LOST IN TRANSLATION - Chapter 8 Yakushima
Next stop Yakushima and as you can see, it was raining and humid.
This is a subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu and part of Kagoshima Prefecture. We would be in Kagoshima the following day. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan's oldest living trees. Trees more than 1000 years old, the most ancient of which may be over 7000 years old. Also the different flora and fauna of the island consists of around 1,900 plant species, 16 mammal species, 167 different birds and over 4000 insects and other nasty things! Not surprising that the island is so well preserved. A symphony of greenery interwoven with nature.
Most tourists come to the island to hike through the forests and see the ancient cedar trees. I can hardly say we hiked but we certainly walked all day.
As a subtropical island with nearly 2000 meter high mountains, Yakushima attracts a lot of rainfall around the year, with a local saying claiming that it rains "35 days a month". While that may be an exaggeration, there is some rain almost on a daily basis, especially in the mountainous interior, although the rain can also be light and limited to short periods of time. In higher elevations the precipitation falls as snow during the winter months.
Jerome had hired a car which was the wisest thing to do although the panic was on when his driver’s license had to be translated into Japanese. If I remember rightly, we had been told in Paris that this would take up to three weeks. All in all, to get to the centre where it would be translated, for Laurent and I to have a look at the local Uniqlo it took less that two hours!
We were on our way.
Without any doubt it is one of the most surprising places I have visited. Not only the diversity of trees,
we came across these on our way - frequently - and it was quite obvious who were directing the proceedings.
There were the deer to, perhaps not as tame as in Miyajiima but certainly in their own element.
Sure it was damp, but not raining so we walked along tracks, over suspension bridges, me far too hot in a 5$ plastic raincoat and both men sensibly dressed in T-shirts. The nature and walks were exquisite.
The waterfalls magic….
A stop over at a local artisan’s shop where I probably could have spent much more money than I did…
Laughter again at one of the signs
and then the hot water pool. I think this sign is worthwhile reading…
especially as there was a man then, stripped down and yes, I did take a photo of him but as you can see, I was really taking a photo of Jerome!
It was here too that we came across what I am sure were Hiroshima victims. Hibakusha in Japanese. It was difficult to take a photo of this man but even if he didn’t speak a word of English, he seemed pleased to be able to talk to someone - and that someone was Laurent...
As you can see the clouds and mountains were threatening.
This didn’t deter us and nor did they deter the monkeys which we had to drive around. No way they would move for us. I smiled at how much time they seem to take to clean themselves or clean one another. Practically as clean as the Japanese, eh?
We didn’t see the turtles. They visit shores at night time of their spawning season around May to August and the hatchlings return to the sea around July to September.
There was a very warm moment when we came across this little boy and his parents. He was enchanted by Jerome. On the trip back, the father sat next to me in the plane. And fell asleep at once. The little boy gave up on me and was more interested in Jerome. That’s the kind of child I would like to rediscover in ten years time. Obviously his parents explained so much and he seemed eager to learn.
What a wonderful couple of days…
 |
This is a subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu and part of Kagoshima Prefecture. We would be in Kagoshima the following day. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan's oldest living trees. Trees more than 1000 years old, the most ancient of which may be over 7000 years old. Also the different flora and fauna of the island consists of around 1,900 plant species, 16 mammal species, 167 different birds and over 4000 insects and other nasty things! Not surprising that the island is so well preserved. A symphony of greenery interwoven with nature.
Most tourists come to the island to hike through the forests and see the ancient cedar trees. I can hardly say we hiked but we certainly walked all day.
As a subtropical island with nearly 2000 meter high mountains, Yakushima attracts a lot of rainfall around the year, with a local saying claiming that it rains "35 days a month". While that may be an exaggeration, there is some rain almost on a daily basis, especially in the mountainous interior, although the rain can also be light and limited to short periods of time. In higher elevations the precipitation falls as snow during the winter months.
Jerome had hired a car which was the wisest thing to do although the panic was on when his driver’s license had to be translated into Japanese. If I remember rightly, we had been told in Paris that this would take up to three weeks. All in all, to get to the centre where it would be translated, for Laurent and I to have a look at the local Uniqlo it took less that two hours!
We were on our way.
Without any doubt it is one of the most surprising places I have visited. Not only the diversity of trees,
 |
| Was dressed for the rain... |
 | |
we came across these on our way - frequently - and it was quite obvious who were directing the proceedings.
 |
 | |
There were the deer to, perhaps not as tame as in Miyajiima but certainly in their own element.
 |
 |
Sure it was damp, but not raining so we walked along tracks, over suspension bridges, me far too hot in a 5$ plastic raincoat and both men sensibly dressed in T-shirts. The nature and walks were exquisite.
 |
 |
 | |
 | |
The waterfalls magic….
 |
 |
A stop over at a local artisan’s shop where I probably could have spent much more money than I did…
 |
 |
Laughter again at one of the signs
 |
 |
and then the hot water pool. I think this sign is worthwhile reading…
especially as there was a man then, stripped down and yes, I did take a photo of him but as you can see, I was really taking a photo of Jerome!
 |
 |
It was here too that we came across what I am sure were Hiroshima victims. Hibakusha in Japanese. It was difficult to take a photo of this man but even if he didn’t speak a word of English, he seemed pleased to be able to talk to someone - and that someone was Laurent...As you can see the clouds and mountains were threatening.
 |
This didn’t deter us and nor did they deter the monkeys which we had to drive around. No way they would move for us. I smiled at how much time they seem to take to clean themselves or clean one another. Practically as clean as the Japanese, eh?
 |
 | |
 |
 |
We didn’t see the turtles. They visit shores at night time of their spawning season around May to August and the hatchlings return to the sea around July to September.
There was a very warm moment when we came across this little boy and his parents. He was enchanted by Jerome. On the trip back, the father sat next to me in the plane. And fell asleep at once. The little boy gave up on me and was more interested in Jerome. That’s the kind of child I would like to rediscover in ten years time. Obviously his parents explained so much and he seemed eager to learn.
 |
What a wonderful couple of days…
Commentaires