I was only just in time for some of the sunrise photos. Prior to this, the aerobics group had performed to the radio orchestra. Then I made my way round the back of the mountain to see some Buddhas and a cave. Reading the information board, the 13 buddhas were to represent the 88 temples of Shikoku, which are too far away for most people from Kagoshima. There are, it seems, 88 human desires.
Kagoshima has many statues and monuments, wide streets lined with blossoming flowers, and pleasant parks. I read most of the plaques by the statues. Even the flowers are labelled. Gas lamps were first introduced to Japan through Kagoshima, so I needed a photo of them.
The photography shop was able to print my photos from CD, but wanted them all on a single CD. That meant programming one. I sat in the shop, selecting the photographs and then burning the CD. I opted for the tiny, Japanese size of prints at 35 yen each. For a small increase in size one pays double, and A4 is 1650 yen! I said I would return at 4 p.m.
Kagoshima also has a statue and church in memory of San Francisco Xavier, the Portuguese (I think) Catholic missionary who first brought Christianity to Japan. A Japanese man, Yajiro-san, had gone to Melaka, Malaysia, to bring him to Japan. It’s interesting to pick up little bits of history on the way.
I bought the 700 Mbyte CDs in Daiei, and some food. Then I sat by the monument to the nineteen students who had been smuggled abroad to study just before the Meiji Restoration. There were lots of students on a tour, so I was in the way for all their photographs. I moved.
Back at the photography shop, my prints were awaiting me. I was quite surprised at their quality and colour faithfulness. I hadn’t managed to buy a small photo holder in Daiei, so I purchased one in the shop, and then sat in the park to fill it up. Now it is easy to show people what I am doing here.
Walking along the road towards Kajiki, two guys gave me a lift all the way to the Kajiki inter. On the way, they put on a tape of Beatles music. There were several songs that were new to me!
The interchange is under alterations, so it was a bit difficult to stand by the side of the road with almost nowhere for vehicles to pull over. At first, my sign read Ebino, but nobody stopped. I think most people were going south, so eventually I changed the signs to read Sakurajima Service Area and Kumamoto. This time, luck was in. Three ladies gave me a lift. They had just been to a party (end of year parties are common in Japan). So, I was treated to some left-over sushi and chicken. At the services, they plied me with giant rice-balls! Mmm!
The service area closes down at ten, so I just continued on my computer. I sorted out some of the photographs, then put them onto the internet. While I was connected, at about 1 a.m. some guys started chatting. They were going all the way to Fukuoka and wanted to give me a lift. However, I was busy, and didn’t need to go anywhere. I showed them the photos, but he handled them so roughly that I was afraid they might get bent.
I continued to type and write emails pertaining to my house in Cambridge. I still haven’t got a third lodger, so will end up having to subsidise the house from non-existant savings. I’ve told Andrew to reduce the rent on the room and readvertise. Still, I’ll be lucky if I have anyone in by January.
I didn’t get to sleep until after 4 a.m.