Saturday November 30, 2013
Our new friend Miki took us to Miyajima Islsnd.
Miyajima, or "shrine Island" is about an hour out of Hiroshima.
Miyajima is famous for its big red O-torii gate which at high tide is in the water. Here it is at low tide. Hoards of Japanese stream to the base of the torii. One man told us that they like to attach coins to the columns, presumably for luck.
WIKIPEDIA; A torii is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred.
Fresh oysters being prepared beside the street.
This is a delicious deep-fried sweet called Momiji Manju (shape of maple leaf) on a stick. The typical filling is a sweet red bean (anko) but it comes in many varieties such as the custard which Alexandra loved...
What about lunch? This is anago, which means eel. But don't be put off, it was oyshe...
As were the crumbed oysters.
Special thanx to Miki's mum for paying for a delicious and memorable lunch.
28 meter high 5 storey Buddhist pagoda from 1407.
There are wild deer on the island that have become accustomed to people. In the day the deer wander around the same sites as the tourists, and in the evening they sleep along the walking paths.
These guys are basically opportunists, always on the lookout for the next meal from passing tourists.
Passing tourists.
Momijidani Park, famous for, you guessed it, maple trees.
Ropeway cable car to the top of the hill.
The view.
Oyster beds.
Evening falls and the lanterns are lit.
The end of another great day... But wait, there is more because our friend Ai has arranged for a gathering at the beautiful Japanese style home of a local sister.
A feast to be exact.
Many types of Japanese delicacies.
A delicious meals with new friends.
A kimono fitting with a difference. Previously Alexandra has had the special privilege of trying on a kimono. I say privilege because many Japanese sisters have not actually worn a kimono. Normally it takes 30 to 45 minutes but on this day she was all wrapped up in under 10 minutes.
Just look at them go...
Many hands attend to the details.
The obi tying.
But it's not just Alexandra being dressed in a kimono...
Yours truly.
Back row; Yui, Mei, Mikie, Setsuko,. Machiko
Middle row; Michiko, Ai, Erii, Miki
Front row; some people in kimonos...
Traditional sweets. Those mandarins are actually sweet cakes.
The end of another amazing day. Arigato gazimahs to all of the friends who shared so much with us.
Lloydnalex
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