The Volcano Is Going To Go Off! Right Stoopid!

Trip Start Dec 01, 1999

103

Trip End Aug 31, 2000

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Flag of Japan Sakarishima, Japan
Sunday, February 27, 2000

Kakoshima Bay & Sakurajima (10)

Kakoshima Bay & Sakurajima (9)

Kakoshima Bay & Sakurajima (6)

HeyHeyanda Big G'Day toya,

OK, now we come to the morning after all the beer!

This is the part I wasn't going to tell any one but me being me is pretty much used to doing stupid things and playing the fool. You must remember though, I am on an island and not far from me is a real life volcano with smoke coming out of it all day every day. Remember that I sat watching this volcano for hours wondering if it would be safe to stay on the island for a few days whilst thinking, I know, I know if I go there it would just be my luck that it goes off whilst I'm there!

Ok, you're not going to make fun of me are you?
Promise!

After getting to bed pretty late I was woken in a haze by a voice on a loud speaker. The voice was speaking in Japanese and I had no idea what it was saying but it was like seven or so in the morning and why was there a man talking on the loud speaker at seven in the morning.

I sat up and froze.

Why else was there a message on the loud speaker, the farking volcano is about to go off. I jumped out of bed and grabbed my belongings and woke the Japanese guys telling them to hurry and get out of bed.

Blinking in bewilderment one of them asked why.
I pointed to the loud speaker told them the volcano is going off and ran for the door.

Where I thought I was going I had no idea.
The ferry doc was a good idea at the time.

I had just started running down the corridor and one of them ran after me shouting 'Mr Shane, Mr Shane', not volcano...NEWS! Huh? 'It's the morning news' he said. Luckily I hadn't wet myself (but I'm sure I was bloody close I was that frightened) and slowly walked back to the room where I received a loud round of applause. Well no where else I had gone had been to besides Vietnam had a public broadcasting system linked up around the entire town for its residence to listen to the news etc.

I really did think it was a warning announcement.
Silly Bugger!
Oh gawd, returning to bed had never felt so safe!

We all rose an hour or so later and after saying good bye to everyone feeling like a complete 'dick' I then headed out in search of a big bowl of steaming noodle soup. I then decided to make my way to the Arimura Observatory by way of a lava trail that took me along one of the most amazing walks I have been on so far. It was like walking on another planet. The beaches were back and all around me was weird and strange shaped lava mounds.

Add to that the green of the pine trees and the volcano itself looming over you and you have one 'out of this world' experience.

The Arimura Observatory was just as excellent as the Lava Trail. I found out that the last eruption was back in 1914 and it released over three billion tons of lava onto the island. All displays were in Japanese and English. It really was a great place to visit.

I then decided to do what I do best and that is to simply walk!

I followed the road and found little places to stay for awhile and then continued until the sun began to make its way elsewhere in the world. It was a big day of walking and my feet really had started to feel sore from all the walking I have been doing.

The entire day the volcano was releasing puffs of some.

Sometimes they were white and other times grey. I didn't like the grey puffs as they make me feel a little frightened. I past several lava canals which takes the lava down into the water and away from the towns. These also made me unconfortable.

How often does it the thing release lava?

Once back at the hostel I relaxed in the hot baths for several hours.
My feet really were beginning to hurt so I thought I would take them on a holiday of their own.

Beers N Cheers toya...shane

Accommodation:
Sakurajima Youth Hostel
Hakama - goshi
SAKURAJIMA - cho JAPAN
Ph: 0992 932 150
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The soundtrack to this album was by one hell of a band with one hell of a sound!
The band was 'The Spermbirds'
The album was 'Something To Prove'