伊王島 II

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Today was my day off and the perfect day to go to that wonderful get-away-from-it-all place called Ioujima. The small island in Nagasaki Bay. Took the Cobalt Queen II, one of the ferries that take you to the islands here at 11.50 and arrived at the beach at 12.30.
On the right you see one of those ferries.

Had sandwiches, chips (crisps in the UK) and water for lunch on a otherwise deserted beach. Only one woman with (probably her) child showed up for a moment but for the rest it was just me. Taking swims in the crystal clear water, reading the Japan Times, listening to Salome, my favourite opera by Richard Strauss and baking in the sun ....... what a way to spend a perfect afternoon.

Set off for the onsen and had a good soak for an hour and a half. Finished off with Kare Udon (a curry soup with thick white noodles) and a pint of beer..... Pure Bliss.

One of the things I really like in Japan is the simplicity in design. With durable and basic materials they create little gems like the entrance here to the onsen on Ioujima. Black weathered wood, white paper lanterns and a trickle of water beside the walkway. Simply stunning.

Back on the boat and returned home baked to a crisp and absolutely knackered by an overdose of fresh air and sun.

Paul has send a package from Holland with an orange tie for Rudy, an orange hat for Mads, an orange band for Bart and an orange boa for me to watch the Soccer World Cup in style. Just don't know anybody with a TV. Maybe there is an Irish Pub somewhere in Nagasaki (they're everywhere else in the world so there must be one here..) where we can watch it.