This was one of the ports where we could visit Kyoto but
since we will be staying there for 2 nights later we have cancelled the trip we
had booked in favour of one to Amano Hashidate and the fishermen houses of Ine.
You remember? Another 9 hour day but anywho…..
The guide started by saying we were not just rucky, but
rearrly rucly, “It was a sunny day.” We certainly were – It’s quite rare to see
the sun. Occasionally the accents take a bit of figuring.
Another picturesque country ride to the Bridge to Heaven.
Well it did go to heaven way back, but it then fell into the sea and now, after
a cable car ride up a mountain you have to view it backwards, up-side down, through
your legs. It’s a sandbar covered in 900 pinetrees, across a harbour, where it
landed when it collapsed. Seems
appropriate that after everybody is photographed, bum up and head down, looking
between their legs at the view, we were given discs to throw through a circle
of wisdom. It wasn’t an easy feat. Only a piece of mine made it through after
hitting the ring – I’m not very wise!!! The bag holding the discs was quite
heavy so our guide encouraged us to take handfuls and keep trying to prove our
wisdom. There’s only so much you can do, yes?
We went back down the hill in our cable car. I wanted to
ride the alternative – a chair lift –but due to the rain it was not now
operating. The gardens were very pretty on the hillside. Out of the cable car
and back to Chiongi Temple we had entered through – it’s alternative name “Sanninyoreba
Monjunochie” meaning out of the Counsel of three comes Wisdom. I’m getting it.
We then went to a Buddhist Temple. 90% of the population are Shinto, and 70%
Buddhist. Shinto is based on the worship of nature and is for happy occasions like
weddings and birth but does not deal with the sad times so well. These fit the
Buddhist philosophy better. Since neither religion insists on only one God they
can both co-exist happily side by side. On the way back to the bus we found
some toasted chestnuts. They tasted divine. Dave and Deb have you got a
chestnut tree/trees?
Then off to the fishermen’s’ houses. They are actually
boathouses and the fishermen live across the road. They are certainly quaint.
We had a boat ride to see them. The boat was followed by heaps of gulls and a couple
of eagles. Great to see them so close. Hoppy was feeding them from his hand so
I was cameralady - had it on rapid fire and took about 30 photos. This camera
is a bit slower than the last one we had. Got the bird just before, and just
after taking the biscuit. DARN!!
Back to our Japanese lunch. The usual little burner per
person, with bubbling brew of water, veg, tofu; heaps of pickles; prawns,
shrimps etc. which I pulled the head off and decided not to eat given the
purple cream which dripped out. I can live on rice and miso. Some of the pickles
gave me heart palpitations – I was quite scared so decided to leave them for
sure – no loss!
Back to the bus and off home (!) Somewhere along the line we
did walk across to the Heavenly Bridge too. There is a revolving bridge now
built at the beginning of the sandbar to allow small boats through to carry the
nickel ore imported from New Caledonia to a smelter in the bay. Somewhat
reminiscent of Amsterdam with the houses along the canal. Bye 4 now…………..
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