yamaonna

would have updated on the weekend, but i was far to tired… well, better late than never…  neway.

So, on the weekend I decided to do some sightseeing, as one does when one is overseas, and so i went and brought the  Sendai marugoto pass.  it included unlimited travel on certain bus, train and all the subway lines here for 2 days for 2500 yen, and gives you discounts etc.  Its a great idea, but i had difficulty getting my money worth.  but thats beside the point…  so now that i had a means to travel, i decided to go to one of my favourite places near sendai – matsushima!

I dont know what it is about matsushima that keeps calling me back.  Ive been there a total of 4 times now, which is more than any other place in japan.  well, except shinjuku but that doesnt count.

Matsushima is truely beautiful, when you have good weather.  I was so happy that the weather on the weekend was pretty damn good.  I even got a little burnt!  So, what did i do…  I went to a lookout, which is where i took the photo above, and then wandered back into town.  in town I went to Oshima, an island I had never been to before, which had a heap of little buddah everywhere.

it was actually a little freaky, but i learnt that the best way to deface a budda was to actually take off with the whole head…  heaps of the statues were missing their heads!  thats probably why it was freaky…

From there it was to a tea room overlooking the bay, and tea   macha has really grown on me!  and I tried this famous sweet of the sendai area – zundamochi.  its basically sweetened crushed soy beans over rice cakes – yummy!

then it was on to the Date wax muesum, which tells the life story of the most famous lord of the area.  had to get my history fix   you also get in for 500 yen if you are a forigener (50% discount!)

so that was saturday. 

Sunday i decided to go to Akiu, about an hour from sendai by bus.  Its famous for its onsens, but buggered if i could find any…  so after my disappointment in that, i decided seeing the natural wonders of the area would be a good idea. 

First stop was this really pretty natural george.  Kinda small by my standards, but the rock formations were intresting.

then it was off on another half hour bus trip further out to see Akiu Otaki waterfalls.  Once again, not the biggest, but pretty none-the-less. had about a 2 kilometer hike down to the base, which was amusing, because of all the women wearing high heels……  and also pretty tiring.  Since then my leg had hurt….. 

I guy had actually taken his little tri-colored cav down there (see bottom right hand corner), it was really enjoying itself, but i hoped he carried it back up – it was a steep climb!

On the way back some people started talking to me, which is always nice, travelling alone can be a little lonely.

Back at the top i learnt money really does grow on trees

just not all that much….  there was a shrine at the top.  people were praying to the tree, but i have no idea why….

then sunday evening when i got home the very very kind dorm mother gave me dinner even though sunday is the day off for dinner.  she’s so lovely!  Topped off a good weekend

now I just have to figure out what i want to do over the next 3 days….