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Well, I never did watch the movie. Drank the beer though Fell asleep pretty much as soon as I hit the bed. Ah well, tough work this travelling lark. Or maybe it’s just the jetlag…

So, we’re in Fuki-Hakone National park right now, which amounts to the top of a mountain with lots of museums and art galleries, plus a supposed view of Mt Fuji. Which would be nice if the weather was better. A brief jolly to the top of a mountain yesterday (much braveness on the part of Frances as the cable car was a little rickety, and it was a little windy – so much so that they closed it down shortly after we got off). Hot springs ming a bit. Sulphur and such like. And the Japanese are very enthusiastic when it comes to eating blackened eggs cooked in the hot springs. How anybody can eat such a thing with the smell of BAD eggs all around is beyond me.

So, what about these Cherry Blossoms? Well, just when we thought we’d had our fill, we went to Ueno Park, which was stunningly beautiful in the evening with the cherry blossoms lit up with lovely red lanterns, and thousands of increasingly pickled Japanese enjoying a Cherry Blossom party underneath. Kind of like Proms in the park, without the music, and Terry Wogan.

So, we warn you now, our photos of Tokyo will have a heavy blossom bias. You Have Been Warned.

So, strange men. We were at Senso-ji, when a chap came up and started asking – in English – where I was from. England I replied. Ah! Roses are your national flower. War of the Roses and all that, eh? Yes. Love Tokyo. Very nice I replied. Great, etc. etc. – This was the second time this had happened, and it’s nice to be approached by such enthusiastic people keen to practice their English. So, we carried on wandering about Senso-ji – famous for the big lanterns and temple.

So, about two hours later we were in Ueno park minding our own business when a chap came up and started asking – in English – where I was from. England I replied. Ah! Roses are your national flower. War of the Roses and all that, eh? Yes. Love Tokyo. Very nice I replied. Great, etc. etc.

Strange sense of Deja-vu. Same bloke. Really. On the other side of Tokyo (well, not quite – quite some way away), the same bloke came and asked the same questions. Didn’t notice at first, but Frances spotted it. I was enjoying the conversation too much. Really. It’s a challenge to turn the questions around and enquire about Tokyo.

So, either it was a huge coincidence, or he’d been following us. GO figure.

So, navigating the trains to Kamakura was easier than feared, and the Great Buddha was impressive. Saw a Buddhist wedding in progress at the main temple.

Then up to Hakone national park and to the Hakone Fuji Guest House, where we’re staying in traditional Japanese rooms, and last night scolded ourselves in a gorgeous natural spring bath. Very nice. And our first breakfast this morning not featuring rice. You wouldn’t believe how nice that is.

Anyway, onwards in hope of a view of Mount Fuji, although the weather may get the better of us today. All the best. Richard & Frances.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 4th, 2004 at 2:14 am and is filed under Travelling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.