Shodoshima Island PT 2

The hotel we stayed in had a glorious view

Which I captured two of those moments

The hotel was not really traditional looking from outside, but inside the rooms were in the sense that there was no bathroom just a sink and no beds.

Futons were spread out later to sleep on, so the room transforms as you please. We had tea when we first arrived to relax and have a down time moment before dinner.  I love the low to the floor table and chairs. I desire to have one in my future home.  As I mentioned Yoshie has family here in Shodoshima.  Her Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.  I was in shock when I went to dinner (in the hotel lobby) to have 13 people waiting to eat with us! WOW.  It was an honor.  It was also an honor that I had prepared a special Vegetarian dinner (unheard of in Japan) It totally was Vegan too!

I was very blessed and grateful.  It was like art, as different servings of different dishes had their own container, as if on display.  Here was the “meat-eaters” dinner

This was one of those moments when I wished I knew Japanese, as I am intrigued by people and how they live their lives.  Instead I had energetic exchanges with everyone there and bits and pieces of translation through Yoshie and our electronic translator.

I was TOTALLY not prepared for where we were going next! HA!    It took us all by surprise.  Yoshie’s cousin really does know the highlights of Shodoshima for the adult audience.  Here is a visual hint

ANY GUESSES??????????

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An upside down ‘spread eagle’ female pelvis of course!!! HAHAHAH………..Wow, eh?!!!! I was like, where are we???  I was happy to see the balance of the male genitalia with the female torso.

This area and statues are part of a Shinto “Love Shrine” where couples go to pray for harmonious relationships, marriages, and pregnancy.  You can even rub the statues for good merit! HA, I love how certain things about Japan is not conservative at all! hee hee

I have some video footage of this moment, so please do enjoy, we did

I had a “JANET CD COVER” image moment

and played with cement boobs.  Usushi was REALLY HAPPY with the LARGE Penis! He was cute and funny, as he kept saying, “Wow, such a large size”………..HAHAHAH, Oh my!

We all returned home and after all the events and heat of the day we needed to wash ourselves in a MAJOR way, so off to the onsen it was.  Communal, how weird for my north american ways.  We all had robes that came with the room.

Thank God for earplugs (my only addiction) as they both snored.  The next morning we were graciously picked up by Yoshie’s aunt to be our personal driver for the day! Totally spoilt.  But I welcomed the pampering.

I tried some fruit for the first time that I did not particularly like, but it was fruit! And I am all about fruit and veggies.  As you get into a rut of eating a lot of bread when traveling.  We went to some “Movie Land” park where they used to film many Japanese movies,  particularly famous for the film, “24 Eyes”

The surroundings here were really very beautiful, rich and traditional

I did feel like I was on set, as they had quite a selection of diverse backgrounds and environments really close together.  But with the illusions of cameras and editing you would never know.

Apparently these tubs were used to bathe in in the past.  eeekkk, kinda small for me, I would feel like I am being cooked for someones meal as soup!

I love the power and simplicity of Tori gates

They had over 30 different kites in this one room and I took pictures of many, but here is the one I chose to share

There was a statue exhibit from the film that Usushi and I jumped into, becoming more students for the teacher.  The movie would now be called, ” 28 Eyes “.  HA

Shodoshima is famous for it’s Soy Sauce and Udon.  Some of their Bus Stop waiting areas are huge old containers that were used in Soy Sauce production

Would you believe that when inside you actually still can SMELL the Soy Sauce!!!

Our next stop was the biggest honor and thrill to witness……………Yoshie’s Grandmother’s House

I was like? Where are we going? Cause we took this narrow road that was gravel and were on it for 5 mins.  Her grandmother lives alone somewhere in her 80′s in the freakin BUSH!  It actually is really, really, REALLY beautiful and amazing to see the lushness of nature all around the house.  It is not particularly maintained and so there are vines and bugs everywhere!  I loved the random kiwi, grape and pumpkin plants around the home.  I only peeped inside and it was a very old house with no locks, sliding doors and the bathroom toilet outside!

The next discovery warmed my heart like no other!

A FREAKIN’ COMPOST!!!!! I didn’t think they existed in Japan.  I have composted for most of my life and so coming to Japan where they do not (or at least my apartment building) does not it was tough.  Until I decided to hide my peels in various bushes on my way to work! It’s a method that works for me and the peels and the plants!   AnyhowI was very impressed with the “Green Thumb” of granny

There was this bridge walkway over looking the house and pretty much the island coast line that I danced and prayed on (to celebrate and honor Michael Jackson returning to Source and general loving gratitude projection), as this environment pulsed energy through me.   Another MAJOR highlight about this home was the secret bamboo forest behind the grandmothers’ home.

There atmosphere was remarkable.  Unique paths that lead to statues to pray, some family graves and streams and wow! It was a passage way to another kingdom.  I was so tempted to talk for hours and see where I ended up…..but time did not permit

I was given the gift of witnessing other natural gems along my path

that maked me drunk in the Creator’s selection

I almost lost it when I saw a spider the size of my HAND a foot away from me. I was totally in FEAR and I loved seeing the grandmother just look at it, smile then return to her conversation.  She knew that it would not bother her! Wow, wisdom and being TAPPED IN TUNED IN and TURNED ON with Nature and her life, what an honor to live so imerssed with the natural vibration of earth !

I blessed her, thanked her and we walked down a path to the road to see more of the hill and a few other houses.  Also to learn the path the grandma walks when she goes to visit people or get food.  It was super cool.  I was amazed at the lifestyle and difference to my suburban upbringing. WOW.  Some people who saw us ignored us city folk, but some were extra friendly and happy for the energy exchange of a “Konnichiwa”

As an avid vegetarian I loved seeing someone dry their own kidney beans in the sun! So cool! I have been so spoilt to just get them from a can or bag. I sincerely do wonder the journey of beans to my mouth. Maybe one day I will see with my own eyes.

Another honor was seeing the EXACT school classroom Yoshie’s mother attended.  It is now a tourist attraction as it’s very old

We then went to the Soy sauce factory and could smell it a mile away.  The smell died down a bit once you were around it.  The Factory was more like a museum as you just saw old pictures and replicas of this  and that so it was quite boring.  I started walking towards the actual factory with workers in uniforms, but was quickly told to turn around as it was off limits.  But that was where the exciting stuff was happening!!!!!!!! Oh well, I settled for Soy Sauce flavored ice cream instead! Yes, you heard me right, and yes I loved it!

We returned to the hotel to get our bags and so on and posed it out hard by the sign

So Shodoshima is famous for their udon noodles.  I saw them hanging to dry in some small factory

Then we made the time to enjoy them in our stomaches!

The udon noodles were totally of a whole other class! Not like the 33 yen packages i freeze for emergency quick meals! hahah. Wow, yum.  I even put a quail egg in my meal, it was so small and cute looking I was like, why not!

The trip went by fast, but was full with so much richness and love and wonder! I was and am forever grateful and blessed for my dear friends that are helping take care of me and show me their country.  So many things I would not experience on my own or with other gaijins.  The experience with locals provides so much.  I look forward to showing them Canada whenever they can come visit

We stood on the top deck and waved to Yoshie’s family as the ferry floated off into the distant water, moving onward in time and space

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