The ladies standing front of a lake outside Beppu that's source is a hot spring stream. Every morning plumes of steam rise where the stream meets the lake.
That's right, taco truck in a rural Kyushu mountain village out the back of an Isuzu called "Ethnic Tacos".
Some sweat lodges of sorts. Thatching is laid over steam fissures. Lime stone gravel is then placed over the thatching, and the party begins.
Me soaking in the tub. I was shortly thereafter shoved around a few times and 2 people sat on either side of me in the space shown above.
Sun Young being forced to enjoy a mineral rich facial. The line here got pretty long so I figured we should all enjoy it while we had the chance.
Hot springs.
In the spirit of self absorbed blogging: I'm handsome.
The view from our hotel in Beppu. It was very humid, and the cloud layer was only about 100 feet above sea level.
All of us digging the windblown look whilst taking in Aso Volcano.
The giant cloud of sulfur dioxide behind us was a bit disconcerting.
Crazy one-eyed boatman. He sang pretty songs.
Old Japanese freestanding harpoon gun.
One of many amazing trees in one of the many sacred places on Kyushu Island.
If you can't read that it says "Bee's faction and happy time."
Prayers and celebrations and such.
So the story goes: a genius was born here. People tried to use him for his mental faculties so he left his hometown to get away from them. This made him very sick and he died. So we gather here in this sacred space to honor the god of study/knowledge, shop for Miyazaki movie trinkets, chopsticks and brand new kicks.
Sleeping Buddha.
Buddha's feet. Rub a symbol. One for health, one for luck, one for money, etc.
The usual at a Japanese buddhist temple in the mountains.
This faucet looks ancient but is actually about 5 years old. The mineral content in the water and the air beat the living crap out of it.
Japanese future toilet with heated seat and multi-function bidet.
'nuff said
She always takes better pictures than me.
Neat contrast - space age toilet and mud baths!
ReplyDeleteLooks like English is ubiquitous, even if a bit mangled.
Did you try the ethnic tacos? What ethnicity were they?