Eerie Signs; concrete eruption shelters and loudspeakers,

Oshima Island

Oshima Island

If you click on the second photo you will just make out Fujisan.

October has been really beautiful weather. (Ask me how much I am missing spring weather in Franz...) Last weekend I enjoyed taking a high speed hydrofoil to Oshima Island, part of Izu Seven Islands group, peaks of a submerged volcano chain not all that far from the mainland. Mihara san is a semi dormant volcano that last erupted in 1986. I camped by the south coast and enjoyed a dip in a hot spring. Luxury.

The Chao Phraya River, Bangkok

My best fun was riding on the Chao Phraya River, the backbone of a network of canals, floating markets and waterside temples. By taking a boat for over an hour up the river, past sand barges and canoes I managed to escape the bulk of tourists. From there I chartered my own longtailed boat to an island, just ten sq kms with no roads (with my Japanese yen I was feeling flush). The villagers use motorbikes to get round, great to be away from the busy traffic. After the hectic time in Bangkok this was a perfect escape. There I ate mussels at a stall and walked right round the island past lush vegetation. I came across potteries and kilns; the islands clay is rich for fruit, banana trees, coconut palms, papaya with traditional wooden houses above the marshy ground on stilts.

The Golden Palace

The Golden Palace, beautiful colours, shapes, a bit like walking onto a sumptuously set stage. This is Thailand’s holiest temple. It’s a huge complex and the public only get to see a wee bit of it all.

Bangkok, whirlwind trip for a visa

I had a fantastic Thai meal the first night; it was beautiful with fresh flowers and Thai art and antiques. The food oh! So good! Real herbs and spices I haven’t tasted since I was last here


Fruit the other luxury, is to be found everywhere; neatly sliced in hawkers carts and blended into delicious fruit shakes.

Oze

I met this family along the way and had a chat; Japanese people are the most pleasant people.
Oze is Japans`s largest marsh, formed when larva from a volcano created this natural dam. It is wonderful for plants.

To make coversation about an iris - one pleasure of the hike. Basho
I caught the overnight bus here from Shinjuku. Shinjuku is one of the worlds busiest train stations so I arrived five hours too early in case I couldn`t find the bus station however found it within the first half hour. Lucky my fav Thai restaurant is there and the pink light area, kept me well entertained.

The bus was none too comfy. I arrived at 5am and hiked from the carpark (1591m) to Shibutsu-san (2228m). Back to the marsh and a night at beautiful Jujiro, with a wander out the next day.

Johinestu Kogen

After Jo left Japan I went on a tramp and camped all alone. I put up the tent and cooked a meal that would have done two to four people. I ate it all despite feeling a bit lonely.

As usual a whole lot of planning with many phone calls to organise the hike; without the aid of my Japanese friends (I’ve got about two), it would be very difficult.

This was on a high plateau rising with the high peaks about 2500m. The bus stop was at 1973m so there wasn’t so much climbing to do, however with I hadn’t packed the night before because there was yet another work gathering, any excuse does this lot to get onto the beer. It was still a big one, despite my guide book stating it was `not so hard`.

From Fujisawa 5.30am to Tokyo. The bullet train from Tokyo then by bus to the top, I arrived at 10 am. But I will do anything to see an active volcano! Asamayama is actually three on top of each other, there have been 71 eruptions recorded, some nothing but gaseous explosions, others such as in 1783 when 1600 people in the villages below were killed.

I went up in the sunshine in the bus however by the time I got there and started hiking the cloud was enough to stop good views so I was a bit disappointed though not in cloud myself it was a coming and going above and below. Its good training I told myself trying to stay positive but by the 6th hour walking along the ridge reading about the fantastic views in my guide book I`d had it At this stage I had come off my high point for the day at 2212m down to a place for wildflower lovers to go. With two cars in the car park I was lucky to get a ride with one of those parties in a van to the camp site saving a further 1 hour 40 minute walk to the camp site, yay.

Low and behold if the cloud didn’t clear the next morning! So I headed backwards, hitching a ride back up the mountain for fear of it clagging in again if it took too long to walk. I got a ride at 7.30am with a guy who worked at the wildflowers place at the car park. He kept saying “What is your name?” the only words of English he knew. Japan is safe hitching, another bonus.

Retracing my steps from the day before what a beautiful surprise, I saw all I had missed; to the Japanese Alps, still with a smattering of snow, Mt. Fuji, the Minami Alps. Chichibu, the Kita Alps and my smoldering mountain, a perfect volcano shape. Couldn’t believe my luck because just as I started back down toward the bus stop (on the way I indulged in a hot spring bath in a hotel that was beautiful and well deserved) the cloud did start to roll in and by the time I was off the mountain it was clagged in. I felt sorry for those just setting off. Mind you, no doubt they had just enjoyed an evening in a hot springs hotel eating and drinking, bathing and enjoying a long breakfast, why can’t I be like them?

Nikko

Nikko is well known for it`s temples. My Japanese friend was horrified when I said we had bypassed all of them heading straight for the mountain tops.

We arrived an hour after a typhoon had been through and the weather came right. Guess ya get lucky sometimes.







Yudaki Falls sorry about this one folks, but when in Japan do as the others do.....

Capsule Hotels

For the experience, (actually too late to book anywhere else) we booked into this capsule hotel; not for the claustrophobic. Inside, a bed, radio and alarm clock, tv and reading light. This one was particularly luxurious, there were fabulous hot pools, sauna, steam, spa and all a gal could want to pamper herself with an array of toiletries. Just that it was in the red (or pink in Japan) light area...actually that was half the fun. Sapporo; we won't remember just for the brewery afterall.

At the Sapporo beer garden, all you can eat and drink (called a 'viking' in Japan)...terribly good. Fish, beef and veg, you cook it yourself on the table. Supplied with a large apron for all the spitting fat, Jo by then had experience at these did a marvellous job of chefing.

Hakkoda san, Iwakisan and Maeshirane san; top tramps

Clear day dawns at last
with a light heart
the tramper sets off gladly

Jo After arriving at a couple mountain tops previous to these in the cloud at last our luck changed ..we were pretty rapt in between the puffing. These were all between 2000m and Maeshirane san was 2578m.

Meakandake one very impressive active volcano in Hokkaido

Wildflowers at Daisetzusan

Steeply up the mountain

Heavy load on my back

The dragonfly makes it look easy

Julie