Zip Line Relays and Wet Pexiglass Doughnut
As it turned out, it was very cloudy with a big chance of rain on Saturday, so we didn’t end up climbing Mt. Kaimon. However, we still did wake up very early that morning to catch the first ferry to the Satsuma peninsula. Cristina, Laura, Jill and I loaded up in my Daihatsu Move and boarded on the voyage across Kinko Bay at 9:00 AM. It was the first time I took my car on the ferry, and I was very excited. Thirty-five minutes later, we got to the other side and we met up with Jolene and other ALTs. We headed over to her house to pick up the others and then went to Chiran to do some touristy stuff. Unfortunately, I was not that impressed by the Samurai houses of Chiran, one of approximately four things listed in almost all Japan tour books under Kagoshima prefecture. Luckily, most of the people accompanying us, felt the same way. So we settled for embarrassing ourselves in front of Japanese tourists and taking funny pictures in the different house gardens.
After the Samurai houses, we headed to Lake Ikeda. Ikeda is known for its monstrous eels. Although you cannot see from the shore, you can see them in a tourist center where they are kept in tanks. Strangely enough there is also an ostrich farm in the back of the complex. Those are some crazy birds. The best part about Lake Ikeda was the playground. Just to paint a picture: There were eight of us adult foreigners, two Japanese girls, and only two zip lines. These Japanese girls casually left the zip lines to allow us to use them. I don’t know, but I think it was the staring that intimidated them to leave. Later they would return with who appeared to be their mother to tell her something and point at us. Other than that, they don’t play any more parts in our story. Once the zip lines were ours, w had a few practice runs before coordinating a relay race. The race was by far probably the most exciting thing I have done this past week. I would highly recommend that this gets added as an Olympic sport. In any case, we have video and pictures that we can share as soon as we get home Internet access again.
After the zip lines, we went to a Somen restaurant. Somen is a type of angel hair noodle that is only eaten in the summer. Thus, the restaurants are seasonal. This restaurant was I believe the first or on of the first of its kind built. It was down a valley under a huge wooden canopy. There was a water garden throughout the place that was used to keep the koi they killed for their meals. The tables are not ordinary. They have something that appears like a pexiglass doughnut with water constantly swirling around it. When you get the somen noodles, you dump them little by little into the pexiglass river to cool them down and separate them. Then, you pick them out with your chopsticks and dip them in a bowl full of sauce. It was such a neat place, that now I really want to check out the one in the town to the south of Uchinoura.
After somen, we drove around for a bit and then proceeded to get drinks and snacks to take to Jolene’s for the night. At this point, I was getting tired. So, I suggested that we do a Chinese fire drill for a second wind. Surprisingly, the girls complied and we did one. I felt like a kid again as we waved at the Japanese people in the restaurant and other cars after finishing.
The next day, we were all very tired from the previous long day that finished in drinks. However, we were determined to take the first ferry back to make it to the Kanoya Air Memorial Show. It was so early, that we realized we still had time to actually catch some McDonald’s breakfast in Kanoya. So, we did. After waiting in sitting traffic for about 20 minutes, we finally made it to the check point. They stopped our car to check the contents. When the air base people opened the trunk, it was apparent that lots of stuff was going to fall out, so they closed it quickly and waved us through. The air show was definitely not as great as we thought it was going to be. It was really hot and I was really tired. We ended up leaving by 1PM. The highlight of our visit was me getting a huge inflatable sword for under $3.
This weekend I have organized a big bonfire party at Hetsuka Beach in Uchinoura. Let’s see how it goes. Hopefully we don’t have to postpone it due to bad weather. All the Kagoshima ALTs were invited and many have already said they are coming. It should be an all-night affair so people are bringing tents and we are camping out.
Cristina and I are also really excited about her sister Elena coming over. She will get to Kagoshima on Wednesday and will stay for almost a month. So, look forward to hearing about her in the upcoming entries.
After the Samurai houses, we headed to Lake Ikeda. Ikeda is known for its monstrous eels. Although you cannot see from the shore, you can see them in a tourist center where they are kept in tanks. Strangely enough there is also an ostrich farm in the back of the complex. Those are some crazy birds. The best part about Lake Ikeda was the playground. Just to paint a picture: There were eight of us adult foreigners, two Japanese girls, and only two zip lines. These Japanese girls casually left the zip lines to allow us to use them. I don’t know, but I think it was the staring that intimidated them to leave. Later they would return with who appeared to be their mother to tell her something and point at us. Other than that, they don’t play any more parts in our story. Once the zip lines were ours, w had a few practice runs before coordinating a relay race. The race was by far probably the most exciting thing I have done this past week. I would highly recommend that this gets added as an Olympic sport. In any case, we have video and pictures that we can share as soon as we get home Internet access again.
After the zip lines, we went to a Somen restaurant. Somen is a type of angel hair noodle that is only eaten in the summer. Thus, the restaurants are seasonal. This restaurant was I believe the first or on of the first of its kind built. It was down a valley under a huge wooden canopy. There was a water garden throughout the place that was used to keep the koi they killed for their meals. The tables are not ordinary. They have something that appears like a pexiglass doughnut with water constantly swirling around it. When you get the somen noodles, you dump them little by little into the pexiglass river to cool them down and separate them. Then, you pick them out with your chopsticks and dip them in a bowl full of sauce. It was such a neat place, that now I really want to check out the one in the town to the south of Uchinoura.
After somen, we drove around for a bit and then proceeded to get drinks and snacks to take to Jolene’s for the night. At this point, I was getting tired. So, I suggested that we do a Chinese fire drill for a second wind. Surprisingly, the girls complied and we did one. I felt like a kid again as we waved at the Japanese people in the restaurant and other cars after finishing.
The next day, we were all very tired from the previous long day that finished in drinks. However, we were determined to take the first ferry back to make it to the Kanoya Air Memorial Show. It was so early, that we realized we still had time to actually catch some McDonald’s breakfast in Kanoya. So, we did. After waiting in sitting traffic for about 20 minutes, we finally made it to the check point. They stopped our car to check the contents. When the air base people opened the trunk, it was apparent that lots of stuff was going to fall out, so they closed it quickly and waved us through. The air show was definitely not as great as we thought it was going to be. It was really hot and I was really tired. We ended up leaving by 1PM. The highlight of our visit was me getting a huge inflatable sword for under $3.
This weekend I have organized a big bonfire party at Hetsuka Beach in Uchinoura. Let’s see how it goes. Hopefully we don’t have to postpone it due to bad weather. All the Kagoshima ALTs were invited and many have already said they are coming. It should be an all-night affair so people are bringing tents and we are camping out.
Cristina and I are also really excited about her sister Elena coming over. She will get to Kagoshima on Wednesday and will stay for almost a month. So, look forward to hearing about her in the upcoming entries.
posted by Jesse Montano at
2:40 PM
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