Wandering Fractal

Kyushu is the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan. We went down to Kagoshima. A city around a bay with an active volcano at its center. From there, we took a ferry to the island of Yakushima. We spent a few days hiking and soaking in natural hot springs. The best onsen of those three weeks was, without a doubt, the Hirauchi undersea hot spring. It's a group of pools that are under the sea during high tide. At low tide the pools fills up with spring water bursting from the rocks. If you're shy don't go there, cause it's unisex and you can't wear a swimsuit, just like the bath used to be in good old times. Dolphin from the Kagoshima aquarium. Three times a day they let them play in a closed part of the sea around the aquarium. Thus we could see them for free. Trail close to the summit of the Miyanoura dake. It's the highest peak of Yakushima and the whole Kyushu region (1936m). Yakushima is famous for it's forest covered in moss....

We went to a Ryokan (traditional japanese inn) in the mountains. The inn is in a village with volcanic water bursting from the ground. Each Ryokan has its own bathes filled with burning hot water. Nothing beats a good bath in the chill of winter will admiring the mountains and river. In the evening we could go stroll the village and see the lanterns above the river. After that we could enjoy a traditional japanese meal. The first goal of this trip to the mountains was to move the bones of my family (aunt, grandparents and great-grandparents). They where kept in vases stored in the neighborhood's ossuary. They are now buried in a cemetery in the mountain. Kurokawa river. A traditional japanese meal served in a Ryokan. Yukata weared inside the Ryokan. The mountains in Aso.

First stop in south Japan, Koga ( 古賀市 ). Koga is a city near Fukuoka on the Kyushu island. Before enjoying my vacation, I need to help my mother clean the old family house. The place is full of stuff accumulated throughout the years by my aunt. It's a lot of work but it's also nostalgic to see old memories from my childhood summer vacations. It's still winter in south Japan with temperatures between 0 and 15 degrees Celsius. It was even snowing ! Since most of the houses and apartments in Japan have poor insulation it can be as cold inside as outside (sometimes even colder inside). To stay warm, we all gather in the living room where we have a heather. But spring is coming ! The first cherry blossoms are already blooming. First cherry blossom. Miyajidake shrine (宮地嶽神社 )