From Biggest Smiles to Dogs in Dinner Jackets!

So, we left Osaka and got on another bullet train, damn these are impressive, so fast and bang on time, every time. This time we managed to get a non smoking carriage so it was a much more pleasent journey.

The hospitality of the Japanese continued as we were trying to find an ATM to get the last of our money for Japan out. We went into a 7 Ereven again and whilst I was at the cash point pressing random buttons trying to get it into Engrish the shop attendent had rushed around the shop to Liz and handed her a hot spring roll for her to munch on. No sooner had I decided to give up with the ATM than he had run around and brought me one too - they were really nice (both the people and spring rolls).

We then arrived at the J Hoppers Hostel and this was our first proper hostel experience with people from all over the place staying there - Aussies, Kiwis, Brits, Dutch and other Europeans. There was also a beer vending machine that had a sign on it saying "I am a vending machine, and you?"

We headed out to see the A Bomb Memorial and Peace park which was, as the guide book describes it, solemn and sobering. The Atomic Bomb killed half the population of Hiroshima which was 200,000 people, impossible to comprehend the scale of the damage. People send origami cranes from all over the world to Hiroshima to send a message of peace for the children that died due to the bomb - so colourful and also so many of them it was unbeliveable. In the middle of the park is a flame that will continue to burn until all nuclear weapons are destroyed.

On a lighter note we took a seat and before we knew it had two older Japanese ladies asking where we were from. I was busy writing in the book so they collared Lizzy and basically started telling her that they wanted to create this world of complete and utter tranquility where everyone is at peace. They gave Lizzy a magazine and told her it was "Flee". What made us laugh was that there was a picture in this scene of tranquility of children playing with a bloody great lion - not sure how likely that is! The other amusing thing was that they made Lizzy read passages from the bible!

If this wasn't amusing enough, soon after we saw a sausage dog run passed in a dinner suit - there can't be many places in the world you can be so sobered by the surroundings and then piss yourself with laughter at a dog in a dinner jacket and trousers!

Today we went to Miyajama - a small island 10 mins on a ferry from Hiroshima. The island has shrines and temples built by worshippers back in 593 AD. All very impressive and great to walk around and see. On the island deer roam freely around so have become very tame, we even saw one wander in to a shop as if to go shopping. We decided to take on the walk to the top of the small mountain and got an hour in before realising that it was still a very long way. It was so steep our legs are exhausted so carrying the backpacks again tomorrow should be fun.

Finally, I have been saying "Hi" to people when walking into restaurants and shops. "Hai" in Japanese means Yes so basically I have been walking into these places saying "Yes" - they must think I am a strange little English man.

Next stop Kyoto!