Trip to Wakayama(和歌山) 2-Shirahama（白浜）

The second day, we take an one and a half hour ride to 白浜(Shirahama). A famous spot for beach and hot spring. We stop half way at a fish market, to see how they get the big tuna fish into pieces and of course some very fresh shashimi for lunch.

"Smells good!!"

The big tuna

海鮮丼(Kaisendon) with イカ(Ika=squit),鯛(Tai),サーモン(Selmon),マグロ(Maguro),甘エビ(Amaebi),いくら(Ikura)

Scallop baked with butter and 醤(油Shoyu)

Then we headed to our next destination 三段壁(Shandanbeki). The name come from 3 kind of mineral that make up the rock. And we took the elevator 36m deep down to the cave and have a short trip inside the mysterious cave.

This spot is also famous for people to kill themselves so you will see this kind of notice advising people to call for counseling before they choose to jump.

Magnificent view...the sea is so clean

Group photo

A small shrine inside the cave

Our next stop was about rock view again.千畳敷(Shenjojiki) is formed by the erosion of the soft rock due to waves hit. Since the rock is soft and is really easy to get a word crafted on it, you can find a lot of crafting on the rock. Is really a bad thing to do, but is the crafting itself that make this place special. A little bit silly, am I? Another interesting point about this place is you can find little creature living inside the stagnant water in the small fragments or holes in the rock. They are pretty good at hiding, so it just depends on how you can find it.

Although I didn't focus on the crafting, but you still can find the words quite clear

Small creature...catch ya...

This place is also famous for its hot spring and definitely we won't miss it.We went for this 露天風呂(Rotenburo) called 崎の湯(Zakinoyu) The fare is cheap, it only cost us 300yen to get in, and you can enjoy the hot bath with the nice sea view just in front of you. The best thing is to get a photo uploaded right here, but it no right for me to get a camera inside there where everyone is naked. So you need to visit and experience it yourself.

4 years in Japan and is my first time at the beach in summer. 白良浜(Shirarahama) the famous beach in 白浜 and every one is having their summer beach party there. It was so pack with people, a lots of bikini girls and guys enjoying their sunbath, beach volleyball, or just simply playing with the sea water. I hate the heat in summer but I like the beach so much. Hope that I will have another chance to visit a beach again next year.

Loving couple...

Bikini girls

Trip to Wakayama(和歌山) 1

御坊(Gobo)is a small town in 和歌山市(Wakayama　Prefecture), hometown of my Japanese housemate, Yurika. It's my second visit, the town is 3 hours separate from my place by train. Since my friend had been gone to Mexico for a students exchange program, so we didn't stay at her place this time but at friend of her, Aki who had guided us for the passed 3 days.
This was a very nice trip, short but pack and interesting.

We arrived around 2 at 和歌山駅 and our first stop was to fill up our empty stomach. What we headed for is called 茶粥(Chagayu), porridge cooked in Japanese tea. I had a different dish, porridge also but is cooked with サツマイモ(Satsumaimo), Japanese sweet potatoes.

The porridge come as a set with fish and two small dishes

In the small plate we had 味噌(Miso),梅干(Umeboshi),かまぼこ(Kamaboko),and 2 kind of 漬物(Tsukemono)

Plan to visit a beer factory but it was closed due to お盆休み(Obon-yasumi). So we had a 1 hour ride towards 御坊. The view along the road was nice. Had a few shot inside the car and I like this one the most.

We met up with Yurika's family, they threat us for dinner at a restaurant famous for ちゃんこ鍋（Chanko-nabe）.Is a kind of steamboat and is famous among 相撲(Sumo).

This is Yurika's mum and she was helping us preparing the nabe

Looks delicious...

I forget about the restaurant's name but luckily I took this photo and it remind me. 俵屋(Tawaraya)

After the dinner, we had a short visit to Yurika's home. And there is one new member in the house...Hacchi!! The new dog in the family.

Is fun playing with him, but not getting him posing quietly for photo. This is the best I can get.

And finally we had a group photo!!

Dhammikarama Burmese Temple

Across the street of the Thai temple is another Buddhist Temple built by the Burmese. Burma Lane, as the name shown, it should be a place where Burmese community gathered. Dhammikarama Burmese Temple is the first Buddhist temple built in Penang. I have no idea how a Burmese temple should looks, but apparently this one in Penang is colorful with many mythical figures and religious icon around the compound.

Guarding the world

Guardian of the temple

The Buddha statue at the main hall

Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram

I don't know the official name of the temple--Wat Chaiya
Mangkalaram until I search it in the Penang Tourism's
website. We usually call it "The Sleeping Buddha", a
direct translation from Mandarin.Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram
is a Thai Buddhist temple, notable for its Reclining Buddha
statue. Measuring 33 meters in length,the statue is the 3rd
largest in the world.I had been visiting this place everytime
I came back for holidays, tour-guiding friends and my host
family. Same place, different people, nice memory.

伏見稲荷大社 Fujimi Inari Shrine

Fujimi Inari Shrine is an old, famous shrine in kyoto with thousand of sacred gate what we called 鳥居(torii) in Japanese being buit along the path way towards the shrine.

These gates are built on donation by people.It means an entrance to a living place of Gods of Shinto.You should be familiar with this scene if you have watched the movie--Memoirs of a Geisha.

Endless path


絵馬

絵馬(ema) is a board where you write your name and wishes on and tide it at the shrine.




Falling Leave- End of the fall season,no red maple leave but it still make a good entry in this photo


Kids shouting at the hill top


The kyoto city


Burning Candle


Light from the heaven


New gate is still keep on growing