"Pegasus Descending" by James Lee Burke

14th July 2011

Pegasus Descending by James lee Burke

After keeping this book for years until cobwebs and insects grew inside the book. Finally, I finished reading this book. The story flow was interesting, however, there were too many distractions outside, plus this book is big and thick. It's quite difficult to bring around. 

The murder stories inside this book were all intertwined. First, it told of the earlier days of the Detective Dave and a friend's murder. After, fast forward to now, he met his murdered friend's daughter who was trying to avenge her father death. And there was another murder-suicide case of a young woman, an unidentified crustacean man, an alcoholic ex-colleague, gambling tycoon, drug dealer, set up, racism, etc. I kept guessing about the real murderer. The final was a shocking discovery. The father of the suicide woman killed a man he thought raped his daughter and planted the murder weapon on another man, and then, he was framed for another murder he didn't commit. It was a intriguing detective story. and I was very happy that I finished this book. Hoorah!

Trip to Hiroshima, Miyajima, Iwakuni (18th & 19th June 2011)

My friends decided to have a 2 days trip on a weekend. After much discussion, we decided it would be on 18th and 19th June. Initially, the plan was 1 day Miyajima and Hiroshima, then the next day went to Fukuyama. However, after much considering and input from other travellers from the internet, decided to make Miyajima into a 1 day trip. There were 7 of us in this trip. 

Shinkansen that took me to Hiroshima

Port to go to Miyajima

Since Hiroshima is not so far yet not so near from Kumamoto, there's no overnight bus service. If from Hakata, the distance would be around 4 hours ride. The itinerary by a friend of mine suggested that it would be better if we meet at Hiroshima station at around 9am. Since overnight bus was out of question, I had to use Shinkansen (bullet train), for this trip, transport used up 2/3 of my budget. I was supposed to take the earliest 6a.m. shinkansen to Hakata, then change train to Hiroshima. However, I overslept, and had to settle for the 6.30a.m. train and reached Hiroshima Station at around 8.45am. Just in time!

After that, we went to the tourist information centre to buy the Miyajima-Hiroshima 2 days pass. However, it was not sold there, we had to go to a counter outside Hiroshima Station to buy the pass. It cost 2000 yen per person. Then, from Hiroshima station, we took tram to Miyajima Port. It was a long ride, almost 1.5 hours. Luckily, there were 7 of us, so we chattered all the way, not even a single dull moment.

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 12 - Hiking in Yakushima 屋久島

6th - 8th May 2011 (Yakushima-hiking to see Japan oldest tree, Jomon Sugi)

6th May 2011. We boarded the ferry just in time before it left at 13:10. If we were not able to board that ferry, the next one would be almost 4pm and stopped at another port in Yakushima island. So, we were very lucky. However, the weather was bad. It rained. So, after we paid for the hiking guide, we checked into the hotel and stayed there. If the weather was good, we would go the traditional craft centre that produces souvenir made of cedar wood. For the dinner, we went to the izakaya next door, this was the first time I had flying fish. It tasted like 'ikan kembung'. This restaurant's chopsticks were very long, around 30cm, I had a difficult time holding food with it and kept dropping the food stuff on the table. Slept early to wake up at 4am on 7th May because the hiking guide would fetch us on 4.45am. 

A 30cm long chopsticks

Fried flying fish

At 7th May, woke up at 4pm and prepared ourselves. Our breakfast's and lunch's bento (弁当) were prepared and left on the counter already. The hotel would prepare the bento upon request. 4.45am sharp, our guide showed up and drove us to a bus stop. Inside the van, there were another 2 sets of couples. After that, we went to the Arakawa Tozanguchi by bus. We reached at around 6am and after finished our breakfast. The hiking start. Firstly, the trail was old rail track used to transport cedar log. It was easy because it was flat. The view was great. After that, had to climb up the path, that was very hard. I almost couldn't breath. There were 2 bio-toilets along the track, the smell was so overwhelming, that it made me 'energized', before that I was quite sleepy. At around 11am, we stopped at a rest area for lunch before continuing the hike.  We reached the 'JomonSugi' at around 12pm. Since there were a lot of people, everybody got only one chance to take photograph with that tree. The view of that tree was not awesome, in face, one could only see the tree trunk, we just tortured ourselves for hours to see the Japan oldest tree! Along the trail, the guide told us interesting tidbits about the forest. He showed us the cedar tree, 3rd-generation tree, the methods of logging, etc. The interesting fact is that young cedar tree would grow on the logged stud, so we got to see many small cedar tree on the top of the stud, our guide called it Baby Cedar Kindergarten. However, my Japanese was not very good, so I have to guess the meaning, but coupled with the information board, I think I could catch around 70% of what's the guide saying.

One of the attractions along the track

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 11 (Kagoshima鹿児島)

6th May 2011 (Kagoshima)

That morning, we went to Sengan-en after checked out from the hostel. The weather was bad that day, with sand storm blowing. If one didn't wear the mask, the sand would flow directly into the mouth. First I bought along a umbrella, then the wind was too strong until the umbrella deformed. So, gave up! Sengan-en is a garden of Shimadzu family with an influence of Chinese culture. There were residences of the Shimadzu family years ago. Since we didn't pay the full price, we were not entitled to wear the traditional clothes and entrance to a few buildings. There was a location inside the Sengan-en that offered a view on waterfall. However, after we climbed so tiredly uphill, the waterfall was dry.(-_-!!!!!)

The flowers covered by dust

One of the residences in Sengan-en

From the top of the hill, Sakurajima can be seen. Since the sand storm was still strong, the Sakurajima looked like it was erupting. Other than that, the flowers were not spared, all looked very dusty due to the storm. After that, we ordered  2 sticks sweet '两棒糖', it came with soy sauce and miso flavour. My tongue was very insensitive, I couldn't differentiate the flavours. Since me, Jack and Tee will go to Yakushima that afternoon, we hurried to the Kagoshima station to drop off Chu because she would take the flight to back to Tokyo. While the rest of us would go to Kagoshima Port to take ferry to Yakushima. 

stone monument

Golden week holiday 2011 Part 10 (Miyazaki)

5th May 2011

We went to Miyazaki from Kagoshima to visit Sun Messe - Nichinan, the entry fee was 700 yen per person. Inside this park, there's a Moai Park (the center attraction), which were reproduced in Japan under the Unesco. The Moai was formerly from Easter Island. The Moai was very huge. There were 7 statues, each representing work, health, love, travel, husband and wife, financial and education. Me and Chu photographed with each of the statue. There was a information centre where it explains about the history of the Moai, quite informative. Inside the park, there was a Cape Moai Farm too, that was the first time I saw donkeys. 

The reproduced Moai

Donkeys

Central plaza where the information centre located

Different types of Moai from the centre

After touring around. We went to a shrine, named Udo shingu (鵜户神宮) near the Sun Messe. It's like a typical Japanese shrine. However, there's a activity where one can buy 5 'tablet' for 100 yen and throw them into a cliff, if it is thrown into the target, one will be lucky. To throw, female should use right hand, while male should use left hand. Not in luck, I kept throwing the tablets outside the target.

the entrance to the Udo shingu

the steps to the main building in the shrine

Golden week holiday 2011 in Kagoshima 鹿児島 Part 9

4th May 2011

First stop was Mt. Kaimondake Natural Park. However, before Mt. Kaimon, we stopped by the Lake Ikeda first. From the Lake Ikeda, Mt. Kaimon can be seen clearly, this mountain is a very typical mountain with cone shape due to volcano explosion years ago. There's a legend that a lake monster was seen years before. So, a big statue of the lake monster was erected near the lake. A big patch of poppy flower was planted there, very beautiful! I thought that poppy was illegal. After that, we proceeded to Mt. Kaimon. Since we were not in the mood of climbing, we didn't climb the Mt. Kaimon. we just drove around the natural park. 

The lake monster statue

the cone shaped mountain is Mt. Kaimon