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On the way to Iwakuni, we stopped off at the service area just off the highway where there are views to Miyajima.10:58:53
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For lunch we went to a place in the mountain called "Sanzoku" - which means "bandits". Apparently quite a famous restaurant locally.11:51:51
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Totoro gets everywhere in Japan.12:06:52
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Taking a wander round some of the grounds, normally this is all outdoor seating for the restaurant, but it was still slightly out of season.12:15:02
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Our table, near the waterfall.12:41:52
I had quite a snacky lunch - some edamame, some wasabi stalks, and some grilled tofu. Oh and some hot sake. The big bowl there is for the sake,12:42:54
The four of us at our table at Sanzoku.13:00:14
The waterfall.
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Ducks.13:01:54
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I like this picture of Chie's dessert - a grilled mochi - with Chie and Erika in the background.
13:13:19
Carp again.13:13:30
Erika and her Grandad looking at the carp.13:54:43
Now at Kintaikyo, the famous bridge near Iwakuni.13:56:50
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The cherry blossoms were just starting to bloom here.13:59:30
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This tree - growing out of the steps - is apparently used as one of the benchmarks by local weather forecasts for declaring when the cherry blossoms are blooming.14:05:38
Walking over the bridge.
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Under the bridge.
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We asked a stranger to take this picture - it was surprisingly hard work getting them to actually press the button properly on my camera.14:24:24
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I liked this wall.
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Can see the reflection of the bridge in the river here.14:49:45
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A chemical plant on the way back to Hiroshima.17:56:28
On the ground floor of Anderson in Hiroshima.18:39:07
Picture of our group at Anderson. On the left hand side are Chie's aunt Chikako-san, her daughter Ryo-chan, and her two kids - Erika's second cousins.18:39:24
This picture came out better than the first.
19:46:24
A flute player came to play happy birthday to our table, as three of us had our birthdays this month. It seemed like almost every table in the restaurant had somebody with a recent birthday.19:46:53
Note also my happy birthday sticker.19:52:12
The layout of the restaurant.20:01:33
Even Erika got a sticker.
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Erika entertaining some of her new fans.20:30:53
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Erika took this picture (with a little help from her Mum!).