October 4th / 5th/ 6th

Oct 4th
Chikako and Ai ( daughter & niece) took us out for dinner at a Kimchi Restaurant. There's a hot ring in the middle of the table, so we can cook our own food. Starters was raw grated chicken skin, which we quickly passed across the table, even Derek wasn't brave enough to go for it! Rest of the meal was delicious, Vegs and kimchi broth cooked in the pot, then we added pork, cheese, egg, and rice. A hugh amount of kimchi was thrown in just to ensure it was spicy. Great meal, could try this one at home!

Oct 5th,
Ai's parents took us out for lunch at an old Japanese house/Restaurant. Very Traditional, with beautiful gardens, fountains, and soothing music. It seems all we're doing now is eating!!! After about 10 courses of great food, we toured the house and gardens. Very similar to an old English Tudor house. Low ceilings and huge exposed beams. Very Quaint.
Had to stop at a Supermarket , on the way home, as believe it or not, we're making dinner for 15 people tonight. It was 3pm and dinner is at 7pm!!!! Wanted to buy chicken breasts to make a chicken curry, but could find everyother part of the chicken, but no breasts! What happens to the breasts??? Walked passed these melons and couldn't believe the price $11.00 for a melon! Ai told us that the melons that are shipped down from Hokuido ( Our next destination) sell for $100.00!!!

Did find chicken at another market, so dinner went well. Also managed to find Naan Bread. Everyone loved the curry, Couldn't believe we were hungry by dinner time, but we were and ate loads!! In Japan, its customary for someone else to pour your drink out for you, then you return the favor. They will keep filling up your glass, until you leave a full glass, that is the signal that you don't want any more, what a waste of good alcohol!!!
Nov 6th
Had a good lay-in, as this is our last day here. Decided to take the bikes out and try to work off some of this food we've been eating. Cycled pass this stable, that stood right in the middle of soybean fields. Wondered where the horses roam, apparently they don't. These are Canadian horses , which are fed a special diet because they are bred for human consumption. They are quite tightly packed in, and just stand and eat all day!
Local farmers, feeding a planting machine. They're sowing onion plants and work really fast trying to keep up with the machine. The 2 main crops here are Rice and Soybeans. The Rice is harvested in October, then the farmers plant wheat for the winter, and harvest that in May, then Rice again.
Mr Go is an eccentric Hair Dresser. He is well known at the Saga Balloon Festival, for video taping everyone. In his earlier years, he was a Stylist for Toni & Guy in London. I remember that they were a very expensive hairdressers, that I could never afford to go to. Today both Derek and I, got a haircut from Mr Go, complete with shampoo and a fantastic head and shoulder massage. Even while he was cutting Dereks hair, it had to be video taped!
Early night tonight, as we're on our way to Hokkaido.