28-29/9 – On my own and a little homesick

So yeah, I’m finally on my own. I was driven to Beppu by Junko-mama, whom I by the way had a lot of fun at. At Beppu, I didn’t really do much but look around the town. I didn’t go to any onsen (hot springs) even though Beppu is Japan’s Mekka of onsen. Oh well…

I instead went to Fukuoka. I’ve met an Aussie called Jacob, and a Scottish called Barry. I hung out with Barry from the afternoon to… now (2.30 in the morning). Did I mention I didn’t sleep last night, because I spoke to people at home? –So yes, I’m pretty damn tired which may also explain why I feel slightly homesick/a little alone.

I need to make a plan though! I’m thinking of renting a bike and going around town to snwp pictures and be really tourist-ish. Fukuoka is pretty big, and I haven’t been everywhere yet, even though I’ve walked for HOURS.
Barry and I went to Canal City here; it was quite something! Honestly, I’m not really much up for writing a whole lot, as I’m exhausted, so maybe I should just go to bed. Barry is going to Korea tomorrow, so I won’t be able to hang out with him again. Guess I’ll have to manage on my own. I’ll sleep in tomorrow though; I think I need it!

Pictures will be up later…

27/9 - Who needs money?

So, today was the day when I left Taketa. I am truly forever indebted to Shinji-san and Reiko-san (Shinji’s wife). Not only did they let me stay for three days, bring me on sightseeing tours and grant me both expensive food in restaurants and homemade meals, but also their care and concern, my train ticket to Oita, a bag with apples, clementines, an omiyage (it’s custom to bring people you visit something. They had bought cakes from a cake shop in Taketa FROM ME), sweets, socks ^^, little handwritten notes (which I’ll admit I’m having a little trouble reading/understanding, but it’s some kind of lucky charm and happy thoughts), money, paper + envelopes and stamps; she demanded me to write them several times, and I sure will! The worst is that I didn’t know how to properly thank them… they are perhaps the kindest people I have ever met. Taking in an almost complete stranger…

Reiko-san has made me a long list of people in different cities whom I should contact, because they will let me stay with them. One of them, in Tokyo, is Reiko-san’s friend from university. How many people do YOU know, that would take in a foreigner because your friend called and asked if you would?!
I am currently residing at Junko-mama in Oita (I don’t remember exactly how she’s related to Shinji and Reiko-san), and I feel very welcome, and not like a stranger at all, despite that I’ve only met Junko and her husband once. Junko-mama’s daughter took me to an onsen tonight, which I also didn’t pay for… I barely need money! Seriously, the only money I’ve spent is those from using my cell phone; at least almost.

I don’t know how I can ever thank them… There is no doubt that I will NEVER forget them, and that I’ll be sure to visit them next time I come to Japan. They also told me to call if there was ever anything I needed or if I had any problems.

Tomorrow I’m going to Beppu, and from what I’ve understood, they are even taking me there; taking me to see different things and try out some of the many onsens there.
Right now, I’m very tired, so I’ll head off to bed… after a few pictures ;)

Today’s lunch: my first bowl of ramen, prepared by Shinji-san! It was good!

The list of people to call… written in both kanji and kana.

Shinji-san, me and Reiko-san in their shop, where I first met them.

Funny thing. A group of Japanese sightseers! There were actually two groups…

Something to munch on from Reiko-san.

My aunt collects stamps, but I don’t know if I’ll give them to her… oh, I got others to post; these are just for keepsake.

Letters from Reiko-san ^^

Something in the room I sleep in, and that I know someone would like to own. A katana. Sorry about the picture quality.

That should do it for now!

24-26/9 – A volcano and a turtle…

SO, I’ll try and take it chronologically, although it’s gonna be hard.

24/9: Left my host family in Ono-machi in the morning, took the bus to Taketa. Here, I first spoke to Claudia, who actually offered me to stay with her, if I didn’t find another place. Very, very kind of her!
However, I also met my good friend, fruit-man (who’s name is Shinji). When I told him that I was planning to stay for a day or two (because I have wifi here), he too offered me to stay at his place, which I gratefully accepted.
His wife, whom I’ve also already met, showed me to the room I would be sleeping in. It is BEAUTIFUL! Shinji also made lunch for us: yaki udon (fried udon, which are thick wheat noodles). Very yummy!
Anyways, I helped out in their shop a little before heading to the onsen. I later had dinner with quite a few family members (many were home because they were celebrating their grandmother’s 90th birthday the day after).

25/9: One of the family members, Hidetoshi, took me and the grandmother, I’ll call her obaa-san, to Aso-san, which is a volcano in the middle of a huge crater. Took about an hour to get there, but it was incredibly beautiful!
Obaa-san is veyr senile, and asked me the same questions, said the same things over and over again, but she’s so sweet, and it reminded me of my own, now gone, grandmother. Also, chances are that I understand a little more each time I hear it, haha!

When we got home, one of the neighbouring shop keepers took me to one of THEIR friends’ house to eat dinner. The men got a little drunk, especially the one I sat next to (and who was with the women who had taken me there), and if there’s something I hate more than regularly drunk people, I have discovered, it’s drunk Japanese men who try to impress me with their lousy English and boring stories… also, I hate when they spit while talking. Yeah, there’s a reason (actually several) to why I don’t drink alchohol.
Anyways, I of course thanked them many times. We were home at around 10pm.
I had spoken with Shinji-san, and he would take me on a bus tour for all the shop keepers in town, to Miyazaki where we would go to see a few things. Departure time: 5AM!

26/9: Up at 4:40 (I managed to actually overhear my alarm. I did think it was strange why “Shiki no Uta” appeared in my dream, but then again, dreams are often quite mysterious…). Bus departed at 5.30, and we would arrive at the destination about 3-4 hours later. I won’t say it was a bad trip, but I don’t feel it’s something I would have missed out on; but it was so very nice of Shinji-san to take me along!
We were home around 5pm, and then I went to the hot spring for about an hour, got back, and then we all dined out.
Tonight’s menu was nabe; suppon nabe. I recognized the scenery with two big pots and two big plates of vegetables.
The waitress brought in two plates with meat that I didn’t really recognize, and I’ll tell you why: it was turtle. Yes, a kind of turtle. Did I ever think eating raw horse was exotic, I’ve by far surpassed that! I’ll name the menu:

• Raw turtle liver, dipped in a little salt and sesame oil
• Raw turtle meat eaten with a little soy sauce and ginger
• Turtle soup with boiled turtle meat
• Deep fried turtle
• Turtle blood mixed with some kind of alchohol
• Turtle eggs

I wonder if I forgot something… Anyways, I tried it all, ate what I was served, but had to pass on drinking all of the blood. I’d never in my life thought I’d eat turtle… Furthermore, they told me that it’s a very rare turtle. I looked it up, and it said: “Suppon: Chinese soft-shelled turtle”. Hidetoshi-san also told me it’s very dangerous.
I have no idea what the price was, but it most certainly can’t have been cheap!

During dinner, I spoke a lot to the family. They are extremely kind, and actually worry about my trip; so much that I have been offered to stay at different family members in different cities! I even get a ride to Oita tomorrow by Junko-mama (yes, she wants me to call her that ^^). So far, during these soon 4 weeks, I have paid for a meal TWICE… I’ve always received them from others, even though I’ve tried insisting on paying for myself.

Oh well, it’s kinda late, and I haven’t slept enough these last few days, so I’ll move on to the pictures now.

24/9: The free souvenirs I’ve collected so far.

Goodbye to otou-san and obaa-chan.

The room I’m currently residing in.
 

25/9: One of the mountains in the area: Kuju-san (I think… there were three, and I can’t really distinguish between them in photos).

Think this is Sobo-san.

Looks like Kuju-san.

Aso-san (mountain) in the back, and creatures called “cows” in the front, lol. It’s just because I haven’t really seen any cows during my trip, but that’s because I’ve mainly been residing in foresty areas. This place has a lot of wide open space. There are horses too! I later found out that Miyazaki prefecture (which we were in) is famous for its horse meat…

A part of Aso-san called Neko-dake, but more about that later.

I apologize for my rather groggy appearance, but I was encredibly tired from not sleeping enough. Also, by shirt looks a little awkward… oh well. Me with obaa-san.

My favourite amongst Japanese flowers: Higanbana. You will see moer of those.

The highest viewpoint on the outer rim of the crater which Aso-san lies in, “Daikanbo”.

Aso-san with its five peaks.

About Aso-san. Read for yourself…
 

Compare:

I managed to have closed eyes on all pictures taken that day… At “Aso no kusa senri” - “Aso’s thousand miles of grass”.

Natural sulfur. Can’t bring this on a plane… I’m sure my old chemistry teacher would have loved if I brought some.

I just thought it was interesting. Sesame ice cream.

An active part of the mountain. I forgot its name though. Sadly, the wind caused that we couldn’t go as high/close as you usually can :(

On our way back home, we passed this burial mound for some very important people… I don’t know who. It’s covered with higanbana!
 

Oh yeah, now is the best time to view higanbana. Now, and in late March. Hidetoshi-san told me something about the meaning of the flower’s name. Something about September and March 23rd, and how the flowers at this time had something in common. I’m sure you can look it up; these days are also national holidays.

26/9: The place I took the most pictures: at a street market! I love those things! :D
Bottled NHK rice? (NHK is a tv channel). They mentioned NHK at least… (Sorry about the finger blocking the lens…)

A cute horse, making commercial for… something I didn’t really know what was.
 

Today’s lunch: unagi (eel) rice! Was good! Treated to me by Shinji-san.

A little friend I made on my way.

It got preeeetty hot during the day, and I’m very happy I ain’t the one walking around in a balloon!

Huge ice blocks with items frozen inside were placed here and there…

Cutting of a huge tuna.

What I like less than hot green tea: cold green tea. Unfortunately, Japanese people take it for given that you like it. I almost finished the entire bottle…

DINNER! People just sitting down.
 
Raw turtle… served on its shell. Four people sharing this serving.

Suppon-blood drink.

The shell. That was put in the big pot with all the other contents.

Boiled suppon.

After finishing the main dish, rice was put in the broth along with chicken eggs and turtle eggs. The turtle eggs were like cooked chicken egg yolk; slightly grainy. I’ll have to admit though, that this was quite tasty. The yellow ball is an egg.

Phew! I’m done for! Goodnight!

23/9 - Festival and dinner with the mayor

- and I’m not joking.

First things first, I went to Ogata, a close-by town, to go to a festival (matsuri). It was really interesting, and I even met a American named Avi! We chatted quite a bit, and he’s also helping out on a farm; his job is picking kabosu (a Japanese lime-ish fruit).
Of course, we were interesting to the Japanese, and we spoke with a lot of different people. There was this one guy who said “Oh, I’ll introduce you to the city mayor! I’ll take you there, let’s go some time!” -I ended up going without Avi because he wanted to find an ATM (a money withdrawal machine). I spent 3 hours at the mayor’s place, from 4pm to 7pm! I had a lot of fun, and joined a party consisting mainly of men… men above age 30. Anyways, I still had fun! They all got preeeetty drunk though.
I ate dinner there; mainly sushi, but also a few other things, including something I’d NEVER thought I’d eat. This man next to me told me to try it, and polite as I am, I didn’t say no. I thought it looked like beef, and asked if it was. He said he honestly didn’t really know, but then after I’d put it in my mouth, he said “ah, uma no sashimi!” … wtf… Uma = horse, sashimi = raw flesh, so yeah, I basically ate RAW HORSE. Felt kinda bad, but decided to think that the horse was already dead, and it would be even more of a waste to spit it out; plus it would be pretty impolite. That was however both my first and last time eating horse. The texture of raw fish is ok, but the texture of cold, raw meat is slightly different. I didn’t really taste it though, but I recall it was a little… bland? I have nothing to compare it with really. I stuck with the sushi though; and perhaps too much of it, but hey, it’s pretty healthy, right?

When I told them I was going back by bike, some of them said “oh, you’re welcome to stay here for the night, it’s no problem”, and pretty much everyone I spoke with told me to come sometime again. Again, incredibly nice people whom I’d love to meet again!

I, of course, have some pictures to share!

The view from a bridge I crossed on the way there. Very beautiful!

Kodomo no taiko – Children of the drum. The guy in front with the long hair and yellow bag is Avi. I hadn’t spoken with him at this point though. He’s 27 and an English teacher (in the US) from Philadelphia. He doesn’t really speak Japanese; just a few phrases.

Some carries like the one I showed you from the beautiful temple (the BBQ-place) with the friend of otou-san.

One of the food stalls. This is “hashimaki”, a pancake (not sweet) rolled onto a pair of chopsticks. Tried them, and they’re pretty much like takoyaki without the tako.

Goldfish scooping. You get a bowl and scoop goldfish, basically… They coloured the water yellow, just for fun I assume.

Yakisoba, fried soba (buckwheat) noodles.

How ‘bout some grilled squid? Ikayaki.

Takoyaki, fried octopus balls; guess you didn’t know octopi had balls! (Just to quote Danny Choo – check him out on dannychoo.com!) They look like danish æbleskiver, but instead of the piece of apple (which USED to be in old days’ æbleskiver), there’s a piece of octopus.

Kakikoori (cover(ed) + ice); shaved ice (frozen-water-ice) which you cover with a flovoured syrup. Didn’t try it though…

This is how cotton candy is served in Japan – in a bag.

Yakitori, fried chicken on a stick.

Some of the ceremonial stuff taking place. I guess the children chase/tame the oni (Japanese monster).

One of the many, many dances taking place aaaall day!

This guy was AWESOME! Very intense!

These guys danced like… forever! An hour or so!

Different people, same style – pretty cool.
  

This guy dressed as an oni, climbed a pretty tall (15 metres or so) bamboo – no safety like, just climbing it with a pair of tabi (traditional Japanese shoes with the big toe separated from the other toes), and probs a pair of gloves. From there, he threw some small bags; I think it may have contained some kind of mochi, but I don’t know. (Mochi, pound rice chewy, gooey cake-ish, traditional Japanese food, often sweet.)
 
 

Kagura dance. I spoke with on old lady, and from what I understood, it told something about when Japan was created. “Nihon no tsukutta toki ni, something-something”, I think she said.

Pretty blurry, but this is the party at the mayor’s house. It was really big, and really, really pretty! Spoke quite a lot with the person next to me. He’s not the mayor though.

Hanabi, flower fire, directly translated. I guess you can tell what it is ;) Also, the stalls at night.
 

More hanabi. Wasn’t spectacular, but I thought I had to see it anyways; it belongs at a matsuri.

 

SO! Today was loaded with pictures, but it’s also my final day in Ono-machi. Last day with the family, and I didn’t even spend it with the family. I’ve had a good time though! Tomorrow, I think I’ll pay Taketa another visit, but first, I need to withdraw some money. I’ll go the other onsen (hot spring), access the internet on my OWN pc, and have a final meet with the people I met there. The nice nashi-man (with the old house), for example, and possibly Claudia from the tourist information centre. Yeah!
More than three weeks have passed, and I’ll soon go to the more civilized part of Japan. I’m a little nervous, but at the same time a little excited. Hope I’ll find some cheap youth hostels, and not the least, lots of places with wifi, lol!