Beach Trip

Trip Start Jul 27, 2006

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Japan Awaji, Japan
Sunday, August 13, 2006

I went to visit the beach over the weekend with two other new JETs (Alison and Maggie). We first bused to Maiko beach and saw the Awaji bridge (see photo) but the girls decided they wanted to ride the bus across the bridge and go to a beach on the other side. We spent an hour trying to get atop the bridge, find the correct bus, and board it for our journey. The buses were very nice but very full each time. We missed the first bus because we allowed some elderly Japanese women to board before us. Luckily we charged on the next bus that came 20 minutes later and got some of the last few remaining seats. The bus was so full that we had to sit on fold out seats in the middle of the isle.

We road the bus to a beach in Awaji- it took approx 45 minutes to get there by bus. Once we arrived we walked to the beach and the girls were a bit disappointed because the beach was no more spectacular than the first beach that we had been to. Still we enjoyed ourselves. We attempted swimming in the murky water that even Alison said was far dirtier than anything she had experienced in New York. We laid out a lot and tried to keep cool.

It was a different beach experience than I am used to for a couple of reasons.

1)We arrived at the beach after 2 but still we could barely stand the heat. It wasn't because the sun was blazing on us and we felt burned but because the heat was sooo thick that we could barely breathe or move. It was as if the heat was engrossing us from all directions- not just from the sun in the sky.

2)Everyone had floatation devices. Little children were sitting in boats, a group of 5 were being pulled around by a Jet Ski on what looked like a giant banana, grown women were sitting on giant whales, and the group of Japanese guys that kept drifting closer and closer were all sitting in a huge raft. I've never seen so many floatation devices in my life- not even at the Dells.

But we had a good time. I even managed to get some sun marks on my skin that has rapidly lost its color. After the beach we enjoyed some famous Awaji beef at a restaurant that was recommended to us by a stranger. We were clearly the most barbaric individuals in the restaurant. The three of us ordered one giant beverage to share- accidentally. And we attempted to go up to the salad bar (or Viking as they're known here) without plates. In the States you pick up your plates at the Bar, but here you wait till your waitress brings you a single bowl. The entire crowd in the restaurant was enticed by our gaijin (foreigner) behavior.

Following the meal we managed to score a bus that took us all the way back to our station (without the mid stop up top the bridge) so that was refreshing.

I've uploaded a few pictures from the day. One of the famous Awaji bridge that is the longest bridge in the world- stretching approx 4 kilometers. Other pictures were taken at the beach.