Only 17 days, then back to Japan.

I decided to get back to Japan while I could and Tokuyama is where I am going!

Eventually got a ‘D3’, so I will be off looking out for my old haunts and we will take it from there!

You never know when ‘Andy san’ will be back!!!!!

Think on………………………

Ba,

A.

A trip to Yamaguci.

I went to Yamaguci on yesterday, as there was not a lot going on at work, so I booked the day off.

I went to the “Rurikoji” temple and its surrounding gardens and it was superb. (Basically a 5 storied temple but don’t ask me to pronounce the word!) It was superb, the sun was out, it was quite warm and the cherry blossom had started to sprout all over the garden and the smell you get is so different to anything else. This will be my last chance to see the cheery blossom bloom and I thought I was going to miss it this time, as really needed to stay another two to three weeks to see it in all it’s glory! (Japan is famous for cherry blossom at the end of March/beginning of April.) I had a good walk around the gardens too and some of the other smaller shrines and artefacts and walked up the hillside to see what I could find.

I even found and old steam train in the gardens of one of the building, as I was walking up to the temple! Very odd, did not expect that one!

Hikari Beach

I did Hikari beach today and although it was a tadge cold, the sun was shining and the wind was blowing too.

I love rock pooling and I was straight in there. I found lots of biggish crabs and fish caught in the rock pools and I did not slip once. I sat on top of one of the big rocks for a while and just floated away!

Whenever I go to the seaside I always feel sad to leave but I had a good few hours there playing (Yes playing!) and as always, I am pretty flat line afterwards although I was already quite chilled out in the first place. I don’t know if other people have had this particular feeling after they have been to the beech but the sun and the sea air seams to tighten up the facial skin! Even now some seven hour after being back at the hotel, I can still feel the taughtness in my face, which just sun alone does not normally do to me!

It’s a shame the local chemical works, etc, always spoil the decent shots but that’s what you get around this coastline.

But hey, I don’t care, I was happy!

Iwakuni

I loved going to Iwakuni and the ‘Kintai’ bridge, so here are some more selected pictures including the local cats! (Flat out!)

I should have been a photographer!!!

Blind as a bat in Tokuyama!!

It would be nice for something good to happen to me for a change, preferably cheap as well.

My glasses fell apart at work this morning, with no warning and wherever the miniscule screw went, I have no clue. So, that’s another ‘£200’ down the drain, super.

Luckily for me, I have my last old pair with me but wearing them is a little odd, as everything seams to be compressed somewhat. I suppose it’s a trip to the opticians over the next few days, oh joy of joys!!!

Whatever next?????

House Of Pain.

The view from room '1001' in the Route Inn Hotel, Tokuyama!

With a Shinkansen train pulling into the high level station.

The rear of Tokuyama train station.

A drink Sir?

Tokuyama docks.


Tokuyama harbour mouth.


Lean on the armco at your peril!

Some big ships.

A Kite doing what Kites do in the fluffy clouds!

That could hurt from the rear!


The 10th floor vista.


No one could have believed that in the first half of this morning I initiated such a contradiction, (Juxtaposition if you want to be posh about it!) between the House of pain, Jump Around and Jeff Waynes ‘War of the Worlds’!

I could and it was what wanted I to listen to in that order, after circumnavigating Tokuyama docks, JR railway station, the local shopping Ginza’s and my friend’s wife hair saloon; after being asked to vacate my room so the maids could clean it. I don’t know what they think I get up to in my room but judging by the amount of beer cans that have been cleared out of other rooms this morning, I must be a parody of clean living compared to the other inhabitants of the hotel! I tell you one thing though; they never put the bog seat down after they have cleaned it! They will never get a cleaning job at my house.

The local cat’s were giving it some this morning, while I was walking around the back streets. This one cat, a scruffy looking individual and to be honest quite likable with it’s disk like laser green eyes slit peering at me, dared to bandy looks with me. It obviously noted that I was not a local geezer, so it gave me a wide berth and slinked off into a hole in the wall. At least this particular cat had a tail, (It could possibly tell a tale or two too!) not like many of the others I see on a daily basis.

I ended up going to the docks and watched the Kites dog fighting or spelling out their language of love in the sky. I would not argue with a small Kite, let alone one of these huge sod’s I was watching and to be honest, when they do actually land after having a good old squawk, they are quite statuesque. When they see you are eating, they come un-unnervingly close but I doubt they would come close to me, as I make most people around here look small!

Earlier though, before I left the hotel this morning, the cleaners had left the fire escape door open on the tenth floor. (I am in room 1001. Oh do you remember '1001 Dry Foam'? I hated that advert.) So I took the opportunity to get some ‘high up’ pictures.

Big mistake!

I don’t know what the maid thought I was going to, ‘Harry karri’ or some thing but she was not impressed with me stepping outside of the hotel onto the fire escape. It was only when I got it out, the camera that is, she calmed down and left me to it. I think the maid was the one I asked last year to go onto the fire escape, on the other side of the hotel, so she realised that it was a photography moment. I might ask for room ‘1004’ next time though, definitely better or should I say different views from the room compared to my diminutive pad.

I should have brought the big camera out!!!!

An English Rose

In answer to your question, The lady I met about three weeks now, (An English Rose.) showed me in a couple of meetings, that life is for living and not for worrying about the past! (Although do be mindful of what has gone before!)

I will not go into specifics but a lovely woman and I hope to meet somebody in a similar guise soon, or could it be you?

Pills, I don’t go there, I would rather stay up for hours and make my self naturally tired, if I can. Although I did go for a good walk again today and I think my sleep pattern will improve, as I feel quite normal for change, whatever normal is!

I am giving the ipod some use tonight, listening to Shania Twain; I am trying not to look at the video too much, as it can be distracting. Shania has ultra good bone structure but I am trying not to look to deep, do not want to destroy past impressions, etc. And Desley wants £50 for repair bits for the suitcase, so that will teach me! Stupid boy!

Well tonight’s evening meal is Japanese muesli, dry of course, straight out of the packet. A little dry but flushed down with a good old bottle of dodgy fruit drink. You should try dry muesli; the milk takes away the flavour from the fruit inside!

There is only so many Yakitori’s you can do! (A Google web search will sort that understanding out!)

Now listening to ‘Rogue Traders’, She is a bit hard looking in severe type of way but she scrubs up OK! Have you ever watched “Voodoo Child”, she has super lips!