All Our Bags Are Packed!

                             Travel blog # 8 - Beppu (Near Hiroshima)

Mitaki-dera (Buddhist) Temple 

Many people killed by the bomb were not found. Survivors placed a "tombstone" for them in the temple's garden. 

                Time for a photo opp with our friend, Helene

                  Town locals knitted caps for the buddha statues

         This was one of the more beautiful gardens we visited

Structures, buddhas, waterfalls and streams are located throughout the temple's quiet and serene grounds. Walking through the area provided a quite time to reflect.

A happy time - We were not inundated with an onslaught of bus loads of tourists.

                            Surprises hidden in unexpected areas

                     Time to ring the bell -- for good luck

The procedure calls for ringing the bell ONCE on the way to the temple. Ringing it twice (the second time on the way back down the hill) may bring bad luck!

          Ringing the bell was much harder than we had imagined.

We definitely felt we were in a foreign country when traveling through small towns and villages

Tsurumi (Thermal area)                                        

This is a large thermal area - hundreds of steam vents in the town and countryside.

Visitors come from everywhere to "take a steam" and relax.

     This facility is a 300-year old, 16 generation "bath house."

"One hundred year-old eggs" are steamed in this box

                   Ouch! The water is very hot!

We could buy something from a small store on the premises. There was only one problem. We had no idea what was being sold!

                                                                  The chemicals or elements will change the color of the water  

     

 After climbing many steps and walking long distances, it was time to soak our feet in the warm water. 

             We continue to see "older people" direct traffic

Japanese security is worse than TSA and the many international immigration agencies. Whenever we went on a tour, we had to go through passport control several times getting off the boat and then again when we boarded the ship. 

Purses and backpacks are inspected for food and drugs. No food is allowed off the ship at all. Obviously, weapons are forbidden. There was one time when an inspector found a baggie with two Excedrin's in Jerry's backpack. The inspector thought Jerry had "drugs." The baggie was swabbed and the backpack had to be screened.

One of the times we left the boat, Jerry's backpack was again thoroughly inspected. Frisbees were found. (Jerry often gives them a way to a child if the right circumstances come about). This non-English speaking inspector was surprised that Jerry had the frisbees. Jerry offered one to her. She refused, He insisted. She refused. That was the end of it. 

When returning to the ship later in the day, once again we had to go through the inspection process. Jerry spotted  this young woman in an off limits area. Jerry cut across to this area and said, "Hello" to her. She was surprised when he pulled out the frisbee and presented it to her. She again refused. He insisted. Again there was refusal. Jerry put his hand on her shoulder and said, "It's okay...this is for you...a present." Ultimately, she accepted and then began to cry!

                Jerry's friend, Fred is now looking for manholes

                            Another pretty Japanese stamp