Day 19 Awesome Trip to Nikko with Becky
by Donna Charles on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 8:32pm
I did manage to get a load of clothes washed and i just hung them up on hangers to dry. The air is so dry here which i really don't care for, but i guess the Japanese don't mind because 85%of the time its so very humid you always feel wet. YUCK.......... Summer would kill me over here I would have to sit inside the air-conditioning because I get hot so so easy. When Belinda would be cold I would be feeling great with a thin jacket on and she would be bundled up with gloves on LOL
Went down to the lobby to wait on Becky to arrive. Took out one of the newspapers that was of course written in English and read more about Toyota's problems with their brakes. So sad that this is happening to their company but it just doesn't pay to cut cost when it comes to safety. Belinda is down here now and we talk about today and getting to go back to Nikko. Both our men would love to go to Kegon Falls but just never had the time to fit it into their schedule. I see Becky's blue fit pull up and away we go our on trip to Nikko.
Becky decided to take the back way to Nikko because it is just so beautiful. Becky was right about that the scenery was totally awesome. Going down one of the roads to Keggon Falls the entire road was lined with lots of cedar trees that were very very tall. The trees also had huge tops which bundled together to make a canopy over the top of the road. I did manage to stick my camera out the window to try and capture what I'm talking about. LOL
Becky said she needed some gas before we head up to Nikko so when she finally found a gas station its like everything else around here. As soon as she pulled up most all gas stations are FULL SERViCE. The attendants bow and ask you how much gas you want and what kind, reg or super. There are at least 2 attendants one for each side of the car. They start by cleaning every window on your car I'm talking every window and will do anything else if asked like check oil. I've been so impressed with the quality of service you get in Japan; no matter what they are doing for you its the best service. I have forgotten to mention you that in Japan there is absolutely NO NO NO tipping which is very nice.
We are on our way again and the view is phenomenal. The mountains are so visible, they are huge with snow on them, the sun shining on the snow makes them so beautiful. Its so hard to explain what i see even pictures don't do this justice. LOL Riding along in the automobile nah nah nah nah........Becky says we should stop and get a snack which she has suggested a Nikkemon which is generally a white round dough looking thing with something that looks gross in the middle. Well when she told us that is what she wanted to get as a snack Belinda and I looked at each other and thought Oh NO. We have looked at these things many times and laughed about them they do not look good at all. We would have never tried these but it looks like today will be our day. She pulled over at a store/gas station and we all went inside. She ordered one and Belinda and I both tried it and LIKED it. We both ordered one and something to drink and are now in the car heading to the Nikko.
Our adventure getting up the side of the mountain will be an experience I will never forget. There are at least a 100 switchback curves so needless to say the driver must pay attention. It got pretty scary as we climbed and climbed up the side of this mountain. The sights of the mountains again kept getting better and better. Belinda and I were in total aw as we took picture after picture. Belinda did alot of filming of our adventure which she can get photo shots of later. There are wild dangerous monkeys up in Nikko also but I have yet to see any. DANGEROUS monkeys doesn't seem like something that I care to be around anyways LOL
WE have finally made it to a store that has a nice place to pull off Becky I'm sure needs a break from driving all those switch backs up the mountain. This trip is wonderful for the fact Becky knows alot to tell us and is happy to do this for us girls. Thanks Becky for taking time out of your day to be our tour guide : -) The view from the top of this mountain is breath taking I am standing near the edge of the mountain looking out at the beauty in front of me. Donna where are you as my hubby says to me alot. I'm in Japan and have been here 3 weeks and it still doesn't seem real to me. LOL We decided to not take a gondola ride no need we are just fine standing here at the edge looking down and around the sights. We are headed on to Nikko National Park where we will view the awesome Kegon Falls can't wait to reach our destination.
Well I see a town is in sight and I can't tell you how far on top of this mountain we are but I know its a really long way down........... YIKES....... The town is small with lots of quaint little shops. Becky pulls into this cute little coffee house along the waters edge and again the view with the mountains in the background are magnificent.
We get us a seat by the big windows that overlook the lake : -) Its funny but when we went to sit down at the table we felt like we were sitting on the floor LOL. it was like sitting with your kid at their little table and having tea with them. We laughed about how small they were........ The waiter came over and Becky talked with him about the menu. Belinda and i decided to order pizza the picture look good. Thank goodness most places to eat have pictures. When the Japanese come to America they are always asking where are the pictures? This is something they miss since they do this for us.
The food has arrived and they bring the pizza out on a dinner plate for Belinda and I. Wow the pizza looks delicious. Belinda and I smile at each other and dig into our pizza hoping it tastes as good as it looks!!! YUM YUM so good best pizza I have had so far. Becky's food arrives and she tasted it and she told us to take a bite also. It tasted like they had poured ketchup on the rice and mixed in chicken pieces. It really wasn't bad but I'm glad I did not order that dish. : -) I ate my entire pizza with no problem I was stuffed but man was it good lots of toppings, salami, green pepper, onion and lots of cheese. Under the toppings were thinly sliced tomatoes along with a light layer of pizza sauce. GREAT........
Enjoyed each others company and finished up so we could get to Kegon Falls in Nikko National Park. Becky pulls into one pay parking lot and we find out we are not at the correct location. She said we would have to pay it was our mistake. Sitting in front of a machine that you have to put the $3 in to get out of the lot. I put down my window and there is a guard that comes out I explain that we made mistake he must have understood me because he gave Becky back the money and raised the gate so we could leave : -)
We only needed to go down about a block before we seen the sign that said NIKKO Mountain National Park Kegon Falls. We have finally arrived at our destination. : -) WE are all excited and ready to go see this spectacular sight we have heard so much about. It costs $5.50 to go down to see the falls. The money is paid and we are directed to get into the elevator which will take us down 97 meters to see the falls. I stand in the elevator watching the numbers change on the meter, 20m, 30m, 60m, 80m and finally we have arrived at 97meters. Are my ears popping you betcha!! The doors open into this long tunnel so we walk on not to our destination yet. Now there is a set of steps we must go down and then we look out and there is a huge plat form called the observation deck. We are there yippee.............
The power of the water coming over the top of the waterfalls is very, very strong. Nothing is green yet but the trees that are located on the top of the mountain. I see 2 waterfalls which are very beautiful. I try and capture the beauty with my camera but there again is just no way that can be done. All 3 of us are standing admiring the spectacular view in front of us : -) A Japanese boy asked me to take a picture of the 4 of them, no problem. I take the picture then they will take ours; after taking theres Belinda asked them to be in our picture with us. 3 of them stood in our picture and I hope it turns out good : -)
We stayed down there for a while admiring the view and then headed back to the elevator to be taken up 97meters to the top. WE get out of the elevator and start walking back to look at a few shops for handkerchiefs for Jim to take back to his 4 women : ) We looked in a few shops but no luck. Belinda saw a Santa and has been looking for a Christmas ornament. I heard music playing from the shop that had the Santa out front. Maybe its Christmas music playing but after getting inside the shop we find out its a music box store. Oh well not what we are looking for but still interesting shop. Becky gets a phone call from Chris and he tells her they will be getting off work soon and are all going to the Viking restaurant for the guys sayonara party.
We sit and wait for the guys to pull in; once we see them some our getting out of a taxi and some rode with Chris who is NATG member over here in Japan. The restaurant is a place that has a grill in the middle of the table and you cook your own food, you have 90 minutes to eat all you can. : -) I am not very hungry because I had a big pizza earlier but oh well I want to enjoy this experience. : -)
Everyone had a wonderful time together with only a few members of the group missing, Katie, Tom, Dave and Scott. There loss is all I can say the party was for them! I seen things happen I couldn't believe. Deb grilled some octopus on a stick and ate it yuck I would not be able to do this at all. She said it was crunchy with little taste; I'll take her word for it. Jim and Troy were seeing who could eat the most. I laughed I have never seen Jim having such a good time with the group. ; -) Troy had some good competition is all I can say. Fun FUn watching the group have fun together.
Belinda and Deb got to hold a couple little Japanese girls oh they were so cute. This made Belinda's day and I'm happy that she is happy!!! Deb was the first one that the little girl went to which made her happy also. : ) Time to get out of there and I took a group picture of them hope it turns out.
Becky drives Belinda, Marlon and me back to the JR train station where Rick is waiting for Belinda to arrive. What an end to a fabulous day, again I will miss my dear friend Belinda when she leaves Friday morning. : -(
