Nice Japan

You know, there are some rather nice bits to this place. On Thursday, Japan had a thanksgiving day similar to the American thanksgiving, which obviously doesn't really mean all that much to me, but, on the plus side, it got me a day off! Yippee! So I seized the opportunity and recruited a gang to go frambling to this gorge in the ken (the Yamaguchi-ken! like -shire) that is supposed to be beautiful. Chomonkyo Gorge. And indeed it was. Although, the constant rain wasn't so fun, but it did bring on a few memories of home.

You can't see the rain, but believe me, it was raining. Didn't spoil the view though!

It was still raining....

Here we were at the beginning of the walk, all frisky and full of anticipation and curiosity for the road ahead...

Not so frisky, definitely not so curious, and not exactly anticipating the walk back. All that was missing here was sandwhiches, crisps, and a nice cup of tea. The green tea almost made up for it, but not quite. Oh, and it was still raining.

The tradition after a long walk in Japan is to go for an onsen (hot spring), where you can dip in and out of inside and outside baths, and see the effect it has on the Japanese women when a group of four naked Gaijin girls get into the bath, especially when two of them are heavily tattoed (very beautiful, albeit.) Some of them just discreetly get out as soon as they possibly can, others just do their best to pretend their not checking out how we look naked. Just the same as you darling. There's this unspoken rule in Japan that if you have tattoos, you are not allowed in an onsen. This kind of applies mainly to men however, because tattoos IMMEDIATELY means you are a Yakuza. Obviously. Sally has got the most incredible tattoos, one covering her entire back, and one covering her right leg below the knee. They are stunning, and most of the japanese women are just intrigued by them. Which is a relief. Oh, and the Japanese women also don't like 'brazilions', if you get what i mean. I find it extremely strange, that they shave their arms, their necks, any other part of their body that might have the slightest hint of hair, but too much landscaping 'down their', and they freak. Again, another one of those things that is just down right WEIRD about this place.