November Hikari Market

Every 4th Sunday is the flea market in Hikari at the temple grounds. It's about an hour's drive along the sea west & south of us, along Hwy 188. Last time we were here was August & it was VERY hot. It rained both 4th Sundays in September & October, so although it's gray today, it's not raining -- so here we are & the Bymasters have joined us. That's the pagoda in the center & there are lots of vendors here today. Yay!


Closer view of the roof.


Interesting stuff for sale. I liked the masks, but they were too expensive for me . . .

Someone's meal is heating on a small hibachi. It was probably pretty cold when the vendors arrived early this morning.


Temple over a stone bridge.


Live Christmas tree for sale with other plants.


Bonsai pine & others.

Stan & Jerry strolling around under the pagoda.


Cute Santas for sale.


Looking down a canal toward the sea.


Pink camellia in bloom on the temple grounds.


After we left, we drove to the Kaiten Monument -- the kamikaze submarine museum nearby that we've been to before. Jerry was very interested in seeing it. Here's a link that tells about it. Click here but be sure to arrow back to return to the blog.

After the museum, we stopped at our usual restaurant in Yanai for lunch.

Little garden out front with a Japanese "raccoon dog."


This is the lunch set that I had - tempura with fish, ebi (shrimp) & various autumn veggies; miso soup, dipping sauce, shredded daikon, stewed veggie stems, rice, pickles, egg custard (not a dessert - it has shrimp, fish paste & other surprises!) and a small sweet salad. What a huge & yummy meal.


Jerry & Terry joined us today. They've never been to this restaurant. It's one of our favorites (in Yanai) and we always stop here on our way back from Hikari market.


Terry & Stan near the check-out counter.


Oh I love the pretty sink in the potty!

Sachi Watching TV

We're watching a Japanese TV show about birds & Sachi is VERY interested. She jumped off Stan's lap for a closer view, so when we placed her on the bar stool, she stayed to watch with her head bobbing back & forth!


But she doesn't seem quite as interested in the cartoon version . . .

Thanksgiving Cactus

It's that time of year again . . . my cactus has burst into bloom! That's the great cat plant holder that Sue gave me - I love it on my DR table!


The color seems a little lighter this year -- white, but with a dark pink center. Beautiful!

Friday Night Dinner

We've joined Jerry & Terry at their new favorite downtown Iwakuni restaurant. We've never been here before. Doesn't Terry look fabulous? -- she's lost a lot of weight in the past few months. Hooray for you, Terry!


Look how pretty this magaro (tuna) sashimi is presented. Sashimi is like sushi, but without the rice ball. It's resting on a bed of shredded white something (maybe daikon?{raddish} or maybe a type of seaweed), dried bamboo shoot sticks, bitter leaf & a dandelion flower. That's a dab of wasabi on the side. I love the plates in this place!


Hamachi-harami (yellowtail) sashimi. This is Stan's very favorite.


This beautiful salad was just a little too spicy for me.

Fried oysters & shredded cabbage.


Grilled meats & stuff on sticks.


Grilled saba (mackeral).


Japanese white wine from up north - Sapporo.


Stan & Margie and Jerry & Terry enjoying dinner.

Yum - edemame (fresh soybeans) served on a palm leaf.


Jerry enjoys his gyoza, fried Chinese dumplings.


Specials listed on the boards above the bar.


And of course, we finished it all off with a yummy dessert. We shared 2 fruit parfaits, made with fresh raspberries, blueberries & another small red berry that I didn't recognize, a scoop of ice cream with fruit sauce, and corn flakes in the bottom of the dish. Delicious and just the right amount!

Firewalking Ceremony at Miyajima Island

It's Sunday 11/15 and we're going to see a firewalking ceremony today at Miyajima Island. We're running later than we planned, but it was SO worth it, since we got to Skype with Kelly, Cody & Heather in AZ. We're headed out the "new" road from the main gate toward Hwy 2. The sky is a little gray, but we're hoping it clears up soon.


Beautiful autumn leaves outside the Sinfonia in Iwakuni. The sky is already getting clearer - yay!


A few red trees on a hillside.

Pretty houses close to Hwy 2 as we drive toward Miyajima.


We're near Otake now, driving along the sea.


That's a pretty little house.


I like this sign, but it's fading away . . .

Closer view of deep purple morning glories.


More autumn flowers along the road.


Persimmon tree I think, or maybe mikan (tangerine). It's loaded down with fruit.


There goes the local -- a much faster way to travel.

Stacked parking lot next to the highway.

Traffic was VERY heavy, but we finally arrived & found a parking lot just a couple of blocks from the ferry landing in Miyajimaguchi. At the parking lot, Stan removes our bicycles & we're ready to ride!


We're on the ferry now, riding on the first level with our bicycles -- like the cars, but there's only one car traveling with us today. Most people walk on -- much cheaper & it's difficult to drive once you arrive on the island.


Passing another ferry as we cross.


Cute sea creatures painted on the walls inside the ferry.


Cute little girl in kimono carried by her father.