No more times for the Shinkansen. I think you got the point. Got on the train this morning and within 20 minutes I was fast asleep. The Shinkansen is run almost like an aircraft with pilots and stewards. The big difference is that it’s so much more comfortable. They do warn you about falling asleep because the ride is so smooth. Also (and we’ve been trying to catch them out!) the punctuality of the trains is so exact, that you have exactly one minute to get off it when it pulls up! I swear we have been diligent in trying to catch a train out by one second but you can’t! The thing is you’ve just got to get on. Once you’re on, the train will hit 100km per hour and you won’t even feel it so you can pack your luggage away and relax as though it’s not even moving! Extraordinary, as my illustrious boss would say.

The other extraordinary thing about the Shinkansen is the service. As any member of the train enters or exits a carriage, they bow. I think I got a bow at Red Rooster Morwell once…or was that a headbutt? We joked that whilst I was sleeping on the train, I had my empty drink bottle removed, nails filed, ear hair trimmed and the open page in my book marked and closed on my lap!

So today was all about getting to the world heritage island of Miyajima. You get off at Hiroshima, get a local train for 30 mins to the port of Miyajimaguchi and a 15 minute ferry to the island. Stunning is all you can say. It must be incredible for swimming, diving etc in summer. As you approach on the ferry you get your first glimpse of the world famous O Tori (Grand Gate) which sits in the water and is the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine. Both these date back to the 11th century and are breathtaking. We got some photos with the tide out this afternoon and tonight when the tide comes in, it looks like the gate is floating. It truly is one of those landmarks that is impossible to take your eyes off.

The other thing that strikes you immediately upon arrival is the wild deer. Well they’re not actually wild in the crazy sense, more placid and clean and they just look like they own the place. The only thing you need to be careful of is they are prone to pinching your food when you’re not looking but otherwise they’re pretty cute.

So it was time to check the bags in the hotel and go exploring. Started with the Shrine and the gate and on the way there was a fantastic area full of great food and souvenirs etc. One of the local specialties is seafood on a stick ie calamari, and octupus in particular. Hog heaven for a pig like me and I inhaled 3 of them!

Then it was time to take off to the start of the ropeway or skywalk. The mountain behind us here is Mt Misen. It’s about 535m above sea level but it’s really steep. We are going to walk it tomorrow but we thought we would get our bearings with the ropeway. The views were dare I say extraordinary and Lynda rated them in the top 3 views she has witnessed which includes NZ, the Rockies and Alaska.

Then the walk back down and a quick visit to the 5 storey pagoda built in 1407 via breathtaking forest and even some giant Koi.

We returned to the foreshore about 4pm and the tide was out and there was a swarm of tourists around the gate. We went down to investigate and it is so beautiful this thing. The fact it was constructed so long ago in salt water as well, is astounding. People put coins in the barnacles and obviously most of them come off and drop into the sand with the change in tides. There was hundreds of dollars worth of coins sitting in the sand. We stuck a couple of coins in the barnacles for good luck and grabbed some photos.

Just got back from a walk and dinner. Can’t believe how quiet it’s suddenly got now that 99% of the people here today have gone home. Only a few restaurants open but managed to find a real old place that had traditional kneeling areas for eating which my wonky old knees can’t deal with. In fact our room has the same set up for our in room table so I went downstairs to the lobby to type this earlier. I’m now on a futon with my back against the wall and laptop on lap. Just got one pretty ordinary photo from the walk tonight but the floodlights on the gate are stunning and there are old lamps everywhere on the foreshore. It’s a very calming place and apparently the hotel owner said it’s the same in summer. Everyone clears out in the evening.

Our thoughts tonight are with the people of WA’s south west who have been smashed by fires. The town of Yarloop which is one town down from my brother Glen’s town of Waroona, has apparently been wiped out. I haven’t been able to speak to Glen but via text he said they had to fight the fire off his 10 acres and thankfully he and his family are ok. He reckons there is nothing left to burn so it sounds horrific. Fortunately no loss of life to report. All the best to everyone in Waroona Bro. Goodnight and trust all is well back home. Cheers Willow & Lynda.