Puffty Twain to Tsuwano, part deux

Expensive looking Sushi. (You would not argue with these carp!!)

View from the shrine complex looking over Tsuwano

I new I forgot something.

I also went to the top of the mountain shrine in Tsuwano as well, so I did not go on a train-bashing extravaganza. This is the second time I been up, so it is an interesting comparison to mark the difference between pictures taken of the shrine in the wet and dry. (Notice the lack of water in the dry pictures!!! easily missed!!!)

Also noticed some extremely large gold fish waiting to become sushi, loitering in the local gutters.

Bog standard!!!!

This toilet has ‘3’ bum washing capabilities!!! Notice the heater controls, bottom left hand side.

This is your more basic toilet seat appliance. Only ‘2’ bum washing programs here!!

I have to say, I am not really impressed with the toilets modules in Japan.

Personally, when I go to the bog, I do not want to sit on a toilet seat that feels like somebody has been sat on it for two hours reading a newspaper, magazine or some such, etc!!

Basically the toilet seats are heated (Notice the controls fitted to the left hand side of the toilet module and this is a basic version!!!) and I do not like that type of feeling. (A fresh bog seat is a cold bog seat as far as I am concerned!!) And it does not stop there either!!! You can wash your butt (Bidet functionality) and you can spray your butt as well without even getting off the bog seat, saves space you know. (Lets hope the maximum water jet pressure has been set, commissioned and accepted correctly here!!! Get it wrong and you could end up singing soprano!!!)

And in one establishment I went into, the toilet seat lifts itself off the rim after you have pressed the electronic flushing gizmo and it automatically wipes itself down in readiness for the next customer!!! Lets just hope that the manufactures of these dubious devices do not eventually stick a hair dyer in as well, could be spectacular if you get the functionality the wrong way round!!

(At this point it is worth noting, that this particular throaty flushing functionality only came to mind, when I accidentally leant back and gently touched the flushing control with my elbow. (Resting my arm) Four seconds later, even before I had time to pull my skids up, this hand type thing was sticking into my coccyx and trying to lift, rotate and clean the bog seat with me still sat down on it!!! Quite disconcerting when you are not expecting that type of intimacy, if you know what I mean!!)

Needless to say, I now make sure my own personal bog seat is not sat at ‘gas mark 2’ in my hotel room, as they takes hours to cool down. (Quite worrying too, when you see steam emanating from the top of the bog seat from the shower over spray!!!)

I am bound to find a few more pictures of the local inconveniences, so I will keep you all posted.

Puffty Twain to Tsuwano

I took the provincial train to ‘Shin Yamaguchi’ yesterday to get (By the skin off my teeth) the ‘Puffty Twain’ (Steam train) to Tsuwano.

This is the second time I have done this journey and I must admit I quite enjoyed the puffty twain ride.

More selected random pictures………..

Iwakuni

Pictute taken within the grounds of Iwakuni Castle


View over Iwakuni, taken from the top (Inside) of Iwakuni Castle


Underside of the bridge


Wooden structure detail


Side view



General view of Kintai bridge

I had a lovely day in Iwakuni and I was well impressed with the construction of the ‘Kintai’ bridge. I also visited ‘Iwakuni Castle’ (Top picture) after using the cable car to get up the side of the mountain. (I walked back down the mountain too!!) I have attached a few selected pictures of the day’s events.

Pictures say more than words………

Kate Bush eat your heart out!!

I have now been back in Tokuyama, Japan for the last week and apart from today; I have had an extremely good time. (Its been raining all today!!!)

I went to a local ‘karaoke palace’ in Kudamatsu last week and it was superb, even with my crack-throated rendition of Kate Bush’s ‘Withering Heights’. (See the attached evidence!!) There has been a loads of ‘UK’ persons over in Tokuyama for the last week, so I have had plenty of company at work and in the evening too, which has been great. So I can honestly say I have had quite allot to occupy mind during the last week but it’s all down hill from now on. (Sorry about the “47Mb” of buffering)

Marmite and nothing (Sensible) to spread it with.

I was determined to have some home comforts when I got back to Japan, especially in my hotel room in Tokuyama. So armed with a large (ish) jar of Marmite, some plain and fruited buns (The latter by pure mistake) I just purchased, I was prepared for a reasonable feast, or so I thought.

My first and only fundamental mistake with the above, is that I did not bring a knife from England to spread the Marmite with. I searched my hotel room for something approaching, or at the very least masquerading as knife but to no avail. I even had a good look through the complimentary brewing kit tray for a spoon as well but no joy here either. So I was forced into making a decision, I either dipped the bread bun into the Marmite (Not a sensible idea, as the aftermath to my taste buds would be extremely painful), I use my finger (Not very hygienic and could sting in the odd cut or graze) or I find another implement that could double up as a knife.

So after a quick search, I found a toothbrush in the washroom. (Unused and still in its manufactures wrapping, just in case you ask) I peeled the wrapper off, inserted into the jar of Marmite and hey presto, one Marmite sandwich. A little bit on the strong side in flavour but OK. (Marmite and fruited buns (See the attached ‘still life’ picture) does not work, I just tried that too!!)

And before you ask, I used the flat end of the toothbrush, not the bristled end. ((I am not that stupid and it did not cross my mind at all.) Although Marmite flavoured toothpaste could sell well!!! You will either ‘love or hate it’!!)