and eternal flame which will never be extinguished until all nuclear are dismantled.
The museum was full of harrowing stories and visuals of the destruction that was caused, mostly on a human scale. Charred clothing left by disintegrated bodies, human flesh and ghostly shadows left where people had been preparing for a days work.
Wanting to cheer ourselves up a little, we head off for dinner and a few beers. Feeling brave we enter a very local yakitori (grilled meat skewers) bar and dissolve in fits of laughter on reading the menu - including raw horse meat, domesticated fowl giblets, cow tongue tip and all sorts of weird translations. Not wanting to offend we order chicken yakitori - slapping our chests and thighs with much vigor to indicate that this was the part of the chicken we would like to eat - not the heart, skin, and anus - which are considered delicacies. Having only had two small skewers each we head off to find somewhere else to eat and enjoy a "do it yourself" Japanese barbecue of beef, kimichi (yuk) and rice all washed down with Sapporo beer. Cheers!
Just to say we are having trouble with the laptop so do not worry if there are no more updates we are still very much alive.
Although we have found Japan crowded, and at times quite taxing to get around; we are overwhelmed by the peoples eagerness to help and their friendly open nature - something that all the guidebooks seem to miss.
The alarm goes off at 6.30am and we slowly rise, check out and head for the train station to catch the Shinkansen for the three hour journey to Horishima.
For the worst of reasons, Horishima needs no introduction. We, like the other visitors, are drawn to the city where instant apocalyptic destruction brought worldwide infamy.
Heading off to the Peace Memorial Park after a pleasant tram ride to our hotel, we see lots of families enjoying Hanami picnics under the cherry blossom trees that line the river bank. It really is such a big affair in Japan.
Starting with the ghostly shell of the A bomb dome our encounter with the horror starts. The disbelief we felt standing under the hypocentre of the bomb is a reminder of the devastation that can be caused. Immediately following this we are uplifted by the positive vibe of the peace memorials and eternal flame which will never be extinguished until all nuclear are dismantled.
The museum was full of harrowing stories and visuals of the destruction that was caused, mostly on a human scale. Charred clothing left by disintegrated bodies, human flesh and ghostly shadows left where people had been preparing for a days work.
Wanting to cheer ourselves up a little, we head off for dinner and a few beers. Feeling brave we enter a very local yakitori (grilled meat skewers) bar and dissolve in fits of laughter on reading the menu - including raw horse meat, domesticated fowl giblets, cow tongue tip and all sorts of weird translations. Not wanting to offend we order chicken yakitori - slapping our chests and thighs with much vigor to indicate that this was the part of the chicken we would like to eat - not the heart, skin, and anus - which are considered delicacies. Having only had two small skewers each we head off to find somewhere else to eat and enjoy a "do it yourself" Japanese barbecue of beef, kimichi (yuk) and rice all washed down with Sapporo beer. Cheers!
Just to say we are having trouble with the laptop so do not worry if there are no more updates we are still very much alive.
- comments
dad I am glad the cherry blossom is giving you a sense of `aware`(japanese word ). I am pleased you felt able to tell us about Hiroshima.Dad
david142 Wow look at you with your fancy Japanese word! The A bomb dome is a sad place that brings together all that is bad and good with mankind. The bad is clear but the good is the way the city has rebuilt with a artsy vibe and no looking back other than with respect and no feeling sorry for itself. A great place.
kirstin I got goosebumps reading about Hiroshima, really makes you think. I also thought why on earth not try a chicken anus sounds delightful!
david142 Hiroshima really did make us think, especially as it was a man made disaster - you can't blame it on "an act of God" can you? When we had plucked up enough courage to order a chicken anus - due to popular demand they had all sold out - shame.