Leaving Nikko

I am really excited. I have been invited to go Matsumono, the place I was trying to visit! So I am leaving Nikko, a place that I have come to love. It is always hard to say goodbye.

I have climbed 5 mountains, big and small ones, and visited many other hiking trails. I will miss the little park behind the lodge, the river that runs through the town and the mountains range. I have yet to walk Senjoghara and climbed Mt Shira and I am very tempted to come back for the night climb at end of July.

Ken has been very generous with his knowledge and sharing his experiences. I am very grateful to them for putting me up and putting up with my nonsense! I had good memories of my stay here with them. Hope to see them in Singapore soon. At least I will meet Nagisa at Askas concert!

Oya

I walked through the corridor waylaid by the two huge stones, seeing nothing but just some stones in front of me and wondering what was it that Ken wanted to show me. As I turned around to question him, the beautiful statue of KuanYin caught my breath. It stood silently next to the wall, looking down quietly and serenely. Was it a blessing or a pity, that the town has become a ghost town and no visitors come this way anymore?

Utsunomiya

I was planning to cycle there during one of these days. It so happened that Ken had to run some errands downtown and I got a lift from him. I was glad that I didnt have to cycle there as it was really really very far and very hilly. It was a place I didnt mind seeing just once, but not to labour over it. It is the capital of Tochigi Prefecture and most travellers with JR passes will transit here.


Shrine within the town


Another dragon head. But I think my photographic skills are improving.


These are fresh rice plants harvested from the padi fields, to remind all of the process of sowing the seeds, tending to the plants before one can harvest them and have the rice on the plate.


The plants went through a full cycle and supposed to bring good luck.


Castle ruins


Now a beautiful castle park where young and old can rest in the sun


The forbidden gate


The tower beyond the gate

Last Canadian dinner

Its Ava's last day at the lodge. This is also the last Canadian dinner that I will be having or a while.


Stuffing with leftover bread, tomatoes soup and potatoes salad and cranberry juice.

Tanjobi o omedeto gozaimasu

Birthday celebration for Nagisa-san, Ava and Divya


Birthday girls dressed in their beautiful yukata


Ai's son, enthusiastic about blowing out the candles


Divya's wedding surprise for her friend, who are getting married in two months' time.


Nagisa-san, the limelight of the night


Can you see the little crawly on her hand?


Her new pet in the new house.


This is the little room that I share with Nagisa. The lodge is overbooked for the night, so she has to make the bed for the guests.

Lodge

Unlike the other lodges in the area, this lodge caters mainly to gaigin, because the boss and manager can speak English. I am beginning to appreciate how relieved they felt to be able to just sit back and get all the answers, especially with someone who speak the same language. That is extremely rare, especially in Japan.

I love the wonderful dinning area and lounge where the guests can relax, read, watch videos or use the internet and most importantly, interact with each other over dinner and beer. The rooms are also very quaint,with the windows and attic windows. Everyone really felt very at home at the lodge.

It was nice of Ken to share his experience with me. I can just imagine how tough it was for him then, and all turned out well now as word began to spread and people came here mainly by recommendation from another friend. The lodge also had a lot to offer to others with the morning yoga classes and set vegan dinner for a good value. Though there arent many vegetarians who visited the lodge, I am all for the vegan set meal as everyone get to be a vegan at least for that one meal.


Lodge in autumn


Lodge in winter. I can just imagine how beautiful it would be in Winter and Fall.


Dinning area


Zen Vegan dinner


Yoga classes

Prawn noodle

These people are tired of eating the same thing for the past donkey years. I missed my Hokkien noodle so I volunteered to cook lunch today.


It looks good but is way too bland.

Of course I have mine without the prawns!

Actually the first meal that I cooked was popiah, but I was too busy and nervous to take any pictures then. That dinner started two hours later than usual.


To make up for his poor lunch, Ken cooked koroko, Katsu for him and Nagisa-san and potatoes for me :-)

Yamamoto san no hana

There is an old gentleman who lives next to the lodge with his wife. He is really into photography and some of the best photographs of Nikko I had seen were from him. I also picked up a few tips from him about photography and he was enthusiastic about sharing them.

He had several shots of flowers but his wife found them tsumaranai and prefers his scenery shots.


This flower bloom when the moment the sun sets.


It was really an exciting moment watching the flower getting out of its own casing.




Who are these silly people waiting to watch a flower bloom? :-)

Akechibara

The ticket cost JPY 700 but I get a 10% discount with the coupon from the brochure.


View of Chuzenji and Kegon from the top. It would be so beautiful in the falls.


The bends and waterfalls from afar.


Old railway tracks


Italian Ambassador villa, the one I missed the last time.


Beautiful view from the villa


Glittering waters


Oops! My working sandals!Not suppose to wear them out.






There are 48 turns in total.


Nikko is also well-known for its unpolluted spring water. Sweet and refreshing