Plum Hanami, Bird and Flower Park, Golden Week

It’s been a long time between posts, so it’s high time we filled you in with some pictures of what we’ve been up to.

(Click image to see Aboshi plum festival)

The first blog-worthy event that has yet to find its way into a post was a lovely pre-spring outing spent among the plum blossoms in Abeyama plum grove park, which is south or Himeji city and sits high on a hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The preceding night Matt and I had our fun-loving group of JET pals over for a delicious nabe dinner and obligatory karaoke session. A little worse for wear, we set out in the morning for a nutritious Mister Donuts breakfast and took off on the hour and a half train and bus journey with bento boxes in hand. Unfortunately, as the day was warm and nearly cloudless we were joined by a large number of plum blossom viewers, which in itself is not a problem, but when a large number of these people are squished onto a slow moving bus which is still running winter heating, well let’s just say it’s a tad uncomfortable. Nonetheless, we survived and had a delightful afternoon under the plum blossoms over looking the sea.

(Click the image to see more bird and flower action)

The second blog worthy event happened during my parents’ visit to Japan. After enjoying a tour of a sake making factory we headed off to Port Island’s Bird and Flower Park. The advertisement for this place showed a pretty spectacular flower display, so spectacular we thought it was photoshopped. However, upon arriving we discovered there was no need to photoshop as teams of fuschias in full bloom hung from the ceiling, giant water lilies lay on the ponds and cancans soared freely around us in their spacious enclosures. I felt like I was on the set of the original Willy Wonka film or in the technicolour land of Oz.

(Click to see more Golden Week photos)

The third blog worthy event was huge and simply can’t go without a mention. I speak of Golden Week, so named because there is a succession of Japanese public holidays, and companies often give their employees the entire week off. My Golden Week(end) was spent with the Golden Girls (the young ones in Japan, not the old cronies living in Florida). We all trooped into Osaka and met up with Aimee in Shinsaibashi the huge shopping mall. Unusually, we were not there for shopping; more girly things awaited us, namely, food, chat and massages. I am sure I don’t boast when I say I am as good as a professional at eating and chatting; however, this was my first encounter with a professional masseuse and it was gooooooood! After a lot of girly talk and a little sleep, we headed into Nara the next day. Here we encountered a rather international Colonel Sanders, plenty of deer and a whooping great big budda. Not to mention my favourite—festival food. Then, after even less sleep than the night before, we met with the boys to do some more eating and singing. This year’s Golden Week got full marks on the funness metre.