arrived in Takayama, I told Mario-san (Nanakos friend) with my plan to try to try to hitch a ride to Shirakawago. The bus was quite expensive and so far I was always so lucky. She said that I would have no bad chances, because this village is very famous and many people go there.
was, however, the city itself is not a good starting point, and so drove Mario-san me on a few miles to a "michi no eki" - which translated something like "road train" means and is nothing more than a roadhouse.
They even helped me to label an old cardboard box with my target of choice in Japanese. So I would certainly find someone who took me. bought to leave me some cookies and promised to come over again in two hours to pick up myself, if I have had no success. Then they would bring me to the station, but where I could still take the bus to Shirakawago.
So we said goodbye and I directed my steps, the cardboard under one arm, first towards toilet.
When I left the cabin, stood at the sink in my backpack a lady who waited on me and asked, obviously, from this luggage belong to me.
I feared that I would have my things there, parked illegally (although I could not see any signs, but the Japanese are in many Things intrinsically something) and wanted me to apologize even when the woman pointed to the cardboard and asked if I wanted there.
I said yes, after which they davonwuselte me impatiently beckoning me to follow her. While walking
told me she and her man would pass Shirakawago and could put me there.
one has heard from so outrageous fluke that? If I were superstitious, I would suspect that it clenched the bad luck one day I would have to break out ...
We squeezed so my big backpack in the trunk and drove off. On the way I wrote Mario-san a short text message that I have had success and they can not continue to worry. The journey was
still. The couple talked a lot with each other in rapid Japanese, and asked me out barely. But that was fine with me. I was a bit tired and I could see just look out the window and whiz past the autumn-colored landscape. A car was still something beautiful. At least in some situations. Otherwise, I stay true to my bike.
We were down to my Zeitgefuehl perhaps three quarters of an hour when they pointed to the right where there is a small picturesque village nestled in a valley. There payments would Shirakawago, they told me.
I could still spot from a single thatched roof and thought I would have me all wrong, perhaps introduced, but as we drove along the village street, listened to the brick Betonhaueser and at one point suddenly, and instead, thatched huts raised to heaven, who created his azure-blue color has a great contrast.
This, by the UNESCO as a World Heritage site huts and "gassho-zukuri", what means "praying houses" because the roofs like two look each other in prayer hands down. Here I said goodbye to the nice couple who had spontaneously decided the matter even to look at once, where they had been there.
I looked first at a supermarket in order loszwerden my shield in one of the trash and buy me something to drink.
When I left the business again, I met a couple on the road, the Taiwanese Emily and Markus Munich. We hit it off immediately, and after we had to Mark found a post where he could withdraw money, we strolled together through the village. They showed me even a Infobuero where you could buy bus tickets and store his luggage. I did once with my heavy backpack.
this caused little easier, we continued our walk, I was even invited to a coffee until it was time for the two to get their bags and to go to the bus stop. They wanted to spend the night in another, smaller Gassho-Zukuri Village (Ainokura), the tourists was not as crowded.
I also had planned to stay overnight in one of the most famous shelters and asked me earlier in the tourist office for a free place, but there just held a festival on that day, everything was sold out long ago. The lady looked at me then assess and asked what was my budget, for 30,000 yen is certainly something to see one of the better hotels. (This corresponds to about 300 €!) Well, here I need no one to pretend something - my budget was under these circumstances does not even passed for one hour in one of these hotels.
So I decided to spend the night in the mountains in my tent. Mark had told me that he went with Emily to a lookout point, which was only about 10 minutes away and there were enough opportunities to camp alone.
So I made my way to give me the thing to see. The prospect of the village was really lovely and there were many runherum bushes, among which I could pitch my tent.
S0 I made myself a nice rest day in the village, bought a gift for Katie and hot corn soup in a can, Milchbroetchen, carrots and a bottle of water as food.
I did not go back to the valley, as I had already seen a sign at the viewpoint to the highway, where I try my luck tomorrow initially wanted to hitchhike towards Toyama.
At half six when it dawned slowly, I took my backpack from the information and went up the mountain. When I had set up my tent and my dinner of corn soup and bread eaten at the beautiful view, it was quite dark. now gleamed only the entferten lights of the lighted windows of the huts and Shemen up to me, which were illuminated by a large radiator gently. I wondered whether under these circumstances a good night there was spent below, with the radiator, which appeared brighter than the moon ...
were often cars and people got out to escape and enjoy the scenery as well. Even when I was a long time in my sleeping bag, and then I heard when pop autotuning, footsteps on gravel crunching that passed by my tent and from time to rustle in the bushes. Damped sounded the drum music of the festival even this far and rocked me to sleep. However, I could not really sleep deeply, but I enjoyed it the next morning the fresh air and the sunrise over the mountains even more.
I ate breakfast, packed my things and calmly went on a little road towards the highway.
I hesitated at a junction. I pulled my card rate, but could not decide which way is better. Both led to different highways and there was unfortunately no direct connection to Toyama. A car drove slowly past me, turned in the right road, and when it was almost out of sight, kept her in a curve.
I said to myself, if I chose this road, I might have the chance that the driver possibly took me ... And just as it was. When he saw which way I chose, he got out and approached me. Apparently he had been waiting for this, as I would decide.
He was retired and wanted to make a day trip to the vicinity of Kamikochi, to Nagano. We invited along my backpack in the trunk and I thanked him several times. I was glad that I once again found it so easy to lift. I did not care right now, where it went. I had enough time - at Kati I had only logged on for tomorrow and as long as I dumped the waste in any place where I could take a train, I was right.
We drove the small, narrow mountain road that is often over-grown wall, and left and right with the magnificent colorful trees. Otherwise there was nothing. Just mountains and trees for at least an hour! As I walked would be nice with my heavy backpack! But this way I could enjoy this beautiful landscape. My St. Martin was also a friendly, entertaining companion.
He was a little sad that he just could not help very much, because after this mountain road I had it to the west and north, to Nagano. He talked very fast and it was Japanese really tiring for me to follow him and understand everything.
But worth the effort, because he asked me if I still intend something, and after I said no, he invited me to make him a trip to Nagano. Happy I said yes, because when I had time to work Kazuko-san, I really wanted in the mountains to Kamikochi and that I was now granted contrary to all expectations, I saw a true gift.
a while we drove through the countryside, now and also my Ojiisan had to ask for directions, despite the newest navigation system.
Finally, he chose a small street and we found ourselves surrounded by mountains again. Here there was even a cable car, was able to drive with. He was very eager to show it to me and so we waited a few minutes before they moved up in the distance, in our view.
We stood on a kind of plateau and he explained me that this was actually a helicopter landing pad.
offered from here, a particularly beautiful view!
When we back after about half an hour on the road made the car, asked Ojiisan me as my relationship to Onsen would and was delighted when I told, I should so like that I prefer one of them to Stuttgart would import!
He wanted to show a very famous hot spring, which was very near. And
then he invited me there!
Later, when we clean and heated in the waiting room came back, he would like to eat something before it went on. And here I was powerless against his generosity, because for him there was no question that he invited me for dinner! There was thick udon noodles and tasted wonderful ...
magenwaermenden broke after this meal to us. Ojiisan wanted to drop me off at a michi no eki, I would have more success from there to find a bus to Toyama. He lived namely in Nagoya and was lying on the east coast - that is exactly opposite from my destination.
But the first rest area came and went without even that he changed the speed. In response to my questioning look said he only had a little further to another, the payments would be clever.
however, it became the "something more" out to be a good 15 miles.
But even here he did not and as I was now really puzzled, asked why he was in continued, as he explained to me, not all people are nice and he would just worry about myself and therefore prefer to bring directly to Toyama!
course I tried to talk him out that, but it was in vain. He makes driving fun anyway, so I'd better not make a head ...
That says so easily. At least I brought him to a relaxing day.
When we arrived in Toyama, he was also really tired of him and I wanted to invite for a coffee but he beat off! After I had unloaded my stuff, he also adopted the same me and sped off waving.
I was in my luck still somewhat surprised at the roadside and had to sort myself first. Actually, I do so until the next day to arrive here ...
So I sat down first with a fountain on a bench and uebelegte. While it was unlikely that Katie would read my message in time, but I wrote to her from my phone yet Once an e-mail, explained the situation and asked to have me tonight take with you. (I did not trust me to call her because she was working at this time perhaps. It shall English and to call in the middle of her lesson was certainly not welcome)
Then I made my way to Bahnhofsgebaeude, for there I could schonmal ask about cheap accommodations and an Internet cafe. A business hotel, it was near for 1,900 yen, and even very cheap Internet access directly on the second floor of the station.
So I asked first in the hotel for availability. But here was fully booked because of all festivals. Then it was probably similar to the other cheap accommodation. So I was looking at the train station
PC for internet cafes nearby. Then I would spend just one night there. That was far more flexible, but contact me if Katie still should. I also had success and found one, not two streets away.
again I shouldered my backpack and made my way to find out if you could sleep there. should be (but is usually so, but you never know ...)
When I arrived at the crossing where it would have and I'm just at a nice restaurant owner then asked, suddenly behind me I heard someone call my name.
It was Katie!
you been cycling came at me and smiled.
What a coincidence, too, but! She had read my e-mail yet, of course, was on his way home from a doctor. Luckily it
was no problem for them, I have to lodge tonight. On the contrary. Her friend was currently on a business trip in China and she was bored to death.
only laughed about my "inappropriate Ruecksichtsnahme," as she put it.
your apartment was not far away. After 10 minutes we were standing in front and she told me the PIN number for the automatic door opener.
The apartment was a little smaller than that of Claus, but definitely bigger than Angelotti. There was a relatively large bathroom, the kitchenette was not trapped in the hall, but in a small ante-room and the bedroom or living separate left with folding walls. There, four mattress easily fit next to each other and I immediately got my own corner. Katie asked me even a small table inside, by which and to which I could put my things.
the following days were very relaxing. I did not do very much. As Kati mastered the latest from the afternoon until the evening, worked until we got up late, ate breakfast, shopping, were cooked lunch together, talking and joking around a lot and sometimes her friends came to visit.
your best friend she had known all her life. Jules was also an American and lived in the same building. Her friend lived just two floors above her.
That was a fine choice for Kati. She was never alone at least.
She taught me well in American cuisine. So I had pancakes with maple syrup, oatmeal (In Water cooked oatmeal with raisins) and various Smoothis from fruits, milk, oatmeal, peanut butter cost more. However, I found that I have ever been able to gain anything peanut butter!
From time to time we also took excursions.
In Toyama, there are many beautiful places and some interesting museums, which I explored when Katie was working on.
One of my Lieblingsplaetze was the "mountain of 1,000 Buddhas. The name itself explains quite well what the task involved. infinite number of stone statues lined up close together up the hill and in between there was a worn stone staircase that you could climb to the summit. From
there had a great view of the city. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes also apparently liked very well, as long as we could not remain there without being eaten. It was the end of October!
weekend had Kati free and so we made all together on a trip to Kurobe.
That's a pretty little town in the Alps, surrounded by unspoiled nature along a large river.
Here I could see my first Japanese macaques first hand - and of course take pictures! I had already seen one of these red-faced when Nanako monkeys, but only by car, as he sat on a tree. Here they
sat in the street! And on the tracks of the little mountain railway, with which we would continue later.
They wandered around quite slowly, as if they knew that it would not harm them here. That was really impressive to some as the zoo.
The inhabitants seemed to be the usual, because they hardly noticed the monkeys. Almost as if they were stray cats ... Unfortunately, soon came
adds even more tourists and the animals were then probably just a little too much and they moved behind a fence of the station.
So we left them alone and went our tickets sell for the small mountain railway.
We opted for the open version, the only a roof but no walls has, for while it was cloudy, but not raining.
We drove along the ridge of a deep ravine, which had created the river and there are wide and Turkish blue still entlangwaelzte.
was a dam there to admire and many small and big red bridge, which spans the gorge.
We got out at a small station, where the Bahnhofsgebaeude and a restaurant were the only buildings, and went down to the River. Tearing he worked his way, but made little troztdem this noise.
We wanted to go into an onsen that there should be here, but we were well understood a little bit wrong, because it These were not, I had met her before.
At the edge of the river where a lot of boulders and huge rocks were formed, this natural pool in the soil, where water had collected. But no river water, because this little laugh was really hot and steam rose into the cold damp air ...
We splashed with their feet in the pool, built sand castles, jumping stones left and climbed over the rocks along the shore. It was a nice afternoon and we went first when it began to drizzle slightly.
We also had the need to leave the station for a particular train and log back this drive would also soon. The Return was not very pleasant. Up on our feet, we were pretty supercooled and driving wind blew fresh and tropfengeschwaengert contrary. But that could cloud our mood is not, but we had a great day had!
passed this way my vacation in Toyama in a flash. Especially since every day I had Katis Does this laptop available and even via Internet. At last I could finally spend many hours as you like on your PC, watch movies on YouTube, read Onlinebuecher (although even a libaries directly opposite was a small English department) and skype with my family!
The food was of course, have completed the west: toast with jam, oatmeal, spaghetti all variations and, most importantly, black tea with milk! I especially missed! Miso soup for breakfast was not too bad, but against my usual black tea just came to nothing and I could even make Kati tasty, the other only drank coffee.
too soon this wonderful lazy time was sadly over and the day of departure lived. But somehow I was happy again and to seeing something new and start to do something meaningful. To cancel the holiday was just right, but my gap year I mainly wanted to make something already rich experience ...
Katie was with me in the morning early and accompanied me to the station. Then we said goodbye, I promised to write, and finally made my way to the train to Gifu. This time it was not, however, after Gero, but after Kashimo, a place a little further east. I had this family with two little boys already Nanako san-written and the time there very promising to be interesting. I was curious what I have expected ...
Mata ne
Kira
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