ara, Osaka, Kobe and Wakayama have been visited by us (naive me, Ash & Fird) who were just arrived about a month here in Kyoto back then. At that time, I am still just a plain Malaysian-grad who knows a little Japanese vocabulary at a very basic level out of my 6 month night class at Inter-Cultural Language School, KL Plaza. As fast as time passes us by, I think I have progressed a lot in this new world that I just knew last year, not so much but adequate enough to be the 'gaido-san' for our road trip this Golden Week 08'. Thanks to Lan for leaving his high motivation of travel spirit to me and the others who surely have learnt a lot from him (map readings, plan formulation, good inter-personal Nihongo, always have a plan B).For 2008, we upgraded our travel 'modus operandi' from just utilizing the 3-days Kansai Pass (Surutto Kansai Mikka) to a road trip joined by 7 wonderful characters. Basically, our trip plan formulation was based on mutual agreement and understanding in referring to the actual condition being faced but in some cases where decision has to be made quick and direct, me, Ashraf and Che Mek hold the veto positions. Ashraf, although known for his 'high level of thinking' jokes, riddles and stories are nevertheless the camp commandant with rational judgement. He decided on schedule, places to visit, hot girls to be watch around us (oopps..) and did enforce time management. Che Mek is the representative of a matured voice in a petite body. She was normally late but forgivable and a soul quencher to Mon, our designated driver cum 'big bro' in our trip. Sapphirenn or Nur-chan is our author plus poet where describing wonderful scenery into splendid words is her specialty (please visit the link 'ada cerita lain' for her trip notes). Ari, an Indonesian friend is the suddenly elected official photo-aide as he possesed a good compact camera though Daus was at first appointed in charge for multimedia and photography. Thanks for his understanding to wait for us during the solat stops and for joining us in dining only on vege and seafood stuffs. Daus, is the baby boy of the trip where he constantly accumulates his sleeps all along the way to cover his previous long hours of lab works but also a joy head and also imam to our group.
The first destination was Hiroshima City. We visited the A-Dome, a skeletal building structure left as per its condition after bombing as the only remnants of the ultimate 'Little Boy' atomic bomb dropped by US on August 6, 1945. This monument has been made World Heritage Site by UNESCO although some countries occupied by the Japan Imperial Army during the WW2 objected by saying that this monument could later be manipulated to downsized the fact of damaged done by Japanese during the war. We took the chance to stroll around the memorial park, children monument, visited the memorial museum and enjoy the Flora Festival happens to be celebrated that same day of our visit.
The first destination was Hiroshima City. We visited the A-Dome, a skeletal building structure left as per its condition after bombing as the only remnants of the ultimate 'Little Boy' atomic bomb dropped by US on August 6, 1945. This monument has been made World Heritage Site by UNESCO although some countries occupied by the Japan Imperial Army during the WW2 objected by saying that this monument could later be manipulated to downsized the fact of damaged done by Japanese during the war. We took the chance to stroll around the memorial park, children monument, visited the memorial museum and enjoy the Flora Festival happens to be celebrated that same day of our visit.
Hiroshima was said by many as the best place to have Okonomiyaki, a pizza-like Japanese delicacy. In order to have lunch at the famous Okonomiyaki Mura, we took a chance to walk along the most common shopping place available at almost all cities in Japan which is the shoutengai, covered walkway sidelined by rows of commercial shops (the one similar to Teramachi in Kyoto and Shinsaibashi in Osaka). The route to the Okonomiyaki Mura was kindly shown by a cheerleader who has just finished her performance for Flora Festival (don't trust che mek and mon's version of this story please..hehehe). Watching young couples including 'halal pair' che mek n mon walking hand in hand along this busy road like they have a universe to be explored together ahead triggered a sudden epitome of melancholy inside my heart, realizing I'll be walking this aisle of unknown map alone for long, longing for someone which is not here, living in deep thoughts of missing each other day by day. Stop the sentimental vibe!!! To conclude, the food was pricy but not that delicious in comparison to the one by Shougetsu restaurant.
Next, we planned to visit Mazda Technology Museum as Hiroshima is the birthplace for Mazda (like Nagoya for Toyota and Yokohama for Nissan..both visited) but the museum is closed that day. As we haven't reserved any hotel to stay for that night yet (in fact we couldn't reserve it earlier cause all the hotels have been booked since a month before) , we planned to head for Kure City (not Kughe... Chemek) which was before a naval city HQ for the imperial army. The decision to move out of Hiroshima was made with a hope that hotels in this 30 minutes-away city could offer us a place to stay. Luckily, while the others were sound asleep in the car, an oba'san (auntie=mama mama..hehehe) that I and Ashraf met at Kure Onsen had finally gave us a glimpse of hope by calling her networks of ryokans (Japanese-style hotel). She failed to find one available for us but handed me a brochure full with ryokans list. So I picked the wild card, randomly called whichever my finger pointed to. With basic judgement that the one furthest from town might be available, I called Toraya Ryokan. From the voice, I could sense that the person who answered me is another oba'san, but this one said that they're available!!!I immediately booked for all 7 of us and promised that I would call her back to reconfirm.
To cut the story short, we set the GPS navigator towards our prospective overnight place which is the Toraya Ryokan, nearly cheated by the bimyou GPS navi to board a ferry to Shikoku Islands and really2 saved by the bell that I suddenly have a thought to ask the ferry-man where we will be heading to. When we arrived to Toraya utilizing a really narrow road that Mon insisted to use (I said use another one mannnnnn!!...), the oba'san is already mad at me that I didn't call back. She had to gave face to her boss to make room for us involving moving other occupants to other rooms and yet I forgot to reconfirm our stay. But later, she affectionately hold my hands and thanked me that I fulfilled my promise and save her pride. We moved to our rooms in 3.2.2 formation with a sigh knowing that we will be able to stretch our legs tonight and enjoy the hot bath in the ofuro (big hot water tub). After a midnight stroll at a hypermarket named 'You and Me' with a gigantic WW2 submarine on its side and Saizeriya dine-out, we closed our eyes and our first day of trip diary while still remembering Ashraf's Pua Chu Kang riddles...Hiihihihihi.
Next, we planned to visit Mazda Technology Museum as Hiroshima is the birthplace for Mazda (like Nagoya for Toyota and Yokohama for Nissan..both visited) but the museum is closed that day. As we haven't reserved any hotel to stay for that night yet (in fact we couldn't reserve it earlier cause all the hotels have been booked since a month before) , we planned to head for Kure City (not Kughe... Chemek) which was before a naval city HQ for the imperial army. The decision to move out of Hiroshima was made with a hope that hotels in this 30 minutes-away city could offer us a place to stay. Luckily, while the others were sound asleep in the car, an oba'san (auntie=mama mama..hehehe) that I and Ashraf met at Kure Onsen had finally gave us a glimpse of hope by calling her networks of ryokans (Japanese-style hotel). She failed to find one available for us but handed me a brochure full with ryokans list. So I picked the wild card, randomly called whichever my finger pointed to. With basic judgement that the one furthest from town might be available, I called Toraya Ryokan. From the voice, I could sense that the person who answered me is another oba'san, but this one said that they're available!!!I immediately booked for all 7 of us and promised that I would call her back to reconfirm.
To cut the story short, we set the GPS navigator towards our prospective overnight place which is the Toraya Ryokan, nearly cheated by the bimyou GPS navi to board a ferry to Shikoku Islands and really2 saved by the bell that I suddenly have a thought to ask the ferry-man where we will be heading to. When we arrived to Toraya utilizing a really narrow road that Mon insisted to use (I said use another one mannnnnn!!...), the oba'san is already mad at me that I didn't call back. She had to gave face to her boss to make room for us involving moving other occupants to other rooms and yet I forgot to reconfirm our stay. But later, she affectionately hold my hands and thanked me that I fulfilled my promise and save her pride. We moved to our rooms in 3.2.2 formation with a sigh knowing that we will be able to stretch our legs tonight and enjoy the hot bath in the ofuro (big hot water tub). After a midnight stroll at a hypermarket named 'You and Me' with a gigantic WW2 submarine on its side and Saizeriya dine-out, we closed our eyes and our first day of trip diary while still remembering Ashraf's Pua Chu Kang riddles...Hiihihihihi.
1 comment:
wat?? i was normally late? huarghh!! nway big voice a.k.a matured voice sbb nak jerittt!! if i hv miss D here i wouldnt hv to jerit byk2!! Gpower rules!*creating a blog* siap ko
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