The continuation of my trip 2 weekends ago...

En route to MATSUE (the highlights) –

The coastal drive passing through many fishing villages, seeing the community gathered for BBQs, the waiting of the sunset in our rented car with MdM. Our sunset watch ended with both of us being interviewed by “Japanese media” with questions as below:

Q1: “Where are you from?”
A1: “New Zealand”

Q2: “What do you think of the sunset?”
A2: “It’s very beautiful. I have never seen something like that before”

Q3: “Would you come back again?”
A3: “Probably. If I have the time.”

Q4: “Why would you want to come back again?”
A4: “Cause erm...it is very beautiful??... erm.. yeah... it’s fantastic.”


HIROSHIMA (the highlights) –

Stopping the car with the intention to U-turn in order to find some accommodation back from where we drove from. However, we realised there was a dodgy hotel just next to where we have just stopped our car. Asked the rate, checked in, and crashed to bed.

The next morning, MdM and I drove round the Peace Memorial Park at least 3 times trying to find a park.

Round 1 – Here are some carparks.. but let’s see whether there are others.

Round 2 – Ok, I think these are the nearest carparks near the Peace Memorial...100 Yen for 20 mins? Let’s see whether they have cheaper ones further down...There’s no more la... I think they are all 100 yen.... (and just as MdM signalled and wanting to make a right turn into the last 100 Yen carpark along the road.... I yelled: “It’s 100 Yen for 15 mins! Previously was 100 Yen for 20 mins!”).....MdM stopped immediately from turning, and instead, head for our third round the block.

Round 3 – Parked our car in a 100 yen for 20 mins park. Didn’t really know how to work the parking machine... whatever.


SAYOCHI - the search for the sunflowers begins (the highlights) –

How to set the GPS? Hmmm dunno...as we try fiddling around to get onto the IC roads heading towards Okayama, then to Sayochi to find these infamous sunflower fields...

1 hr later, we were FINALLY on the IC roads. Reached Okayama, and changed into a country road to Sayochi....followed trucks after trucks in daytime traffic....Gawd....it was a long ride but at least I was the passenger. ThanX M for driving!

We finally reached Sayochi, asked for directions to the sunflower fields... after 3 tries; we got the accurate directions from the petrol station dudes whom laughed at us.... we wondered why....upon arriving to the fields, we realised why...there were no sunflowers in bloom!!! We were one week early, and only the buds stared at us in their closed, almost mocking faces.

Oh well....the buds were cute anyway. Self-comfort with vivid imagination of the beautiful countryside filled with sunflowers...I have no doubt it would be amazing.