| The really, really fast Shinkansen brought me | | | | exceptional too - very ornate, beautiful gardens, |
| from Kyoto to Hiroshima at 300kph. Whoa! | | | | full-service only, no buffet breakfast; very high |
| Hiro=Wide. Shima=Island. Hiroshima=Wide Island. | | | | end. And it had its own "onsen" (mineral hot spring |
| It's actually not an island, but a group of islands | | | | bath - more about those another time). My single |
| created by the numerous rivers that come down | | | | room in the hotel in Kyoto was as wide as my |
| from the mountain and run through the city. Once | | | | bed plus 100cm. I kid you not. I once stayed in |
| I arrived here, I went directly to the ferry station | | | | Amersfoort, Netherlands in a place like that. Then |
| for the crossing to Miyajima Island. Miya=Holy and | | | | it was a novelty. Now it was disappointing! But |
| Jima=Shima=Island. Miyajima=Holy Island. Once | | | | that was made up by my hotel here in Hiroshima |
| again, the Shinto equivalence of holiness with | | | | which was very, very fancy. |
| beauty - and the place is indeed very, very | | | | Late that night I went for a walk through the |
| beautiful. | | | | deserted streets of Hiroshima. Passed a Pachinko |
| Just offshore in the water is located Japan's most | | | | Palace (more details on that phenomenon will |
| famous vermillion Torii, built originally in the 17th | | | | come along with the onsen too) where the |
| century, and indicating the passage into a sacred | | | | gamblers were busy with their hands feverishly |
| location. The island is also teeming with deer that | | | | working the pull-bar. I also passed a used car lot |
| seem to live with us humans quite fine, thank you. | | | | where the cutest little Mitsubishi city cars were on |
| They are really pesky and keep nudging for food | | | | sale. At 11:15 p.m. I called the front desk and |
| and when they aren't provided any, they start | | | | requested a massage. So this 60-year-oldish |
| chewing on whatever is at hand - like my jacket | | | | woman comes to my room holding what |
| sleeve. | | | | appeared to be a bag of tools. She looked like |
| As I meandered along, I came across a wedding | | | | Rosa Klebb. Remember her? She was James |
| party enjoying some elaborate Shinto dance ritual. | | | | Bond's sworn enemy in "From Russia with Love," |
| I didn't understand the Bugaku or its significance, | | | | the one with the poisoned spike in her shoe. My |
| but the intricate dance was quite wild, and the live | | | | masseuse spoke no English, but with lots of |
| music played by a group of Shinto priests | | | | "Hai!"s, we managed to make ourselves |
| accompanying the dancing priest, was charming. I | | | | understood. She strolled into the room, took of |
| doubt the Talmudic discussion between the | | | | her shoes, hopped on the bed and proceeded to |
| schools of Hillel and Shammai, regarding how one | | | | roll off the duvet, placed a special cushion on the |
| is to dance before a bride, ever made its way | | | | bed, and told me in hand-language to put on the |
| here. But, oh boy, this was one big and blustery | | | | yukata (robe) that's hanging in the closet. |
| boogie! I then strolled around the shrines on this | | | | Anyway, once she had me on the bed she |
| most beautiful island, did some shopping and made | | | | proceeded to give me one of those good old |
| my way back to the ferry, across the sea and to | | | | deep penetrating Shiatsu massages. At the |
| the bus, from where I proceeded to my hotel. | | | | beginning it was seriously painful, but as she |
| A little about the hotels: the one where I stayed | | | | continued and I relaxed, it got better. She left, |
| in Tokyo was lovely. The rooms were divided | | | | and for the first time since arriving here, I had a |
| between the bedroom area and the living area. | | | | good, solid, uninterrupted 5 hours of sleep. |
| Very comfortable beds, MUCH better than those | | | | Fantastic! |
| I slept in, in China. The hotel in Hakone was | | | | |