Dry market with a few food storesLunch in the open - cool air and fabulous Mt Aso milkThe active Mt Aso - we couldn't get any closerZoomed in shot - Photo by KhoonThe autumn grassland was dry and browned.Mt Aso from afar.
From Kumamoto city, we took a 2 hour bus-ride to Sanko Bus Station . There we put our luggage in the lockers. We looked for lunch at the market and waited to take the bus to the Mt Aso Geopark. I must say the fresh milk of the Aso bred cow was fabulous, with a richer flavour, unlike what we have in our supermarkets back home. Later the bus brought us to the Aso Museum but we skipped that and went straight up a gradual climb to take photos of Mt Aso. We were disappointed that we were not allowed up Aso because of some dangerous activity in the volcano. Before this trip we had read about an active volcano that erupted in Japan and killed some climbers. So we were disappointed that we couldn’t get near Mt Aso but grateful there were early warning systems in place. In fact the next day or so there was a small eruption at Mt Aso. Later we went back to the bus station and were picked up by the guest house to the place we stayed overnight. The guys enjoyed the indoor onsen.
Building where we waited for the bus back.While waiting for the bus, have fun! Photo by KhoonLooking out and up. Photo by KhoonKhoon took a pic of me taking a pic of my wife. Photo by KhoonThe pic of my wife.The Asobi Gokoro Guest Inn 5 mins drive from the station - Photo by KhoonThe room in the guest houseGuys in the onsen of a hotel next door. Photo by Khoon.Breakfast before we leave - all 17 of us.
We took two buses and four hours to get to the gorge. Photo - Khoon.The LED fare counter. Photo -KhoonInformation office. Photo - Khoon
Our next destination was a place of natural beauty – the Takachiho Gorge. It took two buses and four hours in travel time to get us to the town. Buses were usually comfortable, punctual and manned by polite bus drivers. They had a fare display on a LED board in front of the bus. It took me some time to figure out how it worked. And as was our custom, when we reached a town we looked for the information counter from where we got directions to the gorge.
It was a long walk to a blogged about soba stall and we got lost but two children walked us about 500 metres in the opposite direction to bring us to the stall. However, the queue at lunch time was too long. Pressed for time, we went to the supermarket and bought some packed lunch.
We decided to walk to Takachiho Gorge, and with the help of locals we managed to find a route down the gorge through a lovely forest with autumn leaves. At its foot we saw a beautiful gorge for romantic boat rides. We wanted to take the boat rides but by the time we reached there they had closed the booth, so that was that. How were we to know that this was a Japanese holiday and many locals came to visit? Well anyway we saved some money here to splurge on food later.
It was the Lord’s Day so we gathered for a time of worship. We sang a song and everyone gave thanks and shared how the Lord had been with them and how they were blessed.
Walking through the town to the entrance of the Takahicho Gorge. Photo by Khoon.Scenic bridge and steep cliffs.Down the well-tarred or cement or stone paths and steps.The colours of autumn.Ladies of Marine Parade. Photo by Khoon.Together over the bridge of troubled waters. Photo by Khoon.Autumn leaves glorious in sunlight as well as in shade. Photo by Khoon.By the edge of the gorge.Beautiful autumn branches frame the cool deep waters and waterfall.After worship on the Lord's Day at Takachiko Gorge. Photo by Khoon.Tourist bus station and restaurants and shops.Famous soba shop. Photo by Khoon.Happy soba master with photo of his marathon exploits behind.Khoon slurping it up.
We patiently waited for the bus to bring us back to town where we had an evening meal at that soba restaurant which is run by a Japanese marathoner who once represented his country in the Olympics. The Japanese food was delicious. The soba, the sauce, the everything. Great quality, great value, great service.
Since we had to wait for the train, we had fun.We set the camera on a tripod and we had to time our jumps. Photo by Khoon.
By the time we returned to Extol Inn, it was dark and we settled for a Mos Burger before we retired for the night.
Boats serene and still as the sun risesTerrace houses and boxy passenger vansCold crisp air with marina behind
By the marina
A short walk from the hotel and my wife and I were at a marina. All the houses in front of the pier were terraced homes and most had small boxy passenger vans and boating and fishing gear in their front porch. It was a pleasant walk down the 500 metres stretch of the marina before we walked back in time for our breakfast and check out from the hotel. We headed for the pier from which we took a ferry to the Kumamoto.
Large ferry at the terminal. (Credits:Wee Khoon)A trail in the sea.Wee Khoon, Jacob, Daniel, and Peter. Credits: Wee KhoonSeagulls in flight. Credits: Wee KhoonSeagulls pursuing the ferry. Feeding the seagulls prawn crackers.Bicycle culture is established in most Japanese cities. (Credits: Wee Khoon)Extol Inn. (Credits: Wee Khoon)
On the ferry to Kumamoto
It was a pleasant trip of an hour or so. We had seagulls following us and they went into a feeding frenzy as we threw bread crumbs and crackers into the air. I must say these Japanese birds were not as skilful as the Israeli ones we fed at the Lake of Galilee. At the landing point we took a bus to the Kumamoto terminal and walked a good 10 to 15 minutes to a well situated hotel near the shopping area called Ginza and the Kumamoto Castle. The hotel is Extol Inn and the two nights stay came with breakfast.
Kumamoto Castle and Ginza
We sort of fumbled our way before we finally found the castle and there was a big crowd at the castle because it was a Saturday. We had to queue and slowly walk up the hundreds of steps and a few floors of exhibits before we reached the highest floor to get a panoramic view of the city. Japan is so rich in history with all its colourful feudal past, with its shoguns and samurais, and sword and rifles, geishas and peasants. We spent about two hours taking lots of photos. Then we made our way back to survey the shopping area and search for dinner.
Majestic Kumamoto Castle - one of a few major heritage castles of Japan.A view of the city from the highest floor of the castle.Caught sight of a modern day ninja.(Credits: Wee Khoon)Beautiful spacious grounds and gardens surround the main castle.The colours of autumn provide accents to the browns and grey and black.Group photo in the garden.(Credits: Wee Khoon)Kumamoto's version of Ginza. (Credits: Wee Khoon)
Running effortlessly in the air – that is what cycling feels like to me. I used to run a lot. I mean when you play basketball for school and community centre, you have to run, run and run. That was long ago. Since I hit the late 40s I have stopped running. Getting motivated to run required such a gigantic effort. There were many false dawns as I tried to get into a habit of running for health. None lasted more than two months. There was that bright period in Chiangmai when I ran almost every other day for a month. When I returned to Singapore I tried to continue but it evaporated in hot air. Several months ago I bought a new pair of running shoes with fresh resolve to run again. I have used it less than ten times for running. Running seems to do violence to my rigid body. My knees take the brunt of the steady banging as my feet lands on solid ground. My breathing becomes heavy and laboured. It becomes a stupendous effort to jog round the Japanese and Chinese Garden.
Hiking
Instead of running I found hiking or trekking a gentler more humane form of exercise. The Bukit Timah Hill became my haunt. Out there on the slopes of hills with different gradients, one gets to warm up and build up a sweat gradually, gently and without violating the body. Breath control is needed but the air is fresh and a rhythm evolves. So this has been my happy place for my recreational, meditative, sermon tuning activities. Now it has been closed for a year or more. The Hill needed a sabbatical. The visitors centre
Cronus Earl 2.0 folded up
needed a reconstruction. My good trekking friends still meet to trek different places in Singapore. They are quite adventurous and have travelled far and wide (including Gunong Datuk) since Bukit Timah Hill’s closure, but I have not been able to join them on most occasions.
Cycling
I stumbled into recreational biking. A pastor talked to me about his folding Brompton bike. I was almost persuaded to buy one. Another pastor offered to sell me his few months old folding bike, a Cronus Earl 2.0, at a generous giveaway price. I took it. So I biked around the Jurong Lake since I lived so near to it. I found that I enjoyed it greatly. The feeling of movement, the gentle breeze against my face and cooling my whole body, the serenity of water and trees, fountain and pagoda and golf course, all combined to refresh me while I cycled for close to an hour, and sometimes more. It felt like running in the air. My feet never pounded the ground. I never gasped for air like a dying man. I felt I was running on a cushion of air aided by a machine that is beautiful and smooth and effortless in motion.
Kenny and Eric Ng on Ulu Pandan Park Connector
Change of heart
Now I understood what my friend Eric Ng was into. He was into this cycling business with serious intent. He trained for riding trips in Taiwan and the Annapura range. He invited me but I was not interested. My conversion shows that timing and change of circumstances can change a man’s heart quickly. Now it was I who asked him to introduce me to some of the park connectors he was familiar with. So off we went to the Ulu Pandan Park Connector last Sunday evening. It was a hot 6pm but even as we rode, the route was pleasantly shaded for the most part. There was the canal beside it. There were many joggers and other recreational cyclists. You occasionally catch sight of serious bikers in their expensive machines, the occasional Brompton, and many other entry level bikers like me. I was surprised by the effort put in by national parks to make the park connectors such pleasant routes for cycling, walking and jogging. God bless the Singapore civil servants for this great idea that is a gift for the public to use. One day I will write more about this park connector but for the time being here are a few photos I took during last Sunday’s ride.
On the park connector beside Faber Gardens and facing Boon Lay Way and ClementiOn the park connector besides Faber Garden but facing Ayer Rajah Highway and Teban
Analogy to spiritual life
As an aside, cycling is like living by grace. You are aided by grace. Your motion and momentum is augmented by the bicycle the way God’s Holy Spirit powers the walk of grace. Its a gentle running in the sphere of the Spirit.
Nagasaki Bomb MuseumExhibits with strong human elementsInteresting information and not too crowded Melted cross, the church endures11 o'clockSimple lunch at museumPosing at the Peace Park - photo by Wee KhoonTaking the electric tram
Nagasaki bomb museum
When you are in Nagasaki city you have to visit the bomb museum. It was a mere 10minutes tram ride away from our Business Royal Hotel. It exhibits some of the damaged architectural and actual artefacts as well as the human stories that needed to be told. One was a clock that showed the time the atomic bomb melted Nagasaki. Another showed melted sacred icons of the Catholic community that lived there at that time. Interestingly there were POW Caucasians as well as Korean immigrants who were also killed. We had a simple lunch at the café in the museum. Next to the museum building was a large Peace Park for visitors to ponder the serious matters of world peace.
Hot steam rising here and there in the small onsen town by the seaSeafood, glorious fresh live seafood - photo by Wee KhoonChoose what you want - photo by Wee KhoonJabez and Jasmine with timers - photo by Wee KhoonShell fish steamed - photo by Wee KhoonOyster and crayfish - photo by Wee KhoonCrabDifferent extrasSatisfied customersSoaking your feet by the sea in warm sulfuric volcanic springs- photo by Wee Khoon
Obama in Kyushu
We then took the local bus to Obama, a tiny hot spring town by the sea. In this town we see steam rising from various places. It is said the hot spring here can go up to 100 degrees Centigrade, the hottest in Japan. This is obviously volcanic area and onsens must be available in many of the hotels. We looked for lunch at a fresh seafood restaurant about 10minutes walk from the local bus station. The concept was simple. You choose from the live fish and shell fish in the tanks. It is weighed and you pay for it. Then you bring it out where it is steamed in volcanic steam tapped from natural sources by the restaurant. You are given a timer and when it buzzes you go get your cooked food and eat it with the available sauces. There are times to go back to eating fresh and unflavoured and steamed seafood. It tastes great and it does not cost you as much as it does in Singapore. Thanks to Abenomics.
Shimbara Toyo City HotelHungry by 8 plus -photo by Wee KhoonUdon and sushi set - photo by Wee KhoonPassing the puffer fish to the pharmacist- photo by Wee KhoonRestaurant owner showing us the shortcut to the hotelHotel breakfastLadies fellowship during hotel breakfast
Japanese hospitality at Shimabara
Later we took a bus to the Shimabara Toyo City Hotel. It would have the largest hotel room we would stay in compared to the other hotels in our Kyushu trip. It would also serve the best breakfast of all. But the stay was only for the night. After checking in late evening, we went to search for dinner. The hotel staff recommended us a sushi joint and we searched and found it and had udon and sushi set. The chef was generous and gave us free extra helpings of the dangerous puffer fish sushi and other freebies. They were very cheerful and the restaurant owner even guided us back to the hotel using a short cut. We were impressed by Japanese service and hospitality.
