Beppu and the Onsens (Hot Springs)

I liked this jigoku the most


Red hot boiling mud
They have crocs in Japan! They looked out of place compared to those in Africa. WWF should relocate these things back and just ensure they do not land anywhere close to Mungatana's dinner plate.
Wrapped up the holiday by sneaking away into a little sleepy town called Beppu in Kyushu Island. The place has the highest onsen per capita in Japan and most famous of them are the seven boling jigoku's (hells). These are natural boiling mud ponds that come in different colours and stinks.. not scents. Soaking yourself into one of those is considered to be of medicinal value...

The A Bomb in Hiroshima

Hiroshima (August 1945) following the first atomic bomb ever to be unleashed on human kind.. An American B29 bomber dropped the bomb, which exploded some metres above, flattening the city and human beings in a matter of minutes. The shell building which was a commercial centre then, stands today in testimony as the peace park memorial centre (see photo below).
Hiroshima today at the peace park memorial centre..
The peace park

Miyajima from the peak

Cleansing hike up Miyajima

During the ascending rope car ride. I am a worried man if you care to notice...
At 2500 metres above sea level. I enjoyed this hike better than Mt. Fuji at 3700 metres. Of course I used the rope car for the greater part, but the view was breath taking. I had dreams to climb Mt. Kenya but Fuji San has turned them into a life long vision... I think
taking a break on the hike up the mountain..

The rope cars were a bit scary at the beginning but the phenomenal view, was worth more than the scare

Island of Miyajima

Traditional Japanese households and street way in Miyajima.
The scenic Island of Miyajima. A truly phenomenal place. The orange floating temple is over 600 years old. . I loved every breath of this place.

Snow Boarding

The view was nice though..
I enjoyed riding up the rope car to the top of the hill.. but dropping off the rope car is a tricky affair - recall Bridget Jones in Germany? Gettin ready..
Yush and Wan
Headed to the north of Hiroshima for a snowboarding adventure.. thanks to Wan. Woke up at 4.00 a.m. so as to be there by 8.00 a.m.! Actually over the holiday I consistently woke up at 5.00 a.m. latest and I liked it because I got lots done. I think Africans were not designed for these kind of temperatures. I had ruff time standing.. crushing into the bushes and getting my ass as cold as ice...

Bash at Wan and Rina's Place

Wan and Rina my kind hosts and friends from New Zealand organised a welcome party at their place in Hiroshima and we had exhilirating fun. Also in attendance was the old man Murakami sensei a martial arts expert who showed me dust.
the party...
Wan literally landed in hot soup after an attempt to balance a soup bowl on his head backfired.
On my immediate right is Ahmad (Egypt/ Canada), behind is Eric (U.S.) and Rina(NZ) and on my left is the master Murakami..

Hiroshima Kirei desu

Wan, Rina and their favourite student after a filling meal of Okonomiyaki Hiroshima.
Hondori St. is the centre of attraction for the stylish and hippy youth in Hiroshima. I was not far out of touch with most of them.... At the peace park museum in the centre of the city which has expansive park space and its size is just big enough for a lil African traveller like Yush.The usual traffic jams in Japan are also common here inspite of the million networks of roads, rail and bridges. Uncomparably more relaxed than Tokyo, Hiroshima was entirely rebuilt after the atomic bombs and they came up with a spacious, scenic and timeless city that overshadows its painful history.