Springing into Singapore and Japan.

[GarrettM]

Almost kick-off.


Game on. I liked the moon popping over the grandstand.


I decided to move to the other side of the terrace after half time. Obviously it did the trick, as Sanfrecce scored in the second half thanks to their Brazilian forward Felipe Silva. Enough for the 1-0 win. A bit of a tonic for the side really, considering they were - and still are - stuck in the relegation zone in the early part of the league season. Here's hoping they can turn that form around.

Couple more pics.

 

[GarrettM]

While I was off enjoying the evening, the wife decided to head out with bub and enjoy another nice meal. Except she made a little mistake when ordering, and ended up with way too much food for one woman and a small child.


They had no hope of getting through all that, although I'm told they gave it a real good try.
As you can see.


Some of it made it back to the hotel, and I ate a little for breakfast the next day. And then the rest went in the bin. Cold noodles aren't much chop really.

 

[GarrettM]

After the football I did head back to town on the Astram Line. Took about 25 minutes but was super straightforward. Got off at the final stop, which was Hondori. On my way back to the hotel I ummed and ahhed about checking out the Dome again, and then figured I may never get another chance to see it at night time, so made a little detour.

It is an INCREDIBLY different place at night, as I hope the pictures demonstrate.

 

[GarrettM]

 

[GarrettM]

And I wanted to find the hypocentre, which I couldn't locate earlier in the day. It's an alley just to the south-east of the Dome, and right next to a small hospital.


Really glad I made the decision to check all this out at night time. Totally worthwhile.

 

[GarrettM]

Thursday May 11.
It's our last full day in Hiroshima, and we are heading to Miyajima.
First thing's first though. Have to start the day with a hearty breakfast.

 

[GarrettM]

Hiroshima to Miyajima on the train is pretty simple. Back on the Astram Line to Shin-Hakushima, and then the JR Sanyo Main Line to Miyajimaguchi.
From there a short stroll to the ferry pier.


There are two ferries to the island, and one is covered by the JR Pass. Handy.
This is the JR boat.


Most everyone else scrambled to get upstairs, but we stuck to the ready access room downstairs, which looked out on the starboard side of the ferry.
The boat heads out from the pier towards the island, and then as it approaches turns to port, giving everyone a good view of the famous floating gate.

 

[TomVexille]

Thanks for the reminders. I was just a kid last time I went to many of these places.

 

[GarrettM]

Off the boat and away. Almost immediately the deer were upon us. We had a banana in the bottom of the pram they could clearly smell. I took it out and put it in my pocket, which fooled them for a while.

View attachment 99398 View attachment 99399

Talk about relaxed. The deer that is, not the child. She was very wary at first, but it helps when mum gives cuddles and moral support.

 

[GarrettM]

So the deer go where they please, and several women (I think they were all women) constantly mop up after them to make sure no one steps on their leavings. It's quite the system.



Spotted this old bloke fishing. Certainly had a lot of expensive looking gear. I stayed for a little while to see how he went, but sadly no bites. Hope he had luck after I left.



Statue of Taira no Kiyomori, who apparently transformed the Itsukushima Shrine into more or less what it looks like today. Not bad for a bloke who lived 900 years ago.

 

[GarrettM]

It's a tough life being a deer on this island.


It was a really warm day, with plenty of sunshine, so we were glad the shopping/restaurant lanes were covered.


It's a nice stroll checking out the various little shops and food joints on the way to the shrine.

 

[GarrettM]

Of course there's a giant golden Hello Kitty.


And - as there is every else in Hiroshima - plenty of Carp merchandise.

 

[GarrettM]

The shopping street, Omotesandi, houses the World's Largest Rice Scoop™

It measures more than 7.5 metres long and weighs about 2.5 tonnes. And it really makes you think... what the hell is the point of this?



The scoop even has a guard cat.


He's very attentive, and does good job keeping interlopers at bay.


And after making sure the scoop was safe from marauders, he went back off for a nap underneath the giant utensil.
View attachment 99415

 

[GarrettM]

Of course there are plenty of regular sized scoops for sale too, but I defy anyone to try putting these into your carry-on.

Those scoops sell for 180,000Y by the way. Not exactly an impulse item.


Sometimes I can't help myself, and have to get a little touristy.

 

[GarrettM]

Rice burgers should not be a thing.


A lot of the sweet goods here are made here, and you can stop at a lot of the shops to watch the production in action.
These were some pastries. We didn't try them though.

 

[GarrettM]

It's Anpanman! We'd learn more about him in Fukuoka. Sort of.


Once you make it through Omotesandi it's back out into the sunshine, through another gate, and on towards the shrine.


And of course there's more deer.

 

[GarrettM]

The tide had changed and was now beginning to run out pretty quickly, so the crowds were working hard to get their floating torii pics before it was too late.

 

[GarrettM]

But with everyone focused on the receding water, the shrine was a little emptier and easier to walk through.


Water heading out in a hurry now.


And that left HEAPS of these little guys scrambling around. Only a few birds about so they were mostly unmolested. Would have thought it would be a crab buffet in here, but there must be plenty of other food out on the flats.

 

[GarrettM]

Nothing here is original obviously. At 900 years old everything is going to be replaced at least once at some point. Nevertheless it's all pretty cool.

 

[GarrettM]

Touristy? Me? Never!


For some reason we didn't buy any deer merchandise. Seems silly now not having done so.


We did buy some Hiroshima Cola though. Quite nice on a warm day.


We also did not buy a Super cough's t-shirt.