Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama

... gauze material, nothing fazes them, and they don't even need a flat surface to perfectly fold a garment.

NOW A CARD-CARRYING MEMBER!

When I checked out of the Toyoko Inn this morning, they presented me with my Toyoko Inn Club Membership Card. I look very happy in the photo on the card! I was speculating what it would be like to rent out my house and use the proceeds to move into the Toyoko Inn and never have to do any cooking again!

... Since it's not watermelon season, I went with the temple complex to see. It's rather less impressive than I thought, but it is the largest probably of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Henro pilgrimage route. This is a route around Shikoku undertaken by a priest Henro, of 88 temples (big and small), and it's said if you finish the journey, whatever wish you want is granted. Apparently, they didn't know that Zentsuji has sand ...

... some forest and over some streams and got to site with some deer at the top of mountain looking over the misty bay.

Bypassing Hiroshima, now I'm in Okayama, another big city filled with business men now on the prowl for alcohol and diversion. Had a dinner of convenience store goods because I'm lazy and tired, and tomorrow is another long day starting with a quick tour of the local 'amazing' garden and then the rest of the day in Shikoku.

Tomorrow: Kochi

-mike

... veramente da buttare via , non ho idea al momento di quanti km sono ma so molto bene che ho solo guidato nel traffico di quelli da esodo tutte queste citta` e o paesi che ho nominato sono coesi fra loro non c`e` un pezzo di terra libero che ti fa capire che stai lasciando un posto per un`altro.

... which are segregated for men and women as usual. It was not a particularly elaborate onsen, but it was quite nice. The dinner there was however nothing but brilliant. It consisted of a series of courses all brought to us in our room. The lady who served us was really sweet and friendly, and we kept saying to ourselves after each dish - that has to be the last course! We started with a selection of vegetables and various fish ...

We stopped off on the way from Kobe to Kurashiki at Imbe in the area of Bizen which is very famous for pottery and ceramics. Daniella had read in the guide book that there was a place where she could try her hand on the pottery wheel. It was a small town and there were not many restauarants open as it was a Sunday so we grabbed a bite to eat from a local supermarket. While Daniella did her stuff on the wheel, Jon took a ...

... and went to the living room because Uncle Paul snores--I wore earplugs :) This family has 3 daughters (one married with 3 children) and grandmother (85 years old) living at the farmhouse. The middle daughter will be coming to the US in late June to visit Moses Lake. KATA--we gave one vase to Kazu and she loved it. The ...

Day Three after breakfast at the Young Inn we were picked up by Rikako to head out to their parents house, which is where we were staying for the night. A BBQ lunch was planned with the whole family and it was great. Plenty of tasty food and great company. We Spent the ...

I`ve seen more Japanese penises than any other kid at school. Yes, last night I went to an Onsen. It was an experience. Actually though, it`s not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, for the first couple of minutes the thought "there are way too many naked men here"�@certainly did run though my mind, but after a while, it becomes a case of saying "whatever" and enjoying the water. Ahem. This is going to be a fairly bitty post, as I`ve not really been up to much ...

... Private Stoat and that well known classic Battlestoat Galactica. I know. You had to be there but it was very, very funny. Additionally, the first word (or syllable for that matter) you had to mime was.... stoat, and this was mimed as a hand running up your chest.... as if it were a stoat. Try it, you will not be disappointed. Many hours later (28th), I awoke with.... unfortunately not a member of the opposite sex but my old friend, Mr Hangover. Cheesey ...