Okayama Grand Hotel

... into many short bits. This may be a modern version of the traditional pillow filled with buckwheat hulls. Comfort Hotels Japan has its own unique pillow, with a non-rectangular shape, designed to make life easier for those who sleep on their side. I hope I have time to go pillow-shopping at a department store--I think there would be much to see!

NAOSHIMA, THE ART ISLAND

I had a great day--took the ferry from Takamatsu ...

... friendly and we met up with a couple of women, who were teachers in Himeji, one of them Australian. Since we were all heading to the station, Kaisha-san gave us a ride (he drives like a speed maniac, as most Japanese do). At the station me and the teachers went out for udon, which was delicious. Cheap (390 yen with fried onion flower on the side), spicy and porky. Mmmm. We all caught the Marine Liner express back to Okayama ...

... seeing nothing but steps up and up). I was ready to jump for joy when I reached the cable car station, only to realize that there was still another 20 minutes of climbing ahead of me. But I did get to the peak, which offered great views of the foggy islands nearby and the actual Miyajima island itself. That was what was so unexpected in this tourist trap. Beyond the hype, it really was a great view and despite the effort of climbing, you escaped the crowds, wandered ...

... 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.

... not so much to our tastes. Neither of us really took to the pickles and fish with rice for brekky! Overall it was a really enjoyable - but expensive stay in a ryokan. The welcoming was first class as was the service throughout, the place in general just had a lovely peaceful ambience, very civilised, we would defintely recommend it as a must-do to any visitor to Japan. We headed back to the station and caught the shinkansen to Hiroshima.

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 ...

he computer is working much better. we spent the night up on Ushirioyama (Ushirio Mountain) in a cottage (really a cabin) and had a wonderful dinner with the family. It was absoultely wonderful; fresh fish, beef, lotus root, and other things I am not sure of but good. we all slept in one room (well almost--Kazu and Patty ...

JAPAN! I never thought that I would call this country my home until now! After 50 hours of insomnia, 2 airplane meals, 6 modes of transportation, I arrived at my new home half-way across the world. The people are beautifully petite and rich, the culture is traditional and modern, while the history is incredibly unique and intriguing. On Saturday afternoon, fourteen recently-hired Amity teachers arrived at Osaka ...

... to it. Unfortunately most restaurants don't have those pictures on their menus or any English at all. In a move that we would replicate at almost every restaurant Danny and I just looked at prices and pointed at them hoping that it would be edible. It is a lot more fun not knowing what is going to show up. At this particular restaurant we pointed at a 1,000-yen dish (about $9.20 US). The woman serving us brought out dish after dish and we were afraid that we were ...

... any country's standards, and miraculously, despite it being home to a 5 and 9 year old boy, it is neither smelly nor sticky, not does it have that intangible air of children. On that subject, Satoki and Tomoki are neither sticky nor smelly, and though it's true I've not spent a great deal of time with them, they've not yet annoyed me, like... at all. I've still not spoken to my host father much, as his English is very near non-existent ...