(01/01/04 - 31/01/04)
01/01/04 |
see
the photos |
02/01/04 |
Mum, Dad, Tom and I got an early start and drove up past the Echizen Bamboo Doll Village and up into the mountains. We (think we) found the old burial mounds, and climbed a hill (the mound?) there and were rewarded with a breathtaking view! We carried on down the road and came to an ancient house - Senko no ie - an old Japanese house which dates back 600 years. Entrance was 500 yen each, and we were invited in to sit around the open fire in the middle of the living room. We shared some ocha (green tea) with the owner, and managed to have quite a good conversation with her. She was really friendly, and told us a lot about the house. It was all very interesting, and the fire was very welcome as although it was sunny, it was still very cold. We carried on down the beautiful scenic valley and back on to Route 8. We headed home in time to meet Hayashi-san (the owner of the apartment block), who took us all back to his house to enjoy some true Japanese New Year fare! Before lunch, Hayashi-san took us all to the shinto shrine (jinja) near his house, and showed us how to pray in the true Japanese-style. The food itself was very interesting (and tasty), and was served in a beautiful lacquer-wear box. Sake was also flowing, and Dad had his first taste of sushi (I never thought I'd see the day!). During the meal the weather turned, and it started tipping
it down with rain. Despite this, Hayashi-san drove us to a hill with
a ruined castle on top, although we didn't go for a walk. He then
took us on to a waterfall, and due to the rain he drove right up the
footpath to the falls! It was a fantastic sight, even in the growing
darkness and rain! |
03/01/04 |
Dad wanted to catch a train (novelty value - there being no trains in Jersey), so Mum, Dad and I caught the local train up to the north coast of the prefecture - to Mikuni. Tom drove up, so that we could go on to Tojinbo and Oshima island. The coast was very cold, but very picturesque. There were even people surfing! We went on to a restaurant called "Birdland" for lunch - a Canadian-style log cabin serving Italian food. It was lovely! The bridge over to Oshima was very cold and windy, but once on the island it was very sheltered. The sea and sky were moody, and offered a great photographic opportunity. We remembered to follow the old ritual of walking clockwise around the island, to prevent bad luck from the spirits of the suicides washed ashore there from Tojinbo. See the photos (Tojinbo) See the
photos (Oshima) |
04/01/04 |
The weather was good, so we headed back to the sites that Hayashi-san had taken us to, and hiked up the hill a fair way. We also went for a better look at the waterfall, took loads of photos and went for another walk! In the afternoon, we drove to Imadate to go to L'Espoire (a patisserie/chocolatarie) and had cakes, coffees and hot chocolates! We then went shopping, and I'm now the proud owner of a microwave/oven/toaster. I can now get rid of the hideous little oven-thing that is something between a grill and and oven, although performs neither function particularly well. (We've discovered the trick is to flick the switch between grill and oven every five minutes during cooking!). For dinner we went to a tiny French restaurant next to the hotel.
The waitress and chef were lovely, and it turns out that the Chef went to
school at Haruko, and the waitress studies English at the EEC (where Tom
will be starting work next month!!!). The food was absolutely
faultless and the evening was a perfect end to my parents visit. |
05/01/04 |
Had a really early start, but actually made it to the
station on time. I went down to the airport with Mum and Dad to see
them off. We said our goodbyes and they trundled through to
security. I got back on the train and headed back up to Fukui! |
08/01/04 |
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09/01/04 |
Thanks Laura for having the girlies (and Tom) over for a
good evening of gossip! |
10/01/04 |
Canada Party at the International Club Nere's Pantry - a bar in Katamachi Creme - a night club in Katamachi Jose's Home and bed, at about 4.30am. So things are back to normal. |
11/01/04 |
Good night out...food n'all! Crazy. Came to the conclusion I don't go to Takefu enough!! |
12/01/04 |
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16/01/04 |
Terrible, terrible film. Bah. |
19/01/04 |
A huge HUGE thank you to Mary's parents for treating us
all to the glories of sushi - it was really nice to meet you, and I hope
you all had a good stay in Japan. |
21/01/04 |
Scary stuff. See
the photos (actually taken 23/01/04) |
23/01/04 - 25/01/04 |
In honour of Flick's birthday, and despite the SERIOUS snow, a crowd of us (ok...a small crowd...so...six of us...) hopped on a train and headed for Kobe - wonderful city of sky scrapers, shopping, gaijin-sized clothes, good food and...glory of glories...hear the angelic music...see the beam of light...PUBS!!!! Yes, ye olde Irish Pub. Full of GAIJIN! (i.e. non-Japanese). It is difficult to explain what happens when you've been in Fukui for a while. Basically, aside from us JETS (and a few people on similar programs) there are very few non-Japanese people here. Even in the height of summer, it's somewhat of a novelty to see a new gaijin face. Therefore, the only non-Japanese faces we EVER see, month after month, are the ugly-mugs (sorry guys) of our existing friends. Not that this is really a bother, but when you go to a big city like Kyoto, Kobe or Osaka, (or just Kansai airport), you suddenly realise that you don't stand out so much. In fact, in certain places (like the aforementioned Irish Pub), you may even be said to BLEND IN! *shock horror*. Although none of this stops the Japanese from staring and pointing - yes, it happens even in big cities. Sad, really, but true. And there's nothing we can do to stop it. You do get used to it after a while, but everyone, I think, still gets days when they just want to scream! Anyway, that's got me off the point...Kobe, pubs and shopping. Spent far more than should have done, and realised how much I missed Bristol life! I do realise, however, that I will miss Japan just as much, maybe even more, when I finally come to leave. Tom and a few others came down on the 24th, and then we
all (except Tom) caught the train back up to snowy Fukui on the
25th. |
26/01/04 |
That's right folks...now he's signed a contract and has a job ready and waiting for him in The Shi (city. i.e. Fukui baby, yeah!), all he has to do is get his working visa sorted. To do this, you have to leave the country. Crazy, I know, but that's how it is! So, the intrepid explorer set off for H.K. Check out his travel diary on the Cave
Bulletin Board I get up extra specially early to dig my car out of a huge
snow drift, and then get to work early...ready to start a new lesson plan
with the kids. I'm also feeling very sorry for myself, as I'm coming
down with a cold. |
28/01/04 |
Meal at Ganga Yup...was looking forward to this one all day! Jose,
Kara, Kri-chan (Christina) and I (now fondly known as
"Adele-baby" by my students....) had a wonderful Biking
(i.e. Viking, i.e. all-you-can-eat) style Indian (aka Kare-rice, aka curry
and rice). YuMmY! |
29/01/04 - 30/01/04 |
The snow was looking particularly splendid! (and I had the chance to take some photos at work), so....
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30/01/04 |
Tom returned to Japan - visa grasped in grubby little paw!
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