Sunday, November 20, 2011

Trips to 別府 (Beppu)

It's an hour's drive from Kunisaki to the heart of Beppu. We like going, especially on weekends, because it is so rewarding, and on a number of levels. Kunisaki is essentially a country town surrounded by wooded wilderness. Beppu, on the other hand, is a traditional holiday destination famous for its Onsen or Hot Springs. Not a big city in Japanese terms, but certainly big enough to have all those big city trappings. Maybe I'll make a list of what I find interesting.


  • 温泉 (Onsen). And I really like ひょうたん (Hyotan
  • Shopping! ゆめタウン (You Me town)
  • Eateries galore, and even You Me town food court is jam packed with tasty food outlets.
  • Now a University town! 立命館アジア太平洋大学 - Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University or simply APU.
  • The glitter of the main drag - if you have a car, then you have to drive the coastal route and the main stretch through Beppu - both in the day and at night.
  • The African Safari
  • Mount Takasaki (Monkeys!)
There's no doubt much more I should add. We went again this weekend, so I thought I'd share what I like about the place. Absolutely worth a visit!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

From Kunisaki to the African plains!

I'm not quite sure what surprised me most about this little adventure. For my 4 year old, an adventure it was. From a peaceful Japanese valley, to deepest darkest Africa! OK, that really is an exaggeration. But once we were staring into the eyes of the big どうぶつ (Dōbutsu, animals), it was another world. And for a jaded old fart (like me), that's saying something.

One other surprise was that us parents could go along on our child's Kindergarten excursion - with all the other children, their parents and 先生 (o-sensei or teacher *)! I don't recall this being possible in Wales, Malta or Australia - my list of places where I was either a child, or parent.

I have already gained a great sense of the community spirit that is here in countryside Japan. You've maybe shared, somewhat vicariously, in some of the events we've covered to date. But this does seem just a little special. To see my son interact with everybody as they were having such fun, told me a lot about his school and the people his young impressionable mind will now be permanently connected with. For daddy it seems priceless indeed!

As an outsider, and a new arrival, I seem to pick up a lot on what is 'unique' about this part of the world. In this case, not just rural Japan, but maybe a microcosm of what is so quintessentially Japanese!

Allow me to elaborate. Well we had to be up early, and out of the door by a certain time. As I drove, my dear wife seemed very concerned about our progress. "We're going to be late!!". I speed up. Short interlude. "Why are you speeding?" I slow back down. When we arrive at the school, I do start to get it. Yes, just a little of how the Japanese think.

Anyway, two coaches were at the front of the kindie. Lots of cars were being carefully parked. Little bladders were being, just as carefully, emptied. Lot's of ございます (gozaimasu) ringing in the air. The おはよう (ohayo) seems to be almost inaudible or is dropped by some 'good morning' greeters. It all happens at a quick pace and then we're suddenly on the coach.

As we drove off, my wife looked at the watch and proudly pointed out how we were departing 2 minutes before the allocated time. Yes, that's what the rush was all about. This is Japan and everything, nay everyone, goes like the proverbial clockwork.
  
One hour later we were at the African plains. An African Safari to be exact. Their site seems to be all Japanese, so for your benefit, it's the


Kyushu Natural Zoological Park African Safari



Apparently one of the biggest in Japan, no less.  I quite like this pamphlet that one gets on arrival. Like the website, you'll be looking at the pictures, but it might just give you that 'we've arrived feeling', as you wonder where everything is and what to go see and do.  You really should come along too! Even the safari bus runs on time ;-)

What did we love most? Well feeding the animals of course. And doing so with us in the cage, not them. It makes a BIG difference to the experience. We did a safari just outside Banagalore some 3 years back now, and apparently the full cage was only added to the safari vehicle after someone was seriously mauled. India, now that's another story all together!

Here are some of my snaps, just to further whet your appetite. The first, inside the meat wagon - I'm sure we whetted the appetite of some of the big game animals! Look at that juicy 外人 (gaijin) after all.



And some of those beasties looked pretty damn hungry! I'm sure he's eyeing up my son, like I would an after dinner mint. (Oh I must mention that the outside of these safari buses are in the form of elephants, buffalo,...!!!)


And they came in all shapes and sizes.


I really can't tell you how many animals we saw and how brilliant it all was. It just was. 

After the tour, we wandered around for a few hours and saw even more. This is so much better than a zoo. I really don't like prisons for people, let alone for animals.

These little guys (ok, they were in a caged area) put their tiny little hands into yours as they came round for a feed!


If you have kids, then go there. If you're a big kid like me, ditto. Looking through all the snaps brings back that excitement all over again (I filled my SD card well before the end). My son also loved riding a miniature pony, feeding a tiny donkey, holding a guinea pig - the list goes on. 

Countryside Japan, and Kunisaki especially, leave me wondering why I didn't come sooner.

[*Ed. CORRECTION: 'O Sensei" may refer to a particular person, e.g Aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba was called O-sensei. But this O isn't what you think.  It is supposed to be pronounced Oo (大) Sensei.  This may be used to differentiate from other normal Sensei.  Sometimes 大 can be added to refer the main teacher. Often, we would pronounce as Dai (big) Sensei, but for some reason, this man was called Oo-sensei. 
 
No matter what, there is no O-sensei as what you think.]