Highs and lows

Today has been a day of highs and lows. I think it is fair to say that trying to steal a shinto priests slippers are a new low ... and we finally found over priced, tourist trap, food stand. The steamed buns filled with Hiroshima beef for me, and eel for Caroline, were not bad at all. But not worth what we payed for them.

The day began with a high point. We met a nice japanese woman, her mother and husband at the hotel breakfast and ended up sharing the shuttle bus to Hiroshima station with them. We exchanged pleasentries about Sweden and Japan, and she suggested that we should try okonomiyaki - a Hiroshima speciality.

We went by train and ferry to the island Miyajima. The low tide meant that we were able to get quite close to the huge torii which serves as a gate to the island. When the tide is even lower you can even walk under it.

Miyajima's torii and two Swedes

We visited several tempels and shrines on the island. Unfortunately I tried to walk away in someone else's slippers, but no harm was done. An elderly couple lured us to their gift shop and we ended up bying a few things.

"You. Very tall."

Daishoin temple

Last stop on Miyajima was a trip to Mt Misen's peak at 530 m above sea level. We took two "rope cars" and walked the last 1000 m. It took some effort, but the view was worth every step. There is a monkey reserve at the peak and several signs warns visitors to bring food or other things the monkeys could take an interest to. I´m sorry to say that we saw no monkeys at all. However, the deers which are present all over the island had managed to even walk up Mt Misen and there were a few there looking for food.

View from Mt Misen

While walking back to the pier we bought the over priced steamed buns, and then we travelled back to Hiroshima. According to the lady we met at breakfast we should find okonomiyaki at the shopping mall in Hiroshima station. After a bit of searching we found a okonomiyaki restaurant were they even spoke English. The food was cooked to order in front of us, and it was very tasty. A cold beer completed the dinner.

Our favorite okonomiyaki chef (we haven't tried anyone else yet)

Tomorrow we will look at a grimmer side of Hiroshima.

//Rickard