I`ve been to hell and back – and all I got was a penguin cellphone strap!
Yesterday I was informed that I would be picked up sometime around noon and that we`d go sightseeing. I had no idea where we would be going but I agreed to what would be one of the coolest days so far.
Before he had left, Josh introduced me to Taka and Yui – the couple who were commandeering me for the day. Yui`s friend Shiori also came along – one of the cutest people I have ever met! Everything was exciting for her and she was very enthusiastic about learning English and helped me with some new Japanese phrases. I taught her a song which I had sung with shogakusei (elementary students) last Friday – I really should have recorded us singing it because it was hilarious. It`s about a penguin and asking him whether he could sing or fly (No, I can`t!) and asking him what he could do then (I can swim!).
Yui, Taka and Shiori
First stop was Noboribetsu Marine Park – an aquarium! I`ve never been to an aquarium – so this was pretty cool. We touch slimy sea critters – starfish, crabs, stingrays. There were sharks, eels (yuck), turtles and what have you. And penguins! *cue penguin song*
Fish! Hundreds of them!
Penguins and baby penguins! Can you sing? No, I can’t!
Our next stop was Noboribetsu Jigoku Matsuri – Hell Festival. In Noboribetsu there is a valley area that is described to look like hell – Jigokudani, or Hell Valley. The ground there is red rock and sand with geysers and steam pouring out of the earth. The water coming out of the ground was about 80 degrees Celsius and smelled strongly of sulphur.
Welcome to hell!
Steamy!
Since it was a matsuri, children were wearing paper oni masks and there were red lanterns lining the streets. There I ate some mystery shaved ice that was rather milky and covered in strawberry syrup – followed by fish cake…things. They were tasty, I ate them all.
Red lanterns line the streets
Eating a tasty fish thing!
Next stop was Lake Toya - the lake itself was really beautiful, but we were there to look at some landmarks caused by volcanic destruction. An old road, a building that`s now abandoned. It was strange and beautiful. The old highway exit looked like a river until Taka pointed out that it was indeed a road.
Road that was destroyed a volcanic eruption some 30 years ago.
I guess I should tell you that I am pretty much surrounded by volcanoes where I live. The nearest one is Mt. Terumae – which is active but really hasn`t done anything in the past however many years. At first that made me nervous, but the feeling of who cares that all it`s nearby inhabitants have has worn off on me. I think sometime this fall, I will try to climb Mt. Terumae actually – it`s really beautiful from a distance and apparently a very easy climb.
I think that`s all I will write for today! Pictures will be added later (I`m at work right now!)