A streetcar named Hiroshima

Just checking in from Hiroshima where I am killing some time before my train to Fukuoka. I know I'm a day late in blogging :)

Have just spent the day hobbling around Hiroshima with a stubbed toe (long story). The main attraction here of course is the Peace Memorial Park, and its associated monuments and museums. I highly recommend spending a day here as the exhibits aren't overdone at all, rather they focus on individual experiences during and after the atomic bomb drop. Also inexpensive.

Above is a photo I took of part of the many many garlands of origami cranes scattered around the park area in memory of the story of Sadako (she of the 1000 paper cranes fame). I first heard this story when I was about 7 years old and have never forgotten it. It was the sole reason I took up origami as a hobby, in fact, so it was incredibly moving to see that Sadako's plight touched so many other people.

As for last week, Tokyo was pretty good to me. My brother knows the city pretty well, so was able to guide me around some of the more interesting districts. Yuko, being Japanese, was invaluable as a cultural and conversational translator. The only drawback was travelling around with my niece Cecilia as it meant an entourage of baby gear - stroller, baby bag etc - and the odd tantrum. Still, she's a darling so what can I say?

Actually, more than once my brother was stopped in the street by Japanese and foreigners alike commenting on how cute she is. She even appears in some people's photos!

I've begun a quest to find (and buy if possible) the most unusual thing I can from a vending machine. At the moment the top 3 contenders are: a granite bust of Brutus, a can of corn soup, and a bubble wrap stress buster (I would have bought that except I had no change on me). According to my brother, one used to be able to get used underwear in the red light district of Shinjuku. He swears he saw a machine there some years ago.

One the weekend, bro, Yuko, Ce-chan and I went to Hakone, which is famous for its volcanic activity, and therefore its onsen (hot springs). Nothing like getting naked with your sister-in-law to bond. We stayed at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese guest house, and had their traditional dinner and breakfast, which was an interesting experience I enjoyed as an experience but would probably not attempt again due to my seemingly immutable aversion to seafood, particularly for breakfast.

Anyway, my net time is running out, see you later.