Thursday, March 27, 2008

Hot spring trip in Japan

It was Dragon Boat Festival last Saturday. As soon as the day comes, it also means summer is announcing its official presence according to the Lunar calendar. I somehow quite enjoy the heat so far since I came back from Scotland, ha, guess I need to wait until mid August to decide how much I enjoy being embraced by the tropical humidity!!!

I had a quick getaway to Japan for a four-day weekend at the end of May. I went to the main island in the south this time. The weather there was really similar to Taiwan and the people were truly friendly. I actually got to speak a lot more Japanese since my sister was not with me this time though it’s been ten years since I finished my Japanese major. A lady I was chatting to showed me the brochure of Taipei 101 building she got during her visit of Taiwan, that was a very pleasant surprise from my local encounter. The south island is famous for its hot spring. The custom for Japanese to take a hot bath at a hot spring resort or hotel is usually before dinner, before bedtime and before breakfast. No kidding, it is almost like most people having three meals a day, this is how much they are into it and this has become part of their daily life hobby. I enjoy the outdoor ones so much that I had to go twice late at night and early in the morning. There are also various “flavored” ones you can choose from, I was delightfully lost between the red-wine, white pearl powder (famous for Chinese emperor’s 3000 wives) and Chinese herbal ones. Another thing I was addicted to was the very well equipped toilet gadgets. You can set up a “warmer” seat, water flowing sound when you go, the breeze of fragrance after you go. The best part I think is you can actually have your bottoms cleaned up (almost feel like a massage to me) by two options (haven’t quite figure out the differences between them). I will not be surprised if I can get butt-spread perfume next time!

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