We spent most of the
day with Yumi and her family. Her and Yusuke picked us up from our hotel and
took us to their house a few kilometres away where Yusuke (a professional chef)
made our lunch. Magnificent spread with several species of raw fish, oddly,
very edible. We had a wonderful time with Yumi, her 3 children (all very shy…as
most Japanese seem to be) and Yusuke before he went off to work. Their home and
living room is very similar to us at home however their sleeping space was one
big room where all five of them slept together. We didn’t get taken there but
it sounded a bit different from home.
After that it was towards
Tokyo and while we were in the built-up area, it wasn’t Tokyo City. We stayed
at Machida, took a train and the subway and had a catch up with Peter and Linda
Keach. Peter was my boss when I worked for PF Olsen and like Diana and I they
enjoy travelling in NZ and overseas. Later that day we got excited as we had
tickets to the Brave Blossoms versus Springboks. We were hoping for an upset
win to the Brave Blossoms and it seemed so were South Africa but Rassie must
have had different thoughts and during the half time talk told them to change
the plan. The Japanese crowd were amazingly supportive and dignified in defeat.
I think they will now support the All Blacks.
To get to this game we
had to use trains and subway and several changes on the way…this is not easy.
This is something of a matter of luck, best guesses and prayers (which I don’t
think will be honoured due to a lack of repentance). Getting from A to B has
been a challenge almost every day. “B” is difficult to determine as our maps
are not in English and many signs do not have an English version. At times we
have been on the subway, a train is waiting and we run hoping it is going where
we want. Once underway we watch the little blue dot on Google maps hoping that
the dot is heading in the right direction. But as we didn’t know precisely
where “A” was to start with we are struggling. Even when we know we have
arrived at the right Station there are so often so many exits or entry points
for different lines in all directions – we must look pretty woeful as people
often offer to help us which is really nice. Surprisingly, despite not knowing
where we have come from and unsure where we are heading we haven’t gone too far
wrong…but there is always tomorrow.
So our first game of
rugby out of the way and the All Blacks comfortably into the semis it was time
for some R&R in the mountains north of Tokyo. We headed 2.5 hours north to
Kinugawa Onsen, very near Nikko. This is a hot water town and we have given the
onsen a bash with similar experiences as before. Diana has noted one good thing
about sharing your bathing experience in an onsen is that gravity plays no part
for those who have a D cup….until you have to step out that is!! Not sure I
will go further into that discovery but I am sure you ladies get the drift.
Our
hotel is magnificent, on the 10
th storey with balcony to the river
BUT no bed!! A hotel without a bed had us a little concerned but while away to dinner
on the first night we arrive back in our room for bedding on the floor.
Camping! But I thought very comfy. Diana put 2 futons together and was happy.
We intend to walk in the Nikko National Park for a couple of days. There are
mountains, waterfalls, lakes and vast plateaus. There are numerous walking
tracks and we will try to conquer a couple of them in the next day or two.
Fortunately there is the onsen at the end of the day to soak away any aches and
pains, and a glass of rum if necessary.
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