Hi all,
So Iam now settled in Singapore. My accomodation is decent and my room mate is a Kiwi so we get on :-) The flat is big, and equiped with everything. I have registered at the University, and well I was worried about the strict rules but they are forgotton about, plenty of alcohol, drinking and partying with the rest of the exchange students :-)
I am really looking forward to the year ahead plus all the great access to travel....so exciting.
Ok so back to the rest of the travels around Japan. From Tokyo I caught the express to Kyoto, I only had one night which is a shae it is a beautiful city, lots and lots of temples, but they also still have an old part of town which was still in the traditional style, it was great to walk around and see all the Geisha. They still get hired by men....but they are happy to let the tourists take photos.
So moving on from a jam packed day in Kyoto, I got up early and went off to see my friend Naoko. I had to change trains twice, but it is so efficient and on time there is no drama and so easy to naivigate. So I made it to Ube and was met by Naoko and her friend Kichiko who also is training to be a doctor. It was raining heavily and there were floods and land slides in the area, but we were safe :-)
I had the best time as we celebrated the summer festival, with fireworks and Naoko and her friends also dressed me up in the traditional summer Yukata outfit, please see the photos :-) It was lots of fun!!!!!
Naoko showed me around her town and we went to the big fish markets, which is down at the bridge you cross to get to the south island and we ate fresh sushi so delicious I even ate the raw sushi but so goooooddddd!!!!
From Ube Naoko and her Friend Itio drove me to Hiroshima which is 2 hrs by car...Very nice :-) WE went to the famous shrine on the island just off the coast called I think Mimiji....Very beautiful and funny but the island is full of deer...Then we went into Hiroshima to the peace park which was really informative and it was sad...in the beginning it was covered up about what the fall out effects of the bomb were and it was really awfull....The HIroshima givernment to this day writes letters to all the governments around the world encouraging them to stop Nuclear tests and work towards peace. Hiroshima has become the symbol of peace. It was good to visit.
So after all that I said goodbye to Naoko and her friend and stayed in Hiroshima that night. The next day I went back to Tokyo for a night and then the next day flew to Singapore. I went to and from Japan on Singapore airlines on the massive jumbo airbus, I couldn't believe how long it took to take off...So I had the best time In Japan and Hope I can one day go back as there is so much to see and do...
So now its Singapore for one year and its so exciting.
HOpe you are all well and I will keep up with the stories.
Bye bye
Katie XXXX
