Mishima Island...heaven

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you fans, it's just been nice to relax and chill out before heading back into the stresspit that is the Firm. I got back from Mishima on Sunday night but it was Tuesday night I left for Hiroshima, and 5 days away from Osaka. I love Golden Week. The 8.50pm Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka was delayed by 15 minutes (scandalous) but once away, it was smooth sailing all the way. I hadn't realized it before, but when the train goes around a corner, one can feel the sides of the train buckle and bend under the stresses and torques (great word) due to the speed of the train. I got a fright first but then realized how cool the Shinkansen is. Can you imagine a train getting you to Dublin from Cork in under an hour?? Now that would be cool.

When I got to Hiroshima, Sean and Noriko were there to meet and greet me so we headed back to their place for a beer, in the company of their friend Dylan, whom I met previously when I was visiting Sean in Hiroshima. A few hours of chat and the headline news being the delayed Shinkansen (I kid you not; 'twas due to an earthquake up near Tokyo), we headed to bed and the excitement of the birding ahead. I won't go into the birding here, I'll keep that for a separate post, just to keep the pattern going.

Mishima is situated west of Osaka, off the coast of Yamaguchi prefecture, on the Japan Sea. Approximately 80 minutes on the ferry from Hagi (a fabulous old Samurai town where the civil war started that ended the reign of the Emperors) and Mishima beckoned. Although no photographs were taken on the way out, the smell of the sea and the sight of a tree-covered island was immediately relaxing. I couldn't wait to get off the boat and start breathing fresh air, looking at stars at night, feeling the sea-breeze, and the need NOT to avoid bumping into people when walking down the street. In fact, it turned out better than that in the end.

We had beautiful weather, albeit for an amazing storm on Saturday afternoon, so the heat was hard and the going tough. We were fortunate to have the use of a car for the 4 days so it was great being able to drive again. The island is proably 2/3 the size as my home, Great Island, in Cork so a car was necessary to cover all the areas. All I'll say is that the birding was some of the best I have ever experienced...just mindblowing, with...no, I'll keep the suspense going until the weekend. So for the four days, we just birded, watching the local farmers plant this seasons rice crop, the fishermen out on the water and for the first time since I've been in Japan, looking at cows grazing in a field.

At one point, while standing on the cliffs, trying to bird during the storm on Saturday, with the rain "falling" horizontally, I glanced across at one of the headlands and I had to look twice and clear the rainwater from my eyes. It was pretty much identical to Blanan on Cape Clear off the south west of Cork. I felt like I was back home for just a few seconds and I felt weird. I felt homesick for the first time in ages. I miss west Cork. Those of you who know Blanan and Cape Clear, will know what I'm talking about when you look at the picture. Also, down below from where i was standing, was situated a temple on the cliff edge. What a place to wake up in the morning. I was well impressed.

The Minshiku we stayed at was excellent, with classical tatami rooms everywhere. The food was excellent, and the beer good. The people of Mishima were very friendly and, like Cape Clear, know that it's a massive place for rare birds in Japan so they know all the previous years rarities that have turned up. For a country that doesn't really give a shite about its environment, it was refreshing to see that the locals knew important wildlife is for the survival of their community (about 1000 people), and the respect they showed for it. The stepped paddyfields were brilliant, and to see the old people in a doubled over position planting the rice plants was class. It gave the place an atmosphere of not being touched in centuries (although the massive dam did spoil that a bit).

So, it was with a heavy heart and weary body (4am wake up calls every morning were not pleasant), we left the body on Sunday. Rather than get a bus back to Hiroshima (it took 5 hours on Wednesday morning instead of 3!!), I got a bus from Hagi to Shin-Yamaguchi (70 minutes) and the shinkansen from there to Osaka (2.25 hours). The train was jammed, paying 80yoyos to stand for that journey was not what I call value for money but what could I do? It was the final day of Golden Week after all. A girl fainted near me and I felt like shouting "look to the lady!!", like they did in the old days, but seeing as I was the only gaijin in view, I figured it would probably not be a good idea to do that. Some of them think we're all crazy anyway. Instead, I just gave her my water as I'm that kind of guy :)

Being back at work has been difficult, trying to concentrate after the short break. I haven't had a 2 week holiday in over 2 years now and I think I need one big time. So I figure that holiday will be spent back home on the ol' sod but not sure when that'll be. Hopefully it will be soon(ish), within the next 6 months anyway...

So sin e really. I would just like to wish me Ma a happy b'day for Tuesday. I also ask all those who may see a wee man with massive sideburns and a good tan, wandering aimlessly and talking to himself down Pana, to give him a hug and tell him that it's ok to be home again. Pee, I hope you're holding up to the shock fella.

Carmo's Diet: this week I have mostly been eating sashimi, weird shellfish, seaweed, tofu, mushrooms, and rice

Carmo's Birds: oh, I'll keep that for later

Carmo's Birds for Byrdy: Vanessa Paradis