We returned to Ako City to spend a few more days with Noriko, Fidel and Anna on their days off from running their language school. Ako is a lovely place not to far from Hemeji Castle, on the edge of the Inland Sea. Spent a bit of time around some of the bays on the coast - there are a lot of fish and oyster farms along the rocky coast. water temperatures warmer than NZ in summer and clear, relatively unpolluted looking water.
Had some fun late one evening at the local Karaoke shop. We had a little booth to ourselves and with a little food and drink had a great night.
Spent another pleasant autumn afternoon in Himeji, taking the cablecar up Mt Shosha to the temple complex of Engyoji. This temple group was used on the main pilgrammage route across Japan and parts of "The Last Samurai" were filmed here.
We also had time for a few restaurant visits and home cooked meals; notably sukiyaki, seafood down by the fishing boats and yakitori ( charcoal grilled chicken kebabs with vegetables and sauces. There was also Anna's sixth birthday to celebrate.
It will be diet time when we get to the Philippines!
