This is long long overdue, but just for the sake of posting- here is a recap of what I did during my winter break.

The period beginning the 22nd of December to the 9th of Jan 2007 was our Winter Vacations in which I spent nearly the whole of those 2 weeks travelling throughout Japan. My destinations included: Hiroshima, Miyajima, Okayama, Kurashiki, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Kirishima and Ibusuki.

First up, Hiroshima:

On the afternoon of the 22nd, right after my last lesson ended, I proceeded to Hakata Station armed with my Seishun 18 Kippu (Ticket) and boarded one of the local trains which would take me towards Hiroshima. Whereas it would take the shinkansen (bullet train) only and hr and 10 mins to reach hiroshima from Hakata, it took me 4 transfers and 6 hrs to get to Hiroshima, but also for a fraction of the price. Beggars can't be choosers, and I'm a begger.

Finally, and after a long long ride, Hiroshima

My first meal in Hiroshima, a fresh serving of assorted Sashimi at a restaurant near the Youth Hostel I was to stay at.

Having travelled to Hiroshima alone, I then proceeded to make friends with the International crowd in the youth hostel who decided to head to town for a night of partying. Here's Matt from Canada, Dominique from Australia, Eric from Canada (he's deaf and mute but can lip read), and me

Salsaaaa! In not so salsa a style.

Next, the a-bomb memorial site


Tattered and torn shirt ripped off from a sch boy by the blast

The flame that will never go out til the last nuclear warhead is decommissioned.



The A-bomb dome and its remains, serving as a reminder of that horrible incident


Hiroshima Castle