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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Apr 02, 2010 02:00 PM Yakushima or Ebino volcanoes?
Japan has many attractions for the foreigners, but I have the time and budget limits so very often I must make a difficult choice. We have the sun today!
I wanted to go to the island of Yakushima - it is on the World Heritage list because its 2000-3000 years ol Japanese cedar trees. But on arrival I recognized that first- I need at least 2 full days to be there (the ferry from Kagshima sails 4 hours and costs 9000 yen for round trip) and second - there is limited public transport on Yakushima so it will cost much more to moove or spend extra time for hitchhiking.
Second choice was Ebino-kogen plateau with the volcanos and nice volcanic lakes. I did it today. Return train ticket to Kirishima-Jingu station cost me 2800. Then bus 800 each way. On the bas route to Ebino I visited interesting Shinto Temple Kirishima Jingu. Then from Ebino I started 4,5 hours walk around three volcanic lakes and then to the crater rim of Karakuni volcano. The trail was partly muddy an not much English singns on the way but I survived and the view from the level 1700 m was great. Descent to the picturesque Onami Lake in the other crater nearby war even harder. I missed the only return bus. I use a hitchhiking to get to the station. Lucky me! Great day!
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Apr 01, 2010 02:00 PM Good Friday in Kagoshima..
No more rain, we (the backpackes from Japan, Norway, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany and Poland living in Little Asia GH) do hope that tomorrow we will see the sun. It is so nice to share tavel experience sitting on tatami and sipping Japanese green tea.
In the evening local lady prepare Japanese dish (like rice with vegetables) and you can buy a plate for 280 yen, if you want. I will try today...
In the morning I took a long walk through the central Kagoshima to the bay. Cherries are in blossom, also other flowers. Opposite of the city on the little island in the bay there is picturesque volcano Sakurajima - he main landmark of Kagoshima. Unfortunately it was dark and hazy for the good picture. I visited the famous gardens and residence of Shimizu clan - the main place of interest in Kagoshima (entry fee- 1000 yen).
San Francis Xavier landed here in 1549, bringing christianity. I found his monument, landing place and Catholic cathedral Church - the church was empty. Why? It is Good Friday today! But I forgot that I am in Japan...
Happy Easter to all of you!
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Mar 31, 2010 02:00 PM Cherries in blossom... - good news from Japan
It is not easy to plan such a long voyage, but if you do a good work it is very rewarding! I was thinking about traveling through Japan during the cherry-blossom time... And Kagoshima welcomed me in blossom of its cherries. What a view! The ferry arrived with one hour delay... No city bus at the terminal. I took my backpack and started to walk to the railway station.
Just 150 m from the station there is lovely place for the backpackers: Little Asia Guesthouse. Cozy place - they charge 1500 yen per dorm bed and 2500 for crampy private room. You can use the kitchen to boil your everyday rice. Sorry, there were rain in the afternoon so I will wait till tomorrow to walk around the town.
Great newswaswaiting in my mailbox: I finally got a special permit from Russian Authorities to enter Chukotka. Hurrra!
I am so happy! The world is wonderful even if it rains... Let`s boil a big bowl of the rice now!
Yours
Dabrowski-san in Kagoshima, Kyushiu.
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Mar 30, 2010 02:00 PM Sailing north - to Kagoshima
Is is not a problem to find a long-distance ferry going north of Naha-Okinawa. The last expensive ticket to Kagoshima cost 14200 yen for 25-hours voyage.
It was still dark when I said goodbye to the Harumi hostel in Naha and walk about a kilometre for the first monorail. Huge, new ferryboat of *A-line* was waiting. We departed at 7 am.
Last expensive class is tatami room for some 60 people. Everybody has his little futon-materace and blanket. Showers and toilet are clean. The most important for me was that there is hot water & green tea distributor - so you can take and drink as much as you want.
On the way to Kagoshima - it is some 700 kms, we visited few other islands taking cargo and passengers. The most beautiful was Yoron-to. In April starts a new period in Japanese schools. On every islands we visited there were farewell celebrations organized for departing teachers with music, dancing and -Banzai, banzai!! shouting - I had a lot of fun!
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Mar 29, 2010 02:00 PM Two more Jimas - two little gems in the sea...
Kerama Islands lie not far from Naha - the bcapital of Okinawa so the return boat ticket to Zamami-jima via Aka-jima cost only 4030 yen.
There are more picturesque, rocky islands in this group, but there is no public transport... Aka-jima 2-kms in diameter has great beaches on every side - like from the perfect picture postcard.
Zamami-jima is little bigger. There are nice beaches too, but I decided t clim to the view points on the green hills to take the panoramic pictures of the turquoise waters, rocky coast and deep-blue sea on the other side. There is paved road linking the 4 viewpoints via the ridge - in total about 7 kms to walk... But at the end nice Japanese couple gave me a lift back to the port.
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Mar 28, 2010 02:00 PM I am on Okinawa Island...
In the high technology-developed Japan of the 21st century I expected to find free internet on every corner... Forget it... Can you imagine? They have here computers with a slots and they charge 100 yen /more then a dollar/ for 10 minute of the connection. Sorry, I cannot write much, it costs... Just put the next coin...
Okinawa was destroyed during the 2nd war, but now is all rebuilt and worth a visit. Naha - the capital city has bright airport and monorail going to the city - I paid 260 yen for the ticket to the youth hostel on Tomari St. whrere I stay paying 3150 yen for the dorm bed.
On the outskirts of Naha there is completly restored castle to see /once in the past the Okinawa area was like separate kingdom/. It is easy to get there by monorail. Day ticket for 600 yen could be the best solution. It gives you little discount at the gate of the palace (regular ticket cost 800 yen)
Tomorrow I plan to take the ferry to the little, paradise islands of Kerama - not far from Naha.
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Mar 27, 2010 07:00 PM Taketomi - jima - old style village
Southernmost part of Japan. They know very little English but they are very patient and polite here. I wanted to buy half kilo of rice. I wrote on the paper *1/2 kg*. They open 5-kilo pack and soon brought me one pack of 1 kilo and second of 2 kilos... 500 g writen works better!
Today I took another noisy and fast boat /1100 RT ticket/ to Taketomi Island. Only 350 people live there. They preserved old architecture of the houses, so it is pleasure to stroll aroung narrow streets walled by coral rocks. Buffalo carts are attraction for the Japanese tourist. There is youth hostel, if you want to spend a night here - just opposite the post office - they charge 2600 yen pp.
Taketomi is small enough to visit it on foot - only 2 by 3 kms... It is worth to try also two nice beaches at the high tide - bring your sbnorkel with you...
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Mar 26, 2010 07:00 PM Iriomote-jima: last frontier of Japan
I use Ishigaki-jima as a base to visit other islands of Yaeyama Group.
It is worth to recommend Yukuru Guesthouse in Ishigaki ph. 080 1545 4211 - this is so far nicest and last expensive place to stay. Old-style house with family atmosphere, kitchen to use - and cost only 1500 yen.
In the morning I went to the port /15 min walk/ to take a ferry to Iriomote island. They write in the guide books that it is the Japans last frontier: unspoiled, less developed, covered with lush jungle... Rt ticket cost 3800. I expected ferry but this was little boat for passengers only, like a glider with turbo engine. They call it Southern Eagle but I think rather Southern Devil - I felt like riding the devil in the noise, vibrations and jumps...
On Iriomote I saw three new waterfalls, to get to the two of them you have to sail river boat up the Amazon-like river...
Great day!
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Mar 25, 2010 07:00 PM Land of the smiling people... Ishigaki-jima
Mosi-mosi! I am already in Japan. People smile around me making me really happy...
I use again the chopsticks and plan my onward travel north...
Ishigaki-jima is the biggest in the Yaeyama group of little islands. Can you see it on your map? It is southern end of Japan. Yaeyamas are the southern outpost of Japan - they are very close to Taiwan and positioned almost on the Tropic of Cancer - so I am still in the tropics.
Lush vegetation around, palms, fern trees, turquoise waters, coral gardens... So far I did not see any other western tourist here...
The marker located in the little city park says that to the Wakkanai on the northern end of Hokkaido Island I have more then 2800 kms to go... I will try!
Tomorrow I want to take littke boat to the smaller Yaeyamas and later - to Okinawa.
Thanks dear Friends for your advice. Do not worry about me - I am doing well and I am very optimistic. I really like this country (but sorry - it is painful, that it is so expensive for the backpacker like me...)
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Mar 22, 2010 07:00 PM I am the victime of internet garbage...
I took in my life more then thousand flights but it happened for the first time:
In Singapore I boarded huge, wide-body boeing 777 heading to Hong Kong. We were already taxing to the runway and captain said we are number 2 to start. Rain started also. Then captain said that we must go back to the other end of runway. And few minutes later - that we must go back to the bay to take more fuel. It took us more then an hour and again taxing we were number 6 to start...
The plane came to HKG with more then 2 hours delay, but I took my connection to Taipei anyway...
Now I am in Taipei.
look at this page:
http://www.tokai-kyowa.co.jp/english/i_ferry01.html
Looks very nice and reliable! But it is garbage!!!
I expected to jump on the ferry from Taiwan - Keelung to Japan. But here I recognized that it does not operate any more.
So do not trust internet... please.
No other ships to Southern Japan.
I am looking for the inexpensive flight...
I am looking for the air solution
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