Return from Hiroshima

Friday night and we're safely back in Minoh with our respective and respected host families. We have been so well looked after it is overwhelming. Our journey to Hiroshima was great fun with a wide range of transport methods used to get us there and back. These included:

• The Bus these can get quite crowded and you get on through the back door


• The Train, This view was shot through one of the hand hold rings.
  
  
  
  


• The Bullet train or Shinkasen which looks like some kind of snakelike fish from the front, and also the rear. It travels like a smooth, fast horozontal rocket through the country.
  
  


• Inside the Bullet train it is roomy and comfortable.
  
  
  
  


• We have all become vending machine junkies during the trip both to maintain a health hydration level with the high temperatures but also to decrease the coinage that seems to accumulate. This shot was taken in the shiny surface of a freshly cleaned vending machine.
  


• Speaking of vending machines, the range of drinks is impressive and interesting the one that has taken me the most courage to try is the "Pokari Sweat" visions of wild bear like animal living in the bamboo forest sweating profusely in the "Indian Summer" heat. The precious liquid is then harvested deodorised and bottled to become the vending machine staple. Not a bad drop.
  
  
  

• Of course there was some solemn business to attend to in Hiroshima. Since leaving Auckland our group had been folding paper cranes in order to have an offering of 1000 neatly strung to accompany our prayer for world peace. We felt a little like beauty pageant contestants but we did our bit.


• The banks of the Hiroshima river were littered with dead fish on the day we visited and this crow was making the most of the situation. I made a mental note to avoid fish if it was on the menu that night.
  
  
  Have you ever wondered what a Traditional Japanese bride wears on her feet for her wedding ceremony. Well wonder no more as we reveal the golden platform jandal worn with white socks. Should ba a big hit in the comming southern hemisphere summer.

Good night from me.