Sunday March 18th

10am
We don't have Internet in Hiroshima so the crack berry addict in me is feeling a little deprived. Marty is probably worse off than me though, haha! 

Yesterday we caught a early train from Kyoto to Hiroshima. Had to transfer in Okayama, but made it here in good time. We are staying at this funny european-inspired hotel called thr Hiroshima Grand Intelligence Hotel, the lobby is oozing with grandeur - suits of armor guarding the front doors, marble columns, (fake) fireplaces, (fake) European tapestries, lush carpets, old gilded furniture... Beethoven and Mozart playing over the speaker system. They even use old-fashioned keys instead of keycards! It is kind of funny, but it is clean, the beds are comfy and it is very close to the train station!

First stop when we arrived was Miyajima. It is quite a hike to get there from the city centre so we took a cab (about 30mins). Funny story, when i got in the car I found a wallet on the floor. I tried to tell the driver that I found it but he waved me off and (I thought) pointed me to put it in the seat back pocket, so I did. Then a little while later he asked me to see it, so I showed it to him and he waved me off again, so I put it back in the pocket on his headrest. So then I find out that he is giving us 10% off our fare because of this ID card I showed him. I tried explaining it wasn't mine again, but it was lost in translation. Fast forward to the next morning, I find out he came back to our hotel while we were out for dinner thinking I left MY wallet in the car. When Hiroko-san told him it wasn't ours and that we found it, I think he then thought I tried to scam him into giving me the 10% off for having a disability. I kinda thought it was evident that I wasn't an 80year old Japanese man? Anyhow, it made for a funny story and we saved a couple hundred yen.

Back to Miyajima... the ferry ride was quick, only about 10-15 mins. It was rainy and cool in the morning but by the time we got to the island it was sunny and warm, so we were a little overdressed. Wandered through the main temple and took 100 pics of the wild deer that live on the island. What funny little creatures they are. They are polite, but persistent, and will eat virtually anything they can reach, their favourite apparently being paper. We watched them eat quite a few pamphlets and brochures, most of which they plucked out of the hands or pockets of unsuspecting tourists.

The temples on the island are spread out up the mountainside a little, so wee were told it would take us a good 4hrs to do the whole "course". We opted for a few good photo ops of the famous floating torii and spent the rest of the beautiful afternoon wandering along the busy backstreets. Hiroko-San bought a few goodies off the street vendors so we tried roasted sweet potatoes, roasted chestnuts, and special maple-shaped manju, then I bought one of the deep fried bacon-wrapped satsuma sticks. Oishiiii. And I was still full from the delicious unagi-don bento we had for lunch. Good thing we burned off most of those calories trekking up and down the hills all day.

We had planned to take the streetcar back to the genbaku domu, a-bomb memorial, but by the time we got there it was past 6 and it was closed. Instead we went home, crashed for an hour, then bought dinner from the department store across the street and wandered through the store looking at all the crazy stuff they had there. It's no wonder Japanese people go so nutso shopping in Hawaii, most of the stuff in the big dept stores is very expensive. 

This morning we're up early for breakfast then plan to go back to the peace memorial museum and a-bomb memorial before we catch our train to Nagasaki. 

By this point many of you may have seen my Maiko photo on Facebook (or from my mom, who almost operates her own social media network). Pretty cool, huh? That is definitely my favourite thing I've done so far. (does this link work?)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100227133700249&l=853070c1bb



Update from Nagasaki, 9:30pm
We're at our hotel in Nagasaki now, have had a very long day. Visited the A-bomb museum in Hiroshima this morning, then caught the shinkansen to Hakata (Fukuoka) where we transferred to the Kyushu express to Nagasaki. I slept most of the way, as usual, because the latter part of the journey was twisty turny and when the alternative was motion sickness, I'll take the nap instead. Did a whirlwind tour of Nagasaki when we got here, will have to update you on that later because I'm asleep in my chair right now. Posted a few pics on FB, still can't figure out how to attach pics from my iPad.

Lots of love from Nagasaki,
Kris xo

Can I just stay here forever?

Really quick check in tonight because I'm falling asleep in my seat. Today was our first full day here, spent it in Kyoto. Instead of doing our half-day trip to Nara as planned, we decided to stick to the city. I went and had my photos taken in full Maiko costume as suggested to me by the Consul General's wife, Mrs Yamamoto. It was the coolest experience. What an incredible team they have there, I was fully dressed with makeup and hair done in under 45mins. This includes the white face and everything. Photos to follow when I can figure out how to upload something from my iPad.

After that we visited the Kiyomizu-dera Temple where we witnessed some sort of performance going on, I am still trying to figure out what it was but there was a dragon involved, and they marched all the way up the street and through the temple. It was really really cool. We had no idea they would be there, just lucky timing! Beautiful temple, there are 1000 Sakura trees on the property, only a few of them had some early blooms. I'm told it is absolutely packed there in the height of the cherry blossom season. I believe it. It would be quite the sight if everything was in full bloom.

Tomorrow we are heading to Hiroshima and Miyajima. From there we will make our way down to Nagasaki, and will stay in Kyushu for 2 days, one night at a hot spring resort in Beppu, and then another ryokan somewhere else on the island. After that we will spend one more night in Kyoto before heading to Nagoya and Ise to meet our friends.

Been taking lots of pics, will try to post some soon!

Lots of love,
K xo

Back to the land of the washlet toilets!

4:45pm

I can practically hear all my Canadian friends going "eeewww" right now, but seriously, awesome invention. 
Well we made it here safely. I'm writing this as I sit on the NEX (Narita Express train) en route to Shinagawa Station where we will catch the transfer to Kyoto. The flight was uneventful, I slept most of the way, watched a few terrible movies, and slept some more. We're giggling right now at the couple that just boarded the train with two GIANT ABC Store bags from Hawaii. There was also a guy on our flight wearing the largest, flashiest, most ridiculous sombrero I've ever seen in my life. I wonder where he got it from and what he's going to do with it. Funny thing is, he's wearing his baseball cap underneath it. 

We're staying two nights in Kyoto, hoping to do a bit of sightseeing, and Mrs Yamamoto (Consul General's wife) suggested I go have my photos taken in full Maiko costume. Will try to see if we can get an appt.


10:00pm

Made it to our hotel in Kyoto, we are staying at the Hotel Mitsui Garden Kyoto Shijo, cozy, we'll see if I feel brave enough to try the hot springs tomorrow. My skin doesn't really like scalding hot water. I now understand why lobsters turn bright red when you cook them....... Anyhow, despite all the sleep I got on the plane (and train), it is bedtime here! Not much to report today, but after last time, that's ok!
Oh, but I did notice that there are "in room massages" available between 7:30pm-1:30am...... (insert raised eyebrow here). Just sayin'.

K xo

2 weeks + 1 suitcase = logistical nightmare?

How anyone going anywhere other than Fiji (where I would just live in my bathing suit) can pack 2 weeks worth of clothes into one bag is beyond me. I've decided to put everything into a laundry basket, and if it doesn't fit/fold/roll/flat pack, it gets put back in the closet. If I can't lift the basket, I have to take more stuff out. And I'm only taking 2 pairs of shoes! But nevermind that, my dad thinks it's crazy that I'm taking my DSLR and not my "size of a pack of gum" point and shoot (I'm taking that one too...), umm, I'm a photographer? Is there really anything else to say here?

In case anyone is wondering where we'll be going, we are going to play it by ear but the current itinerary is roughly outlined below, it could still change at any point in time.


Will try to update as often as I can! And thank you to everyone who has sent their well wishes, it means so much to me. Love you all!

Kris xo

100,000 Cranes for Japan

It is my great honour to share this video with you as we approach the 1 year anniversary of the Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami. A few of my friends and I were involved in putting this together, and we hope that everyone will help us spread the message around the world.



Please pass the link on to your friends and family as well!

3.11.11 1yr Memorial Event @ JCCC

In case you didn't know, the JCCC is hosting a memorial event for the 3.11.11 Earthquake/Tsunami on the 1 year anniversary (March 11, 2012). It will be held in Kabayashi Hall at the JCCC from 1-4pm.

Japan - 1 year later

Dad and I decided (very last minute... as in 2 days ago) that we were going to try to go back to Japan this month to travel with a good friend of ours. Coincidentally, we will be arriving at Narita Airport exactly 1 year to the day from when we left last year after the Earthquake. This trip isn't meant to be a replacement for the one we didn't get to finish last year, but rather a complementary addition with a few new things thrown in there so we can meet up with friends and see some different places that we wouldn't have thought to go on our own.

Here is a general overview of our current (tentative) itinerary. I will of course keep everyone updated throughout our travels as much as possible.

Japan - March 2012 on Tripline