school trip
from wednesday to saturday i went on what was to me, japan's answer to 'magical mystery tour...' had no idea where we were going or what we were doing but it normally involved a temple, a really big set of stairs to climb and souvenier shops.
it was great! went to so many beautiful places that i can't summon the vocabulary or ability to describe. i cant tell you place names or why they were significant, although i did pick up that one district is famous for cherries - actually a place there called cherry land. all the days (4 big ones) kinda blurr into one in my head now, and i wont bore you with too many details, ill just post the pictures :)
first day...
rahhh.
second day...
(our skirts are the same length but how?)
went on a boat ride, it was like a scene from that old horror movie 'Birds' where all the seagulls are swooping haha. and even if i did scream at the birds like a japanese school girl, id never tell you :$
next was this massive hike up a hill to a buddha temple - sooo amazingly scenic that my camera couldnt do it justice. just beautiful.
made it!
haha
third day...
because it was a sacred place photos werent allowed, unfortunately as it was probably the most beautiful thing ive ever seen in japan. although we were allowed to take them at the front - so i got a few. in an hour we drove from green forests to snow-covered mountains, where we caught a bus up the bright white frosty slopes to a little place tucked away in it all. we were given paper dolls by a monk, that represented ourselves. to rid ourselves of pain and suffering we touched our faces with them before throwing them from the little wooden bridge into the small river below. in the freezing cold we went barefoot, prayed before doing a small hike up a rock and back with natural hot springs flowing out of it. then went to a hot spring for feet only, which was good coz there was no way i was donning the birthday suit in that weather.
it was a really magical place.
he's loving it ;)
the same day we did another massive stair trip except most of it was down hill not up! such beauitful forest - similiar to mossman gorge but different climate. and at the hippie hole you dont often find 5 storey pagodas tucked away amongst the trees! we even got certificated to say we completed it, what with the 1450 steps and all :) haha. better keep that one for the next job interview.
on the fourth day we went to a huge old traditional mansion that had been turned into a museum for tax reasons haha. it was amazingly expansive and really beautiful. the trip was filled with cool cultural experiences, on the last night we were treated to a taiko drum performance which was completely incredible.
everynight we bathed in onsens, or hot springs - which was less of a challenge than i expected, seeing you have to do so naked, with the entire grade (its an all girls school!). it was surreal at first because it just doesnt happen in australia, but noone cared at all so i decided not to either :) onsens are really nice too.
oh lala.
although i was exhausted afterwards and during (fell asleep everytime we boarded the everpresent bus) it was an awesome four days.
it was great! went to so many beautiful places that i can't summon the vocabulary or ability to describe. i cant tell you place names or why they were significant, although i did pick up that one district is famous for cherries - actually a place there called cherry land. all the days (4 big ones) kinda blurr into one in my head now, and i wont bore you with too many details, ill just post the pictures :)
first day...
rahhh.
second day...
(our skirts are the same length but how?)
went on a boat ride, it was like a scene from that old horror movie 'Birds' where all the seagulls are swooping haha. and even if i did scream at the birds like a japanese school girl, id never tell you :$
next was this massive hike up a hill to a buddha temple - sooo amazingly scenic that my camera couldnt do it justice. just beautiful.
made it!
haha
third day...
because it was a sacred place photos werent allowed, unfortunately as it was probably the most beautiful thing ive ever seen in japan. although we were allowed to take them at the front - so i got a few. in an hour we drove from green forests to snow-covered mountains, where we caught a bus up the bright white frosty slopes to a little place tucked away in it all. we were given paper dolls by a monk, that represented ourselves. to rid ourselves of pain and suffering we touched our faces with them before throwing them from the little wooden bridge into the small river below. in the freezing cold we went barefoot, prayed before doing a small hike up a rock and back with natural hot springs flowing out of it. then went to a hot spring for feet only, which was good coz there was no way i was donning the birthday suit in that weather.
it was a really magical place.
he's loving it ;)
the same day we did another massive stair trip except most of it was down hill not up! such beauitful forest - similiar to mossman gorge but different climate. and at the hippie hole you dont often find 5 storey pagodas tucked away amongst the trees! we even got certificated to say we completed it, what with the 1450 steps and all :) haha. better keep that one for the next job interview.
on the fourth day we went to a huge old traditional mansion that had been turned into a museum for tax reasons haha. it was amazingly expansive and really beautiful. the trip was filled with cool cultural experiences, on the last night we were treated to a taiko drum performance which was completely incredible.
everynight we bathed in onsens, or hot springs - which was less of a challenge than i expected, seeing you have to do so naked, with the entire grade (its an all girls school!). it was surreal at first because it just doesnt happen in australia, but noone cared at all so i decided not to either :) onsens are really nice too.
oh lala.
although i was exhausted afterwards and during (fell asleep everytime we boarded the everpresent bus) it was an awesome four days.