23 September 2004 - 26 September 2004

Last Updated: 25/11/04

 

Making the most of the national holiday ("Autumnal Equinox"), Mary, Flick and I took a long weekend down to Hiroshima.  We spent an afternoon and evening seeing the Peace Memorial Park (we were put in contact with a really lovely English-speaking guide) and the A-Bomb museum.  I won't go into details here - it was a very personal experience for each of us (in fact, I've only put 4 photos up of the peace park).  Basically, if you wanna know, you gotta go.

 

Hiroshima itself is now a vibrant and modern city, and we had a great time exploring the shops, bars and restaurants, and also took a day out to go to Miyajima Island.  


 

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Three travellers stop in at a pub (hurrah!)

Flick, Mary and me

Tanuki!

 

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Mary, tackling her okonomiyaki

  

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The Peace Park

You can see the A-bomb dome in the background, and the Cenotaph in the 

foreground.  The Cenotaph contains all the names of the people who have 

died as a result of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.  

It is updated every year on the anniversary of the bombing.
   

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A very moving poem engraved in stone in the Peace Park    
Our guide shows the translation to Mary and Flick
  
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The A-Bomb dome - looking the same today as it did
immediately after the bomb had been dropped.
  
 
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Cranes made in remembrance of the little girl who contracted Leukaemia as a result of the atomic bomb believed if she made 1,000 paper cranes she would get well.

She was 2 when the bomb was dropped, and died at the age of 12.
  

Mary and Flick on the boat to Miyajima

 

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Mary talks to one of the many wild deer roaming

 free in Miyajima

Flick prepares to sample her first oysters.

 

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Mary, enjoying the view again

Flick, enjoying the ride back down in the cable car

 

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The typhoon-damaged shrine which is currently closed for repairs

The famous floating torii at the entrance to the floating shrine (above)

Itsukushima Shrine 

 

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