Another tranquil day in Japan.

Today began with a cool walk along the pebbly beach in Seki. The weather has become so cool that we slept without fans or a/c last night and got cold! Worrying. There was no-one else at the beach. Just a fisherman down the river. We saw huge brown birds of prey and a heron. This afternoon we cycled to a Temple in Seki and lit incense and a candle. I've looked into Buddhism a lot and while I don't think I shall be converting the Temple has a tangible spirituality that I enjoy. Another tranquil day in Japan.

Strange Weather

This week being our holiday it has, of course, been uncharacteristically rainy. This is due to clear up on Monday. A typhoon hit the south of the country and I guess we got the rain system from that. Today was dry with bits of sunshine so we went to the beach. The contrast to the weekend was incredible-just a few other people dotted around as opposed to the scout camp aesthetic of Sunday. It was very peaceful. We read and barbecued and watched kids jumping off the rock opposite us. At one point it looked like an advert for Boots Chemist when about ten kids wound their way down the path to the river wearing swimming costumes and holding rubber rings around their waists! Being on the other side they made no dent in the tranquillity. Indeed the noisiest moment came from a talkative crow on a low fly past. This is shaping up to be one of the most relaxing holidays ever. Maybe it's the novelty of the long evenings or my new obsession with daily yoga but I suspect the relaxation comes from being in Japan itself. Despite the love of technology and neon lighting Japan remains somehow connected to an older rhythm. 
I guess it helps that there's no worry about post holiday blues being that going back to work marks the beginning of a month spent with much loved and much missed people! 

The Kindness of strangers

I have this week experienced the full force of the kindness of Japanese people. In the space of one week I've been given bags of vegetables by two different students, been invited to watch cormorant fishing, been offered free Japanese lessons and in one kind gesture been given an electric fan by a students mother!
There is a huge shortage of fans in Japan this summer as everyone attempts to preserve the depleted energy supply by not using a/c so much. This is coupled with the greater need for fans for the people made homeless up north. Thus electric shops have rows of empty shelves and when stocks come in they're bought up early in the morning of the same day. So it was truly a kindness for someone I have never met to offer me a spare electric fan for the summer. 
I am feeling the full force of the magic of this multi-layered, mysterious country.

Escape

A mid-week day when neither of us starts until 5.30pm. It would've been remiss of us not to take our bbq, our new camping chairs and umbrella with the labels still on and some bits and pieces from the fridge and freezer and set up camp by the river in Mino. The river was smaller and the current weak and ambling like a theme park lazy river ride. From the carpark on the road above we could see through the water to the huge multi-coloured pebbles beneath and further out the water shone turquoise against the green of the mountains. First thing to do was stumble and shuffle clumsily into the water and swim with the current downstream for a bit. Instant refreshment and the unusual sensation of being cold are irresistible in this daily heat. Then the harmonious joy of reading a book set in the mountains of Mino whilst surrounded by them and waiting for vegetables and octopus to cook in front of my sun washed toes. A taste of holiday season snuck in three days early. I can't wait for it all to begin.

BBQ

This afternoon we had our first barbeque by the river. The river was bright blue in the sun and the water icy cool and fresh. We ate prawns in garlic, lemon and fresh corriander and pork rubbed in spices and vegetables. We both felt it was more visually stunning and exotic feeling than Thailand. Maybe because I've never swum in a river before. Who knows? 

Summer by the River

The absence can be solely put down to the heat. It very suddenly became over thirty degrees. For the first week it was getting up to 100% humidity. Apparently this is very unusual for June. Since then the weather has had cooler days. The humidity is only occasional but the summer is most definitely here to stay. Happily we have found a little river beach not far from Seki which is glorious to hang out at. 


See for yourselves: