D+4: Impromptu Eikaiwa Class

After a restful night in my own room, I set off for Miyajima. This is an island off Hiroshima with the iconic half-submerged shrine gate. It's a very popular place amongst tourists, one of those must-go places when visiting Hiroshima.

Miyajima holds a significant place in my heart: it was my home for two weeks during my study abroad in Hiroshima. I stayed with the family at Daishoin Temple, took the ferry back and fro to classes, and passed many tourists while I went about my day like a local. While my host family's long gone (moved away), I felt the need to connect with this place whenever I visit Hiroshima.

As soon as I arrived on the island, I sat down to my standard Lawson breakfast (onigiri). But it was quickly interrupted by one of the locals - a deer. Those animals know to converge on any open food, and it's often for the best to comply. So I shared my breakfast with him/her. This made me part of the sideshow for the tourists.

With some fumbling, I found the Momijidani course for Miyajima's peak - Mt. Misen. I had climbed the Daishoin course during my previous stay, and remembered it as a 2-km Stairmaster. This's supposed to be an easier route, but the intense heat and humidity made it almost unbearable. I realized It was a big mistake when I was the only one walking up; everyone else paid for the ropeway. But I figure it'll be a satisfying experience once I reach the top.

Fate is cruel. All that hard work, and I arrived at a mountaintop under construction. They're building a new observation deck. Maybe there're signs about it, but I missed them all. Disappointed, but with some no-no rock climbing, I got the vistas that I wanted.

I needed to stop by Hondori for a new day bag. But I detoured and checked out the Atomic Bomb Peace Park first, since it's the 68th anniversary of the bomb dropping tomorrow. Then, I was caught in a flash rain, so I went into the museum (my 4th time) to hide out.

Not-so-ballin' story on the streetcar ride to the Dome. I was sitting next to a fairly good-looking girl on the streetcar. An older lady asked her for directions to somewhere, then the girl turned to me for the answer. Since I'm a tourist, I told her I don't know. But then, the older lady (later on the ride) asked if the next stop was the A-bomb Dome, at which I interjected and said yes. The pretty girl started rapid-firing Japanese. And all I could do was run away; my only excuse was that it's my stop to get off. Besides feeling useless, I felt like Mii-chan's character on the movie "もしドラ" (Mii-chan's one of the girls on AKB48).

I met up with Kazu and headed out for a night of mild drinking at a place called おやじの店. Sashimi, meat, cheese okonomiyaki, and lots of beer. Halfway through, it turned into an English conversation class after the owners (Masa and his mom Yoko) and patrons (2 acupuncture teachers and a jewelry store clerk named Mai) found out I teach English in Tohoku. Mai was very cute with glasses and long hair, looks more like a schoolteacher.

If only the thirst can be quenched tonight...