Beach front
So,  we’re at the beach. I’ve never been so close to China in my life (obviously). Right across the water, china is hangin out… scaring the stew outta me…
I gotta tell you how we got here, first. Drive, drive, drive, stop- look at where people bungee jump off a bridge lol It’s closed now because 4 years ago, someone died jumping off!!, walked on bridge (If kalynn would do it with me, I’d jump). Drive, drive, drive, TEMPLE! This sacred land was much different from the earlier one. It was more modern. The last one was 600 years (or more) old. This one, though the worship objects were old, the surrounding crap wasn’t. We were in the middle of the mountains, in a crevice between like, 5 mountains. We didn’t have to walk, so we paid 5 bucks to ride the dang bus. Then, it was worship time! This place was incredible… monks everywhere- all in white, people chanting, volcanic rocks all around… then BAM!- the hot spring. It looked like a mini-volcano. We didn’t get to see it for free, of course. That was another 5 bucks (sounds like home). We took our shoes off to walk into the sacred area. Everyone was freaking out over this thing. It was pretty sweet though… hot. No pictures were allowed… but I took a few. I didn’t want the gods running after me, so I… was sneaky with it. We soaks our feet in the ho spring, found snakes, CLIMBED the hot spring, then sat and watched the people. At the base of the spring (like most worship objects) was a bundle of offerings. This bundle was much larger than the previous bundles I saw during the day. It reminded me of Helga’s shrine of Arnold in “Hey, Arnold!”, remember? Anyway, Saki, eggs, coins, paper money, trinkets, statues, flowers, everything. Then the group of people were chanting together, with a man in a white hat and clothing leading them. I didn’t pray to the hot spring, needless to say… but these people are dead set on this stuff. I’m incredibly interested in Buddhism… but there is only so much I can take- besides, this is a more ancient form of Buddhism, mixed with Shinto, if I’m not mistaken. They may pray to a rock, but Jonah survived being swallowed by a whale… :-P. Anyway… I regret not being MORE sneaky than I was (then later wash my hands of the sin)… cuz that was unlike anything I’ve seen before, and beyond my ability to write about. Back in car… drive drive drive… BEACH! This hotel is traditional, but MUCH cleaner than the last two, and bigger, and not so freakin hot! We quickly put our junk down in order to go walk on the beach. I was so eager to see Japanese beach culture. I’ll just say- I felt like I was back in the USA! First, the people were young, with bathing suits and supplies just like ours, then- BIG trucks were driving aound with fools hollering out the windows and hanging off the sides, THEN- the shore was littered with plastic and crap all labeled “Made in China”… so that made it official- I WAS back home. Literally… the shore is completely covered in trash from china that swam across the water. It was kinda sad… and I had to watch where I walked, but still- the water and sky were beautiful. It was very peaceful.
It’s like, 8 or something, and we just got done eating supper (I try so hard to enjoy the food). Dad’s asleep, and I’m writing my blog to the wide audience that tune in. W-I-D-E audience.
I’m prolly gonna sleep now. … Ugh, I’m disappointed in my ability to explain what I’ve experienced here.