Day 3 Beautiful Amakusa
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
After feeling and looking a worm, it took me a while to get out of the sleeping bag. I couldn’t sleep very well as I was cold, but the morning was beautiful, and the sun was shining. I put my palms together and said thank you to the small shrine in Ueshima.
Amakusa is today’s route, and these octopus signs were everywhere. Amakusa and the surrounding area are made up of small islands. They are well known for such great seafood, including octopus, shrimps, and many fish.
Amakusa and the towns around are absolutely beautiful to cycle in.
Today’s lunch is the fresh sashimi bowl and udon. What a feast.
Amakusa’s octopus, squid, scallops, toro (tuna belly), nori, and wasabi. Accompanied leaf is “shiso” which is also known as Japanese mint. These fish were all taken that morning, and could not get any fresher. Absolutely delicious, and you cannot imagine how much you’d pay for this quality in Tokyo.
I prayed for road safety with Amakusa’s octopus.
Octopus is a big deal here (literally).
“May Piece Prevail on Earth.”
I am thinking about the victims of tsunami as I cycle Amakusa.
Amakusa’s dekopon. These look like oranges, but they are bumpier. Amakusa’s another staple.
My bike is taking me through such beautiful places in Japan. I can feel and smell the spring all around.
I asked some local people and found an onsen (hot spring bath) at the end of the day. You would not believe how good it felt to be in the big bath, looking down the ocean at the end of the day after so many hills. 300 yen (about $3) gets you in an amazing spa, with jets, sitting bath, standing bath, sauna, with a beautiful view from the hill. I was in absolute heaven. Moreover, I could not move.
A little girl was looking at me like there was something wrong with me. I sat there in the hot salty water (this hot spring bath was getting the water from below the ocean), in absolute exhaustion, with my eyes half closed. I had never ever been in onsen which felt that good. I’ve been in many in my life, but this one was the best. Cycling makes the good food even more delicious, and a nice bath even more amazing.
Dinner after the onsen was chicken nanban. It’s fried and marinated chicken, I can say that’s a Japanese comfort food. I could taste the red snapper dashi in the accompanying miso soup. The miso was white miso, and the word delicious cannot describe the complex yet light flavor.
As we ate dinner, the news on TV was announcing victims from the tsunami disaster. On my food, tears kept coming down. It just kept coming down and wouldn’t stop. I felt helpless, but I knew I had to do something.
About the Author: Sachi
« Day 2 Kumamoto City to Ueshima Day 4 Strangers So Kind in Tsuchikawa, Kagoshima »
