Linnley, Karou, and I spent the golden week holiday trekking through parts of Shikoku, a little toured island to the west of Osaka perhaps best known for its 88 temple trek and sparse (by japanese standards) population.
(1) First stop was a ferry to Shoda-shima, a small island (perhaps a 40 kilometer circumfrance) in between shikoku and the western part of honshu (the main island). Who knew - the island has a geographical and agricultural resemblance with the southern greek islands. They grow olives there, the mountain scenery is similar, and they have a sister relationship with Mikos (or one of the other islands near there) played up with a couple of modest greek-styled buildings housing greek-styled statues.
(2) Next was a trip to Takamatsu (northern city of shikoku) for an overnight with Karou's aunt and cousin. Very friendly, very good cooks, and nothing but warm hospitality.
(3) Train ride down to Iya Valley which holds, perhaps, the most beautiful gorge formations in Japan. When I remarked we were finally getting to see some of "The Last Samarui" Japanese scenery, Linnley reminded me that they actually filmed it in New Zealand. But that's what it was like. And the hostel owner is a charming youngish japanese evironmental activist up and coming lonely planet featured hostel operator who learned english in Botswana. In a small town of mostly older people, he stands out prominently and is on the recieving end of a lot of respect. It seems he will do well for that area.
(4) Train ride out of the gorge to the eastern town town of Tokushima. Whenever I go to other parts of Japan, I find myself wondering how my JET experience would differ if I were a JET here. Aside from where I am, Tokushima is one of the few places I wouldn't have minded winding up in. It is a city of about 350,000 right on the eastern coast of shikoku across the water from wakayama making it within a 3 and a half hour trip from Osaka. The weather is very pleasant, nestled between sea on one side and mountains on the other. And they have the most famous Bon festival in Japan every August. Maybe I'll get to go.
That was my trip.
In other news, I have decided that next year I will be spending a year teaching English in St. Petersburg's public school system. I'll be living with a russian family and making decidedly less than I am now but I am very excited to be spending a year learning about russia and its people and spending another year teaching. Half the fun will be getting there - I'll take a ferry from the north part of japan, passing by the shores of everyone's favorite communist nuclear power, arriving in Vladisvostock, training it out to Moscow (7 days 6 nights non-stop), and then taking an overnight train to St. Petersburg.
Any tips about Russia?
Best, Carl
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