Room 301 at 竹泉荘 accommodates 2 baths; a big tulip indoors, a spa surrounded with rocks outdoors. The former cannot be filled with natural hot water, yet accompanied just beside by a glass shower box. The latter has no washing space, only to warm yourself feeling nice breeze. However, nature gave Shin and Mei-Shun a challenge: it is too hot to stay for 5 minutes!
Room 301, Shin and Mei-Shun stayed at 竹泉荘, has a private outdoor spa. After taking an indoor bath of tulip (she gave another name 親指姫の間, Room of Tommelise) coated with lacquer, they changed into yukata and went down to 竈神=kama-jin restaurant for dinner. He chose a lighter-than-normal menu with a supplement: chef’s handmade bread she loves. Oh, whom this pretty bouquet is waiting for?
It was the 2nd time Shin and Mei-Shun stayed at 竹泉荘 on weekend. Nothing changed there — beautiful sight, lovely souvenir shop, comfortable hot spring, gorgeous room and meals. Slight changes included the room he reserved this time. It must have been up-graded toward the 5th, roof floor. However, a cloud of calicobacks (!) forced the hotel to close above room, to offer the couple a replacement by the second best.
Shin returned from Perth, Australia yesterday. He sent to Mei-Shun following photos taken at nearby dunes between business, moved her a great deal. She feels that such a shining place accommodates guardian deity. That might be one of the reasons why he came home safely and quickly from Narita Airport, where access was severely hit by Typhoon Faxai.
Although Shin is now on board for Australia, his photo taken last weekend at Kau-Hun or Jiu-Fen, Taiwan is still in the storage. It is said to be featured in 千と千尋の神隠し, a popular animation film produced by Mr. Miyazaki, Hayao. That makes sense to Mei-Shun, who had a feeling of déjà vu when she saw these buildings full of red lanterns. Parents of the heroine eat here like … pigs.
It might be the first time for Shin and Mei-Shun to pray at this 関帝廟. You need 5 long incense sticks to put into 5 burners served for each God, after bowing 3 times respectively. Then you are allowed to step forward to 5 statues in the main building. Now, it has passed 17 : 00 o’clock. Shall we stroll around a bit more before dinner at a 四川 dishes restaurant, the husband’s recommendation?
Yesterday, Mei-Shun met Shin in that port city. They often drove to there for a museum, hotels and China Town while living in Tokyo, yet almost stopped it after moving into Ibaraki. Since the husband had a meeting, the wife used trains behind a few hours. It was interesting to watch one of the most populated area in our country, where Shinkansen bullet trains pass in a second.
Moon cake box Shin brought home from Taiwan
Mei-Shun actually is, since she was a student. However, she has been only to the U.K., Ireland and France. On the other hand, Shin travels through the globe; perhaps has not covered Southern America and Antarctica. Now do you kind followers think the wife envies the husband? She never does. He makes business trips, not plays around. Her job at home is to keep on smiling.
Napoli in summer
Mei-Shun feels so happy for finding three lady’s tresses in the garden. They share microbes with lawn, often grow on it not-so-much taken care of — like the wide garden of the museum she and Shin visited the other day. Clay images shaped like ancient warrior, pot and horsey, among which she most loves the last one of course, are arranged in front of the main building.
In her garden
At the museum
He, le chat aux yeux d’or, comes from 友部 Service Area on 常磐 Highway. When Shin and Mei-Shun dropped in there returning from 水戸, they were lucky enough to encounter stalls of pottery. Many pretty bowls for natto, fermented soybeans, were featured this time. After scrutinizing every shop, they decided to bring him home. Please help Shin to diet, darling.
meishunkikunoe 