Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Roaminallover-Here, There and Everywhere
The trip to Hiroshima provided us with our first Shinkansen train trip. The bullet train would speed us the .........miles from Osaka to Hiroshima in around 90 minutes, too fast for many photos but fast enough to make our ears pop. We arrived feeling fresh and had no difficulty locating the Peace Park a 20 minute walk away from the train station. The large majority of buildings have been built since the dreadful atomic bomb was dropped on the city by the Americans in 1947, although the resulting city is well planned and was a pleasing place to walk in. One building which survived the attack was the .........situated at the epicentre of the blast. The site has been preserved as a memorial to difficult times, alongside the constructed Peace Park. The on site museum depicted in pictures and objects recovered from the debris the story of the tragic day and the subsequent rebuilding of the city. Much of the script had been translated to English so we were able to understand the significance of many of the items, including the burned frame of a small tricycle and numerous pieces of torn and burned children's clothes. Apparently only a small percentage of the bombs capability actually detonated but this was enough to eradicate much of the city through bomb damage and subsequent fires. The ongoing effects of the atomic gases were to prove as destructive for many families who lost family members in subsequent months. Many children who had been conscripted to build fire blocks around the city subsequently lost their lives there. The Japanese certainly make sure the nations children are aware of this part of their history as the site was scattered with school parties, many if whom performed beautiful songs at various points around the site. The children were well behaved and respectful to the mood of the place, and appeared to understand the significance of the of the site. The following day we headed off again in the same direction and headed for the island of Miyajima. Famous for the Itsukushimu shrine which appears to float in the sea at high tide, another World Heritage site we were keen to visit it and see it for ourselves. The trip started with another Shikansen trip to reach Hiroshima, and took us from cloud over Osaka to rain in Hiroshima. From Hiroshima a half hour local train journey took us to the port of Miyajimaguchi where we took the short ferry ride across to the island, which was shrouded with mist. On arrival the rain was getting heavier and feeling another Malaysian style soaking John insisted on buying a Pac a Mac as he'd left his raincoat at the hotel. I opted for the less glamorous but equally effective brolly. We managed a few photos and a quick shuffle round a few of the sights including the iconic red torii gate shrine, before abandoning our explorations for a bite of traditional lunch- okonomiyaki. A concoction of vegetables, meat, and bean sprouts cooked on a griddle and covered with a small pancake style disc, were sweated into submission before noodles and egg were added to the mix. Some fish powder and a few other squirts of sauce and it was ready. John had been a bit sceptical about trying the cafe but after taking his first bite was soon devising ways to replicate at home. I had to draw the line at the suggestion of including Worcester sauce- John's usual staple, but I foresee Okinayama appearing on the menu back home fairly soon. We opted out of any trekking in as it was still raining, and damp in all the usual crevices we headed back to the ferry boat for the trip back......another successful day despite the rain.
- comments