Highlights of Kyushu
- Yakushima, an amazing island - if you want to visit make you sure you give it at least a couple of days - it`s tiny but there are lots of walks . The little bit that we got to see blew our breaths away. The forest feels ancient, the air is cool and invigorating and the trees are covered in moss. The walk that we did started high in the mountains where wild deer wandered about. Some of the cedars there are claimed to be thousands of years old, and they look it :D all twisted and bent but tall and majestic all the same.
- Sakurajima - the first glance at this volcano was amazing, it`s so huge! What`s more, it`s on this little island that we ferried across to. On this very comfortable bus ride around the island (a great change after all the hiking) we watched as it steamed and vented volcanic ash. Yay! an eruption! (just note here that you can`t get real close to the volcano as it is so active but it`s still really amazing to see such a force of nature at work.)
- Mount Aso. Another volcano, but absolutely awesome as you get to walk right up to a steaming crater. This volcanic crater is filled with a blue lake, it`s truly amazing and a little intimidating as the recorded message constantly warns you that there are poisonous fumes can be emitted at any time. In fact we were just really lucky to be able to see it, as the just the day before that section of the mountain was locked off.
K, sorry guys, I have to go for now. Will fill you in on more later!!
